lip, worrying. “Are post-attack projections in yet?”
“Some. Two to four thousand fatalities and a minimum additional two thousand permanently disabled. I didn’t get dollar cost projections on contamination losses. Bean counters are still working them.”
At this point, who cared about the property? Good God, two to four thousand fatalities? Maggie broke into a cold sweat. “Are the projections as dire for all potential targets?”
Darcy nodded. “I’m told some are worse.”
Maggie expected it, but hearing it confirmed curdled her blood and she regretted earlier choking down that doughnut. This kind of news was best digested on an empty stomach.
Kate curled her fingers, gripping the table. “What are we likely looking at with the infiltrators?”
“We don’t know.” Darcy grimaced. “Intel can’t project which specific GRID operatives will launch the attack, though they believe Kunz will use his own subject-matterexperts and not outside forces to release the virus. For tighter control and lower odds of leaks. We have no idea how many GRID operatives will work the launch, or in what part or parts of the mall they’ll cut it loose—if, of course, Santa Bella is the target.”
“This is a nightmare from hell.” Maggie looked at the colonel.
“It gets worse,” Colonel Drake said. “We can’t forget the body double factor.”
“What body double factor?” Justin asked, looking baffled.
Colonel Drake responded. “A lot of high-powered, influential people hire body doubles, Dr. Crowe.”
He nodded, familiar with the concept. “And that relates to this…how?”
Colonel Drake didn’t dodge. “Our experience has revealed that Kunz has a number of body doubles for himself and for key business associates on high-impact, lucrative black market deals. He has a nasty habit of inserting them when he knows, or senses, we’re closing in on him.”
“I see.” Justin leaned forward on the table, rubbed at his temples, clearly distressed by this added complication. “Is there a way to know whether we’re dealing with a double or the real McCoy?”
“DNA,” the colonel said. “Though we have noted a three-month absence trend.”
“Three-month absence?”
The colonel’s gaze slid to Amanda and she responded. “Kunz kidnaps the person he wants to double, keeps them drugged and learns all he can about them. During that time, his surgeons and shrinks are creating a body double.One who looks, acts and learns to think like the real person. It’s an intensive training program to become that person, and it’s very effective.”
Justin’s expression sobered. He’d intuited that Amanda had been one of Kunz’s victims; Maggie was certain of it.
“Anyway.” The colonel resumed her briefing. “We obviously must be on our guard and expect that he’s made insertions of body doubles on this mission, as well.”
Maggie nodded. “He has a hundred percent track record, Colonel. Every attack, every mission…”
“How many have there been?” Justin asked, clearly stunned.
Maggie wasn’t surprised. None had made the press. So far S.A.S.S. had denied Kunz success, though it’d had too many close calls to feel overly confident about it, and everyone in the know realized it was only a matter of time until he managed to pull off a success.
No one responded, and Justin caught on that he’d tread onto classified ground. “Forget I asked,” he said.
Colonel Drake looked at him, but didn’t acknowledge he’d spoken.
“So who would he be likely to double?” Justin asked, still seeking a firm grip on this new complication to an already complicated mission.
“Anyone in authority or with the power to countermand our actions,” Maggie said. “Anyone who might be able to relay our actions and defenses to him.”
Justin paled. “But that’s pretty much everybody.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Also, if the only way we can tell they’re real or a body double is through DNA or three-month