Chapter Fourteen
President Rueben Howell accepted the cup of coffee his assistant handed him and took a seat behind his desk. “What is the mortality rate up to, Trevor?”
“There are over one hundred thousand known deaths to date, sir.”
Rueben leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he stared at Trevor Sparks. “Any news from the CDC?”
Sparks shook his head. “Only that the virus continues to mutate. People are dying at a faster rate and drowning in their own blood.”
“And the other symptoms?” Rueben pressed, fighting to keep the desperation from his voice.
“Signs of dementia are still present, along with the rabid behavior. As of yet, the virus is still passed through saliva and sexual contact. It hasn’t gone airborne.”
“Jesus,” Rueben breathed, taking a sip of his coffee. “What if we can’t get a handle on it in time? This very well could be the beginning of mankind’s extinction.”
“Let’s hope not, sir. I’ll keep you posted on the next update.”
Rueben nodded. “Thank you, Trevor. Please see yourself out. I have a few calls I need to make.”
With a quick handshake, Sparks trailed off toward the door, leaving President Howell alone with his thoughts.
Snatching up the phone, Rueben briefly closed his eyes as his secretary’s voice rang in his ear. “Sir?”
“Get Jefferies on the line.”
“Right away, sir.”
Rueben didn’t have long to wait before Doug’s strained voice echoed in his ear. “Mr. President, sir.”
“Drop the formalities, Doug. Bring me up to date on your progress.”
“Very well. We’ve obtained a semen specimen from the alien and removed the uterine birth control device from the reporter. Doctor Lambert will begin giving Cahill gonadotropins injections in the morning. He can start the in vitro fertilization process in less than a week.”
Rueben laid his head in his palm. “The reporter will need to be moved once she’s conceived. Somewhere she can be comfortably restrained and unable to harm herself or the fetus.”
“I really wish we could have used another woman to carry the child. Cahill is in the public eye. She will be missed.”
“She knows too much, Jefferies. Might as well get some use out of her before she’s disposed of.”
“Understood, sir.”
“Cahill could avoid all this if she would give up the location of Abbigail Sutherland and her child.”
Jefferies blew out a breath. “That’s not going to happen, sir. Trust me on that.”
“There are ways to make her talk, Doug. You do have her sister in your possession.”
“What are you suggesting? We torture the blind girl?”
Rueben gritted his teeth. “I’m telling you to do whatever is necessary. And if that means using the sister, then by all means, do it.”
“I’ll have Anderson bring her in.”
“Have you spoken with Kerik?”
“Once. He will be briefed on the situation over breakfast. He’s still combing the gulf for the aliens’ lair.”
Rueben sighed. “Keep me updated, Doug. I was just informed that the death toll is over one hundred thousand now. If this thing goes airborne…” He couldn’t finish the thought.
“We’re doing our best, sir.”
“Not yet, you aren’t. Drag the sister into the lab and use her to force Cahill to talk.”
“And if she doesn’t talk?”
“She will.”
* * * *
Glenn Anderson stared out the window of his hotel room, watching as the sun began peeking over the horizon. How many more sunrises would he be able to enjoy before the government caught up to him?
He glanced at his watch. He had two hours before his bank opened and he could empty out his savings account.
Glenn had ditched the car and his cell phone the night before and purchased a deposable phone. He’d paid cash for the room he and Amy were in, under an alias. As soon as he had money in hand, he would purchase them both plane tickets and take Amy out of the country.
There would be no turning back now, he thought, sliding the curtain closed.
Moving away from the window, Glenn drifted across the room to stand at the foot of Amy’s bed. She looked so innocent, lying there with her hair falling across her face.
Amy didn’t deserve to spend the rest of her life on the run. She should be laughing and shopping with her friends, falling in love, starting a family. Instead, she was holed up in a hotel room with the very man that helped turn her life upside down.
“What time is it?” Amy’s sleep-laden voice startled him. He hadn’t known she’d awoken.
“Good morning. It’s close to seven o’clock.”
With a jaw-popping yawn, Amy sat up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Not long,” Glenn clarified, moving to put on a pot of coffee.
Amy slowly stood, holding her hands out in front of her, and made her way to the foot of the bed. “Which way to the restroom?”
Glenn stepped forward on instinct but stopped himself before touching her. He had no doubt that Amy wouldn’t welcome his help. “About fifteen feet to your right. Your bag is on the sink to the left of the bathroom door.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Amy feel her way across the room, Glenn thought about her sister. He would need to figure out a way to let the reporter know that Amy was okay without alerting Jefferies of his whereabouts. It wasn’t going to be easy. Not impossible, but definitely not easy.