“Their ages?” asked Harper.
He paused again and then replied, “Both are seventy-four years old.”
After gaining his permission to have the entire family’s medical records sent to the CDC and asking about the wife’s body who died on Mount Everest, Harper thanked Dr. Spahn. After disconnecting the call, she immediately sent a text message to summon Becker.
This is how these things go, Harper thought to herself. Seemingly unrelated deaths around the world suddenly get connected by a common element—a virus.
Chapter Sixteen
CDC Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Reitherman had immediately placed Harper at ease once they dispensed with the welcome home pleasantries. He’d successfully planted the seed with his superiors, the top echelon of the CDC, that the governor of Nevada was simply a useful pawn in some larger political scheme orchestrated by the president. There was no love lost between the CDC and the current administration, which had sought to drastically cut their budget, making Dr. Reitherman’s job somewhat easier.
“With that said, we need you to lie low for a little while unless you enjoy battling the media every day,” he suggested.
“You heard about that?” asked Harper.
“Security informed me. I can get you a detail until this blows over, if you’d like.”
Harper shook her head and declined. “I’ll be fine.”
“We’re moving toward a whole new phase of our investigation with more possible cases revealing themselves. We both remember the early days of the COVID pandemic. Once it took hold, there were massive disruptions to our social fabric in terms of day-to-day activities. Nobody wants a repeat of those two years.”
Harper agreed. “It was the most daunting virus that the world had contended with since the Spanish flu. HIV, SARS, and Ebola were nothing in comparison to COVID. The problem, sir, is that we’re just starting our investigation. We don’t have near enough facts to identify the disease much less talk about treatment protocols or vaccines. Unlike our experience a decade ago, nobody at the CDC is prepared to jump out there with predictions or conclusions, having only part of the picture.”
“What’s your gut tell you?”
Harper took a deep breath. “In many respects, the virus behaves like influenza or other respiratory viruses. Over time, humans were exposed to influenza and built up an immunity. Oddly, this virus seems to result in the death of some, but not necessarily all it comes in contact with.”
“Are we talking about the usual patient types? Those with preexisting conditions?”
“I don’t think I can say that definitively. The four Chinese men in Las Vegas were the picture of health. The young woman who came in contact with them was as well. I’ve received notification of a similar, unconfirmed case in Austria. The deceased was an Olympian, for Pete’s sake.” She grimaced and then continued. “Yet, both in Vegas and Austria, the infected patients came in contact with elderly persons who became ill but didn’t succumb to the disease.”
“That’s odd,” interjected Dr. Reitherman.
“Yes, sir, but it drives home my point. We’ve only just begun to gather data.”
Dr. Reitherman studied Harper and then leaned forward. “I get the sense you are holding back something or you’re going somewhere with your comments. Spit it out, Harper.”
“Have you noticed who has been noticeably quiet about all of this?” she asked rhetorically.
“Yeah, the same people who just kicked our personnel out of their CDC in violation of the UN-negotiated agreement following COVID-19.”
“Sir, as is often the case, all of our leads point to China. We’ve got to either force their cooperation or conduct our own investigation there.”
Dr. Reitherman laughed. “Well, as we all know, nobody forces the Chinese to do anything. It’s very much a one-way street with them. We have our epidemiologists holed up in the American embassy in Beijing, awaiting my instructions. However, I don’t think they’re capable of wandering around the country in search of patient zero. They don’t have field experience.”
“I do.”
Harper’s response was blunt and to the point. It wasn’t necessary for her to ask the question. Two simple words succinctly delivered her proposal.
“I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no. First off, I need you here. Second, we need you to lie low. Third, um, I’m sure, given time, I can think of third through seventy-seventh.”
Harper smiled. “See, you know I am right. You don’t need me here. You have an entire building of capable epidemiologists plus Becker, who’s privy to everything I know. Second, how much lower can I lie than in the middle of Communist China.”
“Joe won’t allow it.”
Aw, shit! He pulled the husband card.
“Joe and I have an agreement. I don’t tell him how to do his job, and he doesn’t interfere with mine. It’s worked well.”
“Have you suggested this idea to him?” he asked.
“Um, no.” Harper was defensive. “But it wasn’t necessary until I spoke with you first. Come on, Dr. Reitherman. We need answers to avoid falling behind in controlling this sucker. I’m very good at this.”
“The best, but China is different from Africa or even Syria. Do I need to remind you how dangerous those two places were?”
“True, they’re different from China. Those places are lawless. You know, people driving in Jeeps through jungles and sand dunes while firing machine guns at me.”
Dr. Reitherman laughed. “Thanks for reminding me. You’re never going back to either one of those places, either.”
“What? Never mind that. China is different. They don’t gun people down in the street.”
“Do you remember Tiananmen Square? The tank?”
“Yes, and that was decades ago. Plus, they didn’t blast the guy, now did they?”
Dr. Reitherman was losing the argument. He thought for a moment, and Harper sat back in her chair, hoping to gain his approval. For an awkward minute, nothing was said between them. Then Dr. Reitherman pressed on his telephone and buzzed his secretary.
“Yes, sir?”
“Try to get me Congressman Joe Mills on the phone.”
“Wait! You can’t call Joe. He’ll blow a gasket.”
“No, he won’t. He’ll be reasonable, logical, and—”
“On your side.” Harper cut off his sentence. She slouched in the chair, dejected.
Chapter Seventeen
CDC Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
“Harper, I’m gonna have to agree with Berger on this one.” Joe began to relay his decision after hearing Harper plead her case. The three had been on the speakerphone for fifteen minutes. “As you said, in China, they don’t shoot you. They do, however, make you disappear. Poof! Gone. Knowledge of your existence would have to be totally disavowed by our government.”
Harper was undeterred. In a way, she was glad she hadn’t brought the topic up to Joe on the phone the night before. She was saving her closing arguments for last.