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An hour before sunrise . . .

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"Hey Mel," Sadie said as she bounced over to the desk while Vlad parked the car. She'd had a good evening overall, and was somewhat back to her perky self. "Got a sec?"

Mel looked up at her from the stack of expense vouchers and tried to look passive. At work, the goth chick was trying desperately to cling to the aloof and deadpan image that she had cultivated for years before Sadie had shown up, but it wasn't easy for her. "For what?"

"Got a puzzle I need your help with," Sadie said, much more quietly this time....