Dead Market

by Gary Starta

  “No, I haven’t. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly looking for one.”

  “Then you are sure there are no bite wounds.”

  “I can be sure of that. There were no abrasions to indicate such a wound. Is that all?”

  Gonzalez mumbled under his breath. Damn it. This will have to do.

  ***

  Gonzalez’s next visit did afford him to meet in person with a correspondent from the Washington Vigil. Hardly vigilant, Gonzalez mused, not even sparing a full-time reporter to talk with me. At least I’ll have the opportunity to play on this man’s sympathies.

  Correspondent Gregory Tompkins avoided eye contact with his subject however, penning notes on paper, nodding every now and then when Gonzalez paused.

  “I tell you. This is all true. I have no reason to benefit from this.”

  Tompkins finally lifted his eyes to assess the Florida ME who just accused the Tampa Police Department of a cover up. Gonzalez could not fathom if the correspondent deemed him credible or not. The correspondent bent his head again to scribble more notes.

  After another scribble, Tompkins talked.

  “We will have to fact check this account of yours, Dr. Gonzalez. It alleges a lot of wrongdoing on the part of a police chief. It also would stir a lot of panic alarm, not to mention outrage. You allege the perpetrator of this crime not only wasn’t present during your observations but that he or she was never killed by police fire, and most importantly, he or she is still loose on the streets, possibly infecting others via bite.”

  “It doesn’t sound that odd when you consider how a prion induced disease affects the nervous systems of its victim. The perp is most likely a victim themselves. And I believe Congressman Katz would have behaved similar, possibly infecting others, if he wasn’t shot. It seems to me very odd that a S.W.A.T. team was immediately on hand to subdue him. It also seems to me that someone knew how this man would behave after becoming infected. They might have been prepared for the violence.”

  “So, you allege someone gave this disease to Congressman Katz. But for what purpose, doctor? You allege the same people who purposely infected him, killed him. To what end? And just to be consistent, you say Katz had no bite wounds. So, do you have a theory how the disease was transmitted to him?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I need your paper to investigate. You might gain notoriety by breaking such a story.”

  “I could also be fired. Newspapers love sales, but they don’t love lawsuits. I would need to confirm the perpetrator of the Tampa cop killing was never catalogued into a morgue and was never buried.”

  “I’m here, telling you that. I was the coroner. The only person I checked into the morgue was Detective Robert Comiskey. And you also must consider that the body of Officer Derek Burnham was never found.”

  “He was never found because the body was incinerated. You told me that.”

  “That’s the department’s theory; it can’t be proved. There’s no hard evidence to show Derek Burnham remains were discovered. I conclude he is diseased and at large.”

  “Ah, yes. You said this before. The disease reanimates its victims. So, I even if I can conclude Chomsky’s killer was never apprehended, do you really believe reanimation is going to be possible to fact check? I remind you, the Vigil is not a tabloid.”

  “No. You’re right Mr. Tompkins. I won’t even hazard to allege that you’ll be printing my story.”

  ***

  Three strikes, you’re out. Third time is a charm. Which would it be?

  Gonzalez conceded his attempts to win the confidence of the DC coroner and the attention of the press failed.

  Yet he still believed the FBI simply couldn’t ignore his accusations. They would be forced to investigate allegations, especially ones which smacked of conspiracy, connecting the death of a congressman with law officers in Florida.

  FBI Special Agent Carole Price obliged Gonzalez for nearly half an hour, allowing the ME to ramble about an engineered outbreak. Claiming officials of the CDC were coerced to downgrade the disease’s potential. Charging police officials responsible for gunning down Congressman Katz were connected to a perpetrated crime, not simply badges protecting the public from an ill man.

  “This is all designed, Agent Price. I cannot tell you why, only that it is.”

  “Dr. Gonzalez, I may be able to overlook your inability to provide a motive for these alleged crimes but I’m having a hard time imagining the players involved. You allege officials have been either bought or willingly acted on their own accord to dupe the public for the purpose of spreading an engineered disease. But how many of these officials am I supposed to believe are in on this so-called conspiracy? Why would people holding trusted positions behave in this fashion? Are you insinuating home grown terror?”

  “I don’t know why they would participate. It could be part of an experiment. As an agent of the law, I’m sure you’re wary of military projects, the like the ones funded by DARPA. I’m not saying this is military related, but there might be a purpose behind unleashing such a disease. Possibly it’s only in a test phase now. But if that’s the case, just how much longer will the tests continue? I believe the incidents in Florida and here confirm an organized effort to unleash an incurable disease upon the American public. I am astounded like you to hear the CDC downgraded the disease’s potential. I am pleading with you to make light of a conspiracy before the conspirators find the confidence to unleash it nationwide.”

  “Why didn’t you contact Tampa PD"s Internal Affairs about this? They could investigate your allegations of cover up. In fact, it’s their job, their obligation. I can theorize they won’t be too happy having the Bureau snoop into their business. And honestly Dr. Gonzalez, the Bureau doesn’t have the manpower or time to conduct such investigations.”

  “But if I’m proved right, these crimes overlap state lines. Isn’t it your prerogative to bring national crimes to the U.S. District Attorney?”

  “That is correct. But we do not take over cases. We would have to work with the Tampa PD to investigate your concerns. From what you allege, that won’t be easy. If they have indeed fabricated a story to quell panic, they are not going to admit it to it if we ask them nicely. You cast serious doubts about not only their job performance but their integrity. You say a policeman killed a colleague.”

  “Yes, Comiskey attacked Burnham. He became reanimated. Most likely from a prion-related disease like Mad Cow. It can change the way genetic coding is read. It might instruct the victim to behave in odd ways; to even make a cop a killer.

  “And what about the crazed perpetrator, the junkie they claimed to be a cop killer? He or she was never seen, let alone apprehended or shot. You could dig and find this unidentified assailant to be a ruse. Then you would have reason to uncover the truth.”

  “But just what truth would that be? Even if we conclude the Tampa PD falsified their findings I still don’t think it’s going to prove a conspiracy to infect the American populace. Unless, of course, you are accusing Tampa PD of spreading this disease…are you Dr. Gonzalez.?”

  “No. But if the cover up were exposed the public would be alerted of level of danger. They wouldn’t simply dismiss the congressman’s death as a random act. They could prepare themselves.”

  “But how would they do this? How could they prepare themselves from reanimated people who have an unnatural predilection to feed on human flesh? Should citizens band together with weapons and hunt your alleged zombies like they do in movies? Remember Dr. Gonzalez, if I do discover your accusation to be false, you would be held accountable for your warnings and the public panic it might cause. Are you prepared for that?”

  “I just need to step up and warn the public. This is not some prank, Agent. I tried the media. It didn’t work. Someone in public servitude needs to act. The CDC won’t. So it has to be me. Unless, you will help me, Agent Price; you could
take that risk and help the people you swore to protect.”

  “I want to help you, doctor. But I need something substantial to prove this disease is engineered, so I can obtain approval from my director. So, did your autopsy of Officer Comiskey produce any tangible results? Could you give me anything which can convince my director that the requisition of Bureau resources is warranted? Can you prove the existence of this prion-related disease? And to bottom line it for you, is there any way I can convince him the living dead might soon become part of the U.S. Census?”

  ***

  It’s all about damage control now. Even if the Bureau doesn’t totally believe him, he has raised suspicion. Doubt even. There is only one remedy, to cut the weed of doubt at its source.

  Secret Service Agent Conch met with his latest flunky, the short balding man, a manager of the Belle Suite Hotel. He waved a wad of bills in front of the man, but kept them just out of reach of the man’s stubby fingers.

  “Not so fast. We’re in agreement that you never gave me the card key. No matter who asks? And you don’t know who I am?”

  “I kept my mouth shut up for you. I even alerted you about Gonzalez. And I’ll keep doing work as long as I’m compensated. And come to think of it, I honestly don’t know who you are.”

  “Then by all means take this compensation and give me the key card to Dr. Gonzalez’s room. But you won’t be doing this for just the money; you’ll be doing it for your country.

  The manager grabbed the bills. “Make no mistake. I’m doing it for the money.”

  Chapter 20

  The long wait for passenger inspection didn’t improve Dr. Gonzalez’s outlook. They’re so vigilant about checking a pensioner for a weapon but they won’t dare give credence to a real security breach. Swearing airport security personnel were keeping their eyes glued to him, Gonzalez sighed at the irony. The real perpetrator of the crimes was likely basking in anonymity. And most likely would continue to do so. The ME"s trip to Washington had been a bust.

  The only course of action was to return to Tampa. Maybe he could overlook this and return to work. Focus on new deaths. New bodies… Yeah, sure…that might work…until one of the new bodies ends up being connected to this zombie plague.

  It’s was Gonzalez’s new nickname for the disease. The zombie plague… He had no medically based terminology to properly categorize it. He suspected it was prion-based but knew little more. And like Special Agent Price reminded him, only a concrete identification of the disease would convince her FBI superiors to expend manpower on stopping it. And this was unlikely since even the CDC, the government branch responsible for tracking and quarantining such an outbreak, refused to classify the congressman’s condition as a public health risk. No one believed different. No one except Gonzalez: the medical examiner who cried wolf.

  Twenty minutes later, Gonzalez mixed some humiliation into his self-pity cocktail when security personnel requested he remove all metallic objects from his person. He begrudgingly obliged, removing his belt. His pants dropped. He grabbed a fistful of the slacks just in time to avoid exposing his briefs. Then he kicked off his shoes. A woman ahead of him stared long and hard. He wondered if she smelled foot odor. When he looked down he spied a hole in his argyle stockings. How embarrassing and what’s more, how insanitary. He imagined contracting a full-blown case of athlete’s foot. Well, at least it wasn’t the zombie plague…

  A beeping sound emanated from the luggage conveyor belt. Then a frog like voice chirped from a barrel-chested security worker.

  “Sorry sir, we’re going to have to check your baggage.”

  “You’re what…? There’s nothing dangerous in it. This is…” He balled his fist in rage. “A waste of time…” Just like this dammed trip…

  “Step aside, sir. We can’t let you board until it’s checked.”

  “Well, can I least put my shoes back on?”

  “Please do it to the side. We need to keep the line moving.”

  Gonzalez felt the weight of the stares. Not just the airport personnel. The other passengers around him seemed to strip and retrieve their belongings in a casual fashion, possibly hoping to witness an incident. In a New York minute, Gonzalez would give them one.

  “What the fuck do you mean: detained?” Gonzalez railed at Barrel Chest.

  “Sir, watch your language. You need to calm down and follow this man.”

  “What the hell is this…what did you find? I don’t have anything dangerous in there, I told you so.” Gonzalez’s mind raced. He couldn’t even recall opening the suitcase more than once during the brief trip. He surmised toiletries might be the cause for his detainment. Maybe his tube of toothpaste was too large or perhaps it was his shampoo. “This is crazy. If my shampoo is more than three ounces I’ll gladly dispose of it.” But Gonzalez concluded from the hard stares he was receiving this matter had little to do with personal hygiene. And besides, shampoo wouldn’t produce an alarm.

  “Just follow that man.” Barrel Chest pointed at another man. One Gonzalez surmised to be a relative of Barrel Chest based upon his stature. He was formidable but Gonzalez wasn’t used to backing down in an argument. He always believed his intelligence would win any joust, whether it was verbal or physical. He raised his chin and met the man’s eyes. “What if I don’t go with you? What the hell’s going to happen, then?”

  The man cocked his head. He appeared to Gonzalez as some huge prehistoric bird.

  The man didn’t answer. He continued the staring contest until Gonzalez fell into a lull. Then he grabbed the ME"s arm. “Come with me, quietly. You won’t like the alternative,” the man whispered in his ear, his humongous jacket flapping about his sides like wings.

  “Screw you.” Gonzalez was mad enough to spit. He snarled, forcing his upper lip to expose teeth. “I’ll freaking sue you for harassment and brutality if you don’t let the fuck go of me.” The man loosened his grip. “Okay, I’ll go to your little room, quietly.” Gonzalez continued snarling. He pointed a finger. “But I better not miss my flight.”

  Both guards stole a glance at one another. Barrel Chest whispered. “Do you think he’s…?”

  He didn’t have to finish the sentence. Gonzalez intervened.

  “No. I haven’t contracted the congressman’s disease. But all of you…” He swooped around to face the throng of passengers riveted to the show. “But all of you better be on watch. An outbreak is imminent. I’m a doctor. I’m warning you. The government and the police don’t want a public panic. But soon there won’t be a choice. I won’t…”

  Gonzalez didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence. Prehistoric Bird Man bear hugged him into submission.

  The next thing Gonzalez knew he was locked in a tiny box room of room with no windows.

  An hour passed. A suited man walked in with a baggie. Inside were a needle containing a small amount of liquid and a syringe.

  “Can you explain what this if for?” Gonzalez mumbled incoherently.

  “Then I suspect you might be more forthcoming with the FBI.”

  Agent Price walked in wearing a blue suit and a look of dismay.

  ***

  A leak to the press gave the incident top billing for the next 24 hours.

  MSC, an all-news cable station known for its conservative approach to breaking news, even provided top of the hour coverage. Although there was little to cover other than the detainment of a Florida medical examiner held by the FBI for questioning. Newscasters could only speculate what the questions pertained to, but a witness to the airport security check hazarded to guess it was about the late Congressman Daniel Katz. The witness said Gonzalez was behaving strangely, mimicking some of the violent behavior of the congressman. But that it appeared security was more interested what was inside of Gonzalez’s luggage rather than what might be inside the enraged passenger. The witness claimed Gonzalez issued a warning to the public. When newscas
ters posed this detail to FBI lead investigator Special Agent Carole Price, she hesitated long enough to allow newscasters to speculate there was some connection between Katz and Gonzalez.

  It was generally the business of NBN, another all-news cable network to run amok with such speculation. NBN claimed a witness observed airport personnel carrying a baggie containing a needle. They alleged it came from Gonzalez’s luggage. They further speculated that Congressman Katz may have been purposely infected with his mysterious disease. Allegations into Gonzalez’s involvement in the congressman’s death instigated commentator Ray Grimes to posse together a team of medical experts. The participating doctors appeared in a quartered screen along with Grimes who moderated the discussion.

  When none of the experts fed into Grimes" conspiracy theory, he resorted to attacking Gonzalez’s personal character. “This man is on a leave from his job. That raises enough suspicion with me. What the hell was he doing in Washington, anyway? I think he was campaigning as a homegrown terrorist. Possibly hoping credit would be given to him for spreading terror via injection. I know the medical community here doesn’t share my belief that such a disease could be spread in this fashion, but I think two plus two equals four. You have a man with a medical background carrying a needle in his luggage not long after Congressman Katz dies in a bizarre fashion. It seems to me if terrorists were looking to spread a disease, it would be one that might produce violent behavior in hopes of possibly attaining collateral damage. I believe Gonzalez’s alleged plan to spread terror via the congressman fizzled and he did the next best thing. He publicized the threat. There are witnesses who claim he stated the disease would be spread and that public officials were keeping it quiet to quell public panic. It seems to me Dr. Gonzalez – or should I call him, Dr. „Gonzo" – became frustrated and wanted to advertise his deed even at the expense of being jailed. Now we have to wonder, just who the hell else is in league with him?”

  The doctors quickly blinked off screen via the command of a station manager. They were enraged that Grimes had made such wild accusations without confirmation from the FBI.