The Wuhan Mission

The scene back at the Virology Building was already a mess. Three ambulances had arrived on the scene, along with half a dozen unmarked police cars and a military personnel van with Wuhan’s equivalent of a ‘quick response unit.’ The security guard who was conscious was being questioned by a plain clothed Government Investigator with a hateful looking face. He asked the guard basic questions about why he had been found zip-tied at his post, and why his colleague was out cold.

“The pretty one kicked me in the head after my partner passed out at my feet. He came back from break and after ten minutes he just… fell down. She must have drugged him. That’s all I saw. Besides that, everything was normal, except… when I came-to, she had taken my weapon and ammunition… and radio.” The guard looked very sheepish and had a badly swollen black eye and probably a fractured skull.

The bloody body of the guard who had been operating the metal detector was taken to an ambulance on a stretcher. The roofied guard was taken to another ambulance and put on oxygen.

The investigator pressed the ‘transmit’ button on his radio: “I need to get into Biosafety IV, and I’ll need access to any safe or lockbox inside. Send someone now!”

He gestured at one of the policemen: “Bring me those two security officers from outside who can ID the driver.”

Jimmy looked ahead at the highway, driving aggressively through the minimal traffic but only just over the speed limit.

“Xue Lin, inventory check?”

She looked at him, thinking: ‘Jimmy can be quite professional.’

She went through her arsenal for Jimmy: “We have one submachine gun with six extra clips. Two pistols with 7 clips and One… flash-bang, I… suppose.”

“OK, not bad.” He replied. “There is a Barret 50 cal sniper rifle in the big bag if we get into a tight spot. Ever used one?”

“Yes, on occasion in training” replied Xue Lin, remembering how much she had enjoyed the big recoil on the rifle. But it really wasn’t the kind of rifle you could fire easily out the window of a moving car. It was large and heavy.

Jimmy chimed in: “We also have a few other toys I picked up from the Tool Man. Oh by the way, Dr. Wu there is a wig and sunglasses in my bag. Put them on. You’ll look like a rock ’n roller,” said Jimmy smiling.

While Dr. Wu adjusted his wig, trying to look in the mirror, Xue Lin reached into her own backpack and retrieved a long hair extension. She applied some dark gothic makeup, adding a mole to her upper lip.

Jimmy turned around for a moment to look at them both: “You guys look like ‘gothic Sonny and Cher!”

Jimmy reached over Xue Lin’s lap and opened the glove compartment.

“Open one of those burner phones. I have to call the Chairman and tell him what’s going on.”

Xue Lin smirked as she opened one of the phone’s plastic packaging and handed it to him. Lying seemed to be one of Jimmy’s greatest talents.

Xue Lin took over steering from the passenger seat while Jimmy dialed the Chairman’s direct line.

“Jimmy, it is lovely to hear your voice!” Boomed the Chairman.

“Hello sir. I have activity to report. Biosafety IV was breached!” Jimmy said dramatically, gesturing with his free hand.

“Thank you Jimmy. I just heard. We have an investigator on site.”

“Yes sir.”

“Jimmy, do you know where Dr. Wu is?”

“Sir, no sir. It seems that his phone is at the lab. I’m trying to track him down though. Do you know who is responsible yet sir?”

“Our investigator has an idea of who is involved. I’ll let you know if I need anything from you Jimmy.”

“Thank you sir.”

Jimmy broke the burner phone and threw it out the window.

The Chairman picked up his office phone: “Get me the investigator on site at the Wuhan lab.”

The Investigator answered his phone: “Mr. Chairman, how may I be of service?”

“I trust things are going well at the lab?”

“Not really sir. One of the female lab assistants took out three guards all by herself, and apparently she left with a Doctor Wu. There may also be some material missing from the safe. They are calling her ‘the pretty one’ sir. Also, there was a driver at the scene but no-one has been able to identify him. He had a Government ID, but the security guys didn’t get a good look sir.”

“Keep working on finding them. There’s something else: I need you to track down agent Jimmy Lin’s car. Does it have some kind of locator on it?”

“Sir, all Government cars have beacons which we can turn on remotely from the ‘Third Department’ sir.”

“Do it! Find him and take him into custody. You can question him when you are finished with the lab situation.”

“Very good sir. Thank you sir.”

*

The investigator called the number for the 3PLA.

After a pause and some static, the answer came: “This is the Third Department. Please sign in.”

The Investigator gave them his code: “The time is three, ten.”

There was a brief pause as the tech checked the sign in code.

“Go ahead sir.”

“I need you to turn on a car beacon. Name: Agent Jimmy Lin. Probable location: Wuhan or surrounding area.”

“Turning on sir. Stand by.” The tech typed code into his terminal.