Xyla Quest stroked her hair awkwardly. She gathered all her courage to meet Stanley Batton’s eyes and said, “Of course I’m worried about you. We’re still working together, you see. It will be very troublesome to me if anything were to happen to you.”

“Oh? Is that what this is all about?” Stanley’s eyes were full of suspicion.

“And…And we’re friends. I don’t want my friend to get into any trouble.”

“And?” Stanley continued to ask calmly.

“That’s all…” Xyla answered.

“Oh.”

“Look, you’ve hel