LZR-1143: Evolution Read Free Page B

smile, receding hairline threatening to reach mid-crown. Dark blue BDU’s hid under a too-large white overcoat. A shiny metal name plate, not unlike the one Kate was wearing when we first met, proclaimed his name and rank.
    “Mr. McKnight, I presume,” he said, taking inappropriate liberty with my patience as I stared at my injured friend. I glanced at Kate, who made a quick ‘bear with him’ smile, and engaged our new friend.
    “Yes, pleased to meet you,” I paused and took in his name and rank, “Lieutenant Cowell.” Finishing, I looked again at Hartliss, trying to silently make the point that I wanted to see my friend.
    “I suppose you want to see your friend,” he acquiesced, motioning toward Hartliss. “Let’s talk after you’re done. I need to take a look at you, make sure you don’t have a concussion.” Thankfully, he backed off.
    I nodded once in thanks, and sat on the bunk next to Hartliss. I could hear the rasping of his labored breathing; slowly, painfully, he took each gasp. Then I tried to smile as Hartliss opened his eyes and stared directly at me. His mouth opened slowly, and his arm raised from his side. He muttered something intelligible and low, almost guttural.
    I couldn’t hear. Slowly, I went to a knee next to his bed. Kate leaned over, partially blocking the doctor from view.
    “Oo … er … ittin…” he whispered, trying clumsily to grab my arm.
    I didn’t understand.
    Looking to Kate for explanation, I jerked when his hand grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip and dragged me forward, almost touching his lips to my cheek. Spittle flecked his lips, and his eyes were wild. But his voice was now perfectly clear.
    “Bitten,” he rasped softly. “You were bloody bitten!”
    Then his head dropped to his pillow, eyes closing, and the loud beeping of his heart rate monitor rang against the metal walls of the room.
    I recoiled in surprise as several nurses materialized to tend to their patient. I stood up quickly, looking suspiciously at Lieutenant Cowell, trying to discern if anyone but Kate and I had heard what Hartliss had said, but the doctor was engaged with Hartliss now, issuing curt orders and checking various dials and readouts.
    We backed up together as I whispered to Kate.
    “What the hell? Didn’t you tell him about the vaccine? Why would he be worried about my having been bitten?”
    She grimaced, glancing furtively over my shoulder before talking softly under her breath.
    “He was worried the whole flight back. I told him that we found the vaccine, and that you weren’t going to turn, but he had seen enough to feel circumspect. Shit, if I hadn’t seen what I saw, I’d be pretty damn suspicious myself, but he had it under control after I talked to him, before we landed. But he’s delirious now, and he flashes in and out of his right mind.”
    I nodded, thinking.
    “Well I guess that cuts both ways, right? He might say something, but since there’s no evidence of the bite wound, no one would believe him.”
    She smiled, nodding slightly behind me. I turned, catching the hint.
    “My apologies Mr. McKnight, but your friend has been fighting for his life since we caught hold of him. The good Doctor here,” gesturing to Kate, “informed us of the circumstances leading to his wound, and of your flight from the city.”
    At this, I glanced toward Kate briefly. So apparently she had lied about the entire jig, huh? I’m wondering how she dealt with my state of mind. The guy was talking to me like a normal person, so she must have convinced them somehow.
    Cowell was looking at me expectantly.
    “Yeah, yeah. A real barnburner, Doc. We barely made it out alive. I feel lucky to be here.”
    I wasn’t sure what to say, not having been given the back-story, but I lapsed back into my day job.
    “It was real sticky for the last week, but we managed.”
    He looked at Kate and back to me, frowning slightly. “Really? I wouldn’t think that being locked inside a Federal courthouse