The director smiled. “Thank you for attending, Mr. Lee. We value your input.”
Henry nodded. “I’m glad I can help.”
The director turned to Ruby. “It’s good to meet you, Ms. Toth. Thanks for coming.”
“Happy to, sir,” she said, nodding.
“Shall we go in?” The director waved them in ahead of him. Inside was a square table large enough to allow six people to sit on each side. Every spot was occupied. The low hum of conversation ceased as they took their seats.
Ruby sat next to a corner with Henry on her other side. Members of the military, State Department, law enforcement, and various government departments were all already seated.
The CDC director was the last person to sit down.
He called the meeting to order and turned it over to the director of Homeland Security.
“The FAFO is continuing to put pressure on the CDC, causing outbreaks as well as physical attacks, bringing the fight to its gates. Everyone in this room is wondering if the security protocols are going to hold up if they turn up the heat any higher.”
Most people nodded in agreement.
“Instead of starting a relay of questions and answers, I thought it would be more efficient and effective if we were able to talk directly with those in the CDC whose job it is to ensure the safety of your facilities and the custody of your pathogens, agents, and toxins.”
Custody? That was an odd word.
“Do you believe another agency or department is better qualified to maintain custody of our most dangerous agents?” Dr. Rodrigues asked. “Because I assure you”—she turned and did her own eyeball to eyeball tour of the room—“there isn’t.”
“Not even the facility at Fort Bragg?” the Homeland director asked with a glance at the army general sitting across the table.
“Fort Bragg’s facility is twenty years out of date and about five times too small,” Henry said before the general could answer. “The security of our high-level containment facility here in Atlanta has been recently upgraded and modernized against outside attack and internal accident.”
The man sitting next to the general leaned over and said something to him.
The general cleared his throat. “Were those upgrades vetted by an outside party?”
Rodrigues leaned forward. “What outside party is more qualified than us to evaluate the necessary containment and security needs of our most dangerous agents?”
“I have to agree with Dr. Rodrigues,” the CDC director said. “Our people are exceptionally well trained.”
“A second opinion is often required for evaluation purposes, to ensure all factors have been taken into consideration,” the general said, his tone cool.
“Training aside, several members of our staff have the variety of backgrounds to provide that second opinion.” Rodrigues glanced at Henry.
He didn’t hesitate. “We ran a number of ops against the authentication process, as well as the passive and active resistance to force.”
“In-house only?” the general asked.
“Yes, sir,” Henry said. “Myself, several Special Forces veterans, and a semiretired drill sergeant.”
“It’s been suggested,” the general said, watching him with a shrewd gaze, “that a few veterans, even with a drill sergeant to keep them on track, aren’t fit for such a task.”
A smile flashed across the face of the suit next to the general, and Ruby knew that’s where the question was really coming from. He looked like an accountant, dressed in a suit and tie that didn’t flatter his plain face and balding head.
Who was that man? She lifted her tablet as if checking some information on her screen and snapped a picture of the general and the man whispering in his ear.
Next to her, Henry assumed the emotionless mask of a soldier under inspection. “Are you questioning my military service, my degrees in microbiology and virology, or my age, sir?”
The general stared at him blank-faced for a moment, then a grin spread across his face. “Why don’t you give us the highlights of the upgrades? Perhaps a review and an inspection will be sufficient to reassure all parties.”
Small nods and other mild acknowledgments circled the table.
Henry gave the short overview he’d prepared, ending with the number of pathogens stored at the facility.
After he finished speaking, the various people around the table conferred with their neighbors for a few moments. Ruby took that opportunity to show Henry the photo of the man advising the general.
“Do you know who he is?”
“Hoffman. His family owns one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. They have antiviral medications in various stages of development. They tried to convince the government to buy one of their antivirals to combat the measles. If the vaccine hadn’t helped, the whole country would be in debt up to its eyeballs to pay for it.”
Ruby watched Hoffman talk, his gestures getting larger and larger. “Looks like he’s still trying to land that sale.”
“Greedy asshole.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lee,” the general said, raising his voice and catching the attention of everyone in the room. “I’d still like to physically inspect these high-level containment facilities.”
Great, they’d planned to stick their noses in, no matter what anyone from the CDC said.
“Of course, sir, it would be my pleasure,” Henry said, disdain coloring his tone. “But, due to the sensitive nature of the upgrades, the inspectors should number no more than three and have an equal and appropriate expertise in security technology and implementation.”
That’s brilliant. Ruby had to fight to keep a smile off her face as the one on the whisperer’s face was drawn into a frown. She took another photo with her tablet then angled it so it captured images of all of those present she could see. The only ones she couldn’t get a picture of were the surgeon general and the chair of the federal Infectious Disease Task Force on the far side of the CDC director.
The room was silent. Ruby let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.
“I’m sure those conditions can be met,” a man said.
They can?
She followed the gazes of those around her, craning her head around Henry’s wide shoulders.
The surgeon general nodded at the army general then at the CDC director. “My office will accept names from your respective organizations and departments.” He flashed a smile to everyone. “Once we verify their qualifications and security clearances, we’ll forward the list to the CDC. A round of inspections can be swiftly scheduled and carried out.”