The woman held out her hand. Reese shook it. “Well, I’m Dr. Rice, epidemiology. I worked in Atlanta with the CDC before getting picked up by New World Genetics.”
The man with dark eyes and skin held out his hand next. “Dr. Campbell, physicist.” He gave a nervous laugh. “I keep telling them I won’t be any help here.”
Reese stepped into the suit. “Actually, you’d probably be more of an asset than anyone. Possibly even me.” After all, he was just the door pass.
The man frowned.
“Dr. Katz, marine biologist.” The man barely came to Reese’s chin. He extended a pale hand. Reese took it. When he let go, he had to force himself not to give in to the urge to wipe away the clamminess left behind.
“So.” Campbell glanced up at Reese from the corner of his eye. “You don’t happen to know what’s going on here, do you?”
Reese froze and stared at all of them. “Didn’t New World Genetics brief you?”
“They said there was a possible equipment failure resulting in a containment breach.” Dr. Campbell added a lovely smile.
“Jesus Christ.” Reese slid his arms into the suit. “Harrington didn’t say anything?”
They exchanged looks. “That there was a possible contagion. He wanted his own people, but there was no one on hand. New World had us flown in a few hours ago.”
Reese shook his head. “This isn’t a contagion.”
All three scientists frowned.
Harrington spoke with a man wearing tactical gear. The others carrying weapons were on their side of the line of tables.
“Then what is it?”
Would Harrington object to Reese telling them? They had a right to know, they all did. “The work being done here involved—”
“I need everyone’s attention.” The man Harrington had spoken to took up the middle spot in the horseshoe arrangement of tables. The open front of his environmental suit showed the tactical gear he wore including a bulletproof vest. “My name is Jones, and I’m in charge of this dog and pony show. From left to right—” He waved a hand at the four other men. “—Connery, Bentley, Poe, and Dalton.” Jones skipped his cold stare over Reese and the others. “The lab we’re about to enter is spread over five levels. Each of those levels has a hall with multiple rooms on each side and a single way into the next level and a single way out. The floors are connected by a stairwell and elevator both of which will be sealed between levels in a foyer.” Jones’ expression hardened. “I’ll tell you now, I’m not pleased with the idea of babysitting a bunch of lab lackeys.” He cut a look at Harrington. “But since one of you is the door key, and the rest of you are supposed to tell us what might be potentially dangerous, I don’t have a choice. Therefore, we need to go over a couple of rules.” He folded his arms over his wide chest.
The other three scientists shifted their weight. Dr. Katz took a keen interest in the tab of duct tape dangling from his wrist.
“First rule: Do what I tell you to do. Second rule: Don’t question what I tell you. Third rule: Don’t wait to do it. Easy enough for you to remember?”
They mumbled affirmatives.
Dr. Rice raised her hand, and Jones acknowledged her. “Uh, we were told this was biological. Why are you carrying guns?”
Jones flicked a look to Harrington who said, “There’s a very good chance there will be hostiles inside.”
“Hostiles?”
Jones sneered. “Dangerous people. You know what those are, right? Or do I need to make a flow chart?” His men laughed.
Crimson filled Rice’s cheeks, and she dropped her gaze.
“You mean like test animals?” Campbell said.
“No, very dangerous people.”
Dr. Katz made a choking sound. “You’re talking about terrorists, aren’t you?”
Jones pressed his lips together. “Not necessarily.”
“Then what else do you call very dangerous people?” For some reason, Katz narrowed a look at Reese when he said it.
“It won’t matter,” Jones said. “We’re armed and they’re not. We’ll take care of any potential issues.” The claim told Reese exactly what he feared. Jones had no idea what he could face.