Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“That’s good. Keep distancing yourself, but we do need them if we’re going to acquire a biological weapon.”
“If they want all the cash, not just a percentage, they’ll be here. I said I’d meet them in New Orleans when they let me know they’re there. New Orleans is a party town I frequent, which is great. No one will question my being there. The GhostWalkers Cheng wants dead have built their homes and a fortress in the swamp just outside of New Orleans.”
Calvin rubbed his chin and then sighed. “This is getting too complicated to just call the plays without talking to the others. They’re worried about letting this virus loose again without a vaccine. The word we received from our informant in Sumatra was the U.S. military suddenly cleared their labs of everything, all equipment and computers. They took every sample with them and exited in one day. A private jet was escorted by the military off the ground. Right before that, a U.S. helicopter was sent to pick up two people from the forest just miles inland from Lupa Suku. What does that tell you?”
Ethan let his breath out, excitement showing in his expression. “They have survivors of the virus. They can make a vaccine.”
“We need to find out everything there is to know about those two. If we can get your friends to make the virus, and we have one or both of the survivors, we’ve got a biological weapon and that’s a game changer. The virus isn’t worth anything without a vaccine,” Calvin said. “We’ve got the informant working to find out who the survivors are. They weren’t from the village. Everyone was dead. The idiot commander of the MSS filmed the dead, which was stupid, but good for me so I was able to use that footage to show Candace. The MSS surrounded the village as directed to shoot anyone trying to get out. No one did. They were all too sick. It was someone else altogether. We’ll find out who.” There was utter confidence in Calvin’s voice.
“Let me know what else I can do to help,” Ethan said.
“I don’t care what Cheng wants. Don’t let those three test the virus on the GhostWalkers, especially here in the States. That kind of thing will bring us nothing but grief. If Cheng wants them all dead, we’ll find another way. We can’t take the chance of unleashing something that virulent when we aren’t even vaccinated.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll talk to them. If possible, I’ll bring them to the safe house we have in Biloxi. That can’t be traced back to us. We can set up a lab for them. As soon as we get the vaccine and virus, I’ll kill them. I’ll make certain nothing can be traced back to the consortium, or to us.”
“Ethan, this one is hitting very close to home. The Williams brothers were your friends in college. You were in Sumatra to see them. If the cops find them, or the virus is let loose, you’re going to be looked at very closely.”
There was genuine worry in Calvin’s voice. Ethan sent him a reassuring smile. “No one will find the bodies, sir. And even if they look at me, no matter how suspicious they are, they’ll never find anything to prove I was in any way responsible. I’m a party animal with too much money and a good lawyer. Trying to wreak havoc in the world would be far too boring for a man like me. I’ve carefully cultivated that image, and it is believable.”
“Just be careful. I want to consult with a couple of the others, they’re on standby. I’ll get back to you in ten minutes.”
“I’ll wait for you,” Ethan assured him.
His father disappeared from his view, the screen going black. Ethan picked up his drink and wandered over to the large stone fireplace where flames crackled and danced low. The shadows the fire threw on the wall were comforting, and he walked around the room, stretching his legs. He glanced into the dark screen and saw a shadow moving directly behind him. Gasping, he spun around. A tall man stood there. A woman moved into sight, but on his ceiling, clinging with hands and feet. On the wall across from him was another man. It was as if the very shadows had come alive.
He put his glass down very slowly, his heart pounding. “GhostWalkers, I presume.” He glanced toward the door. It remained closed and locked from the inside. On the screens prominently displayed around the room, he could see his very expensive security guards patrolling the house and grounds. They were on alert, just as he’d instructed, and yet now there were three people inside with him.
His mouth was very dry, and he wished he’d gulped the rest of his Scotch before he put the glass down.