Page 11 of Viral Justice

“Sometimes. I have a fair amount of administrative work that cuts into my lab time.”

“How many different pathogens do you have in there?”

“It varies.” He was in his comfort zone here, relaxed and self-assured.

The best time to ask a tough question. With a bounty on his head, she needed all the intel she could get.

“Why don’t you like guns?”

“Because I...” His voice trailed off and he turned to look at her. “I became a doctor to save people, not put holes in them.” His voice sounded calm and controlled, yet she could see a hint of something that was not in his eyes.

He turned away to stare through the glass again. “I don’t like violence in any of its forms.”

“Why did you join the army, then?”

He grinned at her as if everything was normal. As if he hadn’t been in the grip of some negative emotion only moments ago. “It does seem counterintuitive, doesn’t it?” He extended his hand toward the lab. “This is where real work is being done. Not in the research labs at the Centers for Disease Control. We’re on the front line of any attack using biological weapons. We can respond faster, diagnose and begin treating in hours. Not days.Hours.”

She took a moment to process that. He saw identifying and treating disease as battle? Disease as the enemy? “Your weapons are antibiotics and antiviral drugs?”

His whole face lit up. “Yes.” He patted one of her shoulders and gave it an excited shake. “That’s it exactly.” He stared at her for a long moment, then seemed to remember he had his hand on her and abruptly let go.

For a long time she had thought Max wasn’t a warrior, that he didn’t have the skills or stomach for combat. She’d been wrong. His field of combat was simply different than hers.

Her mistake.

One she’d fix, starting now.

She glanced around and noted discreetly placed security cameras. “What security precautions are in place for the lab?”

“Good question. Eugene can give you the particulars and have an ID badge made for you so you can move throughout the lab.”

“Those doors we came through are locked?”

“At all times.”

She nodded. “Good. If you don’t mind, I’ll familiarize myself with lab security and provide anything else you or your assistant need from me to have me integrated with your group. I’d like to evaluate your hand-to-hand skills later today or tonight.”

“They’re no better than the last time you wiped the floor with me,” he said with a sigh.

“I wasn’t in charge of your training the last time. I need more information so I can create a program for you.”

“You mean, you’re not going to embarrass me in front of a couple dozen soldiers once, but daily?”

“Any soldier who laughs, comments, or smiles too wide will get his own chance for embarrassment. After the first week, no one will bother watching anymore.”

He winced. “I’m going to be all over the internet, and that crap never disappears.”

“No photos allowed. Anyone taking them will face severe penalties.” She stopped to frown at him. “You know that.”

He pursed his lips like he tasted something awful. “Doesn’t help. You know how clumsy I am.”

She’d thought his reluctance stemmed from a desire to maintain his dignity in public, but there was something else in his voice. Maybe this wasn’t all about his ego. “I’ve trained people who’ve never held a gun in their life to become expert snipers. You’re smart and you know how to use your hands. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be able to hit your target and defend yourself as well as any soldier.”

He stopped and turned to face her, his expression cold. “Have you ever considered the possibility that a man might notwantto acquire some of those skills? Might find them at odds with his personal beliefs?” He strode off before she could respond.

When facing an enemy who wanted to destroy you or take what you have, personal beliefs were irrelevant. She followed and ended up at Eugene’s desk. Max had retreated into his own office with the door closed.

“Your boss is very good at shutting people down when he’s not happy,” she said, staring at that closed door.

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