Dammit, why did she have to meet him now?
“What are you doing here, Sergeant?”
Eva looked past Jack to the plastic curtains. Dr. Arguin, the doctor who had examined her most recently, had returned. He was frowning over his glasses at Jack.
And he wasn’t wearing a mask.
Jack must have noticed it at the same time. He slid from the bed and took a step toward the doctor. “What’s going on? Did you lift the quarantine?”
“There’s no reason to continue it.”
“Then you got the test results? Eva’s okay?”
Oh, yes, she thought. Please. Let it all be a false alarm. A bad dream. If they were lifting the quarantine, that meant they weren’t worried she would spread anything.
But if it was good news, wouldn’t the doctor be smiling?
“I’d like to speak to my patient alone, Sergeant Norton,” he said.
Eva sat forward. “Please, don’t make me wait any longer. Tell me now.”
“Better do as she says, Doctor,” Jack said, pulling off his own mask. “Because you should know I’m not going anywhere until you do.”
Dr. Arguin moved to the foot of the bed. Instead of meeting Eva’s eyes, he looked at the monitor and then down at his hands.
She could see the answer on his face before he spoke. She wanted to cover her ears to stop from hearing it. No. Oh, God, no!
“We’ve compared your blood samples to the latest data we received from the disk you provided,” Dr. Arguin said. “I’m very sorry, Dr. Petrova. There’s no longer any doubt. The pathogen in your blood is the Chameleon Virus.”
Even though Jack had figured this was coming for the past two days, hearing the diagnosis confirmed was like a blow to the gut. He wanted to smash something. He wanted to swear. But the beat from the monitor was accelerating again, so for Eva’s sake he could do neither. He turned and took her hand.
She laced her fingers with his and folded their joined hands to her breasts. He didn’t think she realized she was doing it. Her attention was solely on the doctor.
“And my baby?” she asked.
“Your daughter is fine.”
“Did you say—” Her voice broke. She pressed her lips together, her eyes brimming.
“There’s no trace of the virus in her system, Dr. Petrova. We’ve taken blood samples at eight separate intervals over the past forty-eight hours, and they have all come back negative. Judging by the rate the virus multiplies, if it was present, it would have been detected.”
She looked at Jack. Pain and joy warred on her face.
He pulled off his gloves and wiped a tear from her cheek. He could see that she was trying to retain control and it killed him. She was more concerned for her child than for herself. She had to be the strongest woman he’d ever met. “Katya will be fine, Eva.”
She nodded. “And Sergeant Norton?” she asked. “The rest of the soldiers?”
“The same. All negative. It’s as you said. The virus appears to have adapted itself to your DNA immediately.”
“Then it’s not contagious?” Jack asked.
“According to the experts, Dr. Petrova couldn’t transmit it now any more than she could spread her eye color to someone else. This virus is unique, unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s behaving more like a poison than a microorganism.”
“That’s how Burian said he’d designed it,” Eva said. Her voice trembled. “To eliminate only the target population. A humane weapon that delivers a merciful death. He was very proud of what he’d accomplished.” She closed her eyes. Her chest heaved with a sob.
Jack put his knee on the bed. Taking care not to dislodge Eva’s IV tube or the monitor wire, he slipped his arms around her back and drew her toward him.
She didn’t resist this time. She fitted her head into the hollow of his neck, just as she had so many times before. But this time, he couldn’t shield her. He couldn’t fight this enemy for her. He couldn’t help her with some field first aid and a med kit, either. He’d never felt more useless in his life.
No, that wasn’t right. This was how he’d felt when he’d watched his mother die. It had taken her years.
Eva had mere days.
The urge to smash something grew stronger. But that was okay. As he’d learned before, anger was easier to deal with than grief. That’s why he’d blamed his father for his mother’s death. He’d carried that rage around for years. He’d blamed himself, too, for not being able to help her. And some of the anger had been for his mother, because she’d given up, because she’d left him.
But there was no focus for his anger now, no one to blame other than fate.
He looked at the doctor. “Now that you know what Eva has, you can do something to help her, right?”
“We’ll continue with the drugs we’ve been using. They appear to reduce the rate by which the virus is replicating itself.”
“You mean you can slow it down?”
“To some extent.”
Another ten days, fourteen at the most. He tightened his arms around Eva. He could feel her shaking. Or was that him?
“Time to go, Sergeant. I need to examine my patient.”
Eva raised her head. “Wait. Jack, I need to ask you something.”
“Name it, Eva.”
“I know it’s not your responsibility, but I know I can trust you.”
“Whatever I can do, I will.”
“I need to know that Katya will be all right after…” Her voice cracked. “When I’m gone.”
He didn’t want to hear this. Not now. Not yet. She still could have another two weeks. But he knew she had to say it. That’s the kind of woman she was. Her first concern would never be for herself. He clenched his jaw and nodded once.
“My mother had cousins in Ohio,” she continued, her words coming quickly, as if she worried she wouldn’t get them all out. “I didn’t know them, but I remember they came to her funeral. Could you find them? See what kind of people they are? I want Katya to be raised by family.”
Jack had been fourteen when the social service worker had removed him from the house. He’d had plenty of relatives, but none of them had been willing to take in a troublemaker like him. His memories of the first foster home were hazy. He wished he could forget the rest. He couldn’t picture Eva’s baby following the same path. “I’ll find them,” he said.
“And if you can’t find my relatives, be sure to find her a good home.”
His chest hurt. “I will.”
“She needs someone who can love her.”
“Anyone would love the pipsqueak.”
The beat of the heart monitor accelerated. “Whatever happens, don’t let Burian take her. Use the documents in my quarters, the ones the CIA gave me. They should carry weight in court.”
“Eva—”
“Just promise me you’ll look out for my daughter. Please, Jack.”
“I promise, Eva. I’ll make sure Katya gets everything she needs. And Burian will never touch her, I swear.”
Dr. Arguin clamped his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “You have to leave.”
He had a flash of panic. He didn’t want to let go of her. He couldn’t make himself move until Eva pushed at his chest. Somehow he managed to drop his arms and slide off the bed, then backed through the plastic curtains and left the room. Ten feet down the corridor, his lungs stopped working. He leaned over, braced his hands on his knees and fought for breath.
Damn, this wasn’t fair.
But life wasn’t fair. He’d already learned that. There were other lessons he’d learned, too. A man had to look out for himself. No strings meant no pain. It was better to be the one doing the leaving than the one who was left. That’s why Jack never made promises. People got hurt when they were broken.
So he’d made sure never to linger. He’d convinced himself he wouldn’t make a good husband or father. He’d believed he was protecting the women he dated, but in fact he was only protecting himself.
Sex and a good
time. A brief time. That’s all he’d been willing to share.
Then why was this different? Why had he been willing to promise Eva anything? Because she wouldn’t live long enough to realize when he broke his word?
Jack straightened and drove his fist into the wall. The steel didn’t give. He looked at the blood that oozed from his knuckles, welcoming the physical pain. She shouldn’t have asked him to look out for Katya. It was an impossible task. He wouldn’t be able to find anyone who would be good enough for her. No one would be able to love that child as much as Eva did.
And she was right. The baby needed love. She needed it as much as warmth and food. Otherwise, she would learn how to wall off her heart. How to grow up alone. How to make her career her life and convince herself that her work was all she needed the way Eva had, the way Jack had. And then just when she found someone who made her question all the lessons she’d learned, she would lose them anyway….
His vision blurred. He hit the wall again. He was drawing his arm back for a third blow when someone seized his elbow and spun him around.
“I wouldn’t do that, Jack. The wall always wins.”
Jack wiped his free hand across his face and saw that Tyler was standing in front of him. Duncan and Kurt were striding toward them, with Gonzo a few steps behind.
“How’s she doing?” Duncan asked.
Tyler turned Jack’s arm to show them his bleeding knuckles, then released his grip. “Does that answer your question?”
“We heard the diagnosis,” Kurt said. “Sorry, man.”
Jack folded his arms over his chest. “Yeah.”
“At least Ryazan’s bug isn’t catching.”
“Lucky us. If you were coming to see Eva, she’s busy with the doctor.”
“We were looking for you,” Tyler said.
“Why?”
“We’re meeting the major. Figured you’d want to come along.”
“I’m not going anywhere, junior,” Jack said.
Kurt glanced at the other men. “Jack hasn’t heard.”
“I know the quarantine’s been lifted. I’m staying here until Eva…” He inhaled hard through his nose. “She shouldn’t be alone. I’ll put in for emergency leave.”
“You need to know what Tim Shires learned from the CIA’s pet scientists,” Duncan said.
“What’s more to know? They confirmed Eva’s got the virus and we don’t.”
“Sure, but there was stuff on that disk she didn’t know about.”
He was having a hard time following the conversation. He didn’t want to talk. He still wanted to hit something. He turned his wrist to press his knuckles into his sleeve. “It was a big project. Eva worked on only one part. So what?”
“From what Shires said, someone at Ryazan’s complex was working on a vaccine.”
Overhead, one of the catapults thudded back into action. Jack’s pulse took a sudden leap along with it. “There’s a vaccine? The virus can be stopped?”
“It looks like it.”
Jack lunged forward and grabbed the front of Duncan’s shirt. “Why the hell aren’t they giving it to her? The doctor never said anything.” He let go of Duncan and turned. “They’re wasting time. If they can’t do it here they should fly her out.”
Tyler stepped into his path before he could go past. “It’s not that simple, Jack.”
“Duncan just said—”
“There’s a vaccine,” Duncan said. “But the data on Eva’s disk was incomplete. That’s why they can’t use it. Given enough time, they’ll probably be able to duplicate the research, but—”
“But Eva doesn’t have time.”
Kurt nodded. “That’s why we’re meeting Redinger. The disk doesn’t have what she needs, so we’re volunteering to go back to the source.”
Jack looked from one man to another. They each wore identical, grim expressions. His brain finally kicked into gear. “The source,” he said. “You mean the complex.”
“It’s our bet that Ryazan’s either got the vaccine or he has the formula on one of his computers.”
“The spooks and their scientists gave it their best shot,” Tyler said. “Now it’s our turn.”
Chapter 11
The floor shook beneath Jack’s boots as he paced across the briefing room. Jets were being launched every few minutes to make up for the lockdown of the day before. For more than two days he hadn’t wanted to leave the ship, but this morning he couldn’t go soon enough. It was already dawn. They’d approached the major more than six hours ago. Every minute they delayed was one less minute that Eva had.
“Cut it out, Jack,” Kurt muttered. “You’re making me dizzy.”
Tyler leaned a shoulder against the wall. “Wonder what’s taking Redinger so long.”
“He’s probably having trouble getting the brass out of bed,” Duncan said. “It’s still the middle of the night in Washington.”
Jack kicked a chair out of his way and started for another circuit of the room.
“We won’t be going in until dark anyway,” Gonzo said. He folded his arms on the table and lowered his head. “Might as well catch some sleep while we can.”
The door to the briefing room opened. Gonzales shot to his feet as Mitchell Redinger strode to the front of the room. Jack and the rest of the team came to attention.
“I’d like to commend you all for your initiative,” Redinger said.
Jack tensed. This didn’t sound like the start of a mission briefing.
The major’s next words proved him right. “However, the Pentagon won’t authorize a second incursion into Russian territory.”
Only years of discipline kept Jack motionless. He had less success keeping silent. “Sir, it’s not really a second mission. Our initial mission isn’t over.”
“According to my superiors, it is. You accomplished your objective. The CIA is continuing to analyze the data Dr. Petrova provided, and they are confident they have more than enough to make a credible case to the U.N. The Chameleon Virus program will be stopped.”
“But the data wasn’t complete, Major.”
“It’s been deemed sufficient for their purpose. The diplomats have already scheduled talks. They don’t want to risk provoking the Russians further by sending the team back in.”
Jack tightened his hands into fists. He knew what the major meant. All along, the government had considered the information Eva could provide to be more important than she was. The team had suspected as much. So had Eva. That’s why she’d been so adamant about concealing that disk.
She wasn’t going to get any satisfaction to learn she’d been right.
“Sir, Dr. Petrova risked her life to stop the work on the Chameleon Virus. She didn’t have to come forward. The government owes her. So does the rest of the world.”
“I used all those arguments and more, Sergeant Norton. The answer was the same.”
“Right. Because the pencil-pushing bureaucrats in Washington decided Eva was expendable.”
Tyler moved beside Jack and gave him a hard nudge. “Easy, Jack,” he muttered.
Jack knew he was skirting the edge of insubordination already, but he didn’t care. He stepped forward. “Major Redinger, since the brass won’t send the team back into Russia, I volunteer to go on my own.”
Redinger’s gaze bored into Jack’s. “This meeting is over. You men are dismissed. Except for you, Norton.”
Tyler gave him another warning nudge before he left. From the corner of his eye Jack could see Duncan frown and shake his head. He knew they were trying to caution him. He’d done the same for other teammates in the past when they had questioned the major’s orders. It had no effect. The moment the door closed behind them, he was determined to state his case. “Permission to speak freely, Major?”
“Go ahead.”
“I realize one life doesn’t mean much to the guys who drive the desks, but I can’t stand by and watch Eva die when I know there’s a vaccine out there that can help her. I don’t give a damn abou
t politics. My only concern is her survival.”
“That’s become obvious to everyone on this ship. It’s a mistake to get personally involved when you’re on a mission, and this is why. You lose your objectivity.”
“It’s true. I have. Eva is my priority now. I can’t give up on her. As long as there’s hope, I’m going to do everything in my power to see that she lives. If you were in my position, I believe you’d do the same.”
Redinger’s jaw twitched. He rubbed his thumb over his wedding ring.
Jack had a flash of guilt. He hadn’t intended to remind the major of his late wife, but he wasn’t going to apologize. If it would help Eva, he’d do whatever it took.
“I’m not without compassion, Norton. I know how difficult it is to accept the loss of a woman you care about. But the army isn’t here for our personal convenience. We all have orders to follow.”
“Then I’d like to request a leave, sir.”
“If you’re contemplating going after that vaccine on your own, you’ll be acting without permission.”
“I understand, Major.”
“Have you considered the possible consequences? Without military resources, it could be suicide. Even if you managed to get into the complex and get back in one piece, you could face a court martial. It could end your career. You’re a good soldier, Norton. I wouldn’t want to see that happen.”
Neither would Jack. He loved what he did. It gave him purpose. The army had been the focus of his life for seventeen years. It was his home just like Eagle Squadron was his family.
Yet there was more to life than his work and his duty. His teammates would still be his brothers, whether he saw them every day or not.
But he couldn’t imagine not seeing Eva again.
“I’m willing to take the gamble, Major. The way I look at it, I have more to lose if I stay than if I go.”
Redinger regarded him in silence for a minute. Jack took his scrutiny without flinching. He knew the major could have him locked in the ship’s brig for his honesty, but if that happened, Jack was confident he would find a way out. If he was forced to return to the States, he would find a way back. He wasn’t going to let Eva go without a fight.
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