Head On (Lock In, #2)

by John Scalzi

Well, I needed to get in there anyway, I thought, and then found the manager in the crowd. “What color key for the second floor?” I asked. “Green,” he said. “You’re going back in there?” “There’s a cat,” I said. “I wouldn’t,” he warned. “Yeah, but you’re an asshole,” someone said from the crowd. The manager scowled and shut up.

“There’s a cat?!?” they squealed. “Oh Lord,” Tayla said. “It’s not a permanent resident,” I said to the twins, as they stomped down the stairs. “Why not?” they asked. “It’s a federal witness,” Tayla told them. “We have a witness protection cat?!?” The twins looked at Donut with obvious excitement. Donut gazed up at them.

“Why Trenton?” I asked, as we waited in the car, several addresses down from the Chapman town house. “I said that an hour ago and you’re asking me about it now?” Vann said. She was sipping coffee from behind the wheel. A hand with a cigarette was held outside the driver’s-side window. “I’ve been thinking about it since then.” “It’s close enough to be a plausible trip and far enough away to take a lot of time. That’s it.” “So, no special memories of Trenton.” Vann looked over. “No one has special memories of Trenton, Chris.” I was going to comment on