The Sapporo Outbreak Read Online Free PDF Page B

driven by fear. Both Dr Edwards and I suspect the girl was living in her own world, separated from reality. And whatever was happening in this private world of hers was sufficiently terrifying for her to attack without regard for her safety. The only silver lining to this tragedy Detective is that it's almost certainly an isolated incident. I seriously doubt we'll be seeing another attack like this for a very long time, if ever."

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    8pm Tuesday, Washington D.C (Minus 29 Hours)

    "Yes sir, your guest is already seated. Shall I take your coat?"

    Ben Skinner nervously glanced past the Maitre d' and into the dining area, resembling a first class dining room in some 20s ocean liner. The constant hum of conversation and Nina Simone drifted through the air as a team of waiters in black moved through the carefully lit room in choreographed ever-smiling efficiency.

    "Ehm, yes. Thank you." Skinner hurriedly peeled off his leather gloves, unbuttoned his classic three-button cashmere dress coat and handed both to the Matrie d'. Without skipping a beat, the man smoothly passed both to a petite young waitress behind him. With a faint nod and a smile, he waved a cuff-linked sleeve toward the other diners. "Please follow me sir."

    As they navigated between tables filled with the expensively dressed power brokers and wealthy Georgetown residents, Skinner suddenly felt out of place. The hotel had performed miracles, cleaning and pressing his shirt and the single-breasted Hugo Boss suit in record time. He had dressed for the occasion, and yet as he gazed around at the Washington insiders plotting, scheming and living politics, Skinner realised he'd never fit in here. Power, politics, greed - the raison d'etre for Washington's elite - left him cold.  

    The Maitre d' slowed to a stop, and Skinner very nearly careened into the back of him. Unruffled, the man smiled while pulling out a heavy Georgian period chair. "Your table Sir".

    Skinner stepped toward the table and, for a moment, stood motionless and stared. Thirty four year old Psychologist Eva Santos gazed up at him and smiled. Her smooth brown skin contrasting with the white cotton off the shoulder evening dress, her thick, wavy black hair falling over her bare shoulders.  

    "Ben - it's good to see you. I was beginning to think I'd been stood up."  

    Gathering his thoughts, Skinner smiled back, leaning over and kissing her lightly on the cheek. "I'm so sorry Eva, I really am. I had an odd little issue crop up as I was leaving today's presentation."

    Settling back into his seat at the table, Skinner took a short, sharp breath and tried his best to focus on the conversation rather than the beautiful doctor sitting opposite. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long?"

    "Not at all. I arrived 15 minutes ago. I'm staying not too far away, at the Morrison House in Alexandria. I figured I'd get here pretty quickly, but I got held up by the snow on the way through Rosslyn. It's no problem Ben."

    Skinner relaxed a little, "Oh good - how is Michelle? Did she mention we caught up last week?"

    "She did Ben, and she really appreciated it. She told me to thank you - she likes hearing your stories, says you have a way of painting a picture. Told me to watch out for you - she thinks you sound ... charming"

    Santos giggled as Skinner squirmed. She had introduced the professor to her sister several months earlier. Michelle had been blinded in a car accident when she was 13 and Eva was 18. The accident had killed both parents, and she had taken on the role of parent and big sister. Together they'd learned to cope with Michelle's loss of sight. Their bond was unbreakable. Skinner didn't know it, but he was the first man Eva Santos had ever introduced to her sister.

    Santos was delighted when - a few hours earlier - Michelle had smiled and told her that she wholeheartedly approved of the handsome professor.  

    Santos smiled warmly back at Skinner. When they first met in spring last year,