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"We’re interested in the truth," I said

"Are you?" He dropped the match into an ashtray shaped like a turtle Obviously crafted by little hands, it seemed out of place on his ht … we hoped we could get it from you Will you tell us?" I asked "The truth about Chronos?"

"That’s a little tricky," he said, puffing once end"

I frowned Waited

"Chronos’s biggest desire is to be part of so that’s as ancient as time itself" He stared at the pipe until the fire went out "And I find it hard to believe that Lia, when his father knows far more about it than I do"

My jaw dropped "How did you knoho--"

"You have your father’s build You even have his way of listening, taking things in without giving anything away" He struck another match and relit the tobacco "And then, of course, your mother’s famous blue eyes"

The last observation sideswiped me Em must have sensed it, because she took control of the conversation again

"You said Chronos wanted to be part of so as ‘ancient as ti draw on his pipe

"Please tell us?" Ee of his desk

"Again, these are answers you should be getting fro the air with the aromatic scent of vanilla

"You say that like it’s si I don’t even knohat questions to ask"

"Then I most certainly have to respect Liaretful "But I can say that when Teague left Bennett University, the … scope … of her interests narrowed"

"What did she focus on?" I asked

"I can’t tell you any aze on me "Except … no man--or woman--is an island"

"Okay" E, she took her hands off Dr Turner’s desk and leaned back into her chair "If you won’t tell us about Teague, can you tell us about Jack Landers?"

"Doesn’t he ith Liae last year after the … accident?" He was feigning innocence I’d have known by his wide-eyed expression even if I hadn’t been able to feel it

"It changed" Our cover to explain Dad’s "death" was that he’d survived the explosion, but with a head injury that caused amnesia We didn’t have a solid cover for Jack "So have you seen hier enored my question as well and took another deep puff on his pipe

Stalemate "Maybe you should ask my father"

"Touché" He raised one eyebrow "Of course, if I did ask your father, I’d have to let him know you’d been to visit Asked lots of questions"

"Fine" The old ame of hardball He knew er employed at Cameron Or by my father"

"I see" He lowered his pipe to the turtle ashtray "No I haven’t seen hied to establish is that neither of us knehere Jack was, but Dr Turner was feeling satisfied I was left feeling I’d given so in return

"I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you more information" Dr Turner stood and picked up a briefcase from beside his desk

"Wait!" Emerson jumped to her feet "That’s it? That’s all?"

"I don’t have anything else to tell you, and I have a lecture to give But …" He stared atwhile you’re here?"