I suddenly got very dizzy and felt close to fainting. I collapsed on the sofa we have in the room.

"Do you think they know how to make it?" I said, not feeling so well.

"Well, they know which plants we used from Brazil and the Congo to make it. And I don't know how, but they also find out the kind of bacteria we used. And they know how to GMO. What they don't know is how to GMO the bacteria."

I felt a little relived. I drank some water. "How long do you think we have before they start producing the cure too?"

"Anywhere from a year and a half to three years."

"And what should we do when it happens?"

He got up and started pacing back and forth. "Well, we both know that when they do acquire it, they're going to sell it at ridiculous prices. But at least by then we'll have a lot more and people won't need to go poor to get better."

It was 5:48 pm now. My eyes came upon a photo with me and my family. Then, a troubling question came to my mind. "Larry?"

"Yeah?"

"I know that this is an unpleasant question, but, doesn't this all raises my chances of being assassinated?"

"Yes. It does. Quite significantly."

"Would you say by about 30%?"

He shook his head. "Nah! I'd say 62%. And probably 30% for the rest of the family. And maybe 78% for Lilia."

"Lilia?! Why would anyone want to kill her?"

"Well, for one thing, everyone knows she's your girlfriend. And people are bound to find out that her aunt is getting the cure. So people will take it as favoritism. That's unavoidable. You know, as tight as we are, we're not a safe box. We can't keep everything from the public."

"That's true. So what do you suggest?"

"Well…you told Lilia and her family to take her aunt to the Palace, right?"

I nodded.

"In that case, once we get home, you and Lilia and her family and your family stay inside until I tell you to. Keep all the doors and windows shut and locked. Draw all the binds and close all the curtains. And try to stay away from all the windows on the front side. And don't have any contact with the outside world. Don't write letters, talk on the phone, send text messages, or anything like that."

I nodded. "I might also suggest adding three or four more units of guards."

"Yes, that too. And whatever you do, don't go anywhere near a pharmacy. There are liable to be snipers everywhere."

I looked at the clock. It was six now. "I guess we should head home."

Larry nodded. "Yeah. I have a bottle of the stuff in my briefcase." He patted his closed briefcase.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Now let's try to get home without getting killed. Literally."

We grabbed our stuff and locked the office with the lock, the combination, and the fingerprint lock. Then we ran like crazy up to the lobby. We stopped short in our tracks when we saw what we saw.

A huge mob of people were yelling and protesting. When they saw me, they suddenly got more violent and started breaking the glass. They were being held back by riot police and soldiers.

Larry and I ran to the garage. It was empty, thank goodness. We got into TIV and started the engine. I ran up to the roof of the parking garage instead of to the exit. I didn't want to take chances. I was flying home.

We landed in the front yard, right in front of the main doors. There were also hordes of people piled up against the Palace Gates. There were hundreds of guards holding them back and standing by ready.

Larry and I ran inside and locked the door behind us.

We were both panting and breathing heavily. Kathy came down the stairs. She ran to me and hugged me very tight. "Oh, Spiny! I'm so glad you're okay!"

I hugged her back. "Shh. Shh. It's okay, sis. I'm okay. We're going to be fine. I promise."

I could hear her whimpering. "I'm scared."

"I know, I know. I'm terrified. But we'll be okay." Behind her, Lilia came down. We ran to each other and kissed. Then she hugged me too. "I'm so happy you're here!"

I laughed, trying to make her feel better. "So am I." I pulled away from her, my hands still around her. "Where's your aunt?"

"We put her in the guest room."

I nodded. I turned to Larry. "He brought some of the medicine. It should be enough for her. Come on." The four of us walked up to the third floor. I was SO exhausted. When I was halfway to the guest room, I almost collapsed.

Larry and Lilia grabbed me by the arms and helped me up. "You've been under a lot of pressure. You need to rest," said Larry. "I'll go give her the medicine, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay." I looked at Kathy. "Have you guys had dinner?"

She nodded. "We had a little bit. I guess we weren't too hungry because we've been worried. But we had enough."

I held on to my room's doorknob. "If it's not too much trouble, could I have dinner in bed?"

She smiled. "No bother at all."

I nodded and said, "Thanks, sis." I kissed her on the cheek. "I love you."

"I do too, big brother."

I smiled at her. Then I kissed Lilia. "I love you, too, you know."

She smiled. "Thanks, I love you too."

I opened the door to my room, and closed it behind me. Phew! Before I did anything else, I shut the window and locked it. Then I drew the blinds and closed the curtains. I turned on the lights and put away my briefcase. I was starting to change when someone knocked on the door.

"It's open!"

The door opened and there was Mr. Woods, his wife, Lilia's sister Rebecca, and Robert and Greeny. I smiled at them. "Hey!" Robert and Greeny ran to me. I hugged both of them. It was such a great family moment. I could feel the tears coming out. I felt so safe and secure.

"Listen, why don't you guys go see if the girls or Larry need help in anything, all right?"

"All right," said Robert. "Come on, Greeny."

"Spiny?" said Greeny.

"Yeah?"

"Did you bring me anything?"

We all laughed. I reached into my pockets and handed him a pen from my office. "Here you go!"

He smiled. "Yay!" He and Robert ran out the room.

I looked at the Woods'. "I love it when he says 'yay.' Well, what can I do for you?"

Mr. Woods said, "We just want to thank you, Spiny. For your hospitality and personal interest in our family. We understand that you're risking your own life."

Then his wife said, "But we are very grateful and sincerely appreciate it. We'll never be able to repay you."

I smiled. "Well, you know what they say: Love your neighbor and a true friend is there in time of need."

Then, Rebecca said, "We'll do anything to help you. And we…well, we just can't express how we feel." She leaned closer and kissed my cheek.

"Well," I said. "You are all like my family. How could I abandon my family?"

"Well, we just want to let you know how we feel."

"We'll let you change and rest now," said Mr. Woods. "Will you be going straight to bed?"

"I think so. So I guess I should say goodnight."

"Goodnight," they all said. They closed the door after leaving. I started changing out of my suit and into my pajamas and my slippers. After I hung up my coat and pants and put away my dress shoes, someone knocked the door. "Come in!"

It was Larry. "I've already given her a dose of the medicine. I'm not sure how long it will take to start making effect. The next 24 to 48 hours will tell whether she'll make it."

I sighed. "Let's just keep hoping and praying."

He nodded. He had never looked so serious, worried, and solemn in all my life. It was then that I realized that this was a part of Larry that I had never seen before. It was his softer, more empathetic and compassionate side. But it made me glad to have him for my best friend.

"Just to be safe, I'm going to stay with her all night," Larry said. "Lilia's mom and dad are going to sleep in the Celebrity Guest Room. And Rebecca's bunked up in the Honorary Guest Room." That's the room we use for when we invite some dignitary from other countries. Like a King, Queen, Prime Minister, a President, an ambassador, or something like that.

I nodded. "All right. Um, how about Lilia?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Well, uh, she didn't want to sleep in any of those. She didn't exactly say."

"Oh. Well, I'll ask her later."

He nodded. "Okay. I'm going to go see how her aunt is. Goodnight, Spiny."

I smiled at him. "Goodnight…friend."

He smiled and shut the door and left. Maybe it was my imagination, but I may have caught a tear coming from his eye.

I got into bed and started reading. A while later Kathy came with my dinner on a silver tray. Then she left and said goodnight. They'd cooked strips of beef in spices and green bell pepper and onion with rice and vegetables. I was halfway through the veggies when Lilia walked in.

She was carrying…a duffel bag, a towel, and a book. "I asked my parents if it was okay."

My heart started pounding like crazy. "Um…what is okay?"

"That I sleep in Larry's bed."

Okay, now my heart started throbbing and pounding so hard, I knew for a fact that everyone in the Palace could hear it. It was ready to jump out of my chest. I gulped the rice. She said, "That is, if it's okay with you?"

"Um…yeah. It's okay with me. But I think we shouldn't tell anyone. You know how people twist stories."

She nodded. "I know. I'm just going to in your bathroom to change, okay?"

I nodded. She placed the duffel bag on Larry's bed, which was by the way, about five or six feet away from mine. She got out her toothbrush, dental floss, face soap, and her pajamas and walked into the bathroom.

And to think that this all happened because Larry made a cure for cancer.