Chapter 27

Franco stared intently at the vial. "What's this?"

"That's what we were hoping you'd tell us," Thalia said flatly.

"I'm confused here, Tali. I thought you weren't coming here for another six months. Why aren't you at the clinic?"

"First, I need to know, has anyone come around asking about me?" she asked, shooting him a grave look. "Like cops, military, government officials?"

"What? No." Amazement trickled from his voice. "Should I be expecting someone?"

"Maybe," she admitted. "People might be looking for me, sir Franco. And if anyone comes by, you can't tell them I was here."

"All right. Now I'm worried. What's going on, Tali?"

With a heavy breath, she gave him the short version of the story. He interrupted more than once, and several times his eyes widened or his mouth fell open. She knew how farfetched it all sounded, yet to Franco's credit, he kept his skepticism to a minimum.