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9
We’re here,” Logan said, as if she wasn’t aware the plane had landed.
Alex picked up her bag with the copy of The Book inside and followed Logan to the door. They said good-bye to Keith, then walked down the stairs, where they found a car waiting for them. The man who got out and opened the trunk for their bags introduced himself as Detective Ambrose with the Kansas City Police Department.
It didn’t take long for them to reach the CP, a boarded-up warehouse converted for the various agencies so they could work together to find Adam Walker.
Ambrose drove them around to the back, and when they got out, he unlocked a metal door and ushered them inside a busy hive of activity. Monty hurried up to them.
“You made good time,” he said. “I take it you have a copy of this book we’ve been waiting for?”
“Right here,” Alex said, holding up her bag.
“Great. Hopefully it will help us come up with an assessment and some strategies to find this guy before he uses the virus.”
Monty led them to the back of the large area. He opened the door to a separate room where Alex saw a long table set up with chairs around it. She put her bag on the table and removed the copied pages she’d carried with her from Wichita.
“It’s been confirmed,” Monty said. “The lab in Ethiopia is missing an active vial of Ebola. They believe it was sent to Kansas City, but the lab here can’t find it.”
“So everyone is convinced the research assistant who’s missing—Adam Walker—took it?” Logan asked.
“Yes. Unless we uncover other information, we’re proceeding as if he has the virus.” Monty gestured toward the table. “We have a meeting in a few minutes. The assistant special agent in charge is Derek Harrison. He’s tough, but he listens.” Monty looked around him and then lowered his voice. “CDC and Homeland are here.”
Having Homeland and the CDC as part of the task force made the seriousness of the situation clear. Alex could feel the tension in the CP. The FBI and local police were working furiously. Desks had been set up all over the room, and analysts, detectives, and agents were busy looking for something that might lead them to their subject.
A large man with red hair approached them, then pointed at the package in Alex’s hands. “Is that the book everyone’s talking about?” he asked.
“This is ASAC Derek Harrison,” Monty said. “Sir, SSA Alex Donovan and SSA Logan Hart.”
“Good to meet you, sir,” Alex said, extending her hand. Harrison had a firm handshake, and his expression was serious and determined. Good. They needed someone who would do whatever it took to find the virus.
“Yes, this is a copy of the book we believe our killer is following,” Alex said. “We hope it helps.” She handed it to Harrison.
“I heard it’s just called The Book. Has the original been dusted for fingerprints?” he asked.
“The Resident Agency in Wichita is handling that. Once they have my aunt’s prints and her caregiver’s, they’ll be sent to the lab. The Book is on its way there now.”
“We need that information as soon as possible.”
Alex cleared her throat. “Sir, I’m as sure as I can be that only my aunt and her caregiver’s prints will be on this book. My aunt revered it, and she would never let anyone else near it. Even me. She doesn’t know her caregiver found it and hid it from her.”
Harrison raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand. So you’ve never read it? But you recognized the graffiti on the train cars. How could you do that if you’d never read this book?”
“My aunt quoted from it a lot. From the time I was twelve until I was fourteen. It was her attempt to add me to the Circle. Her efforts failed.”
“What about members of the Circle? You’re certain their prints won’t be on it?”
“Yes, sir. I am. My aunt could open it in a meeting and read from it, but that’s as close as anyone else could get.”
“Okay,” he said slowly, drawing out the word. “So if she knew we were going to read this thing—”
“She’d be extremely distraught. Probably never speak to me again. But to be honest, she’s always had mental problems, and it seems she’s deteriorated quite a bit further after a stroke. That’s why she has a caregiver.”
“You acquired it with a warrant?” Harrison asked.
“Yes. The RA in Wichita got it for us.”
“Good. Let’s sit down. We’re waiting to hear from KCPD. They’re going through Adam Walker’s apartment again.”
