Invasion by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t treat you.”
    Beau stood up and stretched. “I might have to come in for hydration more often,” he said. “What a difference.” He eyed the wheelchair. “Who’s that contraption for?”
    “You, in case you needed it,” Pitt said. “Cassy came to take you home.”
    “I sure don’t need any wheelchair,” Beau said. He then coughed and made a face. “Well, my throat’s still a little sore, and I still have a cough, but let’s get out of here.” He stepped over to the closet and grabbed his clothes. He retreated to the bathroom and pushed the door almost closed. “Cassy, could you get my wallet and watch out of that cabinet?” he called through the door.
    Cassy stepped over to the bureau and entered the combination.
    “If you guys don’t need me, I’ll head back to the desk,” Pitt said.
    Cassy turned as she stuck her hand into the valuables box. “You’ve been a dear,” she said as her hand grasped Beau’s wallet and watch. She pulled them out and shut the door. Stepping over to Pitt she gave him a hug. “Thanks for your help.”
    “Hey, any time,” Pitt said self-consciously. He looked down at his feet, then out the window. Cassy had a way of making him feel flustered.
    Beau came out from the bathroom still tucking in hisshirt. “Yeah, thanks, buddy,” he said. He gave Pitt a poke in the arm. “Really appreciate it.”
    “Glad you’re feeling better,” Pitt said. “See you around.” Pitt grabbed the wheelchair and pushed it out the door.
    “He’s a good guy,” Beau said.
    Cassy nodded. “He’ll make a good doctor. He really cares.”

4

    10:45 P.M.
    CHARLIE ARNOLD HAD BEEN WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY Medical Center for thirty-seven years, ever since his seventeenth birthday when he decided to drop out of school. He’d begun with the Building and Grounds Department, mowing lawns, pruning trees, and weeding the flower beds. Unfortunately an allergy to grass drove him out of that line of work. But since he was a valued hospital employee, the administration offered him a housekeeping position instead. Charlie had accepted and enjoyed the work. Particularly on hot days he enjoyed it more than being outside.
    Charlie liked working on his own. The supervisor would give him a list of the rooms to clean, and off he’d go. On this particular night he had one more room to go: one of the student overnight rooms. They were always easier than a regular hospital room. In a regular room henever knew what he was going to run into. It depended on the illness of the previous occupant. Sometimes they could be pretty bad.
    Whistling under his breath, Charlie cracked open the door, pushed in his mop bucket, and pulled in his cleaning cart. With his hands on his hips he surveyed the room. As he’d expected, it only needed a light disinfectant mopping and dusting. He walked over to the bathroom and glanced in there. It didn’t even look as if it had been used.
    Charlie always started in the bathroom. After putting on his thick protective gloves, he scrubbed out the shower and the sink and disinfected the toilet. Then he mopped the floor.
    Moving out into the room, he peeled off the bed linens and wiped down the mattress. He dusted all other horizontal surfaces, including the windowsill. He was about to start mopping when a glow caught his eye. Turning to face the bureau, he stared at the valuables safe. Although his mind told him it was preposterous, the box seemed to be glowing as if there was an enormously powerful light inside it. Of course that didn’t make any sense, since the box was made out of metal, so no matter how bright a light was, even if there was one inside, it wouldn’t shine through.
    Charlie leaned his mop against the top edge of the bucket, and took a few steps toward the bureau, intending to open the door to the box. But he stopped about three feet away. The glow that surrounded the box had gotten brighter. Charlie even imagined he could feel a warmth on his