Moon- T. Bradford (engl. Version) [1]

Chapter ten

"What we know so far is: last night at 10 p.m. this man, Corey Valence, boarded the bus from Phoenix to LA. He had a partner with him, we don't know who the man is. But we know that the two belong to a nationalist group that believes that Los Angeles represents everything that goes wrong in America." Jessica began to explain after the whole district was called together and gathered.

"The two men arrived here at 5 this morning. We believe that Corey's partner strangled him right after arriving at the toilet of the bus station," Grey continued. "Did Corey get cold feet?" Tim wanted to know about him now. "It would be possible, especially when they arrived here with the deadly virus," Jessica replied instead of Grey. "That's why we had to go under the disinfection shower?" Nolan now suspected, because he and Bishop were the ones who had found Corey's body at the bus station. "That was just a precaution. There is no indication that the biological warfare agent has already been released," Jessica's colleague, Dr. Morgan replied56. "But we have every reason to assume, and we are pretty sure that an attack is planned in the near future," Jessica added.

"What kind of virus is it?" Katie wanted to know and looked worriedly over at Angela, who returned her gaze "A pathogen of hemorrhagic fever that can be used as a weapon. Above all, he triggers bleeding that no longer stops. And this is how the virus spreads: through contact with body fluids. It has an extremely short incubation period and terrible effects. If you are not treated quickly, it is fatal in 90% of cases," the red-haired expert of the disease protection center explained. "And if you treat quickly?" Nolan now also wanted to know. "We think that pushes it down to 60%. with the bad news is..." Dr. Morgan just wanted to explain but was interrupted, by Nolan what else. "That isn't it?"

"No. The vaccine is still in the experimental phase. We let it fly in from Atlanta, but there are only a few hundred doses. Far too little to fight an outbreak."

"Of course, the rookie exam will be postponed. The Federal Police want us to swarm out while they set up their command center here. The first official act is to find out who Corey's partner/murderer was. So they question the other fellow travelers who were on the bus." Sargent Grey instructed his people. "Is that to assume that Corey's murderer is alone?" Talia asked. "No. We believe there is another one. One of here who picked him up from the train station." Jessica answered the question and continued to plan the further procedure together with Dr. Morgan on the side.

"This is a sensitive matter. We must not risk something leaking and causing panic. They are allowed to call relatives privately and they were allowed to go to public places. But no details! Understood? All right, let's get these guys." and with that Grey fired his people, who all made calls first.

Katie called Natalie to send her goods without details. Her sister told her that she was in the hospital together with her friend's son to keep him company, because the boyfriend was awake again and was allowed to leave the hospital again in the next few days.

********

Lucy, Tim and Katie made their way together to the house of one who had been sitting on the bus where Corey had also been sitting.

"And I thought that the exam today would be the most stressful." Chen joked to raise the mood a little. In vain. "In the best case, this is a problem for the future." Tim only replied to it, while Katie was a little behind in her own thoughts. "And in the worst? No, they don't answer."

"Police!" Katie said and knocked on the door. "It took forever. I have the backpack in the back," answered the resident of the house and let the three in. That was funny, because actually they didn't come here for a backpack. "Listen to them. We come because they were on the bus from Phoenix," she explained. "I called her about the backpack," the resident complained and scratched his neck more and more. "What kind of backpack?" Tim now wanted to know and followed him into his bedroom. "I thought it was mine and he accidentally taken out of the bus. I only noticed it when I was at home and called immediately. And it takes you six hours to show up here."

"We're not coming for a piece of luggage," Tim explained to the angry man. "You don't have my backpack?" The man asked unconsciously and disappointed. "Damn it. My computer is in there. I looked through this one looking for an address. But there are only weird scientific devices in it," he said and opened the backpack a bit.

"Headquarters, here Adam 7-19, they connect me with the special commission." Chen demanded over the radio after she saw the looks that the two officers exchanged with each other.

"Did they touch anything in it?" Tim asked and put on some gloves. "Yes, I cut myself when I was looking for an address. A broken ampoule. Don't stop bleeding," said the man and pointed his bloody index finger at him.

"Everything okay in there?" Lucy wanted to know that both women were worried. "Yes. Stay there," he asked her, because he didn't want to expose her to the whole thing, especially his girlfriend. But then the man also coughed at him and the blood he spat landed on his jacket and also a little on his skin.

"Tim..." Katie said worriedly and was about to come to his room, but Tim slammed the door in front of her nose.

"TIM!!"