Page 15 of Deadly Strain

“Now,” Marshall said a doomsday tone, “is not the time to hesitate.”

Grace flinched. “I’m not hesitating, I’m taking appropriate precautions.”

“Your precautions didn’t save my patrol, did they?”

“Sir, their team leader went into two homes containing bodies with evidence of disease before putting on his breathing gear.”

“You were the one who trained my men on how to respond to possible biological weapons,” Marshall spit out. “I’m not going to take the word of an inept bitch who obviously doesn’t know what she’s doing. If this bug is as dangerous as you say, then cleaning the site will stop any further infection.”

“This appears to be a man-made strain, sir. If we don’t properly identify the strain and how it was created now, we might not have a chance to do it later. A few extra hours at this point could mean the difference in living and dying for more soldiers in the future.”

“My men are not guinea pigs for you to test your theories on. You will follow established protocols, identify the agent and evacuate the area for decontamination. Now.”

“I’ve identified the agent, sir, but—”

“Are you arguing with me, Major?” Marshall’s purr wound its way up her spine, leaving a trail of cold sweat in its wake.

She shook off the implied threat. “With all due respect, Colonel, the situation calls for extraordinary measures.”

“Not your call to make.” He sounded like he enjoyed saying it.

“You’re correct, sir, which is why I contacted Colonel Maximillian. As the head of the Biological Rapid Response team, the decision is his.”

When Marshall didn’t respond, she continued with, “Colonel Maximillian has ordered the area quarantined and protected until we can be sure we’ve identified the specific strain of the pathogen and method of delivery.”

Still no response from Marshall.

“Sir, are you there?” she asked as diffidently as she could.

He disconnected the call.

She handed the sat phone to Bart and prayed Marshall wouldn’t do anything stupid.

“What did Marshall say there at the end?” Leonard asked.

“He didn’t say anything, he hung up on me.”

Leonard winced, but said, “You’ve made your report, and we have a plan of action. Time to execute it. I’m going to stay here and enforce the quarantine. You two head out with the samples.”

“You got it,” Sharp said.

“Don’t let anyone blow anything up while I’m gone,” Grace told Leonard as he walked away.

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a crisp salute and kept walking.

“Don’t salute me. I’m not in command of this situation.”

“Yes, you are,” Sharp told her.

“Yes, you are,” Leonard shouted back. He disappeared behind one of the squat houses.

She shook her head. “No,” she said to Sharp. “The anthrax is in charge here and none of us can afford to forget it. There’snoroom for ego or hurt feelings.” She sucked in a deep breath. “How should we split up the team? Some need to stay here and monitor the situation.”

“You, me, Rasker, Williams, and three of Marshall’s men.” He watched her face for a second. “Don’t let Marshall’s stupidity rattle you.”

“The problem is, he has a point. Too many things have gone wrong here.”

“No plan survives first engagement. Things always change. There’s no way you could have predicted this.”