Page 100 of The Presidents Shadow

I USE MY fifteen-minute waiting time to reconnect with Dr. DaSilva over video-conference.

“Sorry about hanging up on you,” I say.

She responds, “Did Townsend have any useful information?”

“No,” I say. “Just the usual. Lies. Arrogance. Stupidity. Narcissism.”

Anna shakes her head. “I manage to have a positive working relationship with him, Lamont. I don’t understand why you can’t.”

“Because I don’t want to be on the same team as that—” I stop short. I cannot find a word strong enough without resorting to schoolyard vulgarity.

“Let me ask you something, Lamont,” Dr. DaSilva continues. “Did Townsend bring you up to date on the Newbola situation?”

“No, not at all,” I say. “We had a different issue to discuss. I was going to tell you before, Margo, Maddy, her friend Belinda, myself, everyone on my team tested negative for the virus.”

“Listen to me, Lamont. The tests that you took are no longer valid. The virus has mutated. Do you know what that means?”

I immediately become annoyed. She is speaking to me as if I were a child, or an untutored bystander. My knowledge of medicinal research is as strong as my knowledge of science and general humanity.

I wrestle with my anger. I try to get it under control. I need a meeting with myself. Damnit, Lamont. Calm down. Erase your ego. Be part of the team, part of the solution. Listen to Dr. DaSilva. Ask the right questions.

“You said the virus has mutated?” I ask.

Dr. DaSilva nods. “Everyone who works here with me is now calling the new strain Newbola Strong. We have calculated it to be almost 200 percent more deadly than its original form.”