Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Tracey's face changed in an instant, as if she'd just stumbled onto something big.

She furrowed her brow, staring at the virus sample on the kitchen table for a long moment. Then she hurried over to review the files Elysia had brought with her.

The more Tracey read, the deeper her frown became.

Elysia could tell by her grandmother's expression that this wasn't just some routine check-up. Her heart began to race.

"Gran, what's wrong?"

Tracey pressed her lips together, thinking hard, then shot a question back at her.

"Elysia, where exactly did this virus come from?"

Elysia blinked, a little confused. She'd already explained this part, hadn't she? Why was Gran asking again?

Still, she repeated herself, just to be sure.

"My best friend's lousy ex-husband started a pharmaceutical company. The virus sample and the antidote both came from him."

"And his name?" Tracey pressed.

"Zane Livingston."

"Zane?" Tracey repeated, eyebrows knitted, turning the name over in her mind.

After a pause, Tracey continued, "What's his company called?"

"Central Pharmaceuticals."

"Never heard of it. Is it new?"

"Yeah, it's not even public yet. But from what Tarquin told me, this guy has big plans. Tarquin suspects he's trying to release the virus, then sell the cure for a huge profit."

Tracey fell silent again.

There's no way, she thought.

A brand-new company couldn't have developed something this advanced. If any pharmaceutical lab had the brains to create a virus like this, she would've heard about it already.

Elysia fidgeted, glancing at her grandmother.

"Gran, did you find something?"

She was nervous now. Elysia might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she knew her grandmother was practically legendary for her medical skills. That's why she'd rushed out here to Grandma's place in the countryside, after all.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her grandmother look like this. That face always meant serious trouble.

Tracey finally exhaled, her tone a little calmer.

"I can handle this virus, Elysia. Don't worry."

"You can?" Elysia said, startled.

She'd thought Gran's worried look meant even she was stumped.

Tracey nodded.

"Leave it to me, honey. You don't need to stress about it."

"But just now—"

Tracey interrupted gently,

"Seeing this virus, I remembered some things I'd rather forget. It threw me for a

minute, but I'm alright. Don't worry about me."

Elysia hesitated, but Tracey was already ushering her out.

"Go on, get back to the kids. I saw little Baby earlier-she's a sensitive soul. If she wakes up and you're not there, she'll probably burst into tears. Plus, you've been running around for days. Go get some sleep. I'll do the same, and we'll talk more in the morning."

Elysia had a dozen questions still burning in her chest, but Gran was firm. She said her goodbyes and left quietly.

As soon as Elysia was gone, Tracey's frown returned, stormy as ever.

She sat in silence for a while, thinking, before picking up her phone and calling Bernard.

"Tell Tarquin to come see me as soon as he gets home," she said.

An hour later, Tarquin returned, trailing behind a couple of uncles who'd come in for pie and coffee.

As Tracey had asked, Tarquin came right over. Tracey was already

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waiting, sipping her tea in the living room, looking like she'd been expecting him for hours.

"Gran," Tarquin greeted her.

Tracey nodded at the sofa across from her.

"Sit down, Tarquin."

He sat, folding his hands in his lap.noveldrama

"You wanted to see me?"

Tracey's gaze was sharp as she got straight to the point.

"That bottle of poison Elysia brought home-where did it really come from?"

Tarquin hesitated.

Tracey stared him down, her voice firm as steel.

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"Elysia told me it came from some guy named Zane, who runs Central Pharmaceuticals. She thinks he's spreading the virus just to make a killing off the cure." . to

She shook her head.

"But let me tell you, Tarquin-neither Zane nor his little start-up has the brains or

the resources to cook up a virus this sophisticated. Not a chance."