“Did you tell the president he can’t do that?” Kurt asked.
“He doesn’t have the manpower anyhow. Reserve units he was able to get in touch with are far west. A few south,” Henry replied.
Nelson was on hand. “We got in touch with them last night after your call. They’re ready. Militia units we can move out whenever. Reserve units not committed to anything are waiting on word from the president. Gotta get the president to give word to allow them to give my units down in Texas access to the bio suits. I have men who are willing to do that once they get instructions.”
“I’ll get on that,” Henry said, “get clearance. I will personally instruct each grouping. I want men paired in teams for the mission.”
“Did the president say if the homeland director remembered anyone sending failsafe alerts?” asked Kurt.
“He wouldn’t know. Homeland guy went AWOL.
“Shit,” Kurt exclaimed. “Probably looking for family.”
“Nelson,” Henry said, “we know we have reserve units waiting on executive orders. Do we know their locations?”
“Further south. Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Texas. I got a handle and am in good connection with what remained in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.”
“How many still remain? I know some were going east,” Henry said.
“A lot, actually,” Nelson replied. “We weren’t sending everyone. We have to have people here to help. Cleveland isn’t dead. They have tens of thousands remaining.”
Kurt swiped his hand down his face. “If the Kentucky location goes hot, this is another nightmare, worse than the flu, because we don’t have resources to handle it.”
Henry grimaced. “There’s no power there. It probably already is hot, and our best chance is to burn it out, do an inventory of what remains first.”
Nelson asked, “I know Briggs needs men to head toward Erie once he comes up with a plan.”
“And that can’t be the president,” Kurt added. “He wants to just storm it and burn it. I’m guessing there are civilians and Erie residents.”
Nelson touched the map with his finger. “From what I was told they barricaded here.” He pointed. “One spot. But I am gonna guess they branched south with men and probably will head East and West.”
“We need some of your men on our town access routes,” Henry said.
“I’ll pull them in, ASAP. What about Kent? We need volunteers to go, manpower might be strained in this area and we want to shut down that lab right away. It could take days to pull someone in to do Kent.”
Ethan’s voice entered the room. “I’ve been listening, I’m sorry.” He stepped closer. “I know you guys are trying to keep things from upsetting the residents, but with all the activity on the street, it’s hard not to know what’s going on. So, I’d like to volunteer for anything. This Kent thing you’re talking about. I’ll do it.”
Henry looked at him. “Son, to be very honest, it’s a lab. A Biosafety level four lab. It needs to be shut down, contents identified and burned out. It could be dangerous.”
“Any more dangerous than if it doesn’t get shut down right away?” Ethan asked.
“Just delayed,” Henry answered.
“Then I’ll go. You may wanna put me with someone that knows how to burn a place out.” Ethan smiled. “I probably won’t know that.”
“We can handle that,” Henry assured him. “As soon as Lars gets back with the logistics of it all, we’ll get you prepped. Thank you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Speaking of which, where is Lars?”
Tom poured Lars another cup of coffee in Tom’s kitchen. Lars was certain he didn’t look his usual confident self. In fact, he looked and felt as distraught as if he had been hit by a truck. His hands were folded in a prayer fashion, covering his nose, and he breathed heavily outward when the coffee clicked against the table.
“Thank you, Tom.” Lars brought down his hands.
“I wanted to tell you alone,” Tom said, joining him at the kitchen table. “When I called you to come over, I had just heard from them. No one but you and I are aware of the deal. They’re giving us a few minutes and then they’re calling back.”
“There really is no choice.”
“Yeah, there is. I told them we need to speak to Rose when they call back. They want you, but I haven’t spoken to Rose. We’ll see what she says.”
“Why me?” Lars asked,
“Well, you are Lars Rayburn.”
“But I have this reputation in Lodi, within the infectious disease community. Not the world. And certainly not in Erie, Pennsylvania.”
“I got a theory on that. We were all over the news when the flu was in full swing. Only town not hit. We’re the town where the Rayburn therapy for the flu was gonna be tested. You have a reputation as being a brilliant doctor. Now, if they got to know you like we do, they’d realize it’s a façade.”
Lars gave Tim a quirky look. “Your attempt at humor is appreciated. But again, why me?”
“They need a doctor, maybe?”
“But if they watched the news, as you suggested, then they know there are three here. Why me?” Lars jumped when the phone rang.
Tom lifted a hand then picked up the phone. “Hello?” He waited. “Not talking to you anymore until we speak to Rose. I want to talk, then Lars.” There was a pause and Tom’s face lit up, but only briefly. “Rose, what in God’s name…? You sound… how are you? I thought you were dead.” Another pause and Tom closed his eyes. “Did they tell you? Okay, then Lars needs to speak to you. Rose, Mick’s fine. When I speak to him what do you want me to tell him?” Tom waited. “Absolutely, I will do that. Here’s Lars.” He handed the phone over.
“Rose?”
Her voice was crackly and weak, not the typically boisterous Rose. “Lars, I’m here.”
“What happened, Rose? Can you tell me why you sound sick?”
“Got in a cycle accident. Broken rib. It’s a compound and it punctured out. I’m thinking another punctured in. I’m not doing good, Lars.”
“I know they’re listening, Rose, but do you know why they want me there?”
“No I don’t. Other than a doctor, and it’s an exchange so you aren’t for me. Lars…” She paused and strained a cough out, “don’t do it. I am not worth your life. You are too valuable to—”
“Rose?”
“Enough talk,” said the man on the other side who took over the conversation. “We meet at the rest area just outside the interchange of 79 and 90.”
“No,” Lars said. “I’ll meet you at your barricade. I need to get some medical supplies together. I want to work on Rose, examine her and then she can leave. I don’t trust anyone else.”
“Suit yourself.”
“And one more thing, I will not be treated as a prisoner there. I am a prestigious virologist and I will be treated with respect. I am sure you and your thugs can accomplish that. Because I promise you, if I am not treated as a guest or am treated with anything but respect, you and your men will not know if that is penicillin or poison that you ingest when you’re ill. Got that?”
“Deal,” the man said after a brief pause. “You have four hours.”
Lars handed the phone to Tom.
“Lars, what the hell are you doing?” Tom asked sharply. “You heard Rose. She’s bad.”
“It’s Rose,” Lars said. “Mick sacrificed for this town, the least I can do is sacrifice for Mick. I couldn’t save his wife, let me try to save his mother.”
Tom closed his eyes hard. He choked on his emotions. “Henry and Kurt—”
“Are not to know,” Lars said firmly.
Tom opened his eyes. “What?”
“Only you. I go alone. I go with no one knowing. I don’t want anyone trying to stop me or follow or try to rescue me.” Lars sipped the coffee, stood and then picked up the cup again. “I’m gonna take this with me. I have supplies to grab from the clinic.”