reached a new high. He was aware of it and made a special effort to control his temper. He had to think clearly, but was having self-doubts. Lack of sleep and high blood pressure made him physically unstable. He was touching fixed objects, like desks, counters, doorframes … to steady himself. He was having trouble using his keyboard. Where’s that fucker Hanson? He read the email and knew they had to do something; something! But what? He pushed the intercom button on his phone. “Charlie, please see me … Jules.”
Several minutes later Charlie arrived. “Sorry, Jules, I was half suited up when you paged.
“It’s okay, Charlie. We got another message from the guys in Africa. They want to know how to use the medicines recovered from our stolen shipment.”
Charlie paused before answering. “Jules, the manifest is clean. I thought you sent them our normal protocol for early-stage treatment? Of course, it may not be completely effective if it’s a different strain.”
“I got distracted. I thought you answered it.” He knew Charlie wouldn’t do that. He was really trying to find a way of avoiding the inevitable; the medical people in Africa would be exposed to the virus in the container. The vials were all marked and would be discovered as soon as the on-site docs read the labels. Part of him wanted the vials to be sealed to protect people from the germs. But part of him also wanted them destroyed by the bullets to hide the illegal shipment. He could only hope that all the virus bottles had been destroyed by bullets, but there hadn’t been much damage, only three rounds actually hit the shipping container.
He also knew that the entire container was now infected. He could envision some ignorant villagers opening it and handling the broken bottles, spilling germs everywhere. Any syringe or surgical glove that touched anything in the container might be covered with the virus.
He wrote the following:
“Dear Dr. Leedjärv, sorry for the delay; we had a departmental mix-up. Please DO NOT use anything in the damaged container and avoid all contact as much as possible. It is unknown what could be the consequence of damage, as it was described. If possible, destroy the entire container by burning in a high-intensity fire, being careful not to breath any vapor or other escaping gases. In handling the container, utmost care must be taken, treating it as an extreme biohazard.
With regard, Jules Redinger, President, Global Hemorrhagic Institute”
It would be weeks or months before anyone concluded that the two regions had the same virus strain. The message was sufficiently vague to hopefully avoid further inquiry regarding the contents of the container. He prayed that no one recognized the live virus modules.
Marie came to work at her usual time, around seven-thirty. “Good morning, Jules. Did you see that John Hollis is in today? He signed in just before me. He must be recovered. I wonder if Kelly is better too.”
He looked at Marie, not sure what to say. “Ah, are you sure? Maybe you were on the wrong page of the sign-in log.”
She thought it a strange comment. “Jules, you know that wouldn’t happen. John’s at work. I bet he’s in the lab right now.”
Jules had purposely never asked the conspirators, of which he was now one, if they’d been involved in the attempt to shoot John and Kelly, or if the car crash was deliberate. He didn’t want to know. But he also needed to be in charge. A couple of renegade employees couldn’t usurp him. He’d faced a dilemma, a crossroads: he could report the culprits, but greed had prevented this. It had also brought him into the export violation and a plot to start an epidemic. The victims were mostly just illiterate Africans, but still … his own hypocrisy baffled him. He’d always tried to be an ethical example to his peers and employees. He’d now forsaken it all for money. He was part of a crime that could put him in prison for life. There was no backtracking, he’d chosen his course.
Jules needed to see John, even if only for appearances. He hated John. Somehow … somehow unclear to Jules, the lab tech had the power to shut down the entire Institute and ruin his life forever. It was unbelievable that one person could hold such power over him. John wasn’t part of the conspiracy; in fact, he was the opposite, the anti-Christ, the person able to destroy everything. How could Jules face him? He needed to know what the police had been told; it could only have come from John or Kelly. There’d been a serious accident involving two key employees, and he would be expected to inquire about them. He passed by Marie, saying, “I’ll be in 4B for a little while.” She just nodded.
Moments later, Jules could see through the glass wall into the outer lab area. John was sitting at the workstation, transcribing the information backlogged from the inner lab since he was away. Jules made a point of opening the door quickly, creating a rush of pressurized air out of the environmentally controlled area. John looked up and swiveled around to face his visitor. Jules walked over quickly. “John, how are you? How is Kelly?”
John smiled pleasantly. “We’re both fine, Jules, thanks for asking.”
“Ah, is Kelly coming in today too?”
“No. She’s pretty banged up right now. She’s at my apartment and probably won’t be cleared for work for a few weeks.”
Jules shook his head. “A damn shame.”
John stared at him for several moments before speaking. He’d made up his mind to smoke out the people who had tried to kill them. “I went to the police, Jules. I think they visited you.”
Jules was immediately uncomfortable. “Why did you do that, John?”
He leaned back slightly, but stayed sitting. “I think you know, Jules. You would have to know. I paid some night visits to some folks here who told me all about some shipments of virus to Africa. It’s been going on for a while, just so you could be the first Institute with a cure. It’s brilliant, in a diabolic-sick sort of way.”
“I don’t …”
“Don’t bullshit me, Jules, I know all about it. Your lackey Hanson and Ms. Bitch Petronova both told me their stories. That prick Cooper’s gonna be out for a while mending after that stunt with his truck. Funny thing though, none of them will file charges against me. Seems strange, right?” John paused for a moment to let Jules speak, but he just stood in silence. “You see, I was thinking about it. Those guys all had something to lose if they admitted why I went after them. Funny thing; they’re all silent for the police. They didn’t want to validate what I said when I confessed.”
Jules stammered. “John, I don’t know what you’re talking about …”
“Bullshit! You didn’t even ask what I told the police. I know the cops didn’t tell you. They were investigating an assault charge, one I brought on myself. You either learned it from your buddies in low places, or figured it out. You’re acting all wrong, Jules. You should have come in here wanting to know all the details. But, you already knew what happened.
“John … I.” But, just as he was about to say something, Charlie Ritter came into the lab. John broke his glare at Jules, who just stood motionless.
Charlie smiled and took John’s hand. “How are you, John, and how’s Kelly? I tried to come visit you, but you’d already checked out, and Kelly was in ICU with no visitors. I can’t believe that this would happen right after someone tried to shoot you! They must be connected. I don’t believe in coincidences. You look pretty good, considering, but how’s Kelly?”
“She’s fine, Charlie. Thanks for asking. She’s at home recuperating. But it’ll be a while before she’s well enough to come back.”
Jules cleared his throat before excusing himself, leaving Charlie alone with John. He now had another problem. What if John unloaded accusations on Charlie?
But it didn’t happen. The two men remaining in the lab continued talking about the events of the last several days … two GHI scientists nearly killed and a shipment to Africa that was ambushed with several fatalities. Both agreed that it was a strange set of circumstances.
The conversation clarified some things, and John hadn?
??t revealed anything. He didn’t need to. Charlie wasn’t coy about anything. He was genuinely concerned about his employees. Ironically, it was Charlie who had the most lab access. If one or both of the owners was involved in using inventory illegally, Charlie was the logical one. But he wasn’t involved; John was sure of it. Not only that, it hadn’t escaped Charlie that Jules acted strangely when leaving. It would be normal to stay with him and John while they conversed. Instead, he’d abruptly departed when Charlie entered, as if he had been waiting for an excuse to leave. John was one of their star employees, and Jules should have been more concerned. It led to another discussion.
Confronted
Charlie decided to suit-up to check something. John had accomplished his objective and decided to leave. As he departed the lab and started down the main corridor, he met a few associates who were concerned about him and Kelly, so he didn’t move too fast. Before he got farther, he encountered Jules, Hanson, and Irina standing in the corridor leading to the lobby, looking at him, partially blocking the path. They had been huddled