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Mr Hi, as his name seemed to be, left, saying again, "I tell you, this is too risky. Forget it." I crouched behind the file cabinet, not daring to move, feeling as if I'd fallen ten floors. His words had nearly sent me into a panic attack and the image that had flashed through my mind was still vivid. It was what I'd seen the day I arrived in Durem...but instead of Ian being shot, this time it was Cindy.
"I have no idea where you're hiding, Dawna, but you can come out now," Cindy said unexpectedly. "He's gone."
I crawled out and grinned. "How did you know I was here?" I asked.
Cindy shrugged. "I know you wouldn't leave your cloak here, and your purse is on the floor." She handed it to me. "I...I guess you heard all that?"
I nodded. "He's right, Cindy, you have to be careful..."
"While the Sniper plans his next attack?" she snapped. "Don't worry about Mr Hi, all he thinks about is money. That's why I had to talk in his terms..." She stared out the window. "I couldn't care less about the ratings myself. I just can't stand to have everyone forget about this... Who knows who could be next? Now that Gambino's...back, I'm sure he's at risk..."
I said something very rude about Gambino, something I won't write here. "Cindy, I don't care about that! I don't want to see you go flying backwards with..." I found myself crying. "Cindy, please...it was bad enough with Ian..."
She turned around and hugged me. "I'll be careful, I promise. I didn't know you saw Ian get shot... Come on, cheer up! The Sniper's never actually killed anyone yet..." She bit her lip and I knew she was wishing she hadn't said the last word.
"Yet," I said. "I don't want to risk you being the first."
"I'm tough," she said, tossing her short hair. "If it comes to that, I'm sure I would survive an encounter with him. Besides..." She looked at me and chuckled. "I guess you're too young to understand, but there are some things that are even worth dying for."
The door banged open, and I jumped back, expecting Mr Hi. Instead, it was Mike, looking very frazzled. "They're two light-days away!" he yelled, clearly not seeing me. "I tell you, they're playing with us!"
Cindy gasped and turned rather pale. "Dawna, could you go see about Old Archie?" she asked, clearly wanting me out. I was about to refuse when Mike said "Archie fixed himself overnight. Why not let the girl know?"
"Dawna, get out!" Cindy shouted. "Mike, be quiet!"
I moved toward the door, but I had no intention of leaving. Instead, I slammed it shut, locked it, and shoved the key into the top back pocket of my pants, under my skirt. Then I sat down.
"Ok," I said, "nobody's leaving untill I find out what's going on."
"Good," Mike said. "Listen, an alien spaceship is, as far as we know at the moment, two light-days away from us. They seem to be able to travel much faster then lightspeed, and may show up at any moment."
Even though I'd heard enough snippets to get an idea what was going on, it was still quite a shock to hear it all like this. I had never really belived in aliens, and now... "So..." I wispered.
"Yep," Mike said. "We are not alone."