“No,” Sarah said in a low voice as she moved over and sat down beside him. “We lost another government facility to the virus.”
Jerking his head up, “How? They are supposed to be locked down.” Sutton asked.
Shaking her head, “Just like the last one, they don’t know,” Sarah told him. “What we do know is everyone inside is infected. The screening test proved it.”
“They’re scared,” Sutton mumbled and Sarah nodded.
“Aren’t you?” she asked.
“Sarah, I’ve worked with the most lethal viruses we’ve ever discovered. And before you ask, this isn’t the most deadly. That title belongs to a virus from the Philippines. It just has a number. When you catch it, you are dead three days later. All our tests show it’s one hundred percent fatal. But that virus moves too fast, so it would be very hard for it to become a pandemic,” Sutton told her with a smile. “Because of you, I can say we are very close here. You have become indispensable to this team.”
“Please,” Sarah scoffed, getting up. “I’m just the mother hen and typist.”
Getting up, Sutton shook his head, “Nope, even Skannish agrees. We are making more progress because you are making sure we aren’t tired. That we eat. That all our research is in the system and all links with Atlanta are downloaded. For someone who doesn’t know viruses, when one of the team asks for something, you know where to find the answer or who to ask.”
Taking a deep breath, “Thank you,” Sarah beamed.
Glancing at his watch, “Let’s do the dog and pony show,” Sutton said, heading for the door and stopped.
“I have your laptop, notes, and the latest report from Homeland,” Sarah said, walking past him. “You can read on the way over.”
“Like I said,” Sutton chuckled, following her outside. “Indispensable.”
When Sarah pulled up to the presidential area, Sutton was finished with the report. He followed Sarah through the doors. Walking into the room, he saw everyone was just taking their seats. “Damn, even early,” he mumbled and Sarah stifled a laugh.
“Sutton, what do you have for us today?” the President asked, sitting down.
Pouring a cup of coffee, Sutton walked over to the table and put his coffee down but didn’t sit. Turning to the president, Sutton pointed at him with his hand. “Mr. President, you are a genius,” Sutton sang out, then dropped his hand as the President gave a startle.
“How so?” the President asked hesitantly.
“When you assigned Sarah to the team, I had to admit, I was against it. I’m not going to tell you what the others said, but I’m here now saying we were wrong,” Sutton admitted and then looked around at those seated, then back up to the President. “She leads that team like a general. Never in my life would I have ever believed someone forcing people to nap and eat would make such a difference, but holy shit are we making progress.”
The president sat up straighter with a big grin as Sutton continued. “Then, she types up all our dictation and when a question is asked, she knows which one of us can answer it. Even in Atlanta, Sarah has made a difference. I want to make her the director, but that would take her out of the trenches. But when the time comes, Mr. President, I’m begging you to make her Senior Executive Director of the CDC,” Sutton said, sitting down.
“She made that big of a difference?” the President cried out.
Standing back up, “Last dictation, please,” Sutton said, holding his hand out and Sarah passed him a stack of papers. Turning to the president, “If you have someone who understands viruses, let them read that,” Sutton said, tossing the stack on the table and sliding it toward the president.
“Mr. President,” Sutton said, jerking his thumb back at Sarah. “Because of her, we will be starting cultures of the first batches of vaccines in two days.”
The room erupted in cheers as everyone jumped up, clasping their neighbors’ hands and shaking them. When everyone stopped, the president yelled at the person sitting next to Sutton. “Get your ass up and let the Senior Executive Director sit down,” the President bellowed.
Sarah was looking around in shock as the man got out of the chair and moved to the chairs along the wall. Moving over timidly, Sarah sat down. “We’ll work on your credentials soon, Sarah,” the President smiled. “You need any help?”
“No, sir,” Sarah said quickly. “I hate to say it, but the scientists talk to themselves a lot as they work. Even asking questions out loud, and since I’m always near them or the lab radio, I know who to direct them to.”
“You keep up the good work,” the President said and everyone around the table smiled at her.
“Mr. President, I can tell you this. If you want the vaccine this fast, let’s move these update meetings with us to once a week,” Sarah said. “Dr. Sutton was talking to himself in the airlock about the culture slots…” she paused, looking around. “Sorry, he was trying to remind himself, so he could pick up the same train of thought when he gets back. I’ve learned their little telltale signs and know when not to talk to them or let anyone else talk to them.”
“Sarah, you tell us what day the weekly meeting is to be,” the President said with a nod. “Sutton, from half a year to days, that’s incredible.”
“Sir, she takes care of the team and it seems we needed it because everyone is performing at top level,” Sutton laughed. “Like I said, the first batch will be out no later than three days, but that doesn’t mean it will work. But we will put out batches every day with alterations, checking for results.”
