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  He asked, “The FBI visit sounds like SOP. Do we have results back?”

  “Yes, it’s H5N1, and according to the lab at Quantico, the canister, so far, can’t be traced, but Homeland Security has been notified,” she stated.

  “Damn, just damn.” Then he asked, “How is the subway maintenance guy they brought down from New York? Did he test positive for the H5N1?” The daze was gone now. He buzzed Beth. “Bring me some coffee. Now!”

  Suzy continued, “The worker, Mr. Caruso, has tested positive. He is very sick but stable for the moment. He had direct contact with the canister, first exposure. The virus has also spread to others, including those exposed while in the subway and others with whom they had contact. The CDC chemists and our lab staff worked together and came up with the identification fairly quickly.”

  Dr. Adams said, “We have samples of H5N1 in storage, as I recall. Have we started working on those yet?” He obviously had not ordered any work to be done.

  She answered curtly, “No, but we should begin developing a vaccine, ASAP, agreed? Let’s stress that this will be a joint effort of our people and those from the CDC. This particular virus spreads rapidly, and the faster we begin developing the vaccine, the better.”

  “Yes, of course. That was my next concern.” He nodded agreement. Adams said, “Arrange an immediate staff meeting. I’ll prepare the agenda. Let me know when everyone is ready.”

  “Fine,” answered Suzy. Beth came in with the coffee as Suzy was leaving his office.

  Suzy went directly to the lab and called the staff into the large meeting room, adjacent to the laboratory. About twenty were present. She said Dr. Adams had some announcements and would be in shortly. She stepped into the hallway and called him on the intercom, saying that they were waiting.

  Adams breezed in, his I-Pad in hand. He stood at the front of the room, cleared his throat, and began by congratulating them on defining the variant H5N1influenza virus and then instructed them to begin working on a vaccine. This would take a great deal of time and effort but that was to be their priority. Developing a vaccine was critical. They were to work jointly with the CDC and the FBI, and he stressed full cooperation to facilitate a quick result.

  Many had questions, which Adams couldn’t answer. All had seen the news reports of the outbreak and that it was possibly a terrorist event. Whoever did this was likely a scientist, or scientists, probably working for a faction, possibly homegrown, perhaps a rogue. Maybe even someone they knew. Most were silent, just listening, stunned at events that had taken place. They worried about their families, and what all this meant, long term.

  He listened to them and agreed that it was a tragic attack, with New York City targeted again. The impact of the attack was beyond comprehension. None could forget 9/11, and now this? One of the questions from the group was if any group or terrorist cell had taken responsibility. Dr. Adams advised them that he had no knowledge of that, but the FBI as well as other agencies were working to find whoever was responsible, and hopefully the perpetrator or perpetrators would be found quickly. He asked them to cooperate fully with the FBI.

  Dr. Chen was listening from the back of the room. It took great effort for her to maintain her professional demeanor during this discussion, but she did.

  Adams concluded the meeting, saying they would be asked to work overtime. They were to conduct themselves as normally as possible. All work done at the lab was considered classified, and they all had signed confidentiality agreements. Their work was not to be discussed outside of the premises. He would be making further announcements as information became available. After thanking them again, Dr. Adams concluded the meeting.

  Suzy walked back to her office. She went in and closed the door, and tears started flowing. She put her head down on the desk, her beautiful hair falling around her shoulders, her sobs uncontrollable. How could I have done this? She knew why. She thought of the “Organization” and became frightened. Their threats to kill her sister were real and terrified her. Could she trust such a sinister group? Her parents would be boarding the flight momentarily to Hong Kong, where they were to pick up Lee. She would have to focus on them and nothing else, except Max. Suzy needed to call him. He must be concerned, hearing the news of the terrorist attack, and she needed to know what was going on with him. Did he suspect? How much did he know? She grabbed her phone to call him. He must be frantic, and Suzy needed to hear his voice.

  He answered on the first ring.

  “Max, I am sorry I haven’t called. It has been so busy here. You have heard, of course.”

  “Yes, we are on alert, baby. How are you doing?” He had to be careful about his words.

  “I’m scared, worried, and you know probably all that we know.”

  “Yes, we know what the so called ‘weapon’ is. It is having the desired effect. Disrupt and possibly kill.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “It can do that.”

  “I want to see you tonight. Is that possible?” he asked her.

  “I don’t know yet. Hold on, Max.”

  Stacy buzzed her. “Dr. Chen, you better come out. The FBI is here again. They are in Dr. Adams’s office now. He wants you to report to him immediately.”

  Suzy got back on with Max. “I must go. The FBI is here. Guess they have to check everything out. This is horrible, isn’t it?” she said.

  “Yes. Call me when you can, and I will meet you at your place, okay?” he asked.

  “Call before you leave. I don’t know how long I will be here. Have to go, Max. I love you,” hearing his “Love you, baby” as she hung up.

  She knew he was concerned, but she couldn’t be near him now. Too risky, and he would be questioning her. Not now.

  .

  53

  Georgiana and Mark sat in front of Dr. Adams’s desk. Lieutenant Randall, their escort, was waiting in the hallway outside Adams’s office. George explained to Adams that they needed to do a thorough search, looking at computers, all records, and they wanted a complete inventory of the specimens stored at the Edgewood Labs, and most importantly, who had access to the stock.

  Eric was waiting for Suzy to join them. “Where’s the bitch?” he thought. She had talked to these two earlier, and he wanted her involved as much as possible. She could be the liaison with these clowns. They were wasting his time. He was confident that lab security had not been breached.

  Georgiana said to Dr. Adams, “Our forensics investigative team is waiting outside. We must start right away.” Then added, “We will do our best to make this quick and not interfere in the operations of this facility.”

  George could tell there was an undercurrent, maybe guilt or just Dr. Adams’s egotistical disdain for authority. She didn’t want to discuss their suspicions regarding Dr. Chen.

  “Thank you, Agent Reed. Dr. Chen will be here momentarily. She will be more than happy to assist you,” Eric responded, showing signs of impatience.

  George could see this guy was used to getting what he wanted. What a pompous, self-centered A-hole. She gave Mark a look, and he responded with a quick eyebrow raise.

  “Let me see if I can find her. Please excuse me.” He walked out, heading toward Suzy’s office.

  George said to Mark, sick of waiting, “Screw him. Let’s bring in the team.”

  George called Wally and asked if he and his group could please come into the building. Wally and his team had been in a white FBI van, in the parking lot, waiting for the “go” signal. The technical guys had the equipment needed to access information from the computer system and look at all video recordings. Wally would supervise the team and assist in the investigation.

  Eric was still looking for Suzy. She wasn’t in her office, so he went to Beth’s office and barked, “Where the hell is Chen? Find her and tell her to show the FBI around the lab. It shouldn’t take very long, and I am extremely busy.” He wasn’t going to deal with their crap.

  “She went to the lab, Dr. Adams. She said she wanted to know the current status s
o she could direct the investigation properly,” she said, without looking up.

  Eric was sick of Beth and her attitude. He had taken her out for drinks a few times and she took it seriously. Now she acted like the hurt party. She seemed to enjoy the sex as much as he had. What the fuck. He would have to stop dating these office bitches. Adams stalked into his office, slamming the door. He had a headache and wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of this shit.

  Beth reached Dr. Chen and said that Dr. Adams wanted her to assist the FBI team in whatever way she could. The eight armed agents, including Wally, entered the reception area. Lt. Randall knew how to stay out of the way, but not miss anything. George, Mark, and Wally were discussing the strategy for the investigation when Chen joined them, surprised to see the large group waiting for her.

  George spoke firmly, “We need to begin. Let’s discuss what we need, and you can direct our team, all right?”

  “Of course,” she replied. “Where do you want to start?”

  “The computer forensic science agents can do their thing, and other team members will need to examine the H5N1 inventory to see if it has been tampered with in any way. Perhaps you can give us some details and help show them around the storage facilities. Also, any updates on your latest findings would be most helpful.”

  “Certainly, by computers, do you mean our individual computers?” Suzy questioned.

  “Yes,” said George, “we need to check out all computers, lab stations, personal devices, smart phones, the whole deal. Let’s start with Dr. Adams’s computer, your assistant’s, and yours also, Dr. Chen. Later, we will look at other staff computers.”

  “Follow me, please,” responded Suzy without emotion.

  .

  54

  Suzy had left George in her office with the tech guy as they began searching through computer data. They knew how to find legal forensic evidence in computers and digital storage media. Mark and Wally had stayed with the rest of the team, waiting for Dr. Chen to escort them to the lab. It wasn’t a long wait. Dr. Adams had thrown a fit as another computer expert started on his laptop. “Tough shit,” thought Chen as she joined Mark and the other team members in the reception area.

  She led them down a long corridor through double doors, which could only be opened by a coded keypad. Two armed military guards stood on either side of the doors, and they acknowledged Dr. Chen as she passed through the entrance.

  She explained to the group, as they were walking through the large laboratory, that the CDC was working in unison with the ERDC, looking at the recent findings confirming the diagnosis of the H5N1 virus on the recent admissions of not only the maintenance worker but others in various medical centers in New York City, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and a growing number of others. The CDC was tracking the pandemic, using recently developed software that gives a snapshot, state by state, of all reported cases.

  “Our containment lab is in a separate part of this wing. I will take you there and show you our H5N1 samples, all intact. We have Level A airline protective suits for your safety. I have asked one of our lab technicians to print an inventory showing every ‘bug’ or toxin sample in storage.”

  Mark liked her clinical approach, but sensed she was holding something back. He hoped the investigation would expose what it was. He told her he needed the latest information and video on the delivery date of the H5N1 samples, including who received them.

  “I received the samples, Agent Strickland,” she said. “And I personally placed them in the secure containment storage locker.”

  “Show my men into the portal, suit them up, and let them check things out. I need to see the video of the delivery, and Hank, you stay with me, okay?” Mark requested of one of the team. Wally’s handpicked agents knew exactly what they were looking for.

  Mark said, “Wally, you want to stay here for the moment?”

  “Fine with me,” he said, looking around at the lab. It brought back some not so fond memories.

  Mark turned his attention back to Chen and said, “Please show the guys how to safely access the storage unit so we can get this investigation moving.”

  “As you can see, we are very busy, Agent Strickland. Is all this scrutiny absolutely necessary?” Chen asked. “We are a government facility and wish to fully cooperate, but we have our orders also. We must work on a vaccine, and our security is beyond reproach.”

  “Your question is acknowledged. Now, let’s get on with it. We need to see the delivery records, now,” he emphasized. His patience was wearing thin.

  She asked one of the lab assistants to show the FBI team into the safety portal.

  Then Suzy said, “Follow me, gentlemen.”

  Suzy remained coolly detached. She took Mark and Hank to the delivery dock, explaining how specific items were received, when the deliveries took place, and then proceeded to the storage room where the records and videos were kept. Hank began unpacking his equipment to search the files and video recordings. He could handle this on his own. Mark wanted to see the rest of the facility, including the vaccine storage area, so Suzy led the way. They entered the lab and walked to the rear of the room where the cold storage for vaccines was located. She opened the door, allowing Mark to enter. She was looking at the various vaccines, labeled and arranged in perfect order, in vacuum-sealed containers. Suzy began explaining about the vaccine storage.

  “We store most vaccines between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. They are to be used within a certain time frame, specifically during current influenza outbreaks. They have a very limited shelf life.”

  She stopped speaking, peering at one of the storage containers. The seal didn’t appear to be secure. That was odd. She mentioned her concerns to Agent Strickland.

  “I need to let Dr. Adams know about this immediately,” and she asked Mark if he would join her in reporting this to Dr. Adams.

  “Yes, and I better let my team know, also,” said Mark, thinking George and Wally would be interested in this development.

  .

  55

  As they were walking to Adams’s office, Dr. Chen explained to Mark and Wally that the previous fall, she, Adams, and several others from the lab had attended an international scientific conference in Wilmington, Delaware. The topic of the conference was various methods of developing vaccines. Normally, vaccine manufacturing can take up to six months using the standard egg-based method, but six months is a lengthy turnaround when dealing with a pandemic. The new technique involved using various resources. They learned that the plant-based approach offers a substantially shortened production time and cost. If an outbreak is reported and the vaccine is available, the CDC can distribute it on the first day from the SNS, or Strategic National Stockpile. Plus, developing a specific vaccine and having it available for use quickly would greatly impact the response time to life-threatening bioterrorism threats and infectious diseases. This was a major breakthrough. Suzy and the others from Edgewood found it exciting, as did all those in the scientific community.

  She didn’t tell him what else had happened at the conference, which was held at the luxurious Tidewater Hotel and Conference Center. The meetings would start in the morning, giving the attendees plenty of free time in the afternoon, for recreation, committee meetings, or relaxation.

  Suzy and Eric, as she called him then, had been seeing each other for several months. It was inappropriate for her to be dating her boss, and she knew the dangers. But he was intriguing, handsome, and their work interests gave them a common bond that added more depth to the relationship. This made the attraction even more interesting. Suzy had felt he was a perfect match for her, though he could be restrained and even distant at times. His elusiveness increased her desire. She tried hard to please and captivate him.

  They had separate accommodations at the hotel, neither wanting their colleagues to know they were having an affair. But after hours, when they thought the others in their group wouldn’t notice, Eric would slip down to her room on the third floor and find Suz
y waiting for him, dressed in a provocative see-through baby doll nightie, or just a satiny silver bustier, panties, garter belt with spiked heels, or nothing at all. It didn’t matter to Eric. Whatever she wore, or didn’t wear, drove him insane and gave him an instant, throbbing hard on. Just thinking of her made him hard. They had uncontrollable sex, and she pleasured him in every way he wanted. They shared exotic tastes and loved sexual exploration. He never got enough of her hot little ass and tits. He was an aggressive, demanding lover, often ripping her clothes off, unable to wait.

  She craved his attention and need for her and believed that he meant all of his declarations of love, for her alone. She had started dating him, not just because he was her boss, but for the intense attraction she felt. It was quite a compliment to know that a man of such merit and intellect would be interested in her. She honestly enjoyed the status but wasn’t after anything beyond his love and the sexual excitement. She fulfilled every pleasure he demanded to win his love.

  It wasn’t until after she had been promoted to assistant director that she found out the truth. They had a Saturday evening dinner date, and he was to pick her up at 6:00 p.m. at her condominium. He was going to take her to their favorite restaurant, a small bistro that featured not only delicious cuisine but a wonderful pianist and singer. Suzy loved going there, and as regulars, they had gotten to know the singer, who always played their favorite song. It was a sappy love song, but it was beautiful and expressed lyrically how she felt about him. Eric had said he was tired, though, and needed the afternoon to catch up on his sleep from their previous all night sex romp. Suzy decided to surprise him and stopped by his house, wanting to sneak into his bedroom, crawl into bed with him, and wake him up in a delicious, intimate way. Although she had no reason to suspect, she wanted to make certain he was home alone, as he had said.