1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 117
Ellie’s faces, everything seemed so clear. Maybe cooperating
with Dr. Cable would really be helping Shay, and would set
things back on course for herself. But the thought of Dr.
Cable made her wince. “You should have seen these people.
The ones investigating Shay? They look like . . .”
Sol laughed. “I guess it would be a bit of a shock at your
age, Tally. But of course we old folks know all about Special
Circumstances. They may be tough, but they’re just doing
their jobs, you know. It’s a tough world out there.”
Tally sighed. Maybe her reluctance was just because the
cruel pretties had scared her so much. “Have you ever met
them? I couldn’t believe the way they looked.”
Ellie furrowed her brow. “Well, I can’t say I’ve actually
met one.”
Sol frowned, then broke into a laugh. “Well, you
wouldn’t want to meet one, Ellie. And Tally, if you do the
right thing now, you probably won’t ever meet one again.
That sort of business is something we can all do without.”
Tally looked at her father, and for a moment she saw
something other than wisdom and confidence in his
expression. It was almost too easy the way Sol laughed off
Special Circumstances, dismissing everything that went on
outside the city. For the first time in her life, Tally found
herself listening to a middle pretty without being completely
reassured, a realization that made her dizzy. And she
couldn’t shake the thought that Sol knew nothing about the
outside world Shay had fled to.