Dead Love Page 11

  It was not a question; it was an order. She didn’t tell him about the Greg Hammond incident. It seemed like a moot point now, but she was scared, and she couldn’t believe Max was somehow a danger to her mission or to her. How could he be? He loved her. At least he said he did. Had she somehow unknowingly revealed information? Or was it a setup? Was she his “assignment”? Her gut was wrenching as her thoughts raced. She considered all possibilities, even the most unimaginable ones.

  “If I do so abruptly, it might raise suspicions,” Suzy pointed out.

  The response was as expected. “Nothing must impede our mission, and if you wish for a positive outcome, shall we say, you will follow instructions immediately.”

  “My fear is that it will alert him. Please allow me a few weeks to disengage. I will figure out a way. Much is at stake for me, as well.”

  “Eliminate the Lieutenant Colonel from your life, or we will,” he stated.

  Chills ran through Suzy’s body and she began to shake uncontrollably.

  Silence followed on the other end. Then the sinister voice said, “Let’s accelerate our plan. 4 .6. Got it?” It was a threat. “Then if he somehow obtained information, we have changed the game.”

  “Yes, 4.6. Got it.”

  The line went dead.

  .

  44

  Suzy got to Max’s townhouse an hour before he would get home from his Ft. Meade office. She had shopped for groceries and was going to prepare dinner for him to celebrate their five-month anniversary. She had his key and security code and let herself in, her arms tired from carrying the wine and several parcels. He had seemed distant lately, distracted about something. She had brushed it off as his preoccupation with his work. Maybe she was his “work.” Good job, Max, she thought. I fell for it, big time. Her anger was building. She heard the garage door open and knew she had to put her worries aside. It was easy to do because Max was the only happiness she had ever known, and in the deepest part of her being, she knew she could trust him with her life.

  Max came in the door off the garage and heard Suzy in the kitchen. He had been looking forward to the evening, thinking of her delicious naked body all day. She was slicing vegetables when he came up behind her, wrapped his left arm around her, pulled her against him, while at the same time sweeping aside her long hair, and placing gentle, wet kisses on her slender neck.

  She sighed, leaning against him, her back to his chest, saying, “Max, you’re going to make me cut myself.”

  He reached around with one hand, grabbed her breast, and said, “Put the knife down.”

  She turned, facing him, their lips meeting. Their deep kisses and touches were uncontrolled as they pushed against each other. She could feel his arousal through his slacks, and she touched him, making him even harder. He backed away, reluctantly, and said, “Baby, let me shower and I’ll be right back.”

  Suzy was breathless from his kisses and his touch. She smiled at him and said, “Yes, go ahead. I’ll get dinner started, then we can share some wine.”

  Suzy put the vegetables and marinated chicken in a casserole dish and placed it in the oven. She made a tossed garden salad and set the table with fresh flowers and candles. She found the chilled bottle of Riesling in the refrigerator, opened it, and poured the pale yellow liquid into a tall wine glass. The shower was still running as she walked into the steamy bathroom. She could see his image through the glass door, leaning against the wall, letting the hot water flow down his back. He turned around and shut the water off. Opening the shower door, he grabbed a thick towel from the towel rack and began drying himself. Suzy couldn’t stop admiring his muscular body and noticed he was still turned on.

  “Darling, have a sip,” as she offered the glass to him.

  He wrapped the towel around his waist, then took a generous sip of the refreshing wine, and set the wine glass on the countertop. She had on his favorite outfit. He loved her in casual low-cut jeans and sweater, and her wedged sandals. He tossed the towel onto tile floor and grabbed Suzy, kissing her hard, pulled her sweater up, and licked the delicious mounds of her breasts, pushing them together, pulling her bra down to suck each of her erect nipples. God, she wanted him. She was holding his head against her as he was licking and sucking each breast, her breathing rapid.

  She stopped him, grabbed his face, and kissed him, her tongue in his mouth, and then grabbing his cock, bent down, her back to the mirror, Suzy took his hardness in her mouth, and Max gasped, saying “Oh my God, baby.” And he watched her in the mirror, which intensified his excitement. She didn’t want to stop licking, kissing, and tasting him, holding his body tight in her hands. He belonged only to her. But he forcefully grabbed her, unzipped her jeans, turned her around, slid her jeans and thong panties down, and bent her over the counter and found her wetness with his finger. Then he entered her completely. Suzy was breathing so hard, and he couldn’t stop, moving in and out of her with unimaginable raw pleasure, lifting her sweater, tearing her bra off, playing with her breasts. They both came violently, his body shuddering. His breathing was still heavy. Slowly, he began light kisses to her delicate shoulders and neck, and turned her around. Suzy bent down to lick him, tasting their intermingled love, and he pulled her up, kissed her mouth, wanting only Suzy forever, and his heart was aching.

  He didn’t know any reality but the now, and he didn’t know that her heart was aching, as well, wondering what was the reality.

  .

  45

  Suzy and Max had spent a wonderful Memorial weekend together, swimming on Saturday and relaxing by the pool. On Sunday, they had gone to Annapolis, walked around the shops at the harbor, and enjoyed a romantic dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. They sat on the patio, overlooking the water, eating off each other’s plates, drinking wine, just enjoying being together.

  It was a special weekend, and Suzy had loved every moment but knew she had to be guarded. She had looked into who “Greg Hammond” was. She was relieved to find out that he had graduated from West Point the same year that Max had graduated. But why wouldn’t Max have told her? Why did he say it was a dental appointment reminder? Suzy couldn’t find any further information on Greg Hammond, which was perplexing. Max was especially attentive and loving. She had been watching him, looking for changes in his behavior toward her, but she found none. Though she knew something was wrong. The instructions to end the relationship were based on facts unknown to her, and it was imperative that she follow their orders. Maybe they were just being cautious, considering Max’s position. She had tried to be her natural self with him, which was easy because she loved him deeply and fully, and in her heart, Suzy believed that he felt the same about her. She knew this was to be their last weekend together. How could she give him up? She knew the answer.

  As they drove back to Suzy’s condo, both were looking forward to their night together. Their sexual tension had been building throughout the day, even though they had made passionate love that morning. Max couldn’t erase the image of Suzy, earlier in the day, in her very brief aqua bikini, low-cut with ties on each side of the bottom, and the sexy top that nearly exposed her exquisite breasts and delicious erect nipples, pushing them nearly out of the suit. Her skin had tanned, and he loved the contrast of the tan against the delicate white skin covered by her bikini. They had swum together, hugging and playing in the water, diving deeply, watching each other as the sun glistened on their shapes. He was an athlete, moving gracefully, and she loved watching him, his strong shoulders, his broad defined chest, narrow hips, and muscular legs. His strength and masculinity were huge turn-ons. They had flirted and stolen kisses, trying not to be blatant around the others at the community pool, but it was well known that they were an “item” and the attraction they felt was obvious.

  That evening, as they walked into her kitchen, they stopped to share a deep kiss. Max grabbed Suzy’s hand and began leading her up the curved hardwood staircase. He led her to her bedroom and began undressing her.

  She
was wearing only her lacy black panties and bra when she said, “Max, I would like to shower, okay?”

  He said, “Yes, baby,” and she embraced him, giving him a lingering kiss, his arms enveloping her.

  She giggled as she pulled away and said, “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Hurry, baby, I can’t wait much longer.”

  Suzy went into the bathroom. She threw her sexy panties and bra on the cream-colored marble vanity and turned on the shower. It took a moment for the water to warm, and Suzy stepped in. Grabbing the body gel, she began washing, and then suddenly Max was behind her, naked, his hands washing her, his arms around her, and she turned to face him, their kisses longing. Water was cascading down their bodies as they embraced.

  She lathered her hands and began washing Max, making him turn and face the spray of water, and she slowly washed his shoulders, his back, and his hips, her hands touching him in every private place, feeling complete ownership of every part of him. She began washing and stroking his enormous hard cock, and all of his masculinity, and then she bent down and kissed him, her hands at play with all of him. He pulled her up and kissed her, his tongue in her mouth, his hand between her legs, touching her, saying love words, wanting her. With the water streaming over them, he lifted her, her legs wrapping around him.

  He slid into her, and she moved up and down against him, moaning in his ear, “Oh Max, my love, I need you. Don’t ever stop,” as she had orgasm after orgasm.

  He could feel her body responding to his hardness, tightening around his cock, and it drove him wild. He was thrusting and thrusting into her, and he came, exciting her even more. They had no awareness of anything, only each other, nothing separating one from the other. They were kissing, letting the cool water run over them.

  Later, they lay in bed, naked, knowing they would make love again. They slept, wrapped together, and when they awoke, around midnight, they were ravenous. Suzy brought a tray of wine, cheese, and assorted crackers to bed, and they ate and sipped wine while watching television, enjoying being together, smiling, touching, kissing, sharing bites, and just being close. Afterward, they snuggled against each other, sharing their breaths, both happier than either had ever known.

  Suzy was nestled against Max, his arm around her, her leg thrown over his. As Max fell asleep, he whispered,

  “Talk to me, Suzy.”

  She answered, “I love you, Max.”

  Suzy knew this moment in time would be etched in her memory and heart forever. Max was her only everlasting love. He owned her, body and soul.

  .

  46

  The Mayor’s Office

  Tom Bennett, the Regional Homeland Security Director, began discussing the All Saints Hospital patients. The lab results indicated an unknown virus, but no clinical certainty of its type. Four other patients had been admitted there also, making the count seven, so far. He and Dr. Ambrose were deciding whether to transfer the patients from All Saints to the Edgewood Medical Facility. He had spoken to the hospital administrator, Jim Lucas, who wanted them moved to another facility to insure safety of their current patients and staff. Dr. David Grant, the All Saints ER director, had been adamant about protecting the hospital from the potential rapid spread of this dangerous virus.

  Bennett was firm. “The patients must not be transported anywhere. We are not moving anyone at this point. We must keep risk of further exposure to a minimum. We will mobilize FEMA, notify the Health and Human Services Director, the National Guard, and all state governors. All cities with public transportation systems should be placed on high alert status, and a thorough search should be made for any suspicious packages or containers.” He continued, “Dr. Ambrose, I assume the CDC will notify all medical facilities.”

  Dr. Ambrose said, “Yes, systems are in place for such notification. We will start working immediately on a vaccine. Several pharmaceutical companies will begin the manufacture of a vaccine as well.”

  They all recognized the inability to secure the United States against the use of a bio-weapon or toxic agent. There had been great concerns about an attack of this nature, but this attack was more terrifying than any had expected.

  Ambrose continued, “We need to alert the public so they can prepare. We must close schools, cancel events, and warn of possible disruption of services. The general public must be informed that they will need to buy extra supplies and items necessary for basic survival. We cannot predict the duration of this pandemic. We must be candid in all communications.

  The Mayor said, “Yes, we’ll include safety information in my news conference as a precaution. I want to discourage panic. We’ll remind them to check the NYC website which has guidelines for dealing with pandemics. Mary and I will discuss, along with you, Tom, whether to shut down the financial district to minimize traffic in and out of the city.”

  Bennett asked, “Agent Reed, has Quantico come up with anything on the canister?”

  She answered by phone, “It tests positive for H5N1. We have nothing of consequence on the canister itself, but it appears to have been manufactured in the US. It resembles a common aerosol spray can used in fumigation applications, available in many hardware and pet stores, or even veterinarian offices.”

  “Keep me informed,” he requested.

  “Yes, sir,” she responded.

  Mayor Donnelly asked Bennett, “Will you notify the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the President?”

  “Yes,” he said, “that was my next move, Mr. Mayor.” And turning from him, he pulled out his secure cell phone.

  “Jesus,” said Donnelly, under his breath. “We have a fucking bird flu outbreak in fucking New York City.”

  George and Mark were listening raptly to the discussions, realizing a terrorist attack had occurred. The terrorist was perhaps homegrown, with easy access to the virus at the APG. Terrorist operations can be extremely elusive, especially if there are a small number of clandestine perpetrators involved. The magnitude of the attack was not anything that they expected. The full nature and implications of the expanding crisis were difficult to grasp.

  Mayor Donnelly would release a statement to assure the populace that steps were being taken to contain the pandemic as quickly as possible. Those with symptoms were to seek immediate medical treatment. Those working in the city were to leave work, if possible, in an orderly fashion until further notice. All medical facilities and hospitals would be notified by the CDC.

  Mayor Donnelly faced a great dilemma. Shutting down the city seemed out of the question. To do so could be catastrophic, and also, he would be giving the terrorist or terrorist group exactly what they wanted. He remembered 9/11 and the courage of the New York City residents. He knew they would handle this emergency bravely as well. But this was different, at least for now. He must lock down New York City, including Amtrak and all airports. The spread of this contagion must be halted.

  Director Jacobs spoke up. “Georgiana, do you have anything to add in regards to the investigation?”

  George said, “Yes, Ms. Jacobs. We have pertinent information that you need to know, before ending this meeting, if I may.”

  She filled them in on the FBI findings and the ensuing investigation, starting at Edgewood. Everyone knew what had to be done. The heads of departments would remain in the Mayor’s office and use it as a “war room.”

  The Mayor knew the virus had begun to spread throughout the city, state, or God knows where else. He called his press secretary, asking him to arrange for emergency television and radio announcements. The information would be available on the New York City website as well. FEMA and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security would handle the national news reports. His assistant, Nancy, came in, and they began working on the most difficult speech he would ever deliver.

  They were under attack by an invisible enemy, and panic must be averted. He would be relentless in hunting down whoever was responsible for this reprehensible act of terrorism. He gathered his strength and would
rely on God’s direction for this one. He began composing the rough draft.

  .

  47

  Without realizing it, Dr. Grant had fallen asleep at his desk, and the knock on his office door startled him. It was Chris.

  He rubbed his eyes, ran his hands through his hair, and said, “What time is it?”

  Before she could answer, the phone rang. It was Jim Lucas, the hospital administrator.

  “Dave, we have some news from Dr. Ambrose, at the CDC.”

  “Go ahead,” Dave said.

  “We are dealing with an avian flu outbreak, a mutant strain.” Jim paused.

  “Damn! Any word on moving these people to Edgewood?”

  “No can do. They want to keep us isolated and not risk further exposure, if possible.”

  Grant was pissed. “What else?”

  “We will have more patients as this spreads. It appears to be weaponized, mutated to spread rapidly with a short incubation time frame.”

  “What about anti-viral meds?” asked Dave.

  “The CDC is gathering supplies. They will be distributed, starting with New York City hospitals, considered the ‘Impact Zone’ or ‘Strike Point’ then to other sites as this pandemic escalates.”

  “I guess we have no choice,” said Dave.

  “Correct,” said Jim.

  Dave was quiet. “Are we getting routine food and medical supply deliveries?”

  “Yes,” said Jim. “No problems, so far.”

  “Our staff is bone tired.”

  Jim said, “We are working on it. We are currently in lockdown. Only staff and severely ill patients are allowed to enter our facility. Security is at all entrances, including the employee entrance.”

  “Have you told Frank?”

  “Yes, he knows.”