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WTLK LIVE TALK RADIO
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
“We have Merry from Philadelphia. Go ahead, Merry, you’re on the air. What do you think is happening in Stebbins County?”
“It’s not aliens,” said the caller.
“Glad to hear you say that.”
“It’s definitely not aliens.”
“So you say. Want to tell the listeners what you think is going on?”
“It’s the Chinese.”
“Chinese Americans?”
“No, the Chinese Chinese. The government of China, Gavin.”
“In rural Pennsylvania?”
“That’s where it starts. It starts off the radar. It starts right in the heartland. The Chinese already own America.”
Gavin signaled the producer for
more coffee. This was going to be a long night.
“Tell me how they’re planning to do that, Merry.”
“It’s the Asian bird flu. That’s what’s killing people. The Chinese have sent agents over here to release their flu, and you know we don’t have anything that can stop it.”
“Why’s that, Merry?”
“’Cause it’s Asian.”
The coffee arrived and Gavin took the flask from his briefcase and added two fingers of Early Times.
Definitely a long night ahead.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
STEBBINS LITTLE SCHOOL
STEBBINS, PENNSYLVANIA
Dez Fox ghosted through the empty halls of the Stebbins Little School. Her Glock was in its holster, her hands empty of everything except promise, her heart heavy with shame and grief. Every once in a while she paused and cocked her head to listen to the old building. Even the silence was not silent. With buildings this old there was always some sound. The faint hum of the battery-operated clock mounted high on the wall, its glass face covered by a heavy wire grille. The creak of timber and stone as the building settled. The faint banshee whistle of wind clawing its way in through broken windows upstairs. The muffled sound of children weeping beyond classroom doors at the other end of the hall.
No new shouts, though.
No screams and gunfire.
She was positive, though, that she could hear the discordant pounding of her own heart.
Without warning the walkie-talkie clipped to her hip squawked. The sound tore a cry of alarm from her.
“Officer Desdemona Fox, please respond,” said a voice clouded by harsh static. “Officer Des—”
Dez snatched up the device and keyed it. “This is Fox.”
