Chapter 3

John’s words registered in my brain. I mean they must’ve because I found myself following him to his office. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that news report. It’s spread here already? The outbreak only made the news yesterday. Unless…

“He kept this under wraps, didn’t he?” President Lamp was a lot of things: misogynist, hypocrite, megalomaniac, racist, and good old boy, but selfish to the point of jeopardizing everyone’s heath? I didn’t expect that.

The look of exhaustion on John’s face was answer enough. “I just found out about it. Apparently, he was warned late last year.”

I suspected he controlled the news, but I didn’t think he had that strong of a stranglehold on it. I can’t believe I didn’t see a single mention of it all this time.

“Now that it’s reached our shores…” John looked down, and I knew what was coming next.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “No, absolutely not.”

John ran his fingers through his hair, still looking down. “He hasn’t given the order, but you and I both know it’s coming.”

This wasn’t the first time a project I was involved in was ripped out from under me. “But it’s your call, right?”

He laughed as his gaze met mine. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

I folded my arms. This time I wasn’t going to back down. “I want to be there.”

“What?”

“For the briefing, when he gives the order. I want him to tell me to my face.”

He scratched his head. “What difference will that make?”

Likely none. But it would be nice to see the president squirm for a bit. Strong, intelligent women were like kryptonite to him. “I’m the one who’s done all the groundwork, got the bats and the samples flown in. Frederick already has his hands full!” I realized my voice crescendoed as I spoke, and I instantly regretted it.

“I’m sorry,” I continued. “I know it’s not your fault. Just get me in the briefing, will you? Maybe I can make a case for myself.”

The small smile that appeared on his face was one of admiration. “I wouldn’t wish these meetings on anyone else, let alone employees I like. But you can certainly try to dissuade him.” He straightened his glasses as he muttered, “You’d be the first.”

I was about to leave when he spoke up, “I know I don’t have to say this, but it would be best to have that threat report ready.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late and I’m sure he’s putting out fires today, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t call a meeting tomorrow.”

I nodded. In my head I already started to plan everything that had to be done and wondered if I could pull it all together in time.

I had to, there was no alternative. This project was too important for someone else to take over. And dammit it was my idea. But to really wow the president, it would take a different set of skills. Something my assistant was well-suited for.

I remembered the other day, when Amy had her personal laptop. I finally recalled the symbol on the website she had open, it was from a group I’d heard of in college. They were more than hackers—they could break any code, get to any page they wanted. IT was always a means to an end for me, but I recalled talking to one of the group’s members once, and it seemed like she truly believed computers held the secrets to the universe or something. I was a little scared, to be honest.

Amy was getting the bats settled in next to the other cages. The look of distaste she wore when we got them reappeared. I put on my most charming smile.

“So Amy,” I began. “It looks like I need your help after all.”

“Oh yeah?” Her gorgeous brown eyes met mine.

“Am I wrong in thinking computer science is your minor?”

She nodded. “Always good to have a plan B. How did you know?” Her eyebrow lifted. “I know I’m not giving off a computer geek vibe…”

“Nevermind that, I need more information about DESVID-2. I was able to only find a handful of sites, but the cases and fatalities we’re seeing indicate this has been going on a lot longer than the news would have us believe.”

“What makes you think I could find anything else?” She folded her arms against her chest.

“I’m not incorrect.” I stared right back at her.

She sighed as she returned to her desk and cracked open her laptop. “Look, this is our little secret. Next thing you know, everyone will be hitting me up, asking me to fix laptops and shit.”

“My lips are sealed, I promise,” I said. “And thank you.”

With Amy’s help, we found hundreds of articles about the origin, mutation and spread of the virus, plus drugs and treatments already tried. She downloaded everything on to a flash drive and handed it to me.

“Have I ever told you how completely awesome you are?” I said.

She laughed. “No. I’m glad you finally realize it.”

My phone rang, and it was the couriers for the virus. I giggled like a giddy child who just got a cone from the ice cream truck. I knew it was kind of nerdy, but I’d been waiting forever to work on something meaningful. In less than a minute, I suited up in my hazmat suit and met them outside.

They told me the basics—what temperature to store it at, safety protocols and the like. Stuff I already knew, and I was impatient to get started. I signed the document in a hurry and carefully took the package. You’d think it was an atom bomb from how they were acting. But I guess in a way, it could be just as devastating.

When I re-entered the lab, all eyes were on me. Amy smiled a kind of proud, co-conspirator smirk, Frederick’s eyes narrowed at me suspiciously, and the rest of them simply murmured to each other. I headed straight to the small clean room, where all of the critical experiments were performed.

I hadn’t planned on making such an elaborate entrance, and in a way it felt awesome. But the feeling was short-lived. Now I was on Frederick’s radar, and there was no doubt he’d be arguing with John about it within the hour. I had to start testing immediately if I wanted any kind of chance to keep the project. I grabbed the cage with the vampire bats and got to work.

I took baseline bio readings and extracted blood from the vampire bat subjects. Subject A, a male specimen, was larger and based on his readings, more healthy than subject B, a smaller male with less muscle mass. I then injected both subjects with the virus and observed them, all the while sifting through the articles on the flash drive to build my report—studying previous outbreaks and projections, coming up with some kind of plausible numbers for the briefing. I took some more blood samples from both subjects and analyzed the differences. It was nightfall before I even came up for air.

“How’s it going?” Amy asked.

I nodded, as if that was any kind of answer. Maybe my frazzled hair and gaze at the floor clued her into my state of mind, as she thankfully didn’t say anything else.

“Well if there’s nothing more, I’m going to head out.” She stood as she gathered her stuff. “Got a test on microbiology I have to study for.”

I nodded again, mechanically. I need more time, I thought. So much more time.

I grabbed a water from the vending machine and went back to work. It took several hours to finish the threat report. By that time, even the bats were sleepy too. I provided them a couple of mice for food. Then I set a video camera to record in night mode and shut the lights off, so they could feel more comfortable.

As I left, I couldn’t help thinking about the meeting tomorrow. If I wanted to keep this project, I would need more than an amazing threat report to convince him. Any additional information I could provide about the virus would only illustrate the need for study, whether or not it was my study. No, I would have to convince him that I was the one to do it. But how? It didn’t help that I was a woman. Would my academic credentials be enough?

By the time I got home, I was too tired to eat. After taking Thundarr on the fastest walk ever, I came back and collapsed on my bed. Though I wanted nothing more than to pass out, I had to read more of the articles Amy found for me. I had to know more about this virus, what made it tick. I fought sleep for a solid hour before my eyes became too heavy to keep open.

When I awoke, the light outside was far too bright for six a.m. I glanced at the clock, and it read 10:02. I grabbed my cell phone and jumped out of bed, then called my boss and dressed simultaneously.

“You’d better get down here,” John said. “We’re about to start the meeting. The president doesn’t wait for anyone.”

How could I oversleep today, of all days? Did I forget to set the alarm? Last night felt like a blur bleeding into today, because before I knew it, I was there in John’s conference room.

“Then it’s settled,” the president’s loud voice boomed. “Freddy will take over the project from… what was her name?”

“Eliza—” John answered but was cut off.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said, waving his hands dismissively. “I want daily updates on this…”

He continued to speak, but I didn’t hear all the words. This can’t be. I lost it? I lost the project?

“Mr. President,” I said, after clearing my throat. “With all due respect, this is my project.”

“The nerve of this chick. She arrives late and makes demands…” he muttered. “You know what? You’re not just off this project, girlie, you’re done. Pack up your desk, cause you’re fired!”

The last two words were said in such an emphatic manner, and they had a strange reminiscent feel, like something out of an old reality show.

And then it hit me. I’m fired? My mouth gaped open, as I watched a beautiful young intern touch his shoulder. He pushed back from his desk, and she positioned herself in front of him then kneeled down. She was off camera for the most part, except for the top of her head. Then I heard a zipper being undone, and the president let out a moan. He rested his hands atop of her head for a moment, before pushing it down. A faint gurgling noise sounded, and then the top of her head reappeared, his hands grasping fistfuls of her hair. Did she just gasp for air? He shoved her head back down and looked straight into the camera.

“This is the only thing women are good for.”

I screamed, my heart racing, as I bolted upright. Thundarr lifted his head from the foot of my bed and looked at me. I glanced at the clock—it read 4AM. What a bizarre dream. I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm my nerves. I worried about the implications of that dream. As if losing my project wasn’t enough to worry about…

I couldn’t go back to sleep. I kept seeing the president’s smug face and what he was doing to that woman. That part was certainly plausible. It was just the choking part I had trouble with—it was hard to imagine that man having equipment large enough to choke on.

I sighed. Though it was earlier than usual, I knew a run would clear my mind. Thundarr agreed, wagging his tail furiously. After I changed into my workout clothes, I grabbed his leash, and we headed for the city park.

Although my neighborhood was safe, the park also bordered on a questionable part of town. Still, the police had done a good job patrolling it, and I felt safe having Thundarr with me. He seldom barked, but when he did, it was usually for a good reason. Or a squirrel, which I guess counted as a good reason in his mind. And if he somehow failed me, I carried pepper spray and a taser as well.

The park was quiet when we arrived, and no one was around. I exhaled a sigh of relief. With any luck it would stay that way, and I could get a good run in.

We ran a good half mile before Thundarr started to whimper. I slowed to a jog. “What is it, boy?” I glanced around but didn’t see anyone. A twig snapped in the distance.

Thundarr stopped in his tracks, nearly causing me to fall. He positioned himself in front of me and barked non-stop. A shadow moved near a tree, confirming it was not just a squirrel this time.

“Late to be out running, isn’t it?” A short, pale man with black hair stepped out of the shadows. He wore mostly black, and a toothy smile appeared on his face.

“Or early, depends on how you look at it,” I said, trying to come off all cool, but crazy scared inside. What the hell was I thinking running at this hour?

Thundarr continued to bark, snapping his jaws in the direction of the man. I slid my hand into my pocket and grasped the taser.

“Your dog doesn’t seem to care for me,” the man observed, pressing his fingers together in a pensive way. “But I bet he’s just a big old softy, isn’t he? I bet if I walked over and introduced myself, he would just wag that giant tail of his.”

There was a distinct possibility the man was right. In Thundarr’s dealings with strangers in the past, it didn’t take much for him to return to his lovable, friendly self. I’d like to think it would be different if I were attacked, but the truth was, I didn’t know for sure.

“Let’s not test that theory,” I said and flashed a polite smile. “Have a nice day.”

I noticed my shoelace had come untied, so I kneeled to fix it. When I stood back up, the man was about five feet away from me, giving treats to my dog. I stumbled back a little, surprised, while Thundarr chewed, wagging his tail like a big idiot. At that proximity I could see the man’s fingernails, which were unusually long.

“I was never much of a runner myself,” he said, taking a step closer to me. “It’s murder on the joints.”

That particular word choice didn’t feel inconsequential. My heart pounded so hard, I was sure he could hear it. That toothy grin appeared again.

“I-I have to go,” I said, and was about to take off when the man grabbed my arm. The arm on the side where my taser lay comfortably in my pocket.

“It’s rude to leave in the middle of a conversation.”

I reached for the pepper spray in the other pocket with my free hand, when Thundarr suddenly growled and chomped down on the man’s arm.

The man yelled out, and I took the opportunity to break out the pepper spray. I yanked Thundarr off and then sprayed my attacker’s eyes, to make sure he didn’t follow.

“Fucking bitch!” He screamed, rubbing his eyes. He lashed out and managed to scratch my cheek.

I bolted out of there, running back toward the entrance. Thundarr kept pace with me, which I was grateful for. Dragging a hundred pounds of dog wasn’t something I could pull off and still get away. I looked back to ensure the man wasn’t chasing after me. That creepy smile was still on his face, though his eyes squinted. His teeth seemed larger somehow, if that was possible. What the hell was his problem?