Revin spent days exploring to draw up a #plan of the sewer. Returning, he was ambushed by the girls armed with sponges & buckets. While Tiny held his arms, they stripped him naked and — over vociferous protests — thoroughly washed him.
"No More Stinky Boy!" they chanted.
#flexvss
Tagflexvss
"You got to #speak with the Queen?" Margaret asked Tiny with wonder.
"She was with Revin when I tracked him down," she said. "She asked how many girlfriends he has."
"Well, he has a few," said Emma and Dexy, holding his arms.
Revin's #mouth worked but no words came out.
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Revin took another shift in the sewer. With a sledge hammer, he attacked the iron grate in the passage. After martial law was imposed, they could #no longer move openly & needed another egress. And there was little else to do. He cursed & swung again, kicking up sparks.
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"We weren't supposed to meet," said the unfamiliar woman. "But they know about the dead-drop."
"Dead drop?" Revin said, playing dumb.
"Oh. #Let me offer my bona fides…" she said. "What does Griphon keep on the mantel in his office?"
"Rachel!" Revin said, remembering.
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The guard burst into tears.
"You're alive! Father said you were dead and I blamed myself," he said, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I'd killed you."
"That doesn't #justify becoming a terrorist."
"He made me do it," he said. "After you di… left, he went crazy."
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Emma removed the guard's blindfold and gag. He expelled a wet sock from his mouth. Struggling against the bindings, he growled threats and imprecations. Then he caught sight of Revin and stopped dead. He looked #into Revin's eyes.
"Riva?" he whispered.
"It's Revin now."
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#Half naked, Dexy scurried past the guardsman, then turned & fled down an alley. He gave a shout & ran in pursuit. He sprinted after her, but hit the tripwire stretched across the way. Tiny sprang onto his back & held him down while Revin tied his hands behind his back.
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Melody led the troupe through a #gap in the storefronts and down a dark alley. They emerged into the warehouse district. At a sliding door large enough for a wagon, she used a key to loose the lock & chain and slid the door to the side.
"It's not much, but welcome."
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The girls clustered around hugging Revin, after he and Tiny paid for their release. Dexy kissed him on his cheek.
"We gave you silver and you repaid us with gold," Emma said, in her charming alto.
"To be #frank," Revin said, blushing. "I still owe you guys a lot."
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"And now, to business," Revin said. "Where I can get a copy of the book 'Throes of Her Unbridled Passion'?"
"#Uh…" Melody said. "I know you love romance. But is this really the time?"
"Is this for a book cipher?" Tiny said. "Bess reads romance. She might have a copy."
#flexvss