She finished her coffee and put the cup back down, pushing it away. “Well… it was nice talking to you, Mr…?”
“Zero.” He smiled.
“Mr. Zero,” she corrected herself as she stood. “But I’m afraid I need to get back to work.”
“It’s just Zero.” He stood at the same time. “What time do you get off work?”
“I’m afraid I’m pulling the graveyard tonight,” she said with a smile, totally brushing him off. She had a name now, so she could find out more about him. Even if she had to impound his damn ship to find out who the hell he and his friends were. “Perhaps see you around.”
And with that, she left quickly.
❖
Her quip to Zero had been meant as a brush off, but less than four hours later it turned out to be unwittingly prophetic.
“You have to be kidding me?” she asked, her expression flat and
