Jax cleared his throat. “Tell me about the Elite Force as well as the Brigade.”
“The Elite Force is mission specific and answers directly to the president. The Brigade is still our first line of defense right now, and it is part of the United States government,” Lake said.
Did the guy sound defensive? “Where’s McDougall?” Jax asked.
“McDougall is leading the Brigade, and right now he’s securing nuclear plants before they are taken over or, worse, melt down.”
Jax winced. Was Lake lying? “I’d like to meet him.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Lake signing out.”
Jax had Ernie cut the line.
Ernie turned, his double chin wobbling. “That’s too bad. About air support.”
“If he’s telling the truth.” Jax released Lynne’s leg. “In the last six months we’ve lost billions of people, and in the riots, many of our airports and bases were bombed or destroyed by crazy-assed Rippers or home-grown terrorists who wanted to take us down and saw an opportunity. But if Lake has managed to put together a security force, somebody has to be able to fly a damn plane.” It was unthinkable that every plane or helicopter had been destroyed. Of course, the lack of fuel might make it impossible to put birds in the air. When Scorpius had hit the world, the flow of fuel had stopped.
“He didn’t believe you,” Lynne said woodenly.
“It’s his job, if he’s who he says he is, to doubt me,” Jax said.
Ernie cleared his throat.
Jax lifted an eyebrow. “You got something to say?”
Ernie rubbed his white beard. “Last time Lake said Lynne was a carrier of a new disease. I figured that was untrue and a way to scare folks into turning her in. She hasn’t infected anybody new here, so that’s probably right.”
Lynne tilted her head. “You want me to reassure you?”
Ernie squinted faded blue eyes. “I wouldn’t mind.”
She breathed out, and her body finally relaxed. “There’s no new strain or illness, I promise. They want me for personal reasons.”
Multiple lines fanned out from Ernie’s eyes and deepened when he frowned. “Personal?”
“Ripper, serial killer, obsession,” Lynne said wearily.
“Oh.” Ernie nodded.
Jax shook his head. Jesus. What kind of a world were they living in where that series of words explained everything? “Thanks for keeping quiet, Ernie.”
The older man straightened. “I fought in ’Nam, Jax. We’re on the same side, and you’re our commander, government or not. I can follow orders and keep a secret.”
“You’re a good man.” Jax stood and tugged Lynne to her feet. “Tomorrow at dawn, we’re going on a mission to get more information on a possible cure. I’ll go meet Lake the following day. Until then, please keep this under your hat.”
“Understood.” Ernie turned back to his dials.
Lynne swallowed and stumbled as Jax drew her from the room. He glanced down at her. “Take today to get your strength back. How do you feel about going on the mission to Myriad tomorrow morning?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Why? Because you don’t trust me to stay here, or because you want my help at Myriad?”
Both, actually. Jax glanced down at her weary green eyes, and something softened deep inside him. “Maybe I just want you with me.” Oddly enough, that too was true.
President Bret Atherton waited until the ham radio operator packed up and left the office before lifting an eyebrow. “Waiting until the day after next gives us time to prepare for the meeting. What do you think about Mercury?”
Lake rubbed a hand across his razor-sharp buzz cut. “I think Mercury is lying about the forces he’s amassed. He took over a food distribution center immediately, so he probably also raided anywhere he could find weapons at the same time. He’s smart and he’s strong, and he would’ve been training people from day one to fight.”
Bret nodded. “Do you think he’s a Scorpius survivor?”
“There’s no indication he was ever infected,” Lake said.
Yet instinct roiled in Bret’s gut. To move that quickly and become such a legend in a short amount of time spoke of a higher intelligence, one Bret believed came to a fortunate few who survived the bacteria. “I read his military record, and before Scorpius, he was impressive.”
“Delta Force members usually are,” Lake responded dryly. “Lynne Harmony is a smart woman, and she was well aware of Mercury’s reputation. No way would she seek him out unless she had something to barter with him. In that scenario, his protection, especially from our forces, would be appealing to her.”
Bret blew out air. “Lynne has always played it safe. My guess is that she avoided L.A. and the rioting gangs there, unless she discovered that Myriad is in L.A.” Which is more than he’d known. Why Vivienne wouldn’t just tell Bret what he wanted to know was beyond him. As a psychic, surely the woman could tap into the universe or whatever the hell they tapped and give him the information.
“Even so, sir, I’d like to follow up on this lead. Send an Elite Force scouting team to L.A. to just observe Mercury’s forces.” Lake remained at attention.
Bret blinked. He’d had a dream the night before of Lake saying those very words. Perhaps his brain was still evolving and he’d be psychic soon, too. His instincts started to hum, and his parietal lobe tickled. “No. Let’s wait until we have more information before you leave on a mission.”
Lake didn’t move. “Understood. I just sent out two contingents of six men—one to Boise to confiscate the weapons of the militia gathering there, and the other to a newly discovered lab in Wyoming. That leaves only thirteen men here, and I would prefer to cover your back.”
“Agreed, although let’s keep our ears to the ground. Perhaps your thought about Lynne being with Mercury is on track. I mean, even if she didn’t seek asylum, his men might’ve found her and taken her in.”
Lake’s face twitched in a slight frown. “The intel on Mercury’s group is that women are protected and not used or bartered for.”
Bret rolled his eyes. “Propaganda, I’m sure. Smart, too.” He played with the USB drive on the black cord around his neck. Lynne’s USB drive.
“Yes, sir. I’ll scout the best place to meet Mercury so we have time to secure the area, and I’ll give him instructions that only allow for enough time for him to arrive.”
“Good.”
Lake’s shoulders somehow went back even farther. “The men have finished emptying the water truck.” His tone remained level, but Bret could sense the disapproval.
“The water is important to me, and it’s the last time I’ll use such resources.” Bret had ordered his men to find a water truck, which they had, and then fill it from one of the indoor pools in the casinos, so nobody could drink the water, anyway. The usage of the gas alone had made Lake tense all day. “Trust me. I need the pool filled for Lynne.” His back stiffened. Hell, he was the president of the United States and didn’t need to explain himself to anybody.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excused.”
Lake pivoted and left the room.
Bret eyed the set of syringes and vials on his desk, wondering if Vivienne could take any more. So far, no matter what he’d pumped into her blood, she hadn’t given up Lynne’s location. Whistling, he filled a vial with what Lake had assured him was a potent truth serum and strode from the room. So far, the stuff hadn’t done anything but make Vivienne goofy.
He hummed and kept hold of both the syringe and the lantern as he walked into the room. Vivienne sat, shackled to the wall, mumbling.
Damn it.
Bret walked to her and kicked her ankle.
She giggled, spit sliding from her mouth. “You’re such a dork.”
He grimaced. Hell. He glanced at the syringe in his hand. Well, he couldn’t waste it. Crouching, he slid the needle into her exposed arm and pressed the plunger.
She gasped, and her chest filled with air.
He slapped her face. “Tell me the truth about Lynne.”