Oath of Honor

“Not very much,” Roberts said. “The lead investigators are

stonewalling us because their work is preliminary and unreported at this

point. They don’t want information being disseminated prematurely,

but the transformed avian virus is apparently much more highly

transmissible than the natural avian virus.”

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RADCLYfFE

“That’s a problem,” Wes said. “The avian flu virus has a high

mortality rate, but it is not easily transmissible between fowl and

humans, and not transmissible from one human to another.”

Roberts nodded, her expression grave. “They won’t come out and

admit to this, but we believe this variant has been aerosolized and is

transmissible between humans.”

Wes frowned. “Then you have an agent with the potential to kill

vast numbers of individuals.”

Evyn shook her head. “This seems pretty complex for an

assassination plot.”

“On the surface, yes,” Roberts said. “There are faster and more

direct ways, none of which we need to enumerate here. But while

assassination by gunfire is horrifying and dramatic, the public doesn’t

see a single act of violence as a personal threat. However, the release

of a biological agent capable of killing scores or even more places the

danger directly on the public itself. People will be terrified.”

“And consequently,” Paula Stark said softly, “the government will

be distrusted and destabilized.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t know the lieutenant very well,” Wes said. “I can’t say that

I’ve seen any particularly suspicious behavior from her.”

“Nor would we expect you would have.” Roberts clicked off the

computer and pushed it aside. She addressed Wes directly. “If what we

believe is true, these individuals have been trained since childhood to

carry out specific acts of terrorism after achieving positions of power

and trust. If indeed the lieutenant is part of this conspiracy, she’s not

going to reveal anything or do anything suspect until the attack itself is

set in motion.”

“What’s the goal of surveillance?” Evyn asked.

“We need to intercept her when she receives the agent. Failing

that, then we have to prevent the release of the contagion.”

“I can adjust our schedules so I’m on duty with Lieutenant Pattee,”

Wes said. “Of course, that’s only going to be ten or twelve hours a

day.”“Yes, do that,” Roberts said. “In addition, Captain, given that

the lieutenant has expressed a personal interest, you might be able to

observe her in less guarded circumstances.”

“What?” Evyn stood before she could stop herself. She looked

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Oath Of hOnOr

from Roberts to Wes and then back to Roberts. “The captain isn’t

trained for undercover work, which is essentially what you’re asking

her to do. Whatever information she might gain isn’t worth the risk to

her or the operation—”

“I think I’m perfectly capable of making expert observations,”

Wes said calmly, “and would probably recognize conditions or

circumstances conducive to exchanging and transporting a biologic

agent more readily than anyone else. If it’s a question of asking her

out to dinner or spending an evening with her or more, I’m perfectly

willing.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Evyn squared her body to Roberts. “You can’t

really expect her to do this.”

“Evyn—” Wes said.

“It’s up to the captain, of course,” Roberts said, “but we expect an

attack to be imminent, and we need to take advantage of every avenue

of information we possibly can. I admit it’s a long shot, but even the

remote possibility of picking up information that would help us pinpoint

and intercept the individuals involved is worth pursuing.”

Stark asked, “How strong is the connection between the lieutenant

and Angela Jones?”

“Loose,” Roberts admitted. “But more than we have been able to

find anywhere else. I want Agents Daniels and Block to work together

on surveillance. The lieutenant is familiar with PPD, so Agent Daniels’s

presence will likely be unnoticed. And Pattee doesn’t know Blair’s

agents at all, so Block can take the lead outside official functions. That

will allow us to stagger the coverage without putting a larger detail in

place. Unfortunately, we’re not sure how deeply we’re compromised.”

Evyn was no longer a suspect, but that knowledge didn’t make her

feel better. All she could think about was Wes suddenly in the middle

of some crazy extremist conspiracy, without backup.

“Is Wes going to wear a wire?”

“Yes.”

Evyn closed her fist by her side, struggling to keep her voice even.

“That’ll help us monitor her. But if she’s discovered with it on, she’ll

be an immediate target.”

“You forget, Agent,” Wes said softly, “I earned my rank. I can take

care of myself.”

“This isn’t some field hospital, Wes—”

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RADCLYfFE

Roberts cut in. “You can leave Captain Masters’s security to

me, Agent Daniels. Your job is to keep the lieutenant in your sights

whenever she’s in proximity to the president.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Evyn said tightly. As much as she trusted the