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f.u.c.k Murray’s secrecy. Margaret was going public, and she’d call Dew out on his offer to back her up. Would Clarence also back her, or would he continue to obey orders?

Gitsh’s voice in her earpiece. “Otto, Dew’s calling in.”

“Patch him through,” Clarence said.

“You’re connected, Dew,” Gitsh said. “Otto and Margo are listening in.”

Dew’s voice, urgent and excited. “Otto, have you or your people had any contact with Ogden’s men?”

“No sir,” Clarence said. “We’ve been working all night on the John Doe and the police officer. We didn’t even know Ogden’s men were in Detroit.”

“They are,” Dew said. “And you are to avoid him at all costs. Your trailer, is it visible from a main road?”

“No. We’re tucked under a little railroad overpa.s.s, trees on either side. Excellent concealment. You can’t see us at all.”

“Okay,” Dew said. “Then maybe you should just stay put.”

“Dew,” Margaret said, “what’s happening?”

“Ogden is working for the triangles.”

Margaret looked at Clarence, her anger at him forgotten for the moment. “Ogden?How . . . how do you know?”

“His men tried to kill Perry. Perry’s okay, but they got Baum and Milner. Ogden’s men are shooting the f.u.c.k out of the highways in Detroit, murdering people left and right. The gate is somewhere in Detroit, and Ogden wants to protect it.”

She s.h.i.+vered at the implications—just like that, Ogden and his men, converted, working for the enemy. She’d missed something back in g.a.y.l.o.r.d, clearly. And even if her new drug worked, was it already too late?

“We’re coming in,” Dew said. “Perry is going to find the gate. If we can get to you, we will, but otherwise stay put.”

“Watch out for infected bodies,” Margaret said. “That’s how the contagion spreads. Bodies can have big, puffy pustules, filled with spores. Those pop on you, you have the new strain. And they can spread it through their tongues, so make sure no one licks you.”

“Understood. You have a cure for this s.h.i.+t yet?”

Margaret looked down at Sanchez. “We’re very close.”

“Get your info to Murray, Margo, in case Ogden finds you and takes you out. You guys are in a bad spot. I’m pretty sure you’re inside Ogden’s perimeter.”

“Understood,” Clarence said.