Page 129 of Viral Justice

Max’s voice was rough when he said, “They’re going to use them as carriers of the flu, send them to populated areas. We have to get to them first.”

Chapter Thirty

Max stared at Ali,hoping she had a plan that would end with them alive and free and Akbar dead.

“Let’s get to it.”

Not the answer he was looking for. “With what, as soon as they see us, they’ll make us drop these?” He lifted the rifle he’d taken from one of the dead men.

She was insufferably calm. “No, Hunt stashed a couple of weapons.” She pulled a pile of debris aside in one corner and handed him a Berretta. “Stick this in your waist band behind your back. We’re going to distract and disarm.”

“I thought you preferred a more permanent solution.”

“We need to know where Akbar is going to send, or has sent, the infected.”

Max considered the situation. “He has a lot of men. We need a big distraction.”

“We could blow this place up,” Ali suggested. “Isn’t that what Dr. Perry did?”

“She wasn’t trying to distract anyone. She was trying to deny Akbar access to her work.” Max grimaced. “We’d probably kill ourselves.”

She shrugged. “At least we’ll go big.”

“What if Akbar and his men are right outside?” Max looked at her.

“I could pretend to be unconscious or dead,” she said slowly. “You could say you have information for Akbar and you’ll give it to him in exchange for my life.”

Max looked at her and then himself. “I think we’re both going to need more blood on our clothing to sell that kind of story.”

Max smeared some of his blood that had soaked his pant leg, sock, and boots on Ali’s temple and face. Then they tore up her clothing a bit.

They worked their way quietly toward the front of the building and discovered several armed men talking in a group. Just past them, outside, the Special Forces soldiers still knelt on the ground with their hands behind their heads.

Ali let loose some colorful language. “How do you want to do this?”

He considered her for a moment, then said, “Me Tarzan, you Jane.”

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