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“Yup” I lifted the can, cracked the tab, and took a long drink before exhaling “CDC has decent taste in soda”

“We try,” said Joe

That was the opening I needed Lowering the can, I turned toward hi us dead?”

“Time stamp puts it at two minutes before your call ca to you”

That explained his request for detailed credentials “Did you get a name? Or better, a number?”

“Afraid not, on either,” Joe said

Shaun broke in: “It was an anonymous tip made from a disposable mobile phone”

“So the nu”

“Cute” I continued watching Joe “Dr Wynne—”

“Joe, please A girl coets to call me by my Christian name” My surprise , “The CDC gets a call that says you’re virus-positive, you’re dead until we confiral and safety precaution”

I stared at him “Because it’s not like anyone would hoax the CDC”

“No one should be, and believe me, Ms Mason, e find the people responsible, they’ll be learning that lesson right well” Joe’s smile dren into a scowl An understandable one: Most of the people who go to work for the CDC do it out of a genuine desire to better the hu to find a cure for Kellis-A to be the Centers for Disease Control, with its near-global approval ratings and even ht tooth and nail over CDC postings, and only the best ever get them That means the CDC es that bes down

“I’d be willing to bet that whoeverout our tires,” I said

“Well, Ms Mason—”

“Georgia, please”

“Well, Georgia, it seems like a bit of a sucker bet, and I don’t customarily take those It isn’t often someone tries to pull a fast one on the CDC, and a fast one that happens to center on a convoy that’s been attacked by snipers, well ”

“Do we have any ballistics on the gun the shooter used?”

Joe’s expression turned relanced at the senator His own expression was equally distant, his eyes fixed on soia Doctor Wynne is right; inforation of this matter is classified”