Page 111 of Deadly Strain

He left her standing in the middle of the room to talk to the soldier manning a computer and wearing a Bluetooth headset.

She turned and found the way out blocked by Smoke and Clark. “I’m not going to run away.”

Clark shrugged while Smoke didn’t reply at all except to glance at Sharp once, then back at her.

“Doc?”

Sharp’s voice brought her attention back to him, and she walked toward the phone he held out to her.

“Colonel Marshall?”

A man coughed. “Here,” he said, his voice so rough it sounded like it had been torn to shreds.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

He made an impatient sound.

“I’m sorry if this is getting repetitious, but I need to hear it from you, not second- or third-hand.”

“Understood. I opened the door to my quarters and a light bulb fell from somewhere above me, smashed on the floor, releasing a cloud of fine dust.” He paused to cough for several seconds. “As soon as I saw that cloud of shit, I knew. The son of a bitch had put a trap in my room. I know I’m dead, but I didn’t want to take anyone with me, so I slammed the door.”

“How long after the dust was released into the air did you shut the door?”

“A second, maybe two.”

“It’s only been a few minutes since it happened, yet you sound very ill. Can you describe your symptoms for me?”

“Sore throat, watery eyes, difficulty breathing.”

“When did those start?”

“Within a couple minutes of breathing in that crap.”

“I’d like your input on our next steps. My bio-suit has been damaged beyond repair. This reduces our ability to investigate what’s happened and assist you.”

Marshall laughed. “I’ve heard you talk like that before, and I always thought you were a cold fish, Doctor, but now I realize you’re so angry you’ve got yourself on lockdown.”

She had no response for that.

“Here’s what you’re going to do.” His voice changed from amused to steel-strength hardness. “You’re going to find the fucker who’s fucking with us and kill him.”

“But...”

“No buts, Doctor. Those are your orders.”

It took her two whole breaths to calm herself enough to attempt speech again. “There has to be a way to help you.”

“I’m dead. Make it worth something.”

“I don’t think I can do it. Leave you to die, I mean.”

Marshall didn’t say anything for a few moments. “You never let Joe go, did you?”

A sob burst out of her, and she sucked the rest back until her whole chest hurt from keeping them in. “No. I see his face in my mind every day. When I wake up, when I doubt myself, and before every decision.”

“My son acted without thinking and it got him killed,” Marshall said in a tone she’d heard him use for his own soldiers, but never with her. “He fell for the distraction. Don’t make the same mistake. Find therealenemy. He’s probably not far. Men like him want to watch their handiwork in motion. Figure it out, Major Samuels. Kill the asshole before he kills again.”

“Yes, sir.” She swallowed hard and said, “It’s been an honor serving with you.”

---