" Oh, honey,” says Ellen, glaring at Cortez, laying her hatchet down at last and putting an arm around Martha. “He paid us to take care of you. Until afterward.” “Take care of?” says Martha, eyes wide. “What does that mean?” “It means, give a bunch of fucking shit to.” Cortez sidles over to their side of the room and scoops up the big knife. “It means, not let to become dead. "

― Ben H. Winters , Countdown City (The Last Policeman, #2)