Carrion Virus (Book 2): The Athena Protocol by M.W. Duncan Page A

allocated. The soldiers of the CAF kept a close eye on the newcomers. Danni sat behind a folding table sufficing as reception, logging the new arrivals.
    From the doorway, someone shouted. “Down on the ground. Everyone down!”
    Soldiers raised their SA80 rifles. Mother’s lifted their children. One of the officers shouted for calm, but he struggled to be heard over the growing panic. Women screamed. Danni, in her rush to comply with the orders knocked her table flipping it over, scattering her files. Gemma filmed it all through shaking hands and heavy breaths.
    Soldiers pushed their way through the crowd without a hint of softness. The throng parted with a single male remaining at the centre. Rifles were pointed at the man.
    “Down!”
    “Down!”
    “Down now!”
    Dark-haired, no older than twenty-one, the young man did so without hesitation, and when commanded placed his hands on the back of his head. Soldiers in protective clothing restrained his hands behind his back, and placed a spit-guard hood over his head. The soldiers lifted him to his feet and ushered him through the crowd. He shouted and screamed his protests.
    “I know where the outbreak started! I need to speak with someone!”
    The officer-in-charge shouted for everyone to get back in line. Danni, pale-faced, lifted the table that toppled during the rush, while her fellow DSD agents picked up the strewn paperwork. Gemma caught her attention and smiled but Danni’s eyes were unfocused.
    The restrained man was marched down a corridor. Gemma made to follow. A soldier moved to block her.
    “I’d like to speak with the person you just took away.”
    “That’s not possible.”
    Gemma pulled her Black Aquila badge from her coat. He cast it a customary glance, his attention mostly fixed behind Gemma, his task to reorganise the group.
    “He’s being screened for infection.”
    Gemma pushed the badge up high, close to his eyes. “I’d like to see that man.”
    “I told you, lady. That’s not going to happen. Step back.”
    “Look,” said Gemma with false confidence, “don’t make me get your officer involved.”
    “I told you, get back.” He pushed Gemma at the shoulder, not hard but with enough force to make her stumble back a step.
    She could not blame him. Caution was a necessity. One thing was for sure, Gemma needed to talk to the man taken away. It’s what Williamson employed her for, to poke around and uncover what others may have missed. And his claim could not be ignored.
    Danni appeared at Gemma’s side. “Gemma, the last transport heading back to the airport is leaving in the next few minutes.”
    “What about you?”
    “We’ll be here all night.”
    It would be cold, noisy and uncomfortable, but she had to speak to the man they took away. “You know, maybe I’ll stay. I can grab a few hours on a sofa over there and head back tomorrow.”
     
    ***
     
    The kids tore into a present together, one of their joint gifts from Father Christmas. Eric sat in his armchair, a mug of coffee in one hand. Jacqui sat on his lap, smiling at the excitement only Christmas morning could bring. The children still had not acclimatised to Eric’s presence in the household, memories of the turbulent period the family went through still fresh in their minds no doubt. Still, Christmas had a way of washing away past pains.
    The mobile in his pocket vibrated and Jacqui jumped at the sudden interruption. Eric moved to pull the phone free. There was only one person who would be calling on this day, and it would not be with tidings of Christmas joy.
    “I better take this, love.”
    Jacqui slipped from his lap. “Daddy will just be a minute, kids. Help me pick up the wrapping paper.”
    “I’ll be quick,” he promised. Once out of the living room, in the hallway, he answered his phone. “Williamson?”
    “Yes, Eric. It’s me.”
    He sounded drunk, or tired. Probably both.
    “Things are bad, Eric. I need you back here. Tomorrow evening at the latest.