Blood Harvest

by Michael Weinberger

  The research was so cutting edge they were managing a minimum head start of five years on the competition, assuming the idea had even occurred to them, which Alex doubted. The only way for another company to compete would be to steal the research, reverse engineer it and then get the patent first. It was a technique Alex knew well, having used it in the past with significant financial success. He would not allow someone else to beat him at his own game; he could still control the situation. He simply had to reign in a few loose ends. Ironically, his investors had saddled him with the perfect man for the job.

  Alex heard a slow knock on his large oak office door. Before he could call out “Enter,” the latch turned and Kenneth Kunnert walked into the office unbidden in that arrogant manner of his. Kunnert was a big man, standing six foot four inches tall with sharp facial features, long, seemingly unnatural, blonde hair and blue eyes. He was in incredible shape, carrying his frame with an effortless and confident air. He was the man the investor group had requested, demanded actually, be employed within Pharmanetics. At first Alex was highly put off by the man being given such free reign within the company he had developed. However, as time went by Kunnert proved himself to be a tremendous benefit to the company in several different ways. Security was the man’s specialty. Alex had come to respect and rely on Kunnert for the various operations within the company that required extremely secure or “deniable” solutions.

  “You called?” Kunnert spoke with the slight trace of an accent. He was an American, born in Philadelphia, but his grandparents had raised him in Johannesburg, South Africa from the age of three. At age 18, he was awarded a scholarship to West Point and graduated with honors four years later. He entered the military immediately after and excelled at all duties to which he was assigned. Two years later Kunnert filled out an application for Special Forces and completed the training necessary to become a Green Beret. He’d extended his tour of duty beyond the mandatory requirement attendant to graduating from West Point. He was later recruited by Delta Force and led his own team on several “Black Ops” type missions for three years.

  Alex knew that was where the man’s file ended and the mystery began. There were rumors of a covert team Kunnert led for a couple of years outside normal military channels. Alex had some of his best sleuths investigate this unknown period of time, but all leads turned cold shortly after the inquiries had started.

  “Have you seen the news this morning? What the hell is going on and why wasn’t I informed?”

  “I have been controlling the situation ever since I was made aware of it,” Kunnert replied calmly.

  “Controlling it?” Alex exploded. “The goddamn World Health Organization is all over the scene! If they find out…”

  “Who said the WHO is on the scene?” Even Kunnert’s accent couldn’t hide the emotionless quality of his voice.

  “It’s all over the news for Christ sakes!”

  “Yes…and?”

  A thought slowly crept into Alex’s mind, too incredible to believe. “You…you mean to tell me those are actually all our people?” Alex lowered his voice, completely lost in the grandiose dimension of what was being presented before him.

  Kunnert gave Alex an expectant look.

  “You? How?” Alex managed.

  “That is the reason you pay me the extremely large sum of money you do.” Kunnert spoke calmly as a slight half smile broke through the right side of his mouth. “Do you want to know the details?” Kunnert asked, with no expectation of having to reveal any details.

  “I want to know everything and anything you do on behalf of the company. This is not a request. What if someone was actually trying to call the WHO?” The air of authority returned to Alex’s voice and he could see Kunnert’s physique shift to a more submissive demeanor.

  “They will be told Pharmanetics is acting as duly appointed representatives of the World Health Organization and we have been given full authority to function on their behalf in Los Angeles,” Kunnert spoke calmly.

  Stunned, Alex said “You have a contact within the WHO?”

  “Yes, within the WHO’s main headquarters in Europe. This enables our credentials to be confirmed at the highest levels of the organization.”

  Alex was impressed, but moved quickly on to other matters. “Right now I want to know if we are safe. Have our plans in any way been compromised?”

  “We have not been compromised. All equipment at the location was collected and returned to our research facility. The witnesses have been dealt with and the Press has been misled.”

  “That’s quite a mass of witnesses Kunnert, including the majority of them being LAPD. Are you sure their abduction was wise?”

  “Wise or not, it was necessary. If need be, we can always say our efforts to save their lives were ultimately in vain. I have already stockpiled enough Anthrax to create the corpses necessary to substantiate our story.”

  Alex nodded. “Good.” He stopped pacing behind his desk and sunk into his large leather chair. He calmed himself and gestured for Kunnert to sit across the desk from him. Kunnert obliged and sat in the guest chair.

  “How do you plan to proceed from here?”

  “I would say we should move to the next phase; however, Dr. Whelan feels another test is in order.”

  “Another!” Alex quickly picked up the phone and hit another speed dial number.

  “Put the doctor on the line—now!” Alex tried to take a deep breath before the sound of Dr. Whelan’s voice came over the line.

  “Hello?”

  “Didn’t you have enough fun during the first test at The Inferno? What is this I hear about needing a second test?”

  The doctor’s unusual voice answered after a long sigh. “I’m sorry to say the first test was not a 100% success. One person didn’t succumb to the device.”

  “Only one out of nearly one thousand is an overwhelmingly good percentage.” “True but it shouldn’t have been possible and I haven’t been able to determine why the man wasn’t affected.”

  “Still Doctor, only one…”

  “What if certain individuals are immune due to their particular brain chemistry or other genetic predisposition?” The doctor waited as Alex considered in silence.

  “Is that possible?”

  “I don’t know, but if you have any plans on selling this in a military application then it would be a good idea to find out.”

  Alex let out a long exasperated breath. “Yes it would. Hold on, I’m going to put you on the speaker phone so Kunnert can hear…there.”

  “Hello Ken,” came the doctor’s disengaged voice through the phone’s speaker.

  “Doctor.”

  “I must commend you Ken. That bit with the WHO, absolutely brilliant.”

  Alex could hear the smile in each of Dr. Whelan’s words as he spoke them; he thought the doctor might be enjoying the entire process a little more than he should.

  “On to business, Doctor, if you please.” Alex was anxious to get the details squared away for this “second test” as quickly as possible. Every day they were delayed was a loss of money and potential opportunity. Alex was not one to leave such things behind.

  “Of course,” the doctor began. “Ken, how soon before I can initiate another test run?”

  “What did you have in mind? Same as last time?”

  “Well…similar. I have an idea that would be far more mobile and would spare the need for any equipment removal afterward.”

  Kunnert gave it some thought, it would make things easier, but…

  “We can’t do this in Los Angeles again. If you are as mobile as you say then I would recommend an alternate city.” Alex turned to Kunnert: “Any particular preference?”

  “That would depend. Doctor, am I correct in assuming that if this second test proves 100% successful then we can move immediately to phase two of our operation?”

  “That would seem logical and prudent as everything is ready here,” the doctor’s voice grew slight colder, “even wit
h the sudden addition we accepted recently.”

  “You disapprove?” Kunnert asked.

  “Disapprove of what?” Alex seemed bewildered.

  “Not really, I simply don’t like surprises.” The chill in the doctor’s voice became more apparent.

  “What are you two yammering about?!” Alex was practically hollering at this point. “Our trusty senior security advisor here thought it acceptable to bring all of the ‘test subjects’ from The Inferno to this location for storage,” the doctor finally revealed.

  “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!?” Alex was yelling now, “You abducted over one thousand people and brought them HERE???”

  “Where did you think I was going to take them?”

  “I didn’t know or care! Dig a deep pit and bury them all in it or put them in a cargo container and sink it in the ocean for all I care, just make sure it can’t be tracked back to us.”

  “You do remember they are all still alive, yes?” Kunnert’s crooked smile belied his concern for the victims.

  “So? As long as we are safe what difference does it make?”

  “We are safe, believe me. If anyone gets wind of their presence here we will say we had to bring them to our facility in order to cure them. Unfortunately, none of them will survive if it comes to that and plans fall apart, but if everything plays out as we expect, we can spin this into an excellent PR campaign as we ‘cure’ them.”

  Alex shook his head. “That’s a big risk you are taking.”

  “True, but the reward will greatly outweigh the risk. Besides, it gives the good doctor more test subjects to play with.”

  The speaker on the phone mused, “Hmm, yes I like that part.”

  “Do we still have enough space for the other “guests” we are hoping to receive after phase two?”

  “Oh yes and then some.” The doctor once again sounded cheery. “Space and supplies were never in question. It was simply a case of my not liking surprises, as I said.”

  “All right,” Alex concluded, “I think we can move forward. Ken, where do you want the next test to take place?”

  “It would stand to reason that if we run a second test and immediately move on our target for phase two, then we should run the test in the city closest to our quarry. That way the entire unit will basically be in place and we can readily move out as soon as the test results are in.”

  Again the voice from the phone hummed a happy sound. “Ooooh! Excellent idea! I will get prepared.” Then the connection closed as the doctor hung up the phone on his end.

  Alex reached over and disconnected the call. “What’s he so happy about?”

  “Think about it.” When Alex didn’t respond immediately, Kunnert added “The city closest to the target.”

  Alex still didn’t get it. Another moment passed and then he did.

  “Oh!” Alex sighed, “Of course.”

  Chapter 11

  Steve shot up in bed to a seated position. His right hand instinctively went to the pain on his head where Alpha had struck him. Groping, Steve felt his temple as he surveyed the area and recognized Chris’ apartment. He was on Chris’ pull out sofa bed. It was only then he looked to his left and realized Chris was sitting on the side of the bed shaking a cold pack.

  “That was some kind of nightmare.” Chris pointed out.

  “It was?” The tremor in Steve’s voice was unmistakable. Chris quickly caught on to the seriousness of Steve’s state of mind.

  “Steve, you have a grade +1 to +2 concussion. It’s going to take you out of circulation for a little while. I’ve shot you up with some anti-inflammatory medications which will help you feel better, but the only way to really heal from a concussion is to rest. In the meantime, you may have some unusual experiences—memory loss, hallucinations, nightmares.”

  A moment of silence passed before Chris spoke again.

  “Do you want some Valium? I’ve got a whole medicine chest filled with goodies if you need it,” Chris said with some mild cheer.

  “No thanks,” Steve replied while letting the political incorrectness on Chris’ part slide without comment. “I just need a minute to get my wits back.”

  “You want some quiet time? I can get out of your hair for a little while if you want to try to sleep some more.”

  Steve was still struggling to remember and talking seemed to be helping quiet his nerves.

  “No. I don’t think I want to sleep, even if I need it. I would rather relax and talk if you don’t have to be anywhere.”

  An unusual look crossed over Chris’ face, but whatever it was he dropped the subject rather than bring it up.

  “What?” Steve asked.

  “Nothing we can’t talk about later.” Chris handed the ice pack to Steve. “I was bringing this to you. Put it on your head wherever it hurts.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sure. So I guess I should ask if you got the license plate number of the truck that hit you,” Chris said with a smile. “Or is this a ‘You should see the other guy’ scenario.”

  “You have no idea how well the second one applies.”

  “You get your licks in?” Chris seemed eager for a story. He certainly deserved it after all he had done. Steve looked down to see he was wearing the most God-awful pajamas with small pictures of Spongebob Squarepants emblazoned all over the fabric. He was also clean and smelled of Ivory soap as opposed to rancid garbage.

  Steve looked up at Chris and raised an eyebrow.

  Catching on, Chris replied, “Yeah, I stripped you. Washed you; shaved my name in your chest hair, put you in my favorite PJ’s and put you to bed. What of it? Are you being ungrateful or something?”

  Steve stared wide-eyed at Chris. He had flashed him that look solely because of the pajamas. Now he had to seriously resist the urge to look down and open the pajama top to check his chest hair.

  “No. I really can’t express how much I owe you. Thanks for finding me.”

  Chris was shaken by the overly sincere tone in Steve’s voice and his own voice faltered.

  “Oh...Well... No problem, I mean, how long have we known each other? Fifteen years?” Steve nodded, “over a decade for sure.”

  “So it’s nothing. I know you’d do the same for me.”

  Steve knew that was true, but he wondered if he would be more reluctant than Chris had been. Being a cop had hardened him. Being a Medical Examiner was no picnic either, but Chris seemed to cope with it far better than Steve was able to deal with his job.

  “Sometimes I forget myself Chris. I know it’s the job but I don’t want to make excuses…”

  Chris cut him off with a wave of his hand, “Stop. Stop. Stop. This is starting to sound way too sappy, sentimental and just a little bit gay. Not that I don’t find you attractive or that there is anything wrong with that. I just don’t bend that way.”

  Steve smiled at Chris’ comeback.

  “And stop staring at my ass,” Chris finished.

  Steve actually laughed out loud at that one and his head throbbed in time with his laughter.

  “Okay Chris, I give up. Don’t make me laugh.”

  “All right, well this should sober you up. This fight you found yourself in, was that before or after you lost your guns?”

  Steve’s face melted into a mask of concern as he suddenly remembered Alpha having disarmed him.

  “Oh no!” Steve let out an exasperated breath and closed his eyes.

  “Easy Wild Bill, I didn’t say they were gone.” Chris rose to his feet and opened a drawer of the bed stand to Steve’s right. Steve sat up and looked inside to see where his Glock and spare revolver rested.

  Chris said, “They were lying nearby when I found you. Whoever took them from you wasn’t interested in keeping them.”

  Steve reached for the Glock and as he grasped it a familiar feeling came over him. The weapon felt cool and comforting in his hand. He had owned this Glock 17 automatic pistol for over ten years. So far the weapon had never failed him and had saved his life a
number of times. He checked the magazine and found it had been emptied of its ordinance. Pulling back the stock he found the lone bullet in the barrel had also been removed.

  “Did you empty it?”

  “No. Honestly, I didn’t even look to see if it was loaded or not.” Chris spoke tentatively when he asked his next question. “Steve, where’s your flask?”

  Memories began to materialize and Steve remembered Alpha having removed it from his pocket at one point during their confrontation. Steve looked back at Chris but said nothing as the realization set into his mind.

  “Okay,” Chris said, “How much do you need?”

  “Chris…I can’t ask you…” Insecurity tainted every word Steve had uttered even though he knew he didn’t need to feel that way around Chris. Chris was his best friend ever since he had fled from Alpha and the rest of his people and, more importantly, Chris knew his secret.

  “Stop!” Chris spoke with a rare tone of uncompromising authority. “You don’t realize how long you have been out. You are seriously in need. I can see the early stages of the symptoms in your pallor already.”

  “What?” Steve suddenly felt a little panicked. “How long was I out?”

  “Two days, almost three actually, and as I said that’s nearly a grade 2 concussion you’re sporting.”

  “Damn, he really clocked me.”

  “Who?’ Chris asked as he began rolling up his left sleeve.

  “Wait Chris, I don’t want you to do this.”

  Chris ignored him.

  “I’m serious Chris.”

  Chris looked up from his sleeve. “I’m sorry, did you hear something? It sounded a little bit like one of those not-so-rare Los Angeles mules. You know…Hee-Haw….Hee-Haw…I’m a stubborn Jackass…Hee-Haw.”

  Steve tried not to, but he began to laugh as Chris went to the nightstand and pulled out a large gauge syringe used for drawing blood, tape and some surgical tubing. Chris tied the tubing around the exposed part of his left bicep and slapped at the “eye” of his elbow a couple times until the veins swelled. Chris plunged the syringe into one of his veins and taped the needle down. With his free hand he reached back into the drawer and removed a four-ounce collection test tube.