Chapter Twenty-Eight
1:17 p.m.
There were only so many people in a position to put all this terrorist shit into motion. If Agent Geer weren’t already dead, he’d be at the top of River’s list.
It was the timing of the fucking phone calls. The person pulling everyone’s strings called only when success was in jeopardy. It was someone who had access to what the CDC was doing, as well as what Homeland Security was doing. A very small number of people were in a position to have that information.
It was very likely that he and Ava knew this person.
Geer, with his stubborn refusal to cooperate and his dogged determination to keep Ethan Harris out of trouble, nagged at River. But he couldn’t see how the dead agent connected with the bacteria that was killing people. The guy hadn’t considered the bug a huge threat. There had been no respect in the man for Ava or anyone else with the CDC. Unfortunately, he was dead.
If he was going to go fishing, he needed to bring Dr. Rodrigues into it. He pulled out the cell phone and made the call.
“River?” Dr. Rodrigues answered.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I was worried. There are reports of a large explosion at the university, and I was afraid you might have been involved in it somehow.”
He winced. “I was.”
“What? Again?”
“It’s a long story, ma’am, and I don’t think we have time for it right now.”
“Make time.”
River spent several minutes explaining the situation and what he wanted to do. In the end, Rodrigues grudgingly gave her blessing, and ordered him to communicate his plan to Agent Dozer.
Dozer was even less excited.
“That’s a hell of a leap,” Dozer said. “There’s no one in a position of authority in this mess who could be in charge of a terrorist cell. No one has been in contact with militants in the Middle East. We did deep background checks on everyone.”
“The leader isn’t going to fall into the typical terrorist cell leader category,” River explained. “I think this is a home-grown terrorist. Someone born and bred right here in Texas. Someone who’s taking advantage of the world political climate and the availability of cannon fodder to create mayhem and kill people.”
“What? Like a serial killer?”
“Yes, that. I think we’ve got a science-nerd psychopath who has the perfect backdrop for killing a lot of people and blaming it on some nameless terror group.”
“Shit.”
“This guy is having way too much fun, but he might not know that Ava…Dr. Lloyd was being held by his recruits. She heard enough to figure out none of them are in charge.”
“Homegrown,” Dozer muttered. “It could be anyone.”
“There aren’t too many people in the right position to have orchestrated all this. Your guy, Geer, would have been on the top of my list if he weren’t already dead.”
“Idiot,” Dozer said in an almost pleasant tone. “It’s a good thing he got himself killed. So, who’s next on your list of contenders?”
“No one really stands out. Maybe Toland?”
“No, not him. He’s too new. Could it be someone within the CDC?”
Henry Lee surfaced in River’s mind before he discounted the man. He was a grumpy son of a bitch, but not a guy who killed for fun. If Lee did come across someone masterminding something like this, he’d probably take the killer down on his own. None of the other people he’d met had appeared to have the skills or personality to accomplish the horrendous destruction that had occurred so far.
“No one I’ve met. It could be someone in local law enforcement. Inside the bomb squad could be a possibility, or even a higher-ranking officer from Fort Bliss.”
“Yeah, it looks like we need to go ahead with your idea. Are you sure you and Dr. Lloyd are up for this?”
“I’m good, and if I try to keep her out, she’ll kick up a fuss. She’s also the one with direct knowledge of what was said in the chem lab before it blew up. Our trap won’t work without her.”
“Fine. I’ll see about having a few additional people on the lookout during the meeting. I just hope to hell our psychopath hasn’t planted any more bombs.”
River hung up and looked at the drill sergeant. “Got a good place to hide these guys and yourself?”
“Sure. The best place.”
They went back to the bus, River holding Ava close as the two of them limped on board.
“I don’t know about you,” she said with a sigh, “but after this, I’m asking for a raise and a better health care plan.”
“Let me know how that goes. I might do the same.”
Broken Arm sniffed. “Could someone please look at my arm now?”
“You sit,” River told Ava. “Let me see what he’s got.”
She opened her mouth as if she were going to argue with him, but seemed to think better of it, closing her mouth and nodding instead. The DS started the engine, which sounded like it was going to wheeze its last any second, and drove away from both university and hospital.
River gave the kid a once-over. Aside from the arm, he had a few cuts on his exposed skin, but not as bad as Ava had received. His arm did look odd, but not necessarily broken. To find out, he was going to have to cut the kid loose. He pulled a knife out of a sheath strapped to his leg, not as long as a Bowie knife, but enough to intimidate this college idiot, then cut the para cord he’d used to tie the kid to the seat. He waited, prepared for the kid to attack him, try to take his knife, but the kid just cradled his arm and moaned.
River re-sheathed the blade and secured the loop over the hilt so it couldn’t be yanked out. He gestured with both hands. “Let me see it.”
Broken Arm sat up, hunched over his arm, and scooted closer.
“It’s not broken, kid,” River told him. “It’s dislocated. I can fix it.”
“I can’t move it,” he complained. “Are you sure? You’re not a doctor, are you?”
“Nope, just a lowly combat medic.” River crooked a finger at the kid. “Now, get over here.”
He didn’t move. “I don’t think you should touch me. I’ll wait until I can see a doctor.”
“Listen asshole, ’cause I’m only going to say this once.” River leaned down so he could growl into the kid’s face and speak quietly enough that Ava wouldn’t hear him. “You’re a cock-sucking terrorist. You’ll be lucky to survive your first day in prison. There aren’t any doctors to take care of you now, because they’re all busy trying to save the people dying of your fancy bacteria. You either get your arm fixed by me, or you don’t get it fixed at all. Got it?”
The kid swallowed. “Yeah.” He shifted until he was sitting on the edge of the seat in front of River. River grabbed the kid’s arm with the elbow bent, lifted it so it was perpendicular to the ground, then jerked it back into the joint.
The kid screamed once, a short sound, then blinked a couple of times. “Is it over?”
“Move your arm, dickwad.”
The kid did and grinned at River. “Wow, thanks.”
“Don’t ever thank me,” River snarled him. “For anything.”
He took the paracord and tied the kid up again, then strode to the front of the bus where Ava was sitting, alternating between watching him with the kid and watching the road.
“Nicely done,” she said to him when he sat down next to her.
“He’s lucky I didn’t break his neck.”
She rested her head against the back of the seat and gave him a strange sort of sad smile. “You know what I’d like to do right now?”
He grunted and wagged his index finger. “That is a trick question.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
He liked seeing the smile on her face. He liked seeing her face, period. “Tell me, Mouse, what would you like to do right now?”
She waved him closer, and he leaned toward her. She did it again, then put a hand on his shoulder and pulled herself up so she could whisper in his ear, “I’d like to take that respirator off you and kiss you, silly.”
She let go of him and resumed her previous position on the seat. He sat perfectly still. It took just about everything in him to not rip the mask off and grant her wish.
“I’m sorry,” she said, with as close to soundless as a voice could get. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
He looked at her and realized she thought he was embarrassed or some shit like that.
“I’m uncomfortable,” he murmured. “Because I’ve had a damned hard-on since I bandaged you up.” Her pupils widened, and her mouth dropped open. “When this is over, you can kiss any part of me you want for as long as you like, just as long as I can return the favor.”
“Oh,” she breathed out. When her tongue licked over her lips, he had to chain his hands to his sides to keep from grabbing her.
Though a blush heated her cheeks, tears filled her eyes until they spilled over and tracked down her face. “Chances are, that’s just a dream.”
It just about killed him to see her so sad. “Hey.” He couldn’t keep the growl out of his voice. “No Negative Nancys allowed on this trip.”
“I’ve got a headache, River. A fever can’t be far behind.”
“That happy bastard Henry is going to come up with some kind of magic potion that will kick this bug’s ass.”
“If that were possible, we’d know.”
“We’ve been so busy blowing shit up, we might not have been told.”
She slanted a disbelieving glance at him. “You just spoke with our boss. I think she would have mentioned any magic potions, if they’d been available.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “Could you work with me, Mouse? We’ve got a mass murderer to catch, and I need you ready and able to help reel in the son-of-a-bitch.”
“Ah, I see what you’re doing. Trying to put me in a good mood.”
“Jesus fuck, woman, you think I’d tell you how much I want you just to put you in a good mood?” He leaned down, grabbing the top of the seat on either side of her head. “Do I look like a motivational speaker?”
She studied him, her gaze flicking across his face and uniform. Covered in dirt, debris, and blood, he looked like a walking nightmare. “You look like a soldier on a mission.”
“That’s true, but not all of it.” He whispered, “I’ve got another mission. A personal one. You.”
Her breath hitched. “You don’t play fair.”
“Damned straight, and…”— he shook his head slowly, keeping his gaze on hers—“I don’t intend to start now.”
She dropped her gaze, then looked at him from beneath her lashes. “So, what do you want me to do, exactly?”
He let both his eyebrows rise, and she rolled her eyes. “I mean about catching the bad guy.”
“Two things. First, don’t mention the drill sergeant.”
The DS grunted, but didn’t say anything as he drove.
“I want everyone to think I drew the terrorists out and captured them one by one.”
“Okay.”
“Second, no matter what you say, be certain. Confident. I suspect there are going to be people who’ll try to undermine your account of events or marginalize your opinions.”
“That, I’m used to. I’ve worked in many countries where a woman’s opinion isn’t usually worth much. I’ve had to reinforce my status and position many times.”
“What do you want me to do, Snowflake?” DS asked. “Besides keep these boys out of the way and alive?”
“What do you mean, keep us alive?” Broken Arm asked from the back of the bus. “The cops wouldn’t…shoot us, would they?”
River turned and looked at them. “Someone has been pulling your strings all along. Someone used you like ammunition. You weren’t supposed to survive the bomb that just exploded, and I think when that someone discovers you four aren’t dead, they’re going to panic. Try to kill you. Make a mistake.” He gave them a grim smile. “The drill sergeant is going to keep you out of harm’s way, so I suggest you cooperate.”
He turned to talk to the DS. “Be ready for anything.”