​     Gramps' phone lit up. He looked to see who it was. 

​     Then his heart both leapt and sank at the same time.

​     He picked up. "Anne," he said. "Please tell me this is a social call."

​     "If only I could." Her face came up on the screen. Anne Welles. Older woman. Gray hair. Slim face. Cobalt blue eyes so intense Gramps always imagined they could burn paper given half a chance.

​     "You're beautiful, Anne," Gramps said. "I have always thought and will always think that you are a stunningly beautiful woman."

​     A slight acknowledgment of gratitude? of joy? flashed in Anne's eyes, then quickly disappeared.

     Okay, Gramps thought. This is ​not a social call.

​     "There's something I need to tell you," she said.

     Whew! Gramps had to sit down. There are governments, and then there are the multi-billionaire industrialists who like to think they own and control those governments, and then there are those who more or less controlled those industrialists, a shadow group so private and so in control no ordinary citizen ever heard of them. Anne was a member of that group. Gramps only heard from Anne professionally very, very rarely, and it was never good when he did.

     "Hit me," he said.

     "There's talk of taking out anything that has anything to do with The Fours Inc.. Ripping it out like a weed is how it's being articulated. There's talk of nukes."

​     "The Fours Inc. headquarters is smack dab in the middle of Seatrailia. You'd take out half the city."

     "They're saying in the long run it might be worth it."

​     "They're not on the wrong track. Eradicating The Fours whenever or wherever we find it is the goal of those I'm with, the Azure, as well."

     "They also want to come after you, you and Adam Forwarder and anyone else who..."

     "Expect a fight there."

     "They want to kill anyone or anything that's ever had any contact whatsoever with The Fours."

     "Scorch Earth us."

     "That's the thought."

     "Thanks for the heads up."

​     "We're meeting with representatives of The Fours Inc. in an hour to discuss..."

​     "Let me guess. Brunch in the Diamond Room of the Diamond Tower?"

​     "It's beautiful."

     "I was at that site last year."

​     "That's right. You and your group were right in the middle of that whole amusement park debacle. That's all been cleared away..."

     "To build the Diamond Tower right on top of it."

​     "It really does glitter like a diamond, don't you think? It gives the whole city a sparkle."​

​     "I've had very few true friends in my long life, Anne, but you certainly are one of them. We need to have a drink someday."

     "A bunch of drinks. We'll allow ourselves to get all weepy and nostalgic for all that was and all that could have been."

     "I look forward to it." ​

​                                                  CONTINUE