In his few dealings with the wiseass brat that Ally used to rant about-- what was the kid's name . . . right, Grant--he'd found him devious and pompous. He was particularly deft at cutting ethical corners and using other people any way he could "Stone," Nina Hampton said gesturing toward Grant, "this is--" "I know exactly who he is," Grant said turning around to face Stone. "W.B. has put out an all-points alert for you, pal. You've got a hell of a nerve weaseling your way in here. But not to worry. You won't be here long." "I won't have you talking that way in my presence, young man," Nina declared "Whatever else you may be, I thought I'd raised you to have a civil tongue in your head" Grant replied without taking his eyes off Stone. "He lied to the front desk, Nina. He signed in as Ally's cousin. And that twit-brain down there let him get away with it. He got up here by using a lie. Now what does that tell you about him?" "It tells me he's creative. This man came with your sister. He's helping take care of her, which is more than can be said about her own brother." "This creep is a newspaper reporter, Nina. He's here to spy. He's planning to do a hatchet job on the Gerex Corporation, and Mr. Bartlett has expressly forbidden anyone to speak to him" "I'm not in your corporation, Son, so I guess it's all right for me then." "You signed a secrecy agreement with Gerex when you entered the clinical trials. Now maybe you don't remember it, but you did" He turned to Stone. "Nice try, amigo. Now come on, let's go." "You know, Grant, I remember you," Stone said "Not very nice recollections." "And I remember you too, pal. You were that screwed-up journalism student Ally dated for a while. Thank God she got rid of you." "Sounds like we were awash in mutual admiration," Stone said. "Tell you what. Are we gonna continue this touching reunion outside, or do I have to call for security and take your trespassing ass out of here in handcuffs? It's entirely up to you." "Grant, I see no reason why I can't talk to him if I want," Nina interjected "Who I talk to or what I say is nobody's business but mine." "You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me," Grant declared. "So I have a little say-so too." He turned back. "Come on, pal. We're gone." I'm screwed, Stone told himself. But what about Ally? If I get kicked out, I'll really be leaving her completely defenseless. "Mrs. Hampton, thank you for letting me check up on you," he said quietly. "Alexa is downstairs. I think her procedure is starting whether she's ready for it or not. You seem very alert, and if I were you, I'd try to monitor her . . . progress as closely as you can." "Don't worry," Grant said. "I'll be keeping close tabs on her. And now let's go." With no option short of killing him on the spot, Stone followed along, seething. This little creep obviously works for Winston Bartlett--he wished Ally had warned him about that. Grant was bound to have shown up at some point.