Cough (8 page)

Rupert was sick to his stomach. When he received the news, he just wanted to crumble. He knew something was up when both Charles and Emir disappeared, but to find out not twenty-four hours later that not only were they carrying the EC175 virus, they were in an accident.

Emir was killed.

Charles was thrown from the car and though he survived was in critical condition, life flighted to a hospital in Las Vegas. No one had any answers. The only thing the Feds had to say was that they were also investigating Aldus Beutel. They were told he took a virus back to Germany. Rupert confirmed that, but there was absolutely no proof. Aldus didn’t have the virus on him, nor did his facility have it. There were two explanations for that. Either Aldus never took it or he released it somewhere.

They asked Rupert if he felt the car accident released the virus.

“If the vials were opened, yes.” Rupert told them. “You can send a cleanup crew in there, but it won’t matter. It was over the second it hit the air.”

The town was small, and according to Demographics they had very few travelers going through. Chances were good that if the virus was released there, it would die there.

That was best case scenario.

Worst case was the virus was spread by Aldus and the tragic car accident involving his two top minds … only fueled the fire.

<><><><>

Macy needed stitches but she opted against getting them because there was something she had to do. She said she’d go to the local hospital later to have it taken care of. Most importantly was Lila, her neighbor.

By the time Macy and Thomas left the accident, a good hour had passed. Paramedics gave them bandages and made recommendations, but Macy could only think of getting home. She couldn’t even move her car, it was blocked in.

She and Thomas had to walk.

She imagined the accident was all over the news, and if anyone tried to get a hold of her it was useless. Her phone was destroyed in the accident.

So she and Thomas walked home. It wasn’t far, not even a mile. He was quiet, still didn’t complain about anything. They held hands the entire way, speaking very little. Macy couldn’t stop shaking. When the realization that she and her son both could have died hit her, she was a whirlwind of ‘what if’ thoughts.

She was going to hug her sons a little tighter on this day.

By the time she made it home, both Lila and Clay were sitting out on the porch. They were obviously watching and waiting. As soon as Macy and Thomas were spotted, Clay raced their way.

He said nothing at first only embraced his mother and Macy absorbed it.

“You were there, weren’t you mom?” Clay asked. “They said a lot of people died.”

“They did.”

“Where ... where’s Clementine?”

Macy closed her eyes for a moment.

“Aw man.”

“The police haven’t been here yet?” Macy asked.

“Not yet.”

“Then I have to tell her.” Macy began to walk.

“I think she already knows,” Clay said. “She said she sensed it.”

Macy nodded and shivered when she inhaled. Focused on Lila, she walked to the duplex.

How to tell Lila about Clementine was one of the problems, the other was reaction. Lila wasn’t a warm and loving person. Macy didn’t know whether to hug her or walk away. It was going to be tough no matter what Macy said. Lila and Clementine lived in the duplex for decades before Macy and the boys moved in.

Both widows and both joked often they were the town spinsters.

Lila stayed in her porch chair as Macy approached.

“Glad you and Thomas are good and fine. Injured?”

“Scratches,” Macy said.

“I know you were at the Dollar Barn. And seeing that Clementine isn’t walking down the street with you, she either was hurt pretty bad or … or worse.” Lila looked up.

Brave as she tried to portray, Macy could see right through it.

“Lila … Clementine was at the checkout when the SUV crashed through. I’m so sorry. She didn’t make it.”

“She saw it though,” Thomas interjected. “She did. She was at the register, complaining about my mom, and we heard the crashing. She looked up and said for me to run, run away. I did. I was too busy with my candy, I didn’t see it coming. I only ran.”

Lila stared at the boy. “Well, how about that? Eighty years old and she dies a hero’s death. Can’t get better than that, now can you?”

“Do you need anything?” Macy asked.

“No, I’ll be fine, thank you.” Lila folded her hands.

Ready to go into her own side, Macy paused when she heard the squeal of tires. It immediately caused her to panic and think, ‘no not again’. The she looked and saw the blue truck. “Rege? Why is your father here?”

“I called him.”

“You called him?”

The truck was barely parked when Rege flung open the door and jumped out.

Macy saw the look of sheer fear on his face. His shoulders dropped and then he ran to the porch and grabbed Thomas, lifting him into his arms.

“Rege? What’s going on?”

“Oh my God, you guys are okay.” He extend his arm and embraced Macy. “I was so scared. I was trying to call but your phone went straight to voice mail.”

“It was destroyed,” Macy said and inched back.

“We’ll get you another. Phones can be replaced.” He exhaled loudly and kissed Thomas. “I can’t tell you how worried I was. “

“How did you guys know?” Macy asked.

Clay said, “Mr. Hendrix is a volunteer fireman. He was rushing out and told Lila that there was a bad accident in town and a truck went right into the Dollar Barn. When I couldn’t get you, I called Dad.”

“And I drove here immediately.”

Macy shook her head in confusion. “You live eighty miles away. How did you get here so fast?”

“I flew. Then when I got pulled over, I told the state cop my son was with his mom at the Dollar Barn. Everyone know about the accident. He escorted me to town. I didn’t see you at the crash site, I thought the worst.” Rege moved back and leaned against the railing. “I can catch my breath now. I need a drink.”

“You aren’t the only one,” Macy said. “Lila? Can I get you anything?”

“I have whatever you guys are having. It’s been a hell of a day.”

Macy couldn’t agree more. She opened her screen porch door and stepped inside of her home. Even though she was someone who never drank when the sun was up, Macy needed that drink. She doubted, however, that even the alcohol was going to help.

<><><><>

It was the worst call of his career, and if Stokes was right, that didn’t matter. His career ended with the release of the virus.

Before he made the call, he watched them airlift Charles. He didn’t get a chance to check on him. But he was there when they pulled Emir from the car. His body was mangled and crushed. Stokes was surprised Emir survived long enough to speak.

The call had to be made. As much as he hated to do so, he called headquarters.

“Suspects were in a major car accident,” Stokes reported. “The driver Emir Najjar was killed, the other hospitalized in critical condition. The virus … well, it ejected somewhere between Fourth Street and the Dollar Barn window.”

“Any of the vials intact.”

“They were smashed.”

“Did you secure it?”

Without telling him he was inoculated, Stokes did tell them he was able to place the sack in a garbage bag. He didn’t know how secure that would be, but the bag was hidden.

“What about the antidote?”

“Secure.”

He was told Homeland would be by in the morning to inconspicuously gather everything. Stokes was to meet them twenty miles south at an isolated designation.

“What now?” Stokes asked them.

“You stay put. You’re on duty there to watch and see if anything happens.”

“In other words if the virus was released, I’m a dead man anyhow, misery loves company.”

His captain pretty much confirmed those thoughts. Until he got rid of the bag and the antidote, Stokes couldn’t stay anywhere in town. Not that there wasn’t a place to stay, he didn’t bother asking. Not yet.

For the evening, he would settle in at a place called Shotsy’s, located two blocks from the crash site. They advertised it was burger night. He expected business to be slow, it wasn’t. The place was crowded. After using the rest room to clean up a little, he sat at the bar enjoyed his burger and beer while watching the news. The bartender chick wasn’t friendly, perhaps because she didn’t know him. To her he was one of the many strangers who instantly descended on the town in the media blitz that ensued after the accident.

It was all over the news. Aerial shots, interviews with people. They tried to talk to him, but he refused.

It didn’t take long for Stokes to finish his burger, he was really hungry despite the events of the day. He wiped his hand, pushed the plate forward and finished his beer.

“Another?” the bartender asked.

“Yes, please.”

She set down a fresh beer at the same time he felt a new person wedge in the spot next to him. He recognized the voice.

“Hey, Bess, give me a beer, please, thanks.”

“Absolutely.”

Figures he gets a nice treatment, Stokes thought.

Chief Wells grunted as he sat down, he was such a big guy, he looked like he was standing. “Hell of a day,” he said. “Thanks, Bess.” He took his beer.

“Hell of a day,” Stokes said. He face forward, but looked at the chief. He wasn’t much older than Stokes, bald … but Stokes figured that was by choice and he shaved his head. More because of vanity and premature baldness. It wasn’t to display the half circle scar just above the Chief’s right ear. Or maybe it was.

“Thanks for all your help today.” Wells said.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did a lot of dirty work. You pulled a lot of body ….parts. Thanks. Thanks. I know these people, I knew each one.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

“Speaking of knowing. Lots of people in town I don’t know.”

“I do. I know him …” Stokes pointed. “From Fox.”

Wells chuckled. “Not what I meant. Never do we have strangers in this town. If we do, they are passing through lost or something. People here … they work at the chip factory, Bryce farms or around town. No one new. It’s a rarity. These people came because of the accident. You were here before. Are you hanging around because you like us or because you’re still shell shocked over the accident?”

Stokes exhaled heavily, set down his beer, started to reach for his back pocket and stopped. He raised his hands to show Wells his palms. “I’m just grabbing something from my pocket.”

“I didn’t think you were going for a gun.”

“Just being courteous.” Stokes laid his open wallet on the table.

Chief Wells looked down to it. “Well … tell me. What’s a federal agent doing in our small town?”

“You can say I’m expecting something big.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Wells said.

“It’s not.” Stokes shook his head. ‘Is there somewhere we can talk?”

Wells twitched his head as a direction and stood. “Follow me. Grab your beer.”

“Is that legal.”

“It’s my town.” Wells grabbed his bottle and led the way out.

<><><><>

The steady beeping seeped its way into his dream.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“You’re seatbelt isn’t on,” Emir said in the dream.

“Yes, it is,” Charles replied.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“No, it can’t be. The warning light is on.”

“Oh, my bad.” Charles looked down. “It isn’t.”

In the dream he saw it. Looking at Emir he saw the tractor trailer barreling his way,

The scary sight and jolt in his dream caused him to wake up.

The beeping increased in speed. Charles shifted his eyes. He was in a hospital. Slightly tilted up, Charles had a hard time seeing anything. His body felt three times its weight and he could barely move. He didn’t feel any pain but he was able to see the intravenous lines running into his arm. He was confused but for only a second, the dream along with the reality hit him. He was in a horrible accident. He remembered the impact, the car turning and his body feeling like it folded as it slammed into something. After that, nothing.

Then another realization hit him.

EC175 was in that vehicle with them.

Charles panicked.

The beeping machine sounded off an alarm and a woman in blue scrubs entered the room in a rush.

She leaned over him. “Dr. Kimble? You’re awake. I need you to calm down. Okay. Calm down.”

Charles shifted his eyes back and forth.

“You were in an accident. Do you remember that?”

He tried to speak, but there was a tube or something taped to his mouth. He could feel it pressed inside his lips. So he did his best to nod.

“You are one lucky man,” she said. “You’re lucky to be alive. But your body needs to rest. Dr. Kimble.”

I can’t rest! He wanted to shout. The virus is out there.

She turned her head for a second and reached out. The she looked back down to him. ‘I’m gonna give you something to keep you calm. It will relax you and make you sleep.”

Charles shook his head. He didn’t want to sleep.

She wasn’t listening or paying attention. From the tops of his eyes he watched her inject something into his intravenous. He felt the medication the second it entered his blood stream. With it came a warm sensation then a calming one and finally rational thoughts. The woman wasn’t wearing biohazard gear. It was known to authorities he and Emir had the virus. It must have been intact and fine. Surely if it wasn’t, he would have been in some sort of quarantine.

With those thoughts, Charles felt at ease.

The heart rate monitor slowed down. The medication started to work. His eyes grew heavy and Charles without control, fell back to sleep.

<><><><>