Lily’s phone rang, interrupting their conversation. They exchanged a look and fell silent. It was Thompson. They had just mentioned the laboratory. He hadn’t contacted her since she’d left, especially after their falling out and her destruction of the data. “Why is Professor Thompson calling me now?” she wondered, answering the call.

“Professor Thompson?”

“Lily, are you free? I need to discuss something with you, face-to-face.” His voice was low, muffled by background noise; he didn’t sound like he was in the laboratory.

“What time?” Lily asked solemnly.

“Now. Do you have time?”

‘He’s in such a hurry. Now, and face-to-face? It must be serious.’

“What’s it about?” she asked thoughtfully.

Thompson hesitated, reluctant to explain over the phone. “I’ll tell you later. It’s hard to describe. It’s about the lab’s experiment. I hope you can help!” His voice was earnest.

Lily considered this, ignoring Dominic’s frantic gestures. “All right. Name a place, and I’ll go there immediately.”

“Your house. I’ll drive over now and be there soon. Wait at home and don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“But I’m not at home.” Lily was slightly puzzled, glancing at Dominic.

“Are you going there now? I’ll head back right away. How long will it take you to arrive? I’ll hurry.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you if I reach there first. Otherwise, wait for me and don’t go anywhere, okay?” He sounded strange, but Lily decided to wait until they met. “All right, I’ll return immediately. Drive safely, okay?”

She hung up and grabbed her handbag. Dominic tried to stop her.

“You’re really going?”

“Yes. Professor Thompson wants to discuss something. It might have something to do with Austin’s bizarre behavior these past two days. Let me go back and find out,” Lily said, nodding.

“You can’t! You already know something’s wrong at the lab, yet you’re going to meet him? What if he’s going to harm you?” Dominic was worried. “Don’t forget you barely escaped alive moments ago! You shouldn’t take this risk!”

“Professor Thompson’s an old man—older than you!” Lily said, chuckling. “If he tries to harm me, he might be in danger, okay? Just relax.”

Dominic frowned. “He’s old, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be alone! Did you forget about the killers? He might have sent them! No, no, you mustn’t go back!”

“If I don’t go back now, what about later, tomorrow, or the day after?” Lily knew she had no choice. “I can’t hide at your place for the rest of my life! Relax. I don’t know who those people were, but they can’t just do anything they want in this country. The security system at my house is still decent, and there are bodyguards. It’s not as unsafe as you think!”

She gently pinched his cheek. “Mommy has to go. Be a good boy, and don’t cause trouble, okay?” She knew that regardless of her house’s safety, she’d be in danger anywhere.

As she left, Dominic hurried after her. “Wait, wait!”