Carlie Simmons (Book 4): The Gathering Darkness Read Online Free PDF

don’t like to hear
that stuff. Try something romantic for a change.” Matias raised his hands up as
he walked backwards while Shane stewed over his friend’s honest assessment.
“I’m just saying: we always tell our students to review tactics if they’re not
successful.”
    Shane was left alone to ponder the advice
amidst the rumble of several trucks driving in with another team ready to
depart. He waved at the leader, a red-haired man named Kulovitz, who was in his
mid-thirties. As Kulovitz grabbed his pack and weapon, he trotted partway up to
Shane. “Hey, I heard it was quite an adventure getting in and out,” the man
said with a crooked smile.
    “Yeah, that’s what your wife said last
night.”
    The man just jerked his arm out furiously
with his middle finger extended, his carrot top looking like it was going to
ignite. Then he backpedaled and let out a big smile as he ran to catch up with
his team. “Remember, bro, you still owe me a rematch in poker when I get back.”
    Shane just nodded and waved him on then
yanked his soiled backpack off the tailgate and headed towards the distant hallway.
     
    ***
    After their debriefing, Carlie headed down
to the research labs on the lower level in D-Wing. After clearing two
biocontainment checkpoints, she stood before a thick panel of glass watching
the technicians inside bustling around like worker bees. After a few minutes,
she caught the attention of Pavel, who walked over to the window and flipped on
the intercom. They exchanged a few pleasantries in Russian before changing to
more casual English.
    “We just hauled in some medical equipment
from a run in Sacramento—a couple of centrifuges and more microscope
replacement parts,” she said, rubbing her temples, holding back a yawn.
    “And now I hear it’s time for you and your
team to get some much-needed R & R, eh?”
    “That’s right—a few days. What about you—do
you ever leave this lab?”
    “Only long enough to grab five to six
hours of sleep. We have made great progress in the past two weeks. Some
breakthroughs that should help us push the timelime up for completing a trial
vaccine.”
    “Then what?”
    “Then we locate some test subjects,
meaning non-human primates, if any can still be located at zoos or perhaps by making
a trip to the tropics.”
    “Hmm…wonder who’s going to be doing those
salvage missions? I could go without another visit to the tropics for the rest
of my life.”
    “There’s been some chatter on the airwaves
about a place in Florida that may still be intact. We are still a few months
off from needing monkeys but that will be the next factor to examine in this
equation.”
    Pavel looked at Carlie, studying her face.
“I appreciate you coming down here to check on things, and on me, but you look
exhausted. Go get some rest, young devotchka.”
    Carlie smiled at the endearing term and
responded with a thank you in Russian.
    Taking the stairs back up to the main
level, she crossed through the checkpoint that led from the research area back
to B-Wing where her living quarters were situated. She opened the door to her
private room and noticed a yellow piece of folded paper on the floor inside. She
opened it and read the curt message : Meet in NCO lounge, 1830. Shane.

 
    Chapter 6
    An hour later, Jared and Amy stood by the
seldom-visited NCO lounge in B-Wing. Once he saw the hallway was clear, he
knelt down on one knee and removed his lockpicking tools.
    “Why are we doing this again?” said Amy,
who watched him work the delicate tools in the aperture while nervously
glancing over her shoulder down the hall.
    “I told you, there’s some vintage bottles
of chardonnay inside that were just brought back by one of the teams returning
from Vancouver.”
    “I’m not so sure this is a good idea. If
we get caught, it’ll be a real problem with Duncan, not to mention our standing
with Shane.”
    “Shane didn’t think it was a problem to
have my ass dragged along the treetops