Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
She concentrated on running along the thicker, twisted branches and when she couldn’t, she dropped down to earth, trying not to break stride, following almost exactly in Draden’s footsteps. He was fast, his longer strides taking him some distance from her as they ran, but she managed to keep him in sight, which was no small feat. As she ran, mice and reptiles, snakes and lizards slithered and scuttled out of her way. Rabbits hopped to the side and she startled a skunk, although she was more shocked than it was. Before it could lift its tail, she’d leapt over it and was gone.
Keep up. This is treacherous ground. You can fall through. Place your feet exactly where I do.
She didn’t need the warning. She realized with every step she took that they were on dangerous, thin ground. Each step left a wet depression behind. The animals had changed as well. Now there were signs of alligators and snapping turtles. She didn’t want to meet any of them.
Great white egrets flapped their impressive wings as the GhostWalkers moved through the marsh, but the flock continued feeding on the fish and shrimp they fished for. Waterfowl were everywhere, but the silent men were so calm, giving off so little energy, none of the shore birds rose to give their presence away.
Shylah had to admit, she was enjoying the run through the very interesting and diverse swamp. They raced through a bayou and skirted an island of sawgrass. She felt the others slowing, spreading out more.
Who is your best shooter? The best team, spotter and sniper? She directed the inquiry to Joe and Draden.
Either Malichai and Mordichai or Rubin and Diego. I might give the edge to Rubin, Joe said. What are you thinking?
When we get close, tell Rubin and Diego to set up on Agus Orucov. Have Malichai and Mordichai take the other two just to be safe.
She knew it was presumption to tell the leader of the GhostWalkers what to do, but it was her operation. She’d tracked the three scientists from the start and she was going to do her job.
Will do, Joe agreed.
Then suddenly, Draden ceased moving so abruptly he appeared to have been made of stone. She skidded to a halt beside him. The three virologists were just ahead, hastily dumping their backpacks and trying to find cover. Something had tipped them off to the fact that they weren’t alone. An alligator slid into the water just to the right of them, startled by the motion of the men as they came to a collective halt.
Shylah knew Whitney’s three men couldn’t see them, but they obviously knew they were there. Orucov was the most aggressive, just as she was certain he would be.
“You take one step closer and I throw this into the air and release it,” Orucov snarled. “I mean it. Back off.” He held the glass capsule up in the air.
It isn’t passed through the air. Saliva and blood, but not air, Draden reminded.
We can’t take a chance that they didn’t mutate it, Trap advised.
How long can it live in the air? Joe asked.
The virus in Texas at the research center was still alive when they brought in animals after three years, Trap reminded. And that was after they eradicated every animal infected and thoroughly washed the lab down with bleach and other proven cleaning agents, using an eleven-day process. If we don’t need to take chances, let’s not go there.
Shylah wasn’t officially part of the team, but these men were hers to take out. Let me see what I can do.
There was a moment of silence. She’s good at this, Draden reminded. She knows them better than anyone.
You’re up, Joe made the decision. But don’t get close and don’t take chances.
Shylah didn’t hesitate. The longer the three scientists had to panic, the worse their reaction would be. They weren’t trained soldiers. They were men who did their work in a laboratory, and being on the run was taking a toll on them. Disheveled and clearly exhausted, with their clothes a mess and beards in various states of disrepair, the three appeared sleep deprived, haggard and paranoid. She couldn’t blame them.
She emerged from the shadows of the trees to confront them. Hands on hips to show she wasn’t going to suddenly whip out a weapon and kill them, she shook her head. “I can’t believe the three of you created such a mess. Whitney is beyond pissed.”
Tyler Williams closed his eyes and let out a single croak of a sound.
“Don’t be stupid and make this any worse than it already is. You’ve done what he wanted, so that’s something. He understands working for the highest bidder, because he understands money, but you know you should have told him someone else was trying to buy your viruses. He would have doubled the money. Tripled it. Now, because of your very poor decisions, you don’t have much in the way of choices.”