Page 29 of Airborne
He held his cell phone and waited for her to call back or message an apology. She had hardened with what she’d been through. No point in holding a grudge against her when she might never fully recover from the worst imaginable death he’d ever witnessed.
Nothing erased the powerless urgency of sitting beside Paul while his body fought Ebola. He hadn’t wanted to take this trip, but Chad persuaded him. On the plane, Paul claimed to have a bad feeling about it.
Blood had filled Paul’s tear ducts, then moved to his ears, mouth, and nose. Plasma filled his lungs, and he coughed up blood. Seizures attacked him before he slipped into a coma and died. Chad’s stomach rolled... just like it did after every nightmare reminder.
Chad texted Jordan and requested Heather’s test results.
If she contracted the virus, would the FBI cancel their investigation or raise the level of suspicion?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAD MULLED OVERthe morning press conference from New York City. Not sure he approved of the measures to inform the public. In his opinion, contagion information encouraged panic to spread worse than the virus. But no one had asked him.
He wrestled with the reality of a deadly virus, Heather in danger, and his future with the CDC. His eyes stung from the constant glare of the computer screen and sleep deprivation. The CDC’s inconclusive report stated the unknown virus had claimed three more lives, and they’d transported two new cases from those quarantined to the isolation unit at Jamaica Hospital.
How could he investigate the virus so far away from the source? Long hours awaited those who worked directly with the infected people and medical personnel who researched a cause and a cure. Chad craved to work alongside the researchers for reasons he might never be able to vocalize.
Andy, his geek assistant, gulped coffee, the second pot this morning. The guy drank his weight in caffeine, claiming it fired his brain cells. Once he started talking, he rarely stopped—an annoying personality trait. Chad had called him into the lab earlywith the hope his name would be cleared, and he’d be involved in identifying the strain of flu.
An updated post on the CDC site flew into his in-box. At least he was still receiving notifications. “Andy, listen to the latest. As we suspected, the molecular/PCR test is negative indicating the HFV is a new virus. So we wait while they attempt to grow the pathogen in culture. They’ve expedited autopsies, but the reports may take days or weeks.”
Andy stretched his neck muscles. “Doc C., what can we accomplish here? I can’t sit and read reports. Depressing.”
Chad’s assistant had hit the target. Previous research on other viruses gave them variables, but without direct involvement, all they had was a theory and speculation.
They couldn’t grow different cell line types without access to blood samples. Even if they had cultures, New York had a biosafety level4 lab, and the closest level4 to Lawrence Labs was in Galveston. He buried his face in his hands. They could get lots of work done as a class3, but they didn’t have what was necessary to make a decent hypothesis.
“You’re right,” Chad said. “We’re spinning our wheels, wasting time. Having Heather exposed to the virus and stuck in quarantine has—”
Andy startled. “You didn’t tell me she was on the plane. Is she all right?”
“Yes. I found out early this morning.”
“Another reason you’re off.”
Chad glared. “What do you mean? Since when haven’t I been in the game?”
“You’re off.” He shrugged.
“Preoccupied. Hey, before you hear the latest from another source, I filed for divorce.”
Andy tapped his thumb on the desktop. “I’m not surprised. You two are from different planets. Sorry to hear it.”
“Been coming for quite a while. We don’t share the same ideas and vision for the future.” Chad stopped himself before he unloaded too much personal info.
“Doesn’t she hassle you about church?”
“Among other things. Has the FBI contacted you?”
“I’m to be at their office at 11:30 today.”
“They have me in their sights.”
“An agent told me the same thing. Are they crazy?”
“Someone provided enough evidence to put me on their list.” Chad swung back to his computer.
“Heather’s all over this.”
