“But she hasn’t gotten any better,” Jason pleaded. “I’ve made sure she’s taking the medicine and—”
“And that’s why I’m leaning toward a viral infection.” Vivian kept her voice low and calm. “I honestly don’t think this is anything to worry about. It just needs to run its course.”
“Every time you say viral I can’t help but think the worst.” Jason’s voice waivered as he spoke.
“I understand your worry, but consider that the common cold is a virus. The flu is a virus. Heck, the grand majority of human diseases are viral.” She patted his arm. “Just make sure she gets plenty of rest and lots of fluids. She’ll be fine in no time.”
She turned to leave and Jason followed her out. “So, um…how are the, uh, the patients doing?”
“Patients?”
“The test subjects. Are any of them being cured?”
Vivian gave him a soft smile. “Some are showing signs of improvement, but we’re a long way from a cure.”
“But, you took her blood and—”
“And Rome wasn’t built in a day.” She patted his arm again and was really starting to lose patience with the man. “Trust me, as soon as we know for sure about a cure, you’ll be one of the first that we get it to.”
Jason smiled, then suddenly sobered. “That wasn’t…uh, what I was…”
“It’s okay Mr. Anderson. Believe me, I understand. Ms. Wilkes is a strong woman and we’re glad that the two of you are here. I can only imagine the fear of living with someone who may be a carrier of this dreaded disease.” She gave him a soft smile. “So, trust me when I say that we understand your concerns. As soon as we have something definitive, you’ll be the next to know.”
Jason nodded slightly as she turned to leave. He slipped back into the room and tried to tend to Bren while Dr. LaRue went back to work saving the world.
Candy paced by the gates and sighed dramatically when she saw the truck lumbering back toward the warehouse. “I swear, I’m going to kill them the moment they…,” she trailed off, her eyes catching glints of reflection from something behind the truck. She cocked her head to the side and listened carefully as a motorcycle engine revved.
She turned and motioned to the roof guard. “Eyes!”
The man nodded then pulled his spyglasses. He studied the approaching truck, then turned back to her. “One rider. Hank and Wally are in the truck.”
“I need extra guards at the gate!” she shouted into the radio, then turned and snapped the lock on the chain that secured the chain link gates.
She stepped back and pulled her pistol, ready for whatever approached the entrance with the truck. She leaned against the block wall of the staging area and watched as the truck pulled up to the gates and Henry shut off the engine.
She watched the motorcycle pull alongside the truck and a large man un-straddled the machine. He unzipped his leather jacket and walked slowly to the gate with Henry.
“Who’s your friend, Hank?” Candy asked, her pistol pointed at the stranger.
Hank held his hand out and the biker gently placed his pistol into it. “I would say he’s a friend, but…”
“Hands where I can see them!” Candy stepped from the small concealment she had and approached the pair on the other side of the fence.
“Roger Mulroney, at your service.” He flashed a brilliant smile. “I surrendered my weapon, ma’am.”
“Don’t you ma’am me.” She kept her weapon trained on the stranger, but chanced a glance to Henry. “What’s his story, Hank?”
Henry swallowed hard. “I think you’d better hear it from him, Candy.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t tell it and you understand.”
“Didn’t Hatcher say the marauders were bikers?”
Henry nodded. “He used to be a cop.”
“I don’t give two shits if he used to be the governor!” She stepped forward and motioned to one of the gate guards. He unlocked the gate and she waved the two men through. “If you’d kindly place your hands behind your back.”
Squirrel could tell it wasn’t a request. He slid the leather jacket off his shoulders and dropped it to the ground. He gave her another award-winning smile and crossed his hands behind his back. “The jacket is a bit too binding when cuffed.”
She watched as the gate guard slapped the cuffs on him, then she approached. “So, you’re used to wearing handcuffs, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m used to putting them on people who look like me, though.”
“We’ll see.” She grabbed him roughly and began dragging him through the staging area.
Wally stepped out of the truck and called to her. “What do you want us to do?”
“You really don’t want me to answer that, Wally!” she called back over her shoulder.
Chapter 17
Buck glanced out of his window, then caught Hatcher’s attention. “Are we going up there?”
Hatcher nodded. “That’s the source of the virus, as far as we can tell.”
Buck paled and began nervously shaking his head. “No, we can’t. We need to turn back! Now. We can’t go up there or—”
“Cool your jets, kid!” Hollis yelled. “You better calm down or you’ll find yourself walking back to the world.”
“Fine! Let me out!” Buck began fumbling with the door latch when Hatcher grabbed his arm.
“What’s going on?” He tried to shake Buck to get his attention, but the kid seemed to be in a panic.
“You can’t go up there.” Buck got the door open and the driver locked up the brakes. He jumped out and stepped away from the Humvee, his whole body shaking as he glanced nervously into the trees.
“Why not, Buck?” Hatcher appeared from behind the truck and
