As Nigel was checking messages, Natasha called.

“Hello?”

“Nigel!”

“Sorry I haven’t been in touch. I had a...family emergency to deal with.”

“I hope it’s not something serious?”

Nigel couldn't answer.

“Nigel, you there?”

“Yes,” he said, sobbing.

“I think we need to meet up. I’m about an hour from your location.”

“Okay.”

Nigel was too choked up to say much of anything. The doctors at the hospital encouraged him to talk about his feelings with a psychiatrist, but he didn’t feel comfortable talking to strangers about his recent experiences. He needed a friend now more than ever.

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About forty-five minutes later, Natasha knocked on Nigel’s front door.

“I think we should talk in the car.”

Nigel followed Natasha to a large sedan with tinted windows. Rocky was standing near the rear of the car with the door open.

“You haven’t acknowledged any of your assignments or communicated with us in almost a week. I thought something might have happened to you!” Natasha said.

“My friends and I nearly died.”

“Was there an accident?”

“Someone tried to kill us.”

“What? How?”

“Someone attempted to shoot us. My friend Milo pulled me out of the way just in time, then my friend Jet threw herself on me to get me out of the gunfire. I still can’t believe she did that. Violence is so rare in Milford. A detective grilled me for hours. I was treated like a suspect; it was awful.”

Natasha said nothing for a long time.

“So the shooter is still at large?”

“Yes. The police said they have some leads, but I haven’t heard anything in several days.”

“Take as much time as you need. There is no hurry to return to work; your place in the program is secure.”

“Thank you, but I think I want to return to work as soon as possible. I need to get my mind off it.”

“Take it easy, Nigel. Our primary concern is your safety.”

“It’s not like the work involves leaving the house. I will be fine.”

Nigel didn't really believe that, but he thought he sold it to Natasha. He needed the resources of Collective Systems for his private investigation.