“Oh, Lieutenant,” Major Reed said. “A quick word before you go.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You may wait outside, doctor. We won’t be long,” the major assured Bannock.
With a duck of his head, Bannock exited the office and waited for Lieutenant King. He didn’t have to wait long. Within a couple of minutes, the private meeting was over.
“Allow me to escort you to your quarters, Dr. Bannock,” Lieutenant King said.
“Thank you, Sir. That’s very kind of you.”
The walked down the passage and turned a corner. There, the lieutenant opened a door and ushered Bannock inside. “We need to talk, Dr. Bannock. I have a proposal for you.”
Bannock raised his eyebrows. “A proposal?”
“Yes, you see, the major was not impressed by your interview. He believes you are lying about Dr. Lee because you want to take over the project for yourself.”
Bannock sputtered. “That’s outrageous.”
Lieutenant King studied him. “Is it?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“That you are an ambitious man. One who looks to the future. Did you lie about Dr. Lee? Probably. The major can smell a lie a mile away. Do I care? Not in the least. All I want is your cooperation.”
“Regarding what?” Dr. Bannock asked with a frown.
“Getting rid of Dr. Lee and her group,” Lieutenant King said.
“I take it this is not for the major’s ears?” Bannock speculated.
“No, it’s not.” Lieutenant King’s voice hardened, and his pale blue eyes turned to ice. “It’s to stay between us, Dr. Bannock. If I find out you blabbed about it to anyone, I will make sure you regret it. Understand?”
Dr. Bannock swallowed, a knot of fear forming in his belly. “I understand.”
“Good. Because if you stick with me, I’ll put you in sole charge of USAMRIID and its many scientists. You can take over Dr. Lee’s work, and when you produce a vaccine using her research, you can claim it for your own.”
“You’d let me do that?” Dr. Bannock asked.
“Yes. You’d be the man of the hour, doctor,” Lieutenant King said.
A shiver of excitement ran down Bannock’s spine. The words had a certain ring to them — the man of the hour.
“What do I have to do?” he asked.
“It’s simple. During our operation at the lab today, I discovered three infected specimens being held in captivity.”
Dr. Bannock nodded. “When the outbreak hit the world, killing millions, USAMRIID realized the severity of the outbreak. All available staff, including me, were relocated here to study the virus. We were given all possible resources, including live specimens to study.”
“Lucky for you, I didn’t kill them. They were locked in secure cells, and it was obvious they were there for medical purposes,” Lieutenant King continued.
“What does that have to do with me? Or Dr. Lee?” Bannock asked.
“Now that the lab has been cleared, Dr. Lee will be eager to resume her research. She was the driving force behind the opening up of the building. In a way, doctor, you owe her your life.”
Dr. Bannock blinked, taken aback. “I didn’t know that.”
“Be that as it may, she will be in the lab tomorrow. While she’s there, I want an accident to befall her.”
“An accident?”
“Yes, Dr. Bannock, and I don’t expect her to survive.”
“What do I do?”
“I’ll leave that up to you. Surely, a man as brilliant as yourself can think of something,” Lieutenant King said.
“Why her? What’s she to you?” Bannock asked.
“She’s just another obstacle standing in my way to complete power.” Lieutenant King studied Bannock with eyes that held no mercy. “Make sure you don’t become an obstacle, as well.”
“No, Sir, but what’s the plan?”
“The less you know, the better. All you need to know is that tomorrow night, the storm won’t be the only thing hitting Fort Detrick. Several other changes will happen.”
“I see,” Bannock said, beginning to get the picture.
“All you need to do is get rid of Tara Lee. Once you’ve accomplished that, return to your quarters and wait for the storm to pass,” Lieutenant King said. “Understood?”
Dr. Bannock nodded. “Understood, Sir. I’ll get it done.” And indeed, he would. If there was one thing he lived for, it was bettering himself and his situation. Dr. Lee, be damned.
Chapter 17 - Tara
The morning after the laboratory was cleared, Tara woke up extra early. She wanted everything to be ready for that morning’s breakfast meeting. She slipped out of bed and padded across the thick carpet to the bathroom down the hall.
The reflection in the mirror wasn’t kind. Purple shadows lined her eyes, and she looked exhausted. She’d gone to bed after twelve the night before, and it showed. The previous day had been a nightmare of never-ending decontamination. After the sweeper unit finished, the clean-up crew had gone in.
Not once.
Not twice.
Three times. That’s how long it took them to clear out all the bodies, bits, pieces, blood, gore, and broken glass.
After that, a team of scientists went in, led by Dr. Patel. Their job was to ensure that the pathogens in the lab were safely stored away, and the equipment adequately sterilized. Even after all that, there was still a lot more work to be done, but she was eager to resume her research.
After splashing cold water on her face, she brushed her teeth, tied her hair into a ponytail, and washed her hands. Over her flannel pajamas, she wore a thick woolen robe and a pair of slippers to keep her feet toasty.
With a gaslamp in one hand, she descended the stairs and lit a few candles throughout the kitchen and dining room. They cast a warm golden glow, which gave the house a homey feel. Plus, Saul had covered up the awful message on the front porch. It was starting to feel like a real home, at last.
She put a kettle of water onto the stove to boil along with a pot of oats. While that was busy, she set the table with bowls and spoons. In the middle, she placed sugar, a carton of UHT milk, and a tub of margarine. Margarine was a scarce commodity, and according to Nick, the remainder in storage wouldn’t last long. Might as well enjoy it while it’s there.
She was stirring the oats with a wooden spoon when Dylan walked down the stairs. She too was bundled up in her warmest pajamas, the infernal bunny slippers still on her feet. Tara eyed the pink footwear with a snort of amusement. It was the kind of thing you expected from a ten-year-old…and Dylan.
“Good morning, Dylan. Did you sleep well?” Tara asked as she poured them each a cup of coffee.
“Well enough, thanks, considering how much everything hurts,” Dylan replied, dropping into the nearest chair.
“Hurts?” Tara asked. “How so? Are you sick?”
“No, just stiff. Fighting a bunch of zombies is hard work,” Dylan explained.
“And I’m grateful for it. Because of you guys, I can carry on with my research,” Tara said, her face wreathed with smiles.
“Glad I could be of service,” Dylan said. “Where’s Ethan and Saul?”
“Still sleeping. Ethan came home at the same time I did, after twelve,” Tara said.
Dylan whistled. “That late, huh? How are you even awake?”
“I’m used to pulling late nights in the lab, though I must admit it’s getting harder every year,” Tara admitted.
“On the bright side, guess what I discovered yesterday,” Dylan said.
“Do tell.”
“I had an episode, but this time, I was able to control it.”
Tara’s eyebrows raised. “You were? That’s amazing!”
“The weird thing is, Nick fought with me, and I don’t think he had one at all,” Dylan said.
“Maybe, he did,” Tara said, “but his was so mild, he was able to control it.”
“I’ll have to ask him,” Dylan said. “This
is interesting stuff, and it makes me wonder. Am I learning to control it on my own, or is my brain healing by itself?”
“That’s what makes my job so great,” Tara said. “What I wouldn’t give for a look at your brains.”
Dylan raised her eyebrows. “Really?”
“With an MRI scan, of course,” Tara added hastily.
At that moment, Saul and Ethan entered the kitchen. Ethan, as usual, looked tired, but Saul had a spring in his step, and he greeted Tara with a bone-crushing hug.
“Someone’s in a good mood today,” Tara exclaimed when he finally let her go.
He shrugged. “I feel good, that’s all.”
“Glad to hear it. Coffee?” Tara offered.
“Yes, please.”
“Me too,” Ethan groaned. “I don’t feel so hot today.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor,” Dylan quipped.
“Why? So he can lecture me on the dangers of burnout?” Ethan asked with a wry smile. “No, thanks.”
“Seriously, though. You should take it easy,” Dylan said.
“I will. I’m pulling day shift today. I’ll be home just after five this afternoon,” Ethan said. “There’s rumors among the hospital staff of a storm tonight.”
The roar of an engine interrupted the flow of conversation, and Tara frowned. “Is that a car in our driveway?”
“It must be,” Saul said, walking toward the front door. She walked with him, curious to see who it might be. They stepped onto the porch and shielded their eyes against the glare of the headlights.
The lights switched off, and Tara squinted into the pre-dawn gloom. “Who’s there?”
A slender figure dashed up the steps, and Tara gasped when she recognized Amy. “It’s me, Tara.”
“Oh, my God. Amy? I can’t believe it,” Tara cried, hugging the girl close to her chest.
Amy grinned. “In the flesh, and Alex is here too.”
“How did you know where we lived?” Tara asked.
“Your friend, Nick, showed us the way,” Amy said.
The next moment, Dylan stormed out onto the porch and latched onto Amy with a glad cry. Nick, Alex, and Ethan joined the group, and introductions were made. For a while, the porch became extremely crowded.
Once everyone had greeted everyone, Tara hustled them all inside. “Come in, you lot. It’s freezing.”
“We’ll be right in, Tara,” Nick said. “First, we need to unload the truck. There’s a shitload of supplies in the back.”
“You, guys, go ahead. I’ll boil more water,” Tara agreed.
The men proceeded to carry in all the stuff while Tara made more coffee. Once they were all seated around the table, she asked. “So? Tell us everything?”
“It’s a long story,” Alex said.
“We’ve got time, and don’t leave anything out.”
In bare terms, Alex laid out their story from the moment the horde crashed the safe house to the time they arrived at Fort Detrick.
“Seem like you had quite the adventure,” Saul said.
“I’m just glad you made it out alive,” Dylan added. “To think I was going to leave in the next day or two to go looking for you.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t,” Alex agreed.
“How did Nick find you?” Tara asked.
“A buddy of mine was on gate patrol when they showed up and asked for you by name. He called me, and I put them down as civilians in need of refuge.”
“What about the major?”
“He won’t know they’re friends of yours. According to the report, they’re ordinary people seeking a safe place to live. They’ll be issued with rations and a place to stay like the rest of you. I’ll try to get them the house next to this one.”
“Not that you need the rations judging by everything you brought with you,” Ethan said as he eyed the huge pile of supplies on the floor.
“Yeah, before we came here, we went back to the safehouse. I loaded all the weapons, ammo, and a bunch of other stuff. Water, food, batteries, candles, and so on.”
“That’s good news,” Tara said.
“I also took the liberty of adding a few duffel bags of cold-weather gear for you,” Nick said. “Thermal underwear, thick socks, scarfs, beanies, gloves, and parkas.”
“Why so much? It’s not that cold,” Tara said.
“We got reports from Mount Weather that a snowstorm is moving in. It’ll hit us tonight, and the major has ordered that the base go on lockdown.”
“What does that mean?” Tara asked.
“It means that all civilians will be expected to stay inside their houses while the storm rages. Only personnel with permission are allowed to move around,” Nick explained. “Including you, Tara.”
“And it’s hitting us tonight?” she said.
“That’s right. I suggest that whatever you need to do today, you make sure you’re back here by five at the latest,” Nick said. “Which brings us to our other point of business. What do we do about the attacks on Dylan?”
“Attacks?” Alex asked with a frown. “What attacks?”
Tara quickly laid out the story as she’d memorized it with input from Dylan and Nick: The incident in the cafeteria, the graffiti on the side of the house, and finally, the attempt made to isolate Dylan during the clearing of the USAMRIID building.
“I saw her run and followed,” Nick added. “That’s how we ended up trapped inside one of the labs, radioing Saul for help.”
Saul stepped forward. “There’s more. After you two radioed me, the Lieutenant refused to go to your aid. He kept saying he couldn’t risk his men, and that they needed to clear out the rest of the lab first.”
“He delayed the rescue action?” Nick mused. “That means the lieutenant is in on this as well.”
“Do you think the major is part of it?” Tara asked. “The lieutenant is his right-hand man, after all.”
“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t think so. The major has a strict moral code. If he wants you dead or gone, he’ll play by the book,” Nick said.
“What do we do now?” Dylan asked. “Do we leave?”
“I can’t. I need the lab to do my research,” Tara protested. “We have to stick it out.”
“Stick it out how? If they tried once, they’ll try again,” Dylan protested. “Call me finicky if you like, but I don’t fancy ending up dead.”
An uneasy silence reigned over the once cozy kitchen.
“Are they only after Dylan?” Alex said. “Or, is it all of you?”
“We don’t know yet,” Tara replied.
“Then, I suggest we find out,” Alex said. “Identify the culprits, gather evidence, and lay it in front of Major Reed. If he’s such stickler for the rules, he’ll do something about it.”
“Alex is right,” Nick said. “I have a list of everyone who was on King’s team yesterday. All we need to do is find the one who tried to kill her and question him.”
“Won’t that be dangerous?” Tara asked. “In fact, what if we’re all in danger?”
“Tara is right. Let’s make two rules. None of us go anywhere alone, and we’re armed at all times,” Saul suggested.
“The major won’t like that,” Nick said. “He doesn’t approve of civilians carrying guns. Other weapons, yes, but no guns.”
“The major doesn’t have to know. Not if we conceal it under our clothes, and the weather is perfect for that,” Saul said.
“Good thinking,” Nick agreed.
“What’s the plan then?” Dylan asked. “How do we go about this?”
“Ethan needs to report to the infirmary, or he’ll be missed,” Tara said. “Besides, it’s unlikely they’ll go after him. Out of all of us, he’s the most valuable.”
“Alex and Amy need to register for rations,” Nick said.
“Do they both have to go?” Saul asked.
“No, not really. Alex can register for his sister seeing as he’s responsible for her,” Nick said.
“How about t
his, everyone?” Saul said. “Nick, Dylan, and I can accompany Alex to the rationing offices. At the same time, we’ll fetch our week’s supply of food and drop it off here before the storm breaks. We’ve got the truck now, so it’ll go fast.”
“What happened to the Humvee, by the way?” Alex interrupted.
“The major confiscated it when we got here,” Saul replied. “Anyway, after we unload the rations, we look for this guy of King’s and question him. If we can get him to spill the beans, we can go to the major with the evidence. Then, he’ll have to do something about it.”
“What about Amy and me?” Tara asked.
“They’re expecting you at the lab, Tara,” Saul said. “It will look suspicious if you don’t go, and you can take Amy with you. It’ll be safe there with the other scientists around.”
“Yeah, once we’re done with our things, we can swing by and pick you up,” Nick said. “Ethan too, and we can all get back here before the storm hits.”
“Sounds like a plan of sorts,” Tara agreed. “But what if the major refuses to help?”
“If that happens, we’ll have to consider other alternatives,” Nick said.
“Such as?” Dylan said.
“Leaving for good.”
“You’d do that? You’d leave here with us?” Dylan asked.
“If it came to that, but first, we should exhaust all other options. As Tara said, she needs a working lab.”
“Agreed,” Saul said, standing up. “Let’s eat and get dressed, people. It’s going to be a long day.”
Tara picked up a spoon and began dishing out bowls of oats. “It might not be bacon and eggs, but it will stick to your ribs and keep you warm.”
“Hear, hear,” Dylan said, topping hers with half a pound of sugar.
“Jeez, not that much, Dylan,” Tara admonished.
“But that’s the best way,” Amy said, copying Dylan.
Tara sighed. “Looks like I’ve got two kids to look after now.”
She didn’t mind, though. Not in the least. It felt great to have everyone together again around one table. This is my family now. My apocalyptic family.
Chapter 18 - Amy
Amy stared at the infected woman locked up in her glass cage. She was middle-aged and wore a stained pair of jeans, and a sweater that had seen better days. Her greasy ponytail hung limply down her back, and she swayed back and forth as if in a trance. But she wasn’t. Her eyes, as black as ink, flickered back and forth while the slightest sound caused her to snarl.
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