“Ma’am, I’m sorry to say I don’t know at this time. We just found out about this a few hours ago. Please call me tomorrow at the number on the card I gave you. I should know more by then.”

Frank motioned her toward their bedroom. “Honey, let’s just get this over with.”

Megan studied his face. He was worried, but trying not to let her know. She pulled him down for a quick kiss. “You’re fine, and when you get back, I’ll make you something special.”

Frank kissed her on the top of her head, like he always did when he was trying to make her feel better.

Pulling him by his arm, Megan led him to the back bedroom and said, “Let’s get you packed.”

She couldn’t help but notice how one of the FBI agents followed them down the hallway and quietly observed as she helped pack Frank’s suitcase.

###

As the other students in the Blommer Science Library began to file toward the exit, Kathy put her laptop in her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and followed them down the stairs. It was eight p.m., and she’d been studying for almost the entire day.

Just as she exited the building, two people in FBI windbreakers stepped in her path. “Katherine O’Reilly?”

“Yes?” She paused and suddenly recognized the agents who’d months ago stopped her outside her dorm. “Agents Carrington and Ragheb? Is there something you need?”

Carrington motioned toward the building Kathy had just left. “Mind if we go inside? It would be better if we talk in private.”

“Sure.” Kathy swiped her badge at the entrance to the Reiss Science Building and led the agents to an open room. As she took a seat, she noticed the two agents looked uncomfortable.

Agent Carrington began. “We’re here because… well, we need to take your temperature.”

Kathy shrugged. “Okay… I guess I don’t mind that.”

Ragheb swiped her forehead with a digital thermometer. “One hundred and one point four.”

“Crap,” muttered Carrington.

Kathy didn’t like the sound of that. “You don’t have to worry about me. I know I’ve got a fever, but I feel fine. What is this about?”

Agent Carrington sat across from her. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and spoke calmly. “This is about the treatment your father had at the VA. There have been some concerns about anyone who may have been exposed to that treatment. I’m afraid we need to ask you to go under observation.”

“But I wasn’t given any treatment,” Kathy said. “Just my dad.”

“One of the signs of exposure is a low-grade fever. At any point did you perhaps inadvertently drink some of your father’s medicine? It would be an easy mistake since it looks just like water.”