“But all the other cities are on the West Coast. And in those places, he’s been known to have spread MRGAS. No cases I know of in Philadelphia so far. But it does happen to be the home of the manufacturer of the only treatment for the bug he’s spreading.”

Lopez felt the blood drain from her face. “You think he’s trying to stop the people at SeptoMed from releasing the drug?”

Cohen paused to think. “Lina, when did you learn that Oraloxin was even a potential treatment?”

“Three days ago.”

“But Forbes has been in Philadelphia for at least four,” Cohen said gravely.

Lopez felt her heart pounding in her throat. “How could he have possibly known before us?”

Kilburn’s face paled. “Unless …”

51 - Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

51

Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Forbes swept up the last few shards of glass into the triple-layered black garbage bag. Next, he turned his attention to the tabletop. He left the half-empty bottle of wine standing on the table, but he tipped her wine glass over beside it, allowing the few remaining drops to leak onto the table.

Forbes picked up the note and read it again. Deciding there was no harm in leaving it behind, he placed it back on the table deliberately tilting it askew so the comer of the paper absorbed the drops of wine from the overturned glass.

He noticed the pair of padded handcuffs at the bottom of the bag. Though he had put them on her inside the car while the engine was running, in retrospect he realized they weren’t necessary. From what he saw, she never struggled. She had been braver than most.

Tying up the neck of the bag, he shook off any residual thoughts of her. Look ahead, he told himself. Focus. He needed to concentrate on the next stage. He had precious little time left, and the upcoming assignment might prove the trickiest challenge yet.

With the garbage bag slung over his shoulder, he headed for the door. He stopped for one last look around the staged room and allowed himself a quick self-satisfied smile.

So far, it was a textbook job.

52 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

52

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Even though their flight left Seattle at 5:50 A.M., with the time change they didn’t arrive at the Philadelphia International Airport until 1 P.M. As he stood in the taxi line outside the terminal, Kilburn felt lightheaded in the sweltering spring heat wave that had hit the Northeast unseasonably early. Wiping sweat from his brow, Cohen looked as uncomfortable as Kilburn felt. But Lopez stood leisurely without a drop of perspiration appearing to enjoy the baking heat.

“How can this weather not get to you, Lina?” Kilburn mopped his own forehead.

“I’m from Central America, and I grew up in Arizona.” She smiled. “This is the first time I haven’t felt cold since I moved to the Pacific Northwest.”