"Upstairs!" came the muffled reply.

Roger walked up the stairs and into the bedroom they shared. Susanne was sitting on the bed, almost completely absorbed in her laptop.

"Hey, you got it back, I see." Susanne nodded, still staring at the screen. Roger shifted a little, waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he continued. "How are Meredith and Kristsi?"

This seemed to break her out of it. She raised her eyes, which looked confused and impatient all at once. "They weren't there. They were gone."

"What, to class? Work?"

She shook her head and returned to the computer, but continued talking. "I mean gone. I mean, the place was deserted."

"Maybe they were just out."

"Half-inch layers of dust don't develop in their kitchen if they're 'just out'. A half-inch layer of anything hasn't got a snowball's chance in Moreno Valley in Meredith's kitchen, believe me. And the whole place was like that, too. Everything was neglected, unused. I'm glad they didn't have pets at all."

"No kidding," he mumbled as he sat down next to her.

"What happened to them, Rog?" Susanne looked up at him with anxious eyes that, at that moment, were very strikingly green, and very much hoping for an answer that he just didn't have.

He put an arm around her shoulder. She may not have known Kristsi very well, but the spunky little girl was their ally, and Meredith was more than an ally, she had known Susanne longer than anyone else. Now, the only explanation to be had was that they were somehow out of the Game.

With both Celly and Nyx definitely in the area -- and Celly's presence of course meant Mercy's and Remy's as well -- Susanne's obvious lack of allies was worrisome. No, more than that. He wanted her to leave, but knew she wouldn't yet. Not until she felt good and ready to.

But for the time being, she'd have to stand alone.