Page 40 of Seneca

They worked for the next hour mostly in silence, save for chats with the patrons in line and Seneca making her smile with a well-timed joke.By the time the line had dwindled and the last of the burgers were claimed, the sky had turned to a beautiful sunset, all pinks and oranges and deep violet.

After cleaning up the grill, they walked through the park to the security building and turned in the walkies that all staff were carrying now in the park so they had immediate access to security if anything was up.

Two guards were in the main room of the security building and Seneca introduced them to Sunny—Alife and Felix, who were both wolves and part of the security team.“Save us some burgers next time, yeah?”Felix asked.

“You got it,” Seneca said.

She and Seneca walked to the employee cafeteria and down the flight of stairs underground.“I want to grab Fallon,” she said.“I’m starving and she hardly ate anything at lunch.She’s so worried about everything.”

“Well, it’s just been a day,” he pointed out.“Hopefully, as things settle down, she’ll realize she’s safe.”

She hoped so too.

They found Fallon in her room, reading a cookbook from Seneca’s bookshelf.

“I didn’t want to turn on my tablet.”

“It’s safe, now, though,” Seneca said.“You can use it.”

“I’m okay.For now.I watched TV and also did the dishes and cleaned.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Sunny said.

“I needed to keep busy.It’s okay.I like doing that kind of thing, remember?”

“Ugh, yeah.You always made me look bad because your room was so clean.”

“Sorry.”

“Let’s go get dinner in the market.You need to get out of the house.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Liar, liar.Now come on, girl.The food in the market is amazing.We’re not going topside, it’s all down here.”

“You’re not going to let up?”

“Nope,” she said, rocking on her heels.

“Fine.”She rose to her feet.“You’re so controlling.”

“Just with people I love.”

They left the house and private living area, walked down the hall to the cafeteria and right to the counter, where Hayden, one of the sleuth members, was taking orders.They all ordered the special: pork roast with fried apples and a baked potato.

When they’d picked a table, they settled and ate, and Sunny and Seneca filled the time talking about their shift at the burger stall.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Fallon said.“It seems like you found your groove.”

“You will too.Give it time.”

Fallon stabbed at a tender apple.“I don’t know about that.Everything feels so strange, like I’m walking through a dream or in some temporary limbo.”

“You’re not going back, you know,” Sunny said.

Fallon didn’t answer.She chewed thoughtfully, her shoulders relaxing a little.“I’ll try not to feel like I’m in limbo.”

Sunny smiled.