Page 111 of Lethal Game

“Yes, sir.”

Con did a sweep of the area, looking for people or things that shouldn’t be around. He took a couple of photos of the slice in the tent, then pulled out a roll of duct tape and sealed it up on the outside. The edges were already tacky due to the sticky, weblike stuff the material of the tent was coated with, so sealing it was relatively easy.

The deep purple of dawn turned the unending darkness of night into a shadow realm.

Time to set the stage for a little body snatching.

Con headed for the hospital tent and nodded at Len who was standing just inside. “That supply drop is going to happen soon. We’ve got nothing coming for us this time. Everything they’re dropping is for the hospital or the camp in general.”

Len’s face perked up. “Where are they dropping it?”

“North of here, maybe a quarter mile. Two of our guys are down. Concussions, so we’re not going to be much help to you. Have you got enough people to get what you need?”

Before Len could answer Blairmore charged over to them. “What now?” he demanded.

Con smiled at him. “Just reminding you that there’s going to be an air-drop of supplies this morning for the hospital and camp. You’re going to need to get some people to the drop site or the refugees might take it all.”

“We’ve got it covered, right, Doctor?” Len asked Blairmore.

“Absolutely.” Blairmore’s face twitched like he didn’t know if he should be angry or appreciative.

“Awesome.” Con nodded at Len and headed back to his own territory. About ten feet away, he turned back. “I wonder, two of our guys were hit over the head during the scuffle. Dr. Perry thinks they both have concussions, and we’re under a quarantine order, so if we need help, can we come to you?”

“Of course,” Blairmore said, as if he’d been grievously insulted. “I’m well aware,” he said in a mocking tone, “That Dr. Perry might have other things on her mind.”

Yeah, he was a prick.

Con made himself smile and wave. “Thanks.”

He walked back to the lab tent and went in. Sophia was finishing up the work she’d started last night.

“How long will it take to get your samples?” he asked her, watching her look at a slide under the microscope.

“Not long.”

“What are you going to do, drill a hole in someone’s head?”

She glanced at the big knife strapped to his left leg. “Ever open a coconut?”

She’d surprised him again. “Okay, that’s quick. I can work with it.”

“Excellent. When are we going?”

“As soon as we hear the plane’s engines. Anytime.”

She stepped away from her microscope, changed her gloves, then donned a mask and grabbed two sample containers big enough for about one cup of something each. She shoved those in her pants pockets, then picked up two scalpels, holding one while the other got stowed in another pocket.

“You’re taking two samples?”

“Well, I figure, since we’re there...” She shrugged, but looked more energetic than she had since they arrived.

He grunted. “I’m going to ignore how creepy it is that you sound excited about this.”

“What I’m excited about is figuring this shit out, helping these people, then getting out of here.”

“Amen.” Con put a mask and gloves on too.

Airplane engines, big ones, droned in the distance. Con angled his head toward the hospital and the pile of dead bodies on the other side of it. “That’s our cue.”

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