Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) (27 page)

With the new realization came more questions. Why an injection when an airborne form would be easier to distribute? Why a drug or virus that works so slowly? What are the effects if not death? Is there already an antidote?

“I need that scientist,” he said reaching for the secure line. Before he could dial his cell phone rang.

The display announced an unknown caller. “Speak,” he said expecting it to be Garrett, but not wanting to give away his name if it was simply the rare wrong number.

“I’m calling for Major Dos Masters. Is this him?”

“Who’s asking?” The voice sounded guarded but not threatening. He knew it wasn’t Garrett. He wondered who else had found his cell number. It wasn’t public knowledge.

“An associate of Dr. Scheminger.”

“Dr. Martin?” he asked, remembering the Colonel had given the doctor his cell. “This is Dos Masters. Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’ve been working in a private lab. When I heard about Dr. Scheminger I decided not to let anyone know where I was until I finished my work.”

“I don’t blame you. Don’t tell me where you are. We probably shouldn’t talk on this line very long. Are you on a cell or hard line?”

“I’m speaking on a satellite phone from a private plane.”

A plane? Private meant it could be picked up like a cell phone signal. “Okay, after you land, call the Gables PD and ask for Detective Masters. I’ll arrange for your call to be routed through a secure line.”

“I understand. Half an hour then.”

Disconnecting Dos picked up his secure line and dialed Tres’ number. After two rings he started praying his brother hadn’t left for the day.

“Masters.”

Dos released a tense breath at his brother’s voice. “Tres I need a favor.”

“First, how are you feeling? Have you had any more attacks?”

“I’m fine. Remember, I have a resident nurse, a stubborn nurse.” Tres’ chuckle made Dos glad he’d given the teasing answer rather than the frustrated one he had wanted to. He needed to remember how to deal with family concern again. It had been a long time since he’d allowed anyone to worry about him.

“I like your stubborn nurse. She’s good for you. Now, what’s the favor?”

After filling Tres in he went to find Copper. He wanted someone who could understand any medical or scientific information better than he knew he could. He found her tossing one of Kismet’s toys down the hall for the dog to retrieve. Taking a moment to watch the two in such a relaxed mode he grinned. The dog was huge but played and enjoyed himself like a puppy. And Copper took such joy in simply being around the mutt it was touching. He wasn’t surprised she’d gotten him from the shelter. She was the kind-hearted type to take in strays.

On Kismet’s second return trip he noticed Dos and came bounding over. “Hey, boy. How’s it going?”

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to disturb you,” Copper said joining them.

“You didn’t. I need your help,” he said. He filled her in as they headed back to the office. The secure line rang as he stepped inside. “It’s too soon,” he said as Copper followed him. “It must be the Colonel.

“Sir?” Dos asked picking up the receiver.

“No, it’s Tres. I might have a lead on this Garrett guy.”

“What have you got?”

“It’s hunting season so I figured he would blend in easier with the hunters. Then I remembered there are a couple of really old rarely used places and one abandoned place a little north just off the river. I had them checked out.

“There’s a rented Wrangler hidden in the trees by the abandoned one. Smoke from the chimney, too. My guess is that’s where they are staying.”

Dos rubbed the back of his neck. Why did everything always happen at once? “Where is this place?”

“From where you are it’s about two miles through the trees. There aren’t any good roads to it. We used to backpack not too far from it. I’m sure you’ll remember it.”

“Okay, for now leave it.
Do not
go in. I guarantee you he has enough fire power to kill an army. Just keep an eye out for the Jeep if it comes in town. I’ll decide what to do after I get the other call.”

“Got it, don’t you go in without back-up either. Understood?”

“I’m stubborn, not stupid,” Dos said. “I’ll call back later.”

“They found Garrett?” Copper asked.

He’d forgotten Copper was with him. “I think so. I can’t do anything about it until after I talk to Dr. Martin.”

Dos stood, grabbed his mug and walked toward the door. Trying not to dwell on how close Garrett was and how much he wanted to ring the bastard’s neck he lifted the carafe. Before he pulled it free of the coffee maker his palm started to cramp. Releasing the carafe he rubbed it with his thumb.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“When are you going to learn you can’t lie to me? Tell me,” she said reaching for his hand which had now almost turned into a fist.

While she started massaging it at the heal he dug in his pocket with his other hand. He pulled out the container with his medicine. He felt Copper’s gaze watch his movements. “I’m hoping to avoid an attack. I need to take this call.”

Slipping the strip on his tongue he watched her work on his hand.

“You need to trust me to help. I’m not reporting to my dad or telling you not to do anything. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

His typical reaction would be to pull away fast. This time he didn’t. He flexed his fingers as she released his hand. “You’re slowly convincing me there’s more to this massage stuff than I realized.”

“I give up,” she said turning away.

Dos grasped her arm. She stopped but didn’t turn back.

“Don’t. Please. It’s just,” he plowed his hand through his hair looking for the courage to admit something he didn’t really want to. “I’ve been in charge or going it alone for a long time. Giving that up is hard.”

Scary, actually, but she doesn’t need to know you’re a coward on top of everything else
.

She turned around slowly. He watched that impish grin pull at her tempting lips. “You’re really considering a massage?”

Dos couldn’t hold back the flood of relief that coursed through his body. A woman who didn’t have to dissect every word he said. What did he do to deserve this blessing?

He grinned then turned back to the coffee maker. “I’m taking it under advisement.”

After filling two mugs he led the way into the office. By the time they sat down the secure line was ringing. Dos pushed the speaker button. “Tres?”

“Putting him through now. Call me when you’re done, whatever the news.”

“Will do,” Dos replied, torn between wanting to keep any bad news to himself and knowing it wasn’t fair to his family.

“Major?” the doctor said.

“Yes, Doctor. You’re on a secure line, we can talk freely.”

“I’m sorry this has taken so long. I’ll get right to it. Once we isolated the virus we decided to split up so we could cover more options. It has been extremely difficult. This virus is like none I’ve seen before. You said you were injected with it several times?”

“Yes, that’s why I thought it was some new drug, not a virus.”

“That is understandable and one of the problems with identifying it. Another confusing thing is that it isn’t contagious like common viruses. If it were, the people who first came in contact with you would have been infected because they did not wear protective gloves or masks. When I couldn’t identify any of the components or your symptoms with any known drugs I started thinking viral.”

Dos felt some relief. At least so far it was just him infected. He glanced at Copper and prayed he hadn’t infected her by his stupidity.

“The problem was it is something totally unknown in any scientific arenas to my knowledge. Also, the components would make more sense in a powder form not liquid.

“Then I thought about it and there are several drugs that come in powder or solid form and are heated to a liquid before use.”

Dos had been leaning back in his chair listening. He sat forward. “Yes, there was a Bunsen burner on a table in the room.”

“That makes sense. Now, as I said, I’ve isolated it. I am afraid the news is not all good.”

“Just tell me, doc,” Dos said. He felt Copper’s hand on his shoulder.

“The virus can be extremely aggressive or lay dormant with no warning either way.”

“I can vouch for that. Until the past week I’d only had a couple of attacks since I left the hospital.”

“And now?”

Not wanting to, but knowing the doctor needed the information, Dos admitted, “I’ve had four in three days.”

“And the last one he had took double the medication he’s been taking to control it,” Copper added.

“That’s the Colonel’s daughter,” Dos told the doctor as he glared at her. “She’s a nurse.”

“That’s good. You should have someone with you. I have no idea how bad your condition has deteriorated since the virus has reactivated. Until I can examine you at the hospital I can’t give you a definite prognosis.”

“The fact you think my condition is deteriorating is bad enough for me.” Dos tried to sound light hearted about it but even he heard the defeat in his voice. He wondered if he would have long enough to catch Garrett and Cardone.

“It isn’t all bad news. I believe I have come up with a viable antidote. It won’t reverse damage already done, but in the tests I’ve been able to run it has killed the virus and stopped the deterioration of healthy cells. It is also relatively simple to produce. If it works we could easily manufacture enough for any break outs.

“The primary problem was getting it to you, but it seems we have managed to stay under the radar as they say. We are in Colorado, Loveland I think the name is.”

Dos thought about that for a minute. How a lab geek, with bad guys after him, had managed to get from the east coast to Colorado, he couldn’t imagine. “We?”

“Yes, a Captain Weaver is with me. The Colonel thought I might need some back up.”

Dos remembered the name. The captain had been one of the men on the rescue team. He’d also stopped in at the hospital a few times, despite Dos’ sour welcome. At the moment though, he was glad to have such a man on their side. “He’s a good man. Loveland’s about an hour or so away. Are you safe there until I can send someone?”

“Yes, we should be fine.”

“Okay, give me your exact location. I’ll send my brother, Ace to pick you up.”

“How will I recognize him?”

“I assume you have my file?”

“Yes.”

“He looks just like me.”

Dos took down the information, disconnected, and then dialed Tres’ number again. “I need another favor.”

“First what did he say?”

“He has an antidote,” Dos said, giving away as little information as possible.

“That’s great news. How soon can he get it here?”

“He’s at a private airport in Loveland. I need you to get hold of Ace to go pick him and the captain you met at the base hospital up and bring them to the cabin.”

“Not a problem. I assume you want me to keep an eye on the other situation.”

“Yeah, keep me updated if you learn anything new. Otherwise I’ll work on a plan to take care of that after I see the doc. And Tres?”

“Yeah?”

“Make sure you and Ace have your gear. I’ll need all the help I can get on this one whether I like it or not.”

Copper held her tongue while Dos talked to his brother. The minute he hung up she confronted him.

“He
thinks
he has an antidote. He isn’t positive,” she said. “It will take time and tests to be certain. Why didn’t you tell your brother the truth?”

She watched him push away from the desk and start gathering maps and equipment. He was doing pretty much anything to not face her.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, leaving the office.

“What doesn’t matter?” she asked, following him to the dining table.

“I don’t have time for this, Copper. I don’t have much time to come up with a plan to take Garrett out tonight and coordinate an offensive on Cardone’s base of operation before he finds out I’m onto him.”

“Take time. What doesn’t matter?”

His shoulders tensed and he leaned heavily on the table. It couldn’t be more apparent he did not want to answer. It also told her she wasn’t going to like the answer when it came.

“Dos?” She urged. He released a deep breath.
Oh God, this isn’t going to be good, is it
?

“It doesn’t matter if it works,” he said turning and facing her. “I’ve had this garbage in my system for more than three months. My guess is the deterioration factor Dr. Martin talked about is not good. My days are probably numbered already.”

“Don’t talk like that!” she yelled at him before remembering not to show how she felt. He wouldn’t want to know she loved him. It would just make matters worse. “I never let my patients talk like that.”