“Like what?” Raymond asked, his voice rising. “Are they planning some bioterrorism outbreak—is that why they want us out of the way?”
DS stepped up, drawing everyone’s attention. “Depends on their long-term strategy and how many resources they have available. The attack this morning may be aimed at demoralizing us or as a test of our security protocols. As we’ve discovered, they’re more persistent than a hungry two-year-old in a candy aisle.”
“But—” Raymond began.
“Rest assured,” Dozer said, cutting the other man off and studying Raymond until he dropped his gaze to the floor, “when I know more, so you will you.” He glanced around at the rest of the people in the room. “It’s obvious they want us out of the way, and they aren’t picky about how to get there.” He smiled, a fierce-friendly call to arms that fired up Ruby’s blood. “We are going to deny them that goal. To that end, the FBI and Homeland are investigating, so expect to see their agents in the building and out in the field.” He paused. “We’re also putting snipers in positions around every entry and exit point. If we get another unfriendly delivery, our people on the ground can get some distance while the snipers take out the bomber.”
Henry grunted.
Ruby turned to look at him, but he seemed unconcerned.
“Does this mean it’s open season on delivery drivers?” she asked softly.
Henry shook his head once. “Delivery people always get extra scrutiny. They can thank Hollywood for that. Almost any heist, escape, or terrorist movie ever made uses them as their go-to, easy way to get in or out of otherwise airtight security.”
“Including snipers?” she asked.
He sighed. “That is a new one.”
“It’s going to make me nervous.” Just the idea of someone aiming at her through a telescope sight made her teeth chatter.
DS stepped forward. “Watch your backs, people. These fuckers are creative, and they like things that go boom. I’ll be coming around to answer any questions you might have.”
Raymond’s hand shot up, and DS rolled his eyes. “That’s it. Back to work.” He waved at the room at large, and everyone began filing out.
Raymond practically tackled DS with questions.
Henry put a hand on her shoulder. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” She glanced at DS and Raymond one last time as they left. “He looks ready to stroke out.”
“Who? Raymond or DS?”
She glanced at the pair again. “Both, I guess.”
“DS can handle him.” Henry looked at her and frowned. “Do you live alone?”
She was about to answer, but they were walking past an office, and someone inside called out, “Henry, got a minute?”
He stopped and put a hand on her arm to stop her, too. He angled his head into the office, and she followed him in.
Four people were inside talking all at once, two women and two men. Ruby had met all of them exactly once, though not at the same time. The women were Ava Lloyd and Kini Kerek, a microbiologist and a nurse. The men were Walter River and Lyle Smoke, both former Army Rangers, who’d come to work for the CDC in the last year.
River smiled at Ruby, a bright, engaging, flirtatious one that seemed at odds with the flat, cold stare Smoke had on his face. Night and day, those two.
Ruby preferred Henry’s unhappy expression to Smoke’s lack of one. At least she always knew how he was feeling.
“We’re getting sent out of country,” River said like it was the most exciting thing to happen in a long time.
“Where?” Henry asked the question like he expected to hear they were heading to the moon.
“The Congo,” Kini said. “I’m going to be training public health nurses in Ebola prevention measures.”
“Syria,” Ava said. “There are thousands of refugees in camps all along the Syrian border. Cholera is running rampant through them. We need to get it under control and people vaccinated before it spreads outside the camps.”
Henry studied the two women before he looked at the men.
“You two need backup? Syria is no joke, and the Congo is full of people who’ll shoot anything that moves.”
“We’re taking a few people with us,” River answered. “Canada, England, and France are also sending teams.”
“We’ve got a military escort,” Smoke said, and for a moment he looked almost happy, as if the possibility of needing that escort might be fun.
“What do you need from me?” Henry asked.
Smoke glanced down at Henry’s leg, or rather, his prosthetic. “Can you hook me up with some used prosthetics? Intel says there are quite a few kids in the camps who’ve lost limbs.”
Henry nodded. “Yeah, I can do that. The people who built mine will be all over something like that.”
While Henry was talking, Kini moved closer to Ruby. “How are you settling in?” she asked.
“Okay,” Ruby said, surprised to realize she meant it. “It’s been a busy two months, but I like busy.”
Kini glanced at Henry. “Well, stick with Henry. He’s good people, despite his tendency to growl.”
Ava, who’d joined them, grinned at that. “Most of the men here have perfected the art of growling, snarling, and roaring to get what they want.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Don’t be afraid to stand your ground.”
Ruby almost laughed and managed not to, but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Thanks for the advice.”
Henry said goodbye, so she did, too, and they left.
She dared a look at his profile. “That’s a good thing. Helping kids who’ve lost limbs.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, then said quietly, “It isn’t their fault most of humanity are a bunch of greedy, dumb fucks.”
Ruby opened her mouth to argue but realized he was right and closed it without saying anything.
He glanced at her, his gaze sharp. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“What?” He’d asked something? Oh yeah. “I have a roommate.”
“New?”
“Um, no, we moved to Atlanta together. His work wasn’t particularly happy about that, but he’s kind of irreplaceable.”
Henry’s face did something she’d never seen before. It went blank. “How long have you two been together?”
For a second she wondered what he meant, then realized he thought they were a couple. Well, they were, but not the way Henry was assuming. “Oh no, we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re—”