Page 396 of Scars of Fate

“There are two separate laboratories.”

Elise pointed toward the western building.

“Arslan developed the medical countermeasures here.”

“Aegis,” I said.

“Yes.”

“And Fate?”

Her finger moved toward the largest structure.

“Minser is in this laboratory.”

Lucas studied the tunnels connecting the two.

“Where is Elena being held?”

“The surgical light in the photograph came from the lower research wing.”

Elise pointed toward Level Four.

“But the portable dispersal unit is wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“That laboratory couldn’t safely handle biological material.”

“Could Minser have modified it?”

“Possibly.”

I took the photograph from Hawk.

Something had bothered me from the moment I saw it.

Now I understood why.

The surgical light above Elena was rusted.

Dust covered the floor.

The wall behind Minser showed years of water damage.

But the portable unit was clean.

New.

Minser hadn’t prepared that weapon inside the laboratory.

He had carried it there.

“Can it disperse beyond the facility from Level Four?” I asked.

Hawk examined the ventilation system.

“Yes.”