Why would Elliott’s phone route to a call center? Peyton had never heard of Operation BioShield. She wondered if it was related to the congressional act, Project BioShield, that had called for stockpiling critical vaccines in the aftermath of 9/11.

Curious, she pressed one, indicating she was inside a cordon zone.

“If you or someone in your home is sick, press one. If you have training in an essential job role, press two. Essential jobs include anyone with military training, doctors, nurses, police, fire, EMT, and prison employees. If you are calling from an operations center, dial three. All other callers, press zero. Note: pressing zero will greatly delay your wait time. The current wait time is six hours and eighteen minutes.”

Peyton hung up and dialed several of her CDC colleagues. She knew only a few of their numbers by heart. But all of her calls were routed to the same Operation BioShield hotline.

She dialed the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center. A different recorded message played:

“You’ve reached the BioShield Command Center. If you are transporting supplies and need destination or route assistance, press one. If you work in an essential role and need an assignment, press two. If you have located unsorted individuals outside a cordon zone, press three.”

The last option chilled Peyton. Unsorted individuals.

The recording repeated; there was no option for an operator.

Peyton pressed two. A man with a gruff voice said, “Name and social security number.”

She gave him the information, and heard the man typing.

“Sir, I have critical information—”

He interrupted. “Location?”

“Dadaab, Kenya.”

A long pause.

“Your ops facility is Phillips Arena. Report there immediately for assignment.”

“What?”

“Phillips Arena is located at—”

“I know where Phillips Arena is. Listen to me, I led the CDC mission to Kenya, the one that first encountered the Mandera virus.”

The line was silent. She had his attention.

“I have information regarding its origin and possibly the key to finding a cure. I need to speak with the CDC.”

She heard furious typing in the background.

“Best number to reach you?”

“Did you hear what I just said? I know how this pandemic started—and possibly how to find a cure.”

“I heard you, Dr. Shaw. We’re getting about a hundred calls per hour now from scientists and physicians who are sure they have information regarding a cure. We have a queue that a research assistant is working through. They’ll have to call you back.”

“You’re going to put my message in a queue and call me back?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s your name?”

“Corporal Travers, ma’am.”