Sloane cut through to the truth of things right away, whether Lester wanted her to her not. He considered her question for a beat, pressed his lips together and rolled the spit around inside his mouth. Finally he swallowed it, and answered, "Because I don't know if I'd be doing it for me." Even Lester knew that wasn't enough on its own. He drummed his fingers against the earth. "Or for Mercy."

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