“I’m sorry about your friend,” McCall offered in a sincere tone. Lou was not surprised he’d be the one to show some sympathy. For whatever reason, Vaill kept up his menacing act, as if Lou somehow repulsed him. He felt judged guilty of some crime without even knowing the charges. Again he sensed there was something off with Vaill, as if one wrong word or a misinterpreted hand gesture would be enough to set him off. Lou reminded himself to remain calm and proceed with extreme caution. Until he knew their agenda, these agents were not to be trusted.

“So, Dr. Welcome, how is it you’ve come to know so much about this germ?” Vaill asked.

“I got a briefing from Cap’s doctor,” Lou said. “Ivan Puchalsky. He’s the head of infectious disease at Arbor General.”

“We know Puchalsky,” Vaill said. “We spoke to him already.”

“So then you know. Why are you asking me?”

McCall took out a small notebook and referenced it as they walked. “What about this thing called a … a bacteriophage?” he asked. “You ever talk to anybody about that?”

Lou felt his face get hot. He eliminated Puchalsky, Carter, and the nurses from his list.

“Who contacted you? Was it Sam Scupman?”

“Never mind that,” Vaill said. “My partner asked you a question. You ever talk to anybody about a bacteriophage?”

Lou nodded. “I did, yes,” he said. “I brought it up a few days ago as a potential idea for a treatment to Dr. Sam Scupman of the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Unit.” Both McCall and Vaill nodded as if they knew that tidbit already. “So is that why you’re here? Is it a crime to try and save your friend’s life these days? Don’t you guys have better things to do, like fight terrorism or something?”

Vaill gripped Lou’s arm tight. “I think we know best where and how to spend our time.”

Lou wanted to break his arm. Instead he just pulled away.

“Sorry about that,” Vaill said in a tone that was not even a little apologetic.

“What’s this about, guys?” Lou asked.

McCall stopped in front of a silver Chevy Impala parked on the side of the road.

“How’d you come up with the bacteriophage theory?”

Lou’s pulse quickened. He knew he had to tread carefully. One wrong slip risked exposing Humphrey. It would mean the end of the lab and quite possibly Cap’s life. Somehow without Lou realizing, Vaill and McCall positioned themselves so that his back was up against the car. They both kept their eyes locked on him.

“I’m a doctor,” Lou said. “I simply suggested a potential medical treatment for my friend’s condition.”

Vaill said nothing. He seemed to be giving Lou a chance to change his answer.

“Yeah,” Vaill said. “Well, I don’t think you want to go down that road.”

“What are you talking about?” Lou snapped.