I bet we’ve wasted well over a trillion dollars and half of our scientists and engineers,” Mike said.“You’re just xenophobic,” Shirley said ...ith a frown.Mike turned to his computer and typed a few commands. A minute later Shirley had an e-mail with links to a number of intelligence reports concerning the Chinese interference in high energy weapons development. She wasn’t very happy by the time she had finished reading them.She looked up and said, “I can’t believe they would actually do that.. Her mum's life was moving on and she (Debbie) was in danger of being left behind.She walked into the back garden and wandered over to the fence. Mr. Groves shed door was closed and he was no where around.Debbie gave an irritable little grunt and went back inside. She went up to her room and wandered around it restlessly, picking things up and putting them back down again. She looked out of her bed room window and could see Pete in his room looking across at her.She casually began to unfasten. She looked to his eyes, his loving gaze beginning to bring her back to life, “I shouldn’t be here because ... earlier, I tried to kill myself. I tried to commit suicide before ending up here!” her voice trailed off in confessed sobbing.Dan was speechless, dumbfounded. He didn’t say anything. Shower water was replaced with his tears, “Remember the old road we sometimes walked that’s near the closed out rock quarry? After arguing with you and hitting you, I was so disgusted, so mad, so fed up. Thanks to Spook, Jackson Edward Carstairs had spotless credit and they were happy to open a new account for him. I also got one of those remote earpieces so I could use it hands-free in the car.Not to talk to Lisa, though; background road noise would tell the government eavesdroppers too much. I did call her to reassure her again that I was still OK, but from a roadside rest stop. Spook routed the call to show the number of the old phone. That one I snapped at the hinge—they're not that.