was silen

sk of fury. "Intuition?

ked at Ellie as if she'

insane, or worse, p

leaned forward, a stra

traws, Ellie knew. Desperat

? Like Maria' s?" he a

e, her expression

ught me to see th

nt for a long moment,

terrifying smile sp

trange joy in his tone. "Yes. Y

ep, racking sound tha

his back, but her eyes, when they m

lusion passed, replaced by the st

ing from her shoc

e snapped. "She has no busin

table. "Look at these projections for the n

oria to Ellie, his brief hop

llie. "Tell us, 'advisor,' what

e complex figures,

she said, making herself soun

ort, sharp laugh. "

les, this is a farce. Send her

ement, their earlier amuse

oke up, a calculati

" she added, a cruel smile playing on her lips, "everyone knows she wo

y, delivered wit

settle in her. They had been sa

.. knack for these things, then?" he asked