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When Carter stepped out of the elevator on the penthouse floor, he glanced both directions. The hall décor was phenomenal. He couldn’t wait to see what the suite looked like.
He read the room number and walked in the direction for the suite. As he came closer to the room, he noticed the door partway open. Something wasn’t right. He sensed it, stopped walking, and again he searched the hallway. Not hearing anyone from inside the room or along the far end of the hall that connected with another hallway to the right, he returned his attention to her door.
Carter eased closer to the suite and leaned his head through the threshold and listened. No music, television, or any other sounds were audible. He worried that something bad had happened to Sylvia. She was like him, a bit apprehensive of Grayson finding them. She wouldn’t have left her door open or even unlocked.
He pushed against the door, opening it wider before he finally had the courage to step all the way inside the suite. He tucked the keycard into his front pocket. Out of instinct, he closed the door. He felt safer with it closed.
After walking through the spacious living quarters with plush seats and small tables, a sidebar, and a sofa, he walked into the huge master bedroom. He set the briefcase on the bed and sat down beside it.
“Sylvia?” he called out.
No reply.
Other than his briefcase and the cash Magnus had given him, neither he nor Sylvia had personal belongings, so he didn’t have any idea if she had left voluntarily or by force. His guess was the latter. Somehow Grayson had located where they were. Of course, Vegas was the most likely place anyone would have chosen. But, it had also seemed the safest because they had a better chance of blending into the population.
***
Donavan was seated in the cushioned chair across from Grayson’s desk. His eyes were captivated by what he watched on the screen. He looked up and grinned at Grayson.
“What is it?” Grayson asked.
“Albert got the cameras set up in the penthouse.”
“Are they working?”
Donavan nodded. “Yep, and Carter is there now.”
Grayson stood. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Does he still have the briefcase?”
“Right beside him.”
“What’s the room number?” Grayson asked.
“You’re calling him?”
“Time to begin negotiations.”
***
Carter left the briefcase on the bed and went to the bathroom. Puddles of soapy water and drops of blood covered the floor. She had been forcefully taken. He backed away from the bathroom door.
The phone rang.
His heart hammered.
Carter let the phone ring and hurried back to the bed to grab the briefcase. If they had taken Sylvia, they would find him next. Once he reached the bed, the phone continued ringing. The sound grated his nerves.
Finally, he answered. “Yes?”
“Dr. Carter?”
Carter swallowed hard. Even though he assumed it was Grayson on the other end, he still asked. “Who is this?”
“Boyd Grayson. I’d have readily given you a welcome back to Earth, but since you broke our contract, I’m afraid I cannot offer any words of endearment.”
Carter took a deep breath. His hands shook.
“However,” Grayson said, “I believe we can reach a threshold of agreement.”
“About what?”
“I have something of yours.”
“Sylvia?”
“Yes.”
“Is she okay?” Carter asked.
“She’s fine, for now. But you have something I want.”
“What’s that?”
“The briefcase that you’ve been carrying.”
Carter placed his hand on the briefcase and rubbed it. Sweat beaded his brow.
“Carter, you give me the briefcase, and I will release Sylvia to you. I’ll even forget about the MarQuebes that you and Magnus stole.”
“I’m afraid I cannot do that, sir.”
“What?” Grayson paused for several moments. “Seems I’ve overestimated your affection for this young lady.
“No. I care about her a great deal, but I’m not stupid. If I hand you this briefcase, I’m dead. You’ll kill me.”
“Dr. Carter, I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a murderer.”
“Do you have any idea what’s in this briefcase?”
“I suspect whatever killed everyone else on Deimos.”
“You know?” Carter asked.
“Little occurs on my properties without my knowledge. Eventually, I find information that I need.”
“You obtained the video footage on Deimos?”
“Yes.”
Carter said, “It should have been destroyed.”
“Parts of it aren’t viewable, but I saw enough to know you propagated something. Possibly a virus?”
“It’s worse than anything this world has ever experienced.” Carter placed the briefcase on his lap.
“Did you find a cure?” Grayson asked.
“There isn’t a cure. At least nothing I tried ever worked.”
“And yet, you brought it back to Earth? Carter, you’re a brilliant doctor and as a scientist I’d have thought you had more intelligence than to do something so stupid.”
Carter’s jaw tightened. “You should be held accountable for the deaths of those who died on Deimos.”
“You’re blaming me?”
“Yes.”
“Dr. Carter, I had nothing to do with their deaths. Nothing. Explorations always have risks. Hell, that was even in the contract you signed. Settling Mars and Deimos posed great risks for everyone involved. Those risks you signed waivers for. Did you forget what you signed on for?”
“No, I—”
“You want me to suffer? Okay, let’s say that you infected me with this virus and I die. Then what? If it’s as contagious as you indicate, that means everyone else inside my building will catch it and die. Once it spreads outside my facilities, it has the potential to kill millions more, right?”
“Yes. I didn’t really think about that.”
“Damn right you didn’t think. But even though your anger and hostility have been directed in the wrong direction, I admire your passion. I wasn’t wrong in hiring you.”
Carter frowned, cradling the briefcase against his chest.
“Carter,” Grayson said, “you’re exactly the type of person I need. Ruthless and cold-hearted. I’m willing to put this behind us and offer you twice the amount you made if you continue working for me.”
“What? You still want me to work for you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid that I cannot do that,” Carter replied.
“This is an offer you need to take some time to consider. You’ve already admitted that your possession of the virus isn’t in the best interest of the human population. The world is much safer if I have it.”
“Safer how?” Carter asked, frowning. He held the phone between his ear and shoulder.
“My facilities have the securest storage units in the world. There’s never a chance that the virus will become pandemic. Are you able to make such a guarantee?”
Carter wiped sweat from his brow. “No. I can’t.”
“Neither can the CDC. And then there’s Sylvia. I’ll make a deal with you. Okay? You give me the virus and you can continue working for me. Or if you don’t want to, you and Sylvia are free to go. Now, do we make a trade?”
“Under one condition,” Carter replied.
“What is that, Dr. Carter?”
“You and only you bring Sylvia to me. The virus is yours if you agree to that.”
“By all means,” Grayson replied. “Set a time and place.”
“I’ll get back to you,” Carter said, slamming the phone into its cradle.