"Gut harvesting," Jean murmurs. "Common on the Backstreets. Driven by very simple incentives. Doctors will pay good money for intact organs to use in healthcare, or for experiments. Rent is high. Food is expensive. For best prices, the organs should be taken from a living victim."

A slow sip. Jean's eyes on Fever's face.

"Strangulation and asphyxiation cause organ damage. Poison too. Blood loss. All inviable. Attack from ambush and shatter their legs first. Arms next, don't let them fight back. Bind them. No gag, too much risk of choking, and who cares about screaming? You cut them open while they're still alive and take the heart, kidneys, liver. Lungs last. The shock takes them down, usually, but not always. Pack the organs in ice. Make the sale within the hour."

"Get a beer to celebrate. You'll die another day, now."