- 9 -

Zoe and Kaylee moved alone the wall of the orphanage towards its front door under the blanket of graying clouds. Zoe picked the lock as she had done before and slowly opened the door.

“Okay, Kaylee,” she called after a quick look around.

The mechanic entered shacking off chill in the air, “We should have brought an umbrella, feels like rain.”

Zoe poked her head back out the door, “Let’s just get the box and go before it starts.”

The plan was to just get the control box and get back to Serenity. There the crew could go through the video and see if they found any evidence of abuse they could show the town. At least that was the plan…

Kaylee climbed up on the small table to the right of the door and pulled back the ceiling panel. Quickly she disconnected the wires running into the control box. As she brought it out of the ceiling she gasped.

“Zoe!” she called with fright in her voice.

Zoe quickly turned around and saw Kaylee with her hands up, still standing on the table holding the box. Glancing down the hall way she could see the business end of an Alliance issued assault rifle, the person carrying it was obscured by the stairway.

“You’re going to put that Mare’s Leg of yours down real slow like, Corporal Alleyne,” a deep voice ordered from the hall way, “don’t want to kill anyone unless I have to.”

Zoe slowly put her weapon on the ground, “it’s Washburne now, I married.”

“Excuse my mistake, Corporal; now slide that weapon over this way, dong-ma?”

Zoe slid her rifle passed the stairs and into the hallway, “What now?”

A very large man emerged from behind the stairs; he was wearing dark clothing, fit for combat. His face was scarred and Zoe thought she saw a hint of a tattoo on his left forearm.

“You must be Billy,” she said.

“Yup, now you two are going to take a walk with me down to the Sheriff’s office,” he then looked at Kaylee, “and you are going to leave that box right there on that table as you get down. We wouldn’t want you fiddlin’ with evidence.”

“Jen da