Laney jumped and snapped back to reality as Boris' hand came down on her shoulder. She focused on the two men in front of her and shook off the memory of her emotional goodbye with her friend. Boris was studying her face with an expression of concern. She wondered what she revealed to him. She was too like her mother in that way. Dropping her eyes, she reached for her bag, but he lifted it from her hands and began following the captain.

Laney trailed after them, staring ...