Cough by Jacqueline Druga Read Free Book Online Page B

opened it and retrieved a small case. “Here.” He handed it to Stokes.
    “Thanks and I want him,” He pointed to Charles. “To get a hold of the lab in Germany.”
    “I can do that,” Charles nodded.
    “Go,” Stokes instructed Emir then walked back to Charles’ car. He grabbed the car handle. “You better be right. He better be destroying this.”
    “He is. If he has any other intentions.” Charles opened his door. “I’ll shoot him myself.”
     

TWELVE – SO IT BEGINS
     

Las Vegas, NV
June 25
     
    Sharon was exhausted. She hated to admit it, but the second they entered their hotel room, she just wanted to collapse on the bed. Even though she rested and relaxed on the flight, her body was beat. Thirty years as a flight attendant and she ran the gauntlet.
    She hated telling Aldus, but she couldn’t stifle her cough any more. Some sort of cold bug hit her not long after leaving Seoul. Her throat was raw, and there was a constant tickle.
    She felt relieved when he left the room. She just needed a few moments.
    He had a business call to take and left the room. Sharon drank some water and lay on top of the bed.
    Aldus returned not long after. “How are you feeling?”
    “Better, thanks.”
    “I got you some cough medicine from the gift shop.” He walked over to the bed. “While I am not one to complain about spending money, at thirty dollars a bottle, this better be magic. Come to think of it…” Aldus lifted the bottle. “Maybe my company is missing its mark.”
    Sharon laugh and that caused her to cough.
    “You poor dear.”
    “I’m fine. It’s just a cold.” She took the bottle of cough medicine. “Looks like your soup of vaccines didn’t work.”
    “Oh, it worked. Trust me. If you didn’t get it, imagine how worse you would be. You’ll be fine. I’m a doctor.”
    “Thank you, Aldus.”
    “I have some news. It looks like I am going to have to leave Vegas in the morning. I know I was going to stay another day, but business calls. Will you be all right an extra day alone.”
    “I’ll be fine. I’ll use the time to recoup. I start back to work on a red eye.”
    Aldus tapped her leg. “Thank you for understanding. Now take that medicine and feel better, this is out last evening together. Unless you don’t feel well enough to go …”
    “No, I’ll be fine. I just need a nap.”
    “You do that. I’ll go down to the casino for a spell.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
    Sharon took the medicine. She didn’t want to tell Aldus she was glad he was leaving. Though she loved her time with him, she was tired, ill and needed the break. For the time being, she would suck it up, and ill or not, would go out with Aldus for their final evening on vacation. It was the least she could do after all he had done for her. Then after he left, she would enjoy the last few days alone.
     
    <><><><>
     

Amarillo, TX
June 25
     
    The confirmation call came an hour after they left San Antonia, confirming to Charles that the man in London did indeed die from a variant form of their virus.
    “If I’m not mistaken,” Dr. Carson of the WHO told him. “I’d swear this was stronger. Almost as if it were in pure form.”
    “Has anyone else showed symptoms?” Charles asked.
    “Just the man in Paris. No one else. Then again, if this follows the same pattern, we have seventy-two hours. Then we’ll know.”
    It will follow the same pattern, Charles thought. He knew the virus operated on a seventy-two hour window. Exactly.
    “I wish we made progress, this wasn’t a priority for us,” Dr. Carson said. “We had that second SARS outbreak to contend with this year.”
    Charles exhaled. “I have. I’ve work on it extensively.” Charles wanted to tell him he had the pure form, that he performed unethical experiments. But he couldn’t all if it was wrong and illegal. So he bent the truth. “We were able to finally extract the virus.”
    “Why didn’t you say