Pretty and smart, plus a mean sucker punch. I’d married up. The Hunters exchanged glances, there was some mumbling, but nobody could outright reject what she’d said. It was a bizarre idea, but this was a bizarre business. “That’s quite the theory,” Pierre Darne said. “All conjecture, but slightly more likely than MHI trying to sabotage their competitors.” He held up his hands defensively and smiled. “Only joking, Julie. Please do not hit me.”

“Oh, Pierre, you’re far too charming. Anybody have any better ideas?”

Nobody had any. The Chinese Hunter then asked, “Assuming you’re right, then the question becomes, what’s causing these events?” Oh, now he’s rational and non-accusatory.

“Or if it is going to happen again? Hell, who are we kidding? With our luck, when will it happen again?” I said. “Holy shit, if we’re talking about monsters appearing out of people’s imagination, can you think of a worse place to be than around a bunch of Hunters?” That was a sobering thought.

There was a sudden commotion at the entry hole. “Harbinger!” VanZant burst into the room.

“What is it, John?” Earl checked his watch. “Feds here? Took ’em long enough.”

“Yeah. We’ve got Feds.” VanZant was out of breath. “But they’re not coming inside. They’ve formed a perimeter around the parking lot and ordered all the first responders back. Nobody in or out. There’s an MCB agent with a bullhorn saying anyone that tries to leave the casino will be shot.”

“What?” I got off the bed and went to the remains of the balcony. Far below, the flashing police lights had formed a line and were blocking the strip. Men in blue windbreakers, surely MCB, were ushering people from the parking lot and stringing up caution tape. “What’re they doing?”

“They’re surrounding the place.” Earl’s voice was completely flat. “We’ve been quarantined.”

“Do not come any closer,” the man said, his voice amplified over a loudspeaker on one of the police cars. I couldn’t see very well since there were a lot of spotlights pointed at me. I could safely assume there were also guns pointed at me. “The disease is not dangerous, but it is very contagious. Stay calm and stay in the casino. Do not panic. You will be safe inside the casino. Representatives from the CDC will be here shortly with medicine.”

Man, that was lame. “Cut the crap,” I shouted back. “I’m with MHI. Let me talk to Franks or somebody in charge.”

“Go back inside for your own safety. The disease is not dangerous, but—”