cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第41部分

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　He　snapped　his　fingers。　'Like　that。'
　'Good；'　I　said　as　I　blew　my　nose。　'I'm　going　to　be　watching　for　him　to　be　freed　like　that。'　I　snapped　my　fingers；　too。　'And　if　he　isn't？　Guess　what？　I'm　also　a　lawyer　and　in　a　really；　really　shitty　mood。　And　I'll　e　after　you。　Okay？'
　He　smiled　at　me　and　swallowed。
　'What　kind　of　lawyer？'　he　asked。
　'The　kind　you　don't　want　to　know；'　I　said　as　I　went　out　the　door。
　I　got　to　the　office　maybe　fifteen　minutes　later；　and　my　pager　vibrated　and　the　phone　rang　as　I　sat　behind　my　desk。　Before　I　could　do　anything；　Rose　suddenly　appeared　and　looked　unusually　stressed。
　'Everybody's　looking　for　you；'　she　said。
　'They　always　are。'　I　frowned　at　the　number　on　my　pager's　display。　'Now　who　the　hell　is　that？'
　'Marino's　on　his　way　here；'　she　went　on。　'They're　sending　a　helicopter。　To　the　helipad　at　MCV。　USAMRIID's　in　the　air　right　now；　heading　here。　They've　let　the　Baltimore　Medical　Examiner's　office　know　a　special　team's　going　to　have　to　handle　this；　that　the　body　will　have　to　be　autopsied　in　Frederick。'
　I　gave　her　my　eyes　as　my　blood　seemed　to　freeze。　'Body？'
　'Apparently　there's　some　campground　where　the　FBI　traced　a　call。'
　'I　know　about　that。'　I　had　no　patience。　'In　Maryland。'
　'They　think　they've　found　the　killer's　camper。　I'm　not　clear　on　all　the　details。　But　it　has　what　might　be　a　lab　of　some　type。　And　there's　a　body　inside。'
　I　couldn't　believe　what　I　was　hearing。　'Whose　body？'
　'They　think；　his。　A　possible　suicide。　Shot。'　She　peered　at　me　over　the　top　of　her　glasses；　and　shook　her　head。　'You　should　be　home　in　bed　with　a　cup　of　my　chicken　soup。'
　Marino　picked　me　up　in　front　of　my　office　as　wind　gusted　through　downtown　and　whipped　state　flags　on　tops　of　buildings。　I　knew　instantly　that　he　was　angry　when　he　pulled　out　before　I'　d　barely　shut　the　door。　Then　he　had　nothing　to　say。
　'Thanks；'　I　said；　unwrapping　a　cough　drop。
　'You're　still　sick。'　He　turned　onto　Franklin　Street。
　'I　certainly　am。　Thank　you　for　asking。'
　'I　don't　know　why　I'm　doing　this；'　he　said；　and　he　was　not　in　uniform。　'Last　thing　I　want　to　do　is　get　near　some　goddamn　lab　where　someone's　been　making　viruses。'
　'You'll　have　special　protection；'　I　replied。
　'I　should　probably　have　it　now；　being　around　you。'
　'I　have　the　flu　and　am　no　longer　infectious。　Trust　me。　I　know　these　things。　And　don't　be　mad　at　me；　because　I　have　no　intention　of　putting　up　with　it。'
　'You'd　better　hope　the　flu's　what　you　got。'
　'If　I　had　something　worse；　I　would　be　getting　worse　and　my　fever　would　be　higher。　I　would　have　a　rash。'
　'Yeah；　but　if　you're　already　sick；　don't　that　mean　you're　more　likely　to　catch　something　else？　Like；　I　don't　know　why　you　want　to　be　making　this　trip。　'Cause　I　sure　the　fuck　don't。　And　I　don't　appreciate　being　dragged　into　it。'
　'Then　drop　me　off　and　be　on　your　way；'　I　said。　'Don't　even　think　about　whining　to　me　right　now。　Not　when　the　entire　world's　going　to　hell。'
　'How's　Wingo？'　he　asked　in　a　more　conciliatory　tone。
　'I'm　frankly　scared　to　death　for　him；'　I　replied。
　We　drove　through　MCV；　turning　into　a　helipad　behind　a　fence　where　patients　and　organs　arrived　when　they　were　medflighted　to　the　hospital。　USAMRIID　had　not　arrived　yet；　but　in　moments　we　could　hear　the　powerful　Blackhawk；　and　people　in　cars　and　walking　along　sidewalks　stopped　and　stared。　Several　drivers　pulled　off　the　road　to　watch　the　magnificent　machine　darken　the　sky　as　it　hammered　in；　blasting　grass　and　debris　as　it　landed。
　The　door　slid　open　and　Marino　and　I　climbed　inside；　where　crew　seats　were　already　occupied　by　scientists　from　USAMRIID。　We　were　surrounded　by　rescue　gear；　and　another　portable　isolator　that　was　collapsed　like　an　accordion。　I　was　handed　a　helmet　with　a　microphone；　and　I　put　this　on　and　fastened　my　five…point　harness。　Then　I　helped　Marino　with　his　as　he　perched　primly　on　a　fold…down　seat　not　built　for　people　his　size。
　'God　knows　I　hope　reporters　don't　get　wind　of　this；'　someone　said　as　the　heavy　door　shut。
　I　plugged　the　cord　of　my　microphone　into　a　port　in　the　ceiling。　'They　will。　Probably　already　have。'
　Deadoc　liked　attention。　I　could　not　believe　he　would　leave　this　world　silently；　or　without　his　presidential　apology。　No；　there　was　something　else　in　store　for　us；　and　I　did　not　want　to　imagine　what　that　might　be。　The　trip　to　Janes　Island　State　Park　was　less　than　an　hour；　but　plicated　by　the　fact　that　the　campground　was　densely　wooded　with　pines。　There　was　nowhere　to　land。
　Our　pilots　set　us　down　at　the　Coast　Guard　station　in　Crisfield；　in　a　marina　called　Somer's　Cove；　where　sailboats　and　yachts　battened　down　for　winter　bobbed　on　the　dark　blue　ruffled　water　of　the　Little　Annemessex　River。　We　went　inside　the　tidy　brick　station　long　enough　to　put　on　exposure　suits　and　life　vests　while　Chief　Martinez　briefed　us。
　'We　got　a　lot　of　problems　going　at　the　same　time；'　he　was　saying　as　he　paced　the　carpet　inside　the　munication　room；　where　all　of　us　were　gathered。　'For　one　thing；　Tangier　folk　have　kin　here；　and　we've　had　to　station　armed　guards　at　roads　leading　out　of　town　because　now　CDC　is　concerned　about　Crisfield　people　going　anywhere。'
　'No　one's　gotten　sick　here；'　Marino　said；　as　he　struggled　to　get　cuffs　over　his　boots。
　'No；　but　I'm　worried　that　at　the　very　start　of　this　thing；　some　people　snuck　through　the　cracks；　got　out　of　Tangier　and　came　here。　Point　being；　don't　expect　much　friendliness　in　these　parts。'
　'Who's　at　the　campground？'　someone　else　asked。
　'Right　now；　the　FBI　agents　that　found　the　body。'
　'What　about　other　campers？'　Marino　said。
　'Here's　what　I've　been　told；'　Martinez　said。　'When　the　agents　went　in；　they　found　maybe　half　a　dozen　campers　and　only　one　with　a　phone　hookup。　That　was　campsite　sixteen；　and　they　banged　on　the　door。　Nothing；　so　they　look　in　a　window　and　see　the　body　on　the　floor。'
　'The　agents　didn't　go　inside？'　I　said。
　'No。　Realizing　it　might　be　the　perp's；　they　worried　it　could　be　contaminated　and　didn't。　But　I'm　afraid　one　of　the　rangers　did。'
　'Why？'　I　asked。
　'You　know　what　they　say。　Curiosity　killed　the　cat。　Apparently　one　of　the　agents　had　gone　to　the　airstrip　where　you　landed　to　pick　up　two　other　agents。　Whatever。　At　some　point；　no　one　was　looking　and　the　ranger　went　inside；　came　right　back　out　like　a　ball　of　fire。　Said　there　was　some　kind　of　monster　in　there　straight　out　of　Stephen　King。　Don't　ask　me。'　He　shrugged　and　rolled　his　eyes。
　I　looked　at　the　USAMRIID　team。
　'We'll　take　the　ranger　back　with　us；'　said　a　young　man　whose　Army　pins　identified　him　as　a　captain。　'By　the　way；　my　name　is　Clark。　This　is　my　crew；'　he　said　to　me。　'They'll　take　good　care　of　him；　put　him　in　quarantine；　keep　an　eye　on　him。'
　'Campsite　sixteen；'　Marino　said。　'We　know　anything　about　who　rented　that？'
　'We　don't　have　those　details　yet；'　Martinez　said。　'Everybody　suited　up？'　He　scanned　us　and　it　was　time　to　go。
　The　Coast　Guard　took　us　in　two　Boston　Whalers　because　where　we　were　going　was　too　shallow　for　a　cutter　or　patrol　boat。　Martinez　was　piloting　mine；　standing　up　and　calm　as　if　racing　forty　miles　an　hour　on　choppy　waters　was　a　very　normal　thing　to　do。　I　honestly　thought　I　might　sail　overboard　at　any　moment　as　I　held　hard　to　the　rail；　sitting　on　the　side。　It　was　like　riding　a　mechanical　bull；　air　rushing　so　fast　into　my　nose　and　mouth；　I　could　barely　breathe。
　Marino　was　across　the　boat　from　me　and　looked　like　he　might　get　sick。　I　tried　to　mouth　a　reassurance　to　him；　but　he　stared　blankly　at　me　as　he　held　on　with　all　his　strength。　We　eventually　slowed　in　a　cove　called　Flat　Cat；　thick　with　cat…tails　and　spartina　grass；　where　there　were　NO　WAKE　signs　as　the　park　got　near。　I　could　see　nothing　but　pines。　Then　as　we　got　closer；　there　were　paths　and　bathrooms；　a　small　ranger　station；　and　only　one　camper　peeking　through。　Martinez　glided　us　into　the　pier；　and　another　Guardsman　tied　us　to　a　piling　as　the　engine　quit。
　'I'm　gonna　puke；'　Marino　said　in　my　ear　as　we　clumsily　climbed　out。
　'No　you're　not。'　I　gripped　his　arm。
　'I　ain't　going　inside　that　trailer。'
　I　turned　around　and　looked　at　his　wan　face。
　'You're　right。　You're　not；'　I　said。　'That's　my　job；　but　first　we　need　to　locate　the　ranger。'
　Marino　stalked　off　before　the　second　boat　had　docked；　and　I　looked　through　the　woods　toward　the　camper　that　was　deadoc's。　Rather　old　and　missing　whatever　had　towed　it；　it　was　parked　as　far　from　the　rangers'　station　as　was　possible；　tucked　in　the　shadow　of　loblolly　pines。　When　all　of　us　were　ashore；　the　USAMRIID　team　passed　out　the　familiar　orange　suits；　air　packs　and　extra　four…hour　batteries
　'Here's　what　we're　doing。'　It　was　the　USAMRIID　team　leader　named　Clark　who　spoke。　'We　suit　up　and　get　the　body　out。'
　'I　would　like　to　go　in　first；'　I　said。　'Alone。'
　'Right。'　He　nodded。　'Then　we　see　if　there's　anything　hazardous　in　there；　which　hopefully　there's　not。　We　get　the　body　out；　and　the　camper's　hauled　out　of　here。'
　'It's　evidence；'　I　said；　looking　at　him。　'We　can't　just　haul　it　out　of　here。'
　I　knew　what　he　was　thinking　by　the　look　on　his　face。　The　killer　may　be　dead；　the　case　closed。　The　camper　was　a　biological　hazard　and　should　be　burned。
　'No；'　I　said　to　him。　'We　don't　close　this　so　quickly。　We　can't。'
　He　hesitated；　blowing　out　in　frustration　as　he　stared　off　at　the　camper。
　'I'll　go　in；'　I　said。　'Then　I'll　tell　you　what　we　need　to　do。'
　'Fair　enough。'　He　raised　his　voice　again。　'Guys？　Let's　go。　No　one　inside　but　the　M。E。　until　you　hear　otherwise。'
　They　followed　us　through　the　forest；　the　portable　isolator　in　our　wake；　an　eerie　caisson　not　meant　for　this　world。　Pine　needles　were　crisp　beneath　my　feet；　like　shredded　wheat；　and　the　air　was　sharp　and　clean　as　the　camper　got　closer。　It　was　a　Dutchman　travel　trailer；　maybe　eighteen　feet　long；　with　a　fold…out　orange…striped　awning。
　'That's　old。　Eight　years；　I　bet；'　said　Marino；　who　knew　about　such　things。
　'What　would　it　take　to　tow　it？'　I　asked　as　we　put　on　our　suits。
　'A　pickup；'　he　said。　'Maybe　a　van。　This　doesn't　need　nothing　with　a　lot　of　horsepower。　What　are　we　supposed　to　do？　Put　these　over　everything　else　we　already　got　on？'
　'Yes；'　I　said；　zipping　up。　'What　I'd　like　to　know　is　what　happened　to　the　vehicle　that　hauled　this　thing　here。'
　'Good　question；'　he　said；