After nearly a year spent patrolling the streets of Baghdad, he recognized it as a mixture of M16 and AK fire. Some other patrol was engaged this Chri...stmas Eve. Not his concern, he reminded himself. Not that he didn't hope the distant firefight wouldn't turn out to be a win for the good guys, but his attention needed to be focused right here on the two dismounted infantry squads he was leading tonight. The Army had drummed in his mind, from his first ROTC course all the way through Ranger. " Oh, you're talking about Carl," Alice finally said, her tone not showing the least bit of embarrassment in having been caught. "Such a nice young man, his father owns Martin's Garage where we get our cars done. He was nice enough to drive me home after I dropped off the Beemer. So you're talking about Wednesday morning."Miranda suddenly found herself wondering if she's come by on Tuesday or Thursday, would she have found someone else on that couch with Alice. From what her sister was saying,. My methods are somewhat unorthodox. It helps if there is a record of your agreement every step of the way." Well... okay. Here you are..." No... no... it is important that you actually read it. It is necessary for the treatment."The document, read and signed... and containing the all important 'trigger' phrase... was filed in the case notes. The session could begin."Now then, Lucy. Come around to the side of the desk and let me look at you."She stood and smoothed her skirt down; taking her. An even easier task for the Lancea et Sanctum, who felt content to strip away skepticism and critical thinking from their recruits, and only give them enough information to pull them deeper into the pyramid scheme.She frowned at herself as she walked. Her opinion of the Second Estate did not need to be so harsh, but it was difficult to release. Not all who were devoted to religion were needlessly traditional, and blind to scientific reason, or weighing evidence, or pragmatic conclusions..