“They chose to go as high as they could,” Carter said. “Just below the pelvis. They elected to try leaving the hip joint itself, because a prosthesis would be technically easier that way.”

Prosthesis.

A lump materialized in Lou’s throat. Delivering bad news had always been a part of his job, and although he never, ever enjoyed doing it, he knew he was usually effective at it, mostly by being direct and honest. He was grateful Win Carter had approached him the same way, even though the lump continued to grow.

“Thanks, Win,” he said, unable to cull the hoarseness from his voice. “I appreciate all you’ve done. Everything.”

“I just wish we could have done more.”

“Me, too,” Lou said, ending the call. “Me, too.”

He looked around, saw McCall talking with Beth Snyder, and waved him over.

“I need to fly back to Atlanta ASAP. Can you arrange that for me?”

“Sure, Lou. Anything you need. Is everything all right?”

“No. Not in the least. They took Cap’s leg.”

McCall sagged.

“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry, Lou. They couldn’t have put it off? Did they know what’s happening here?”

“They knew. They waited as long as they could. It sounds like it was either his leg or his life. It’s my fault. I let him down, Chuck. I let my closest friend down.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” McCall said. “You did everything you could and then some.”

“I couldn’t save Tim and I couldn’t save Cap’s leg.”

“Lou…”

“Oh, hell. I know what you’re trying to say. I’m just babbling. Listen, just help me get out of here, Chuck. Can you do that for me?”

I need a meeting and I need to go see Cap.…

McCall returned a sympathetic look.

“You got it, Lou. We’ll warm up the chopper, and have the jet waiting for you at the airport. Goodness knows you’ve earned a flight in that beauty.”

“Thanks. One last thing. That night you and Tim came to get me at the Blue Ox. How did you know I had been asking about the phage?”

“Scupman. He had been working for us since the beginning, passing along anything that might have been of interest regarding the Doomsday Germ. Apparently Kazimi didn’t think enough of him to make him part of his team.”

“But Scupman never suspected his own assistant.”

McCall shook his head.

“Never a word. She was good, Lou. She was damn good at blending in. Looking like Little Bo Peep didn’t hurt her any, either.”

Lou sighed and wandered alone along the main passageway until he came to the French doors opening onto the cliff. In a haze, he stared unseeing across the North Atlantic. Behind him, through the windows of the Great Room, he could hear escalating commotion. It sounded as if the excitement was building.

Any minute now, he thought.