“Good job.” Deke glanced over his shoulder to see two workers from the CDC donning protective gear outside on the lawn. “Did he bleed?” Deke asked.
“Yes. We fought some more, and then he ran out.” Mandy shrugged. “I don’t understand.”
Neither did Deke, but it seemed that Zach had tried to infect the girl. He moved to the side. “Thank you. I know this is difficult. I’m going to let the CDC take over, and they’ll get you to the hospital just to run some routine tests. As soon as I can get in to see you, I will.”
Fear all but cascaded from her, but she lifted her chin. “How bad is this?”
He shook his head. “I’m sure it’s fine, but we need to double-check. Do you have any idea where Zach would’ve gone?”
She rubbed her eye. “No. Sorry.”
He forced a smile, hoping it held some reassurance. His gut was brewing, and he didn’t like it one bit. “Be strong, sweetheart. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.” He moved out of the way and walked outside as the CDC workers, looking like something from a science fiction movie, approached the house.
The first one, a short black guy, stopped near him with a plastic bag. “Did you touch anything?”
“I just knocked on the door.” Deke slid off the gloves to deposit in the bag. “She’s hurt and she’s scared. Be easy with her.”
The guy nodded. “Not my first rodeo, pal.”
Deke paused and then moved toward the cop. “Keep the onlookers away from the scene. More FBI should be arriving soon.”
The officer returned to his squad car with an uneasy glance at the CDC guys before turning around. “We’ve been canvassing per FBI instructions with the picture of the suspect. Two restaurants blocks over said he’d been in earlier.”
Deke frowned. Jesus. “Did they mention any weird behavior?”
“Not really. Just said the guy ate from the salad bar.”
“Fuck. Call them back and shut them down. Then call the CDC and have them go test the restaurants, especially salad dressing or anything he could’ve contaminated.” Deke paused at his door.
The deputy winced. “You think he spit in the salad dressing?” “Hell if I know.” Deke sighed and jumped into his truck. Apparently the cop had figured out there was a contagion on the loose. Of course, with the CDC stomping around in full suits, it wasn’t a huge leap.
“Well?” Nora asked, her arms crossed.
He glanced at her, not liking the pallor of her usually tan skin. They had things to discuss, and now wasn’t the time. “Zach attacked her, but she’s okay. I mean, depending on whether he was able to infect her or not.”
Nora shook her head. “It’s like he wanted to infect her.”
“Yes, and it’s interesting he sought out somebody he already knew.” For whatever reason, Zach was fixated on Nora. “He’ll come for you again.”
She nodded. “Let him come.”
Now that was Deke’s badass woman. “Right. For now, I have to go coordinate a manhunt. You want to stay with me or go back to the CDC labs?”
She swallowed. “CDC labs. I want to check on Lynne and see if I can do anything.”
That’s what Deke had figured. “We will have a serious chat, and soon.”
She cut him a look. “Uh-huh.”
He ignited the engine just as his radio beeped.
“McDougall,” the FBI dispatcher called.
“Yes,” he answered.
“We have a report of a rape over on Miller Street, three blocks from your current location. Student from the college was knocked out and just woke up to call nine-one-one,” the dispatch said, her voice crisp.
A rock hit Deke’s gut. “I’m on my way. Did she mention a suspect?”
