Dead Girl Running (The New Order Book 1) by Ann M. Noser Page B

with your father. He was killed in the same explosion.”



ack at work again the following morning, I hum the haunting melody Mom practiced on her violin last night. We’d barely spoken after I got home which wasn’t all that unusual. Her tense face warned me to be quiet and give her the space she needed to focus on her music. Plus, I needed the time to process everything Franco had told me about his connection to the accident that changed my life. His uncle had died alongside my father. He knew what my family had been through. Plus, he was a genius. He’d described all of his many projects to me in detail. He was as smart as Gus.
    Almost.
    Mid-morning, Gus clears his throat. “Silvia, is there a reason you keep repeating the same five bars of music over and over again? Or is this an evil plot to make me lose my mind?”
    “I met someone.” And I can’t stop smiling, even though our main topic on the way home last night was my father’s death. It should depress me, but it doesn’t. Instead, I feel like I’ve finally got something in common with someone. And that someone is Franco. All I want is to see him again. Soon.
    “I knew this would happen to you eventually.” Gus sighs dramatically, reminding me of his past days in the theater. “I suppose this means it’s all downhill from here. You’ll float around in a daze, get sloppy in your work, and ruin my high opinion of you.”
    I laugh. “I promise I won’t let it affect my job.”
    “Glad to hear it.” He turns back to his autopsy. “Hand me a new scalpel. This one’s dull already. They sure don’t make things like they used to.”
    I scurry across the room, unwrap the foil protecting the blade, and hand it over.
    “What’s this lucky guy’s name?” Gus waggles his unruly eyebrows.
    “Nobody you know,” I assure him.
    “Maybe I should meet him. Make sure he’s good enough for you.”
    I chuckle. “One of the things I always liked about you, Gus, was that you weren’t nosy. So much for that, I guess.”
    “Since I don’t have any children, I’ve got to be protective of somebody. You’re always hanging around here, so it might as well be you.”
    “Okay, I’ll tell you.” I take a deep breath. “His name is Franco Harman… but don’t say anything to anyone because—”
    The fresh blade clatters to the floor.
    “What’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?” I swoop down to gather the instrument then glance up at his pale face.
    Gus shakes his head. “Sorry about that. You have no—it’s just—I’m sorry.” He wipes his brow with the back of a bloody glove and takes a deep breath. “I haven’t heard that name in a very long time.”
    “You
know
him?” I stand and set the scalpel holder on the tray.
    “He was Ben’s student. His prize intern, in fact.”
    My heart sinks. Poor Gus. I hate reminding him of his sad past. “He said he studied under the best,” I murmur.
    Gus smiles weakly. “Ben expected big things out of that boy. But that was many years ago. He must be…” His eyes widen.
    “Yeah… a few years older than me.” I shrug. “Please don’t say anything to anybody. It’s really just a stupid crush of mine. He did give me a tour of his greenhouse yesterday.”
    Gus raises his eyebrows. “And how did you like it?”
    “Honestly, the interns there are only doing baby steps. I’m doing much harder work here. I think this job is
much
more challenging. And I like to challenge myself. I don’t want to be bored all the time.”
    “Good. And you’re right. Most of Plant Production is very menial work. Of course, I’m sure your not-so-young Franco has moved up in the ranks.”
    “Yes. He’s in charge of quite a few projects.”
    Gus makes a silly face. “He sounds so
dreamy.
”
    I laugh. “That. And a bit mad. His mood changes ‘faster than the weather’ as my mom likes to say.”
    Gus focuses his gaze on the autopsy on the table. “I’m not following you.”
    “Well… the greenhouse he works in is