Page 111 of Broken Wheels

Michael and Gary headed for the door. Before they reached it, Gary turned. “Any help you need in finding that proof, you’ve got it, okay? All our resources are at your disposal.” He set his jaw. “Because if this is what Spencer is up to, we can’t let him get away with it.” With that, Michael put his arm around Gary, and they went out the door.

“Doc?”

Josh turned. Dixon held out a cup of coffee.

He chuckled. “You’d better make more. We’re going to need it.”

Something was bothering Doc, and Dix didn’t have a fucking clue what it was.

Chalmers was working on a laptop, his brow creased in a permanent frown. Dix was doing his best to keep both men fed and watered, at the same time checking in with the front desk to make sure all was well.

Doc hadn’t stopped tapping on his keyboard for the past hour, his eyes glued to the screen, his concentration impressive.

Dix poured him another coffee and set the cup down on the dining table. “Doc, take a break.”

Doc snorted. “Sure. Make me feel even more useless than I already do.”

“Doc? What do you mean? You’re not useless.” Dix put his hand on Doc’s shoulder, but he shrugged free of the contact. “Hey.”

Doc jerked his head in Dix’s direction. “Everyone around here is busy doing something useful—except me.” Before Dix could protest, Doc pointed a finger at Dix’s chest. “You’re protecting me. Chalmers is trying to get us information that he shouldn’t even be looking for.”

“I’m sure I’ll pay for it at some point,” Chalmers called out from across the room. “The agency takes a very dim view of going over their heads, but if what you—what we—suspect is going on, then it needs to be done.”

“But you’re doing something vital,” Doc continued. “Gary and Michael are using their resources to help as much as they can. I’m not doing one thing to help us along.”

Dix opened his mouth, but Doc held up a hand.

“Don’t. Please. I don’t want or need platitudes right now.” He got out of his chair and started pacing. “I’ve decided to try a different tack. I’m looking at Spencer’s public schedule, which I found online.”

“Why?”

“I’m crosschecking it against all of the poisonings to see if there is a correlation. Of course, I have to keep in mind it’s more than likely he has someone else doing the dirty work for him. I’m also seeing how long it took to mobilize his so-called ‘team’ to be at the affected areas, then looking at the time it took for them to arrive.”

“What will that tell you?” Dix asked.

“I’m extrapolating travel time to determine where they’re actually coming from.” Doc narrowed his gaze. “I don’t care what anyone says. No one, regardless of the money they have or the setup they are in charge of, can roll out exactly what’s needed and have it all on the ground, ready to go, at little more than a moment’s notice. I mean, if he’s dealing with a poisoning, that requires special gear to clean up. Why would he have that much in stock? Why does he have it in such quantities so near a potential disaster?” Doc scraped his hand through his already unruly hair. “None of this makes sense.”

Dix was impressed. “That’s what makes you our resident genius, Doc. You’re always thinking.”

Doc sighed. “My so-called genius isn’t meant for the things you guys are doing. I recognize my limitations, and I try to find ways to compensate.” He met Dix’s gaze, his eyes troubled. “The more I learn about Spencer, the more I realize he’s not seeing his limits. I’ve listened to the things he says. Want to know what I think? He truly believes there’s nothing he can’t do.”

Dix’s phone rang. It was Michael. He clicked Answer. “What’s up?”

“Turn on your TV. ABC News, right now.”

The urgency in Michael’s voice had him scrabbling for the remote. When he found the channel, his heart sank.

“Holy fuck.” Dix wanted to throw up.

“What’s wrong? Why have you—” Doc gave a strangled gasp.

“Oh my God.” Chalmers joined them, his eyes wide.

The rolling banner across the bottom of the screen proclaimed the stark details: Stutton, Arkansas, 2,348 deaths. The well-dressed anchorman looked gravely into the camera.

“For those just joining us, breaking news. Our own Kent McCormick has been sent an amateur video showing an attack on the town of Stutton, Arkansas. It happened four hours ago as a twin-engine Cessna flew over the town and released a mist into the air. We warn viewers, the images they’re about to see are disturbing and viewer discretion is advised. Also, we ask that you not allow children to view this video.”

It was as the talking head said. The small plane flew high in the sky, then tilted downward, leveling out above the town. A few moments later, a thick mist streamed earthward. For whatever reason, people on the streets stood with their faces upturned as the haze filled the area. Almost immediately, people fell, choking, clawing at their throats?—

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