If Alpha Knight was surprised at Dr Lance's statement, he was doing a good job of hiding it. But Walter felt he saw a muscle flicker in his jaw before it turned rigid again.

Walter turned back to his father, his heart thumping hard against his chest.

“Mother... Mother said he would come?” he asked.

“Melissa said a lot of things. Most of which I know you've forgotten or never thought mattered because she was...” he trailed off and shook his head.

“Yes, your ...