The mysterious caller said,


    "I''d love toe, but I can''t risk it. If I show up, you''ll just nab me. Way too dangerous."


    Tarquin didn''t reply. He lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, and stared out the window.


    "Is it you?" he finally asked.


    The caller shot back, "Is it who?"


    Tarquin said, “My dad treated you pretty well back in the day. You used to be a real patriot, too."


    The mysterious man let out a low, creepy chuckle.


    "Patriotism? Please. I love money more. Why don''t you take a guess who I am? If you get it right, I''lle see you tomorrow."


    Tarquin said nothing. He wasn''t about to say the name on his mind—not until thest possible second. What if he was wrong? It could put him in the crosshairs.


    He took another puff, tapped the ash into a coffee mug, and kept his tone steady.


    "If you want the real Gen-8 virus, you''ll have toe see me in person. No show, no deal."


    The caller replied,


    "But you haven''t even found it yet. Once you do, I''lle running."


    He sighed,


    "I''m sorry about your parents. Really. But don''t me us for being ruthless. They were the ones who went too far!"


    "We spent decades on this research. Poured in a fortune. You think we''d just let them walk off with it?"


    "And we sure as hell weren''t going to let them leak anything back to Zhinora."


    "They were way out of their league, trying to y hero!"


    Tarquin''s jaw tightened, his eyes dark.


    "You don''t get to talk about my parents. Aren''t you a Zhinorian too? Aren''t you worried this virus could wipe you out as well?"


    The mystery manughed. "Who told you I was from Zhinora?"


    Tarquin shot back, "Aren''t you?"


    He dodged, "I never said I was. Never said I wasn''t. Why don''t you guess?"


    Tarquin wasn''t in the mood for games. "Why''d you call me? What do you want?"


    The caller said, "What if I told you I just want to keep you from getting hurt? Would you believe that?"


    Tarquin was silent.


    The man continued,


    "I know how much you loved your parents. Thinking about them must really get to you."


    "Honestly, I feel for you. I cared about your folks too. If they hadn''t gone down the wrong path, we might have been good friends."


    Tarquin flicked his ash. "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up."


    There was no point arguing over whose path had gone astray. He didn''t want to listen to any more nonsense.


    "Hold on," the caller said. "There''s something I don''t get. The antidote your team developed it reminded us of someone. Tracey."


    "But from what we know, she''s been dead for years."


    "So, is she faking it, or do you have some new genius on your side?"


    "Andst time you went to Darkfort City, I doubt you were just there for a hike."


    "Elysia, along with Elliot, Evan, et<fnbb3d> For more chapters visit Find1Novel</fnbb3d>


    Emmett, disappeared in those


    woods for five years. Not only did


    they survive but they all came back with some serious skills."  s


    "What''s really in those woods?"


    Tarquin wasn''t surprised at the questions. In fact, it reassured him. If the guy was fishing for info, it meant he hadn''t found anything out op his own Grandpa and Grandma''s secrets were still safe.  s


    Tarquin kept his voice calm.


    "If you want answers, do your own digging."


    The caller chuckled again.


    "Digging''s a pain. I''d rather just ask


    you. We could trade-info for info et


    You tell me what want to know


    tell you what you want toI know."  s


    Tarquin asked, “And what could you possibly tell me?"