Page 108 of The Hero Within
"They have a hydrogel solution of nanoparticles that targets the actual bad bacterium and breaks down its cell walls within twenty-four hours, without attacking the healthy bacteria in the body. It's the only thing the bacteria aren't resistant to. It's also designed to recalibrate the electrolyte imbalance in a patient safely. One injection will deliver a sustained release of nanoparticles over the following three weeks to protect against resistance. You get the full course without forgetting to take it, with zero side effects."
"Where’s the cure now?"
"That's the problem," Mayhew replied bluntly. "As I said, Nigel was working the laboratory under orders from General Radisson. They were caught testing the disease on live specimens. Radisson went down for it behind closed doors, and his understudy, Lieutenant Bligh, stepped into his shoes. The Radisson-Meyers laboratories were closed on Bligh's orders, and the contents of the laboratory transferred to the military labs at Camp Ragnarök, where Bligh could keep a closer eye on it. Nigel Wentworth was transferred across to continue his project, despite the fact Bligh hates the Wentworths."
Her face drained of heat. "He didn't go down for his crimes?"
"He was under orders from Radisson," Mayhew replied. "He got a slap on the wrist, but the man truly is a genius, and he'd served Bligh's purpose; he helped put Bligh in command with everything he knew about the experiments. I believe his testimony destroyed Radisson's legal defense during his court martial. I'll bet every credit I own they cut a deal."
"Nigel sold Radisson out to save his own skin," Johnny murmured.
"Yes."
"So Bligh has the plague, the scientist who created it, and now, the cure." Mayhew tipped his brandy to his lips. "He's not as dangerous as Radisson—he can be reasoned with if you present him with an argument that appeals to him—and he despises the Wentworths, which is a point in his favor, but he's not in charge for no reason, Miss McClain. Bligh won't want this information to get out to the general public, not after the Radisson fiasco. So he's going to want to bury any leads on this plague."
"Plus we can't get anywhere near Camp Ragnarök," Arik growled. "There's an entire squadron of wargs there, and it's locked up tighter than your granny's drawers."
Eden felt like she couldn't quite catch a breath. "Then how do we...?"
Johnny squeezed the back of her neck. "We know where the cure is now, we just have to get to it. That's step one covered, angel."
"I highly recommend not breaking into a military camp," Mayhew said, sipping his brandy.
"You did it," Johnny replied, his voice roughening. "You got in, and Arik and Nnedi got out. How'd you do it?"
Mayhew bared his teeth. "With great difficulty. I had to hack the security system and take out the electrical grid—without dropping the electric fence around the warg barracks. I had a team of highly trained professionals to watch my back, and we set off a distraction further afield to take the focus off what we were doing."
Johnny pushed to his feet, leaning on the table. "Then do it again."
Mayhew merely smiled, crooking his little finger as he threw back the last inch of brandy in his glass. "Whyever would I do that? I wanted information about what Wentworth was up to. Now I have it, and I just have to find proof so I can bring Miles and Nigel Wentworth down. I feel for you, truly I do, but you're asking me to risk my life, and I can tell from the look of you that you don't own enough credit to tempt me. It's not personal, but I rather like breathing. I don't take risks unless there's a substantial gain on the table. I'm not a gambler, Mr. Colton. Unless I'm guaranteed to win."
He stood up, setting his glass down. "Good to see you again, Arik. Best of luck with your endeavor. I suggest you forget about your plague though. Stay here, far away from its clutches, as I plan to."
Chapter Twenty-One
Two hours later,Johnny sunk onto the bed.
"Damn it!" Eden curled her hands into fists, her knuckles splaying white. "I've come all this goddamned way to find a cure I can't get my hands on. We've got one day before weneedto start the return journey. How are we supposed to manage that in one day?"
"Hey." Johnny caught her hands and dragged her onto his lap. This wasn't like her. "Remind me of the part where you said you'd give up? I distinctly recall hearing you state you would dowhatever it takesto get your hands on that cure. You blackmailed me into guiding you. You crossed the fucking Divide, darlin'. You looked death in the eye and put a bullet in its skull, and managed to work out how to break into a territory that's heavily guarded. You are not going to hold up a white flag now."
"I can't steal it," she retorted, putting both hands against his chest in her agitation. "I can't seduce it out of them with a smile and a please. And I can't pay for it."
"Then how are you going to get our hands on it?"
"I don't know!" She pushed him away from her, eyes darting wildly. "I don't have the answers! I haven't from the start. All I've been doing is putting one foot in front of the other, and trying to keep playing with every new hand I've been dealt." Her voice broke. "I don't know how to win this fight. I don't know how to save my people."
The sorrow in her eyes damn near broke him. Eden had always carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, and her sense of duty was impeccable. Too damned impeccable. She put everyone else's needs before hers, no matter how much it cost her.
For a woman who liked to control her world, the idea of failure was the worst thing that could happen to her. She'd never been afraid of fighting; she was afraid of letting others down.
Johnny drew her into his arms. Eden shook her head as if she felt claustrophobic in her distress, but he simply wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. "Breathe. You're stressed out and I know you're thinking of that bloody clock in your head. Take a moment, angel. I know you've got the answers. You're too fucking smart for your own good, but you're not going to get them if you panic."
"Your omega bullshit doesn't work on me," she murmured, but she wrapped her arms around his waist and surrendered.
Johnny smiled. "It's just a hug, smartass."
"Trying to stimulate my oxytocin levels, huh?"
