Page 32 of Airborne
She glanced at the clock: 2:15p.m. She’d slept hard for a few hours, but she craved more—so much more.
Doris walked with her to a room beyond the kitchen. She knocked and announced Heather’s arrival. Jordan invited Heather inside. His eyes were his most prominent feature, intense and penetrating. Chad referred to him as the Eagle, a nickname from medical school.
Jordan grasped her gloved hand lightly. The gloves and the masks were a uniform—rightfully so. They were an army of soldiersbattling a virus. “I’m sorry for the circumstances that have brought you here.” Deep lines fanned from his eyes. “Have you been able to sleep?”
“Yes. And you?”
“I’ll rest when the virus is under control.” He pointed to a folding chair in front of a metal desk. “Why don’t we sit?”
She obliged, and he did the same. “I wasn’t expecting you on the island.”
“And miss not spending time with you? Directing the quarantine is my job, which means I’m here for the duration.”
“I’m selfishly glad, if that makes sense. How’s Erika? The girls?”
“They’re good. My daughters are growing much too fast for my liking.”
“Erika sent pics a few weeks ago. They’ve changed so much and very pretty.”
“They take after their Swedish-born mother.” He glanced out the dirt-streaked window behind him, where light attempted to stream in. He turned back to her. “Is our hotel treating you okay?”
She summoned lightness into her words. “The vampires are doing a splendid job.”
“I’ll give them your commendation. I spoke to Dr. Francisca, and I have your test results. She put a rush on them.”
“Before I hear the details, how is Maria?”
“I checked before you walked in.” He breathed in deeply. “Experiencing respiratory problems.”
The fear factor threatened to take control. She’d fight it, and she’d claim victory. “I’ll continue to pray.... Is my baby okay?”
“Yes. No issues or indications of potential problems. But if the baby is affected, it may show up later.”
Heather shoved aside what could happen. “I have to believe my baby will survive this.”
“Lots of prayer. Dr. Francisca included the baby’s sex in her report.”
In the time since she’d met with the doctor, she’d changed her mind about knowing the gender. “What is it?”
“A boy.”
She smiled despite the circumstances. “Thank you. I wanted a son.” Oh, for him to have Chad’s blue eyes. She shut down the notion. No point going there and upsetting herself.
“Do you have any health issues not mentioned to Dr. Francisca or a member of the CDC?”
“None other than the pregnancy. I have a nasty headache, but I’m attributing it to the current situation. Stomach’s queasy, but I’m not surprised with the emotional stress. The last several hours haven’t been normal.... The possibility of the virus hurting the baby has me scared.”
“Dr. Francisca is an outstanding ob-gyn. She’ll take good care of you.”
“I like her.” She folded her hands in her lap as though she had to find something to do with them. “On the plane, I scrutinized and talked to many people, but none looked suspicious other than Braden Taversty.”
“He’s in critical condition.” Jordan paused. “Not expected to recover.”
Which meant he might never be questioned. “Any intel pointing to a suicide mission?”
“You’ll have to ask your friends at the FBI. I’m the medical guy.”
“Right.” As the man in charge of the CDC’s investigation and research of the virus, he’d be aware of a suspect. The information might be off-limits to her. She’d talk to SAC Mitchell. She could be of assistance if they had their attention on someone in quarantine. “Have you identified the virus?”
