In Harm's Way by Shawn Chesser Read Free Book Online

uttered two words that he rarely had to use: “I’m sorry.”
    The airman quickly pumped Cade’s hand. “Apology accepted. There’s a briefing scheduled shortly. The President, Colonel Shrill, Major Nash, and General Desantos will all be in attendance.” Davis glanced at the Timex on his wrist. “I have orders to make sure you’re present and there are only ten minutes before you have to be there.”
    Cade retrieved the folder stamped Top Secret, donned his cover, and followed his escort out the door.
    The E-2 moved with a purpose. Cade had a hunch the airman’s sense of urgency was directly related to the classified dossier that Major Nash had dropped into his lap the day before. The implications spelled out within only strengthened the decision he had made. Welcome back to the teams... sucker! Cade admonished himself.
    He stayed on Airman Davis’ heels, easily matching the shorter man’s stride. The two wove their way through the internal corridors crisscrossing the expansive base, traversed a once manicured swath of now knee high grass and entered the nondescript two story structure that housed the 50th Space Command.

Chapter 5
     
    Outbreak - Day 8
    Viscount Arms parking garage
    Denver, Colorado
     
    Wilson had no idea which SUV had belonged to his dead neighbors; to him they all looked alike. “Do any of you know which vehicle belongs to Angela and Saul... the couple that lives in 905?” All he received were blank looks and heads wagging side to side. He examined the thick microchip embedded key and turned it over in his palm. There were no markings to indicate what kind of vehicle it belonged to.
    “Why don’t you just hit the panic button?” Sasha said, pulling a Lucy van Pelt and doling out her five cents’ worth of advice.
    “I don’t even want to take the chance and accidently set off the alarm with this thing,” Wilson answered. “The blaring horn, even if it sounded for only a second, would let them know we’re in here.” Then he addressed the others crowding around him, “Be very quiet...” He held up the alarm fob for all to see. “ Do not sound the car alarm ... use only the key to unlock your cars .”
     Wilson canvassed the garage, testing the key in every vehicle. It seemed like everyone in Colorado drove an SUV, and the Viscount garage was full of them. He had checked all but three of the SUV type vehicles: a Kia Sportage, a Jeep Liberty, and a huge Black Suburban remained. Wilson knew beggars couldn’t be choosers, but he was hoping for something bigger than the Kia or Jeep to run the gauntlet, so he bypassed them and approached the bigger SUV. He held his breath and tentatively slid the key into the door handle. His silent prayer had been answered; the shiny black Chevy Suburban had indeed belonged to the yuppies. Wilson climbed in and sat in the driver seat, waiting for his sister to load her “luggage” before starting the rig. The SUV was enormous inside and out. I hope Saul left us a full tank of gas, he thought before he started the big vehicle.
    Wilson kissed the photo of his mom and gently placed it in his shirt pocket next to his heart. Then he started the SUV and listened to the engine’s throaty rumble. Out of habit he reached up to adjust the rearview mirror, but quickly recoiled the moment he eyed the pink baby shoe swaying back and forth. Then he noticed the Graco car seat; it looked lonely, lost in the expanse of the vacant back seat. He said a quick prayer for the little girl upstairs. A tear traced his cheek as he realized Sarah would never again feel her parents’ warm loving embrace. So much life had been lost because of the scourge sweeping the United States. He dried his face and let his eyes linger on his little sister. Wilson strengthened his resolve by telling himself there was no way on earth that he was going to let a fucking microbe do any more damage to his family.
    Like racehorses at the Kentucky Derby, the survivors’ four vehicles idled,