The examination served a dual purpose. It was to check for injuries and to make sure no one had been bitten by a zombie. The last thing any of them needed was for the Vita virus to sneak its way into the population. The blood Ethan drew would be tested against the diseases studied inside the lab to ensure none of the unit had contracted any of them.
Saul, Dylan, and Nick were last to go through the process. After they’d passed through both her and Ethan’s hands, she met them outside the medical tent.
“Where’s that kiss you promised me?” Saul asked, and Tara happily obliged. “By the way, is that Dr. Bannock? Your superior in the Congo?”
“That’s the one.”
“I can’t believe it. Of all people, to find him inside that kitchen,” Saul mused with a faraway look on his face.
“Listen, guys. We need to talk. There’s some serious shit going down in this place,” Dylan interrupted, and they all turned to look at her.
“What do you mean?” Tara asked.
“I almost died today, and so did Nick,” Dylan said. “And it wasn’t because of the zombies. Okay, it was kind of, but not really. I —”
“What she means to say is that she was deliberately separated from the group by one of the soldiers,” Nick said. “If it weren’t for the fact that I saw her running off, she’d be dead now.”
“One of the soldiers?” Saul asked with a deep frown. “I meant to ask you what happened. One moment you’re there, and the next you’re radioing from the other side of the lab.”
“Do you know which soldier it was?” Tara asked.
“I’ll know him when I see him again,” Dylan said, “but I didn’t get a name.”
“This is very serious, Dylan. It means that they’re not just trying to discredit you, but actually kill you,” Tara added.
“There’s something else, too,” Saul said.
“There’s more?” Tara asked.
“Yes, but I’d rather talk about it somewhere private. There are too many ears around here,” Saul said.
“I vote that we meet up at your house as soon as possible,” Nick suggested. “The doctor too.”
“Not today,” Tara said. “You’re all exhausted and need to rest. Besides, both Ethan and I are working late.”
“Working late?” Saul asked. “What for?”
“Major Reed is sending in another team to sweep the building for stragglers. After that, a clean-up crew is going in to clear the bodies. We have to stay here until they’re done,” Tara explained.
“That could take all day,” Saul said. “Maybe even all night.”
“I know, but I don’t have a choice,” Tara said.
“What about tomorrow morning then?” Nick asked. “We could meet around breakfast time? Say seven?”
“That sounds good,” Tara agreed.
“In the meantime, I’ll find out who was all on Lieutenant King’s team today. If Dylan can identify the culprit, we’ll be one step closer to fixing this mess,” Nick said.
“Or, I could just pack my stuff and leave,” Dylan said. “That would solve everyone’s problems.”
“You don’t know that, Dylan,” Tara argued. “They could be after all of us.”
“Fine, we can talk about it over breakfast,” Dylan agreed.
“Great. I’ll see you in the morning,” Tara said.
After saying goodbye, Tara watched Saul, Dylan, and Nick walk away. A million questions churned through her brain, raised by the events of the day. Even worse, she had no answers to any of them. With a sense of growing unease, she turned back to the decontamination tent, but Dr. Bannock spotted her and hurried over.
“Dr. Lee. One moment please,” he said.
With reluctance, Tara waited for him to catch up. The sight of his face roused a familiar set of feelings within her. Frustration, anxiety, inferiority, and rage. She couldn’t afford to show her hand, however. Whatever Dr. Bannock might be, he was her superior and higher up on the ladder of USAMRIID. If he wanted to, he could kick her out of the lab.
“Yes, Dr. Bannock?”
“I spoke to one of the men now, and I heard the most extraordinary thing,” he said.
“What would that be?” Tara asked though she had her suspicions already.
“That you had somehow discovered a cure to the Vita virus,” he continued. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“It didn’t seem important at the time. Not after the trauma you suffered,” Tara said with a false smile. Inside, she seethed with red-hot anger. She hadn’t missed the doctor’s emphasis on the word somehow. What does he mean somehow? There was no somehow involved in the months of work that I put in. The thousands of hours I slaved over blood samples and print-outs.
“That’s understandable. Yet, now that I know, I look forward to being briefed in full on your progress,” he continued. “Perhaps, with our combined expertise, we can even develop a vaccine.”
“That was the plan, Sir,” Tara said, her cheeks aching from the fake smile she had to present.
“Yes, my dear, but now that I am here, imagine how much faster it will go,” he said, his words dripping with sugary acid.
“Of course,” Tara replied, inclining her head. “I look forward to working with you.”
“Excellent,” he said, before looking over her shoulder and waving at someone. “Now, I really must go. I’m in sore need of a hot bath, clean clothes, and a decent meal. We can catch up later.”
Dr. Bannock walked away, and Tara stared at his retreating back with all of the rage and hatred she could summon. With his last words, Bannock had tipped his hand. He hadn’t changed, after all. He was simply putting on an act for the benefit of others. He’s after my work. He wants to save the world and be hailed as a hero.
Chapter 16 - Bannock
Dr. Bannock was escorted to the offices of Major Reed by Lieutenant King. Along the way, he smoothed his hands over his clothes and hair. He wanted to make the right impression when he met the man in charge of operations. As ever,
