Page 89 of Deadly Strain

Chapter Twenty

Faulkner crossed hisarms over his chest and shook his head. “He called Max and yelled like a madman at him.”

“I can’t see Max taking that without comment.”

“Nope. It was a fun phone fight to watch. Neither one of them listened to a word the other said.”

“Even the wordanthrax?”

“They threatened each other with it.” Faulkner shrugged, disgust wrinkling his nose. “Like a couple of screaming little kids.”

“Things have been FUBAR since we got to Bostick, but it wasn’t until we got sent out to investigate the deaths of a village full of people over the span of less than twenty-four hours that things went completely to hell.” Sharp looked Faulkner in the eyes. “Someone shot our aircraft down and I don’t think it was an accident.”

“How so?”

“At the time the crash didn’t seem connected to the anthrax, but now...there are too many coincidences. Too much of the wrong information getting out and not enough of the right info.” Sharp glanced at the alcove where Grace was sleeping. “The only reason I’m still alive is because she stepped it up and shot three extremists before they could kill me.”

“I heard you got shot.”

Sharp found himself reluctant to take his gaze off Grace. “Yeah, that and shrapnel from the crash, but I’m okay.”

“If Marshall did intentionally kill Cutter,” Faulkner said slowly, “the shitstorm has only started.”

“Isn’t General Stone coming to relieve Marshall of his command?” Sharp asked.

“Not exactly.” Faulkner smiled ruefully. “He’ll arrive at Bostick tomorrow morning, and plans to straighten all this out, but he isn’t taking sides until he hears from everyone. Marshall will still be in command of the base.”

“Well, that’s just fucking perfect. Grace is scared to death of him.”

“Why?”

“She wouldn’t tell me.”

Faulkner watched Max move around, preparing his equipment and directing a couple of soldiers as they created a clean room with the plastic sheeting.

“So, we have two volatile situations,” Faulkner said slowly. “One is the threat of someone using this anthrax as a weapon, and the other is a bunch of officers who hate each other’s guts and are possibly willing to kill because of it.”

“I think we need more hazard pay,” Sharp said.

Faulkner grinned at him. “Now, there’s a request I’d love to see you make in person.”

“You just want to see someone kick my ass,” Sharp said with a smirk. He moved off to check the alcove and was happy to see Grace still sleeping. Her IV antibiotic bag was nearly empty, so he mentioned it to Max.

Max glanced at him in a way that made it clear he’d forgotten all about Sharp already. “Don’t touch anything,” he said as he disappeared into the alcove. He came back a few seconds later and continued to set up his work area and equipment. “Her fever is down a little, but she needs more sleep.”

“How long until you’ve done what you need to do?” Sharp asked him.

Max snorted. “I have no idea, but I’ve been given a thirty-six-hour deadline to deliver a report with recommendations to General Stone.”