Free The Target by L.J. Sellers Page B

with more experience, or did they know about her gender transformation and disapprove? The change was part of her file, if anyone with clearance wanted to look at her background.
    I am secure in who I am and do not need their approval.
    Next to King sat the only other woman at the table. Middle-aged with a skunk-like streak in her hair, she wore a dark-green dress with no jacket. A scientist from the CDC, River speculated. An introduction a moment later proved her correct.
    “This is Ms. McDowell from the Centers for Disease Control,” King said. “She’ll present first, so she can leave before we get into confidential details.”
    The woman stood. “This case came to our attention when the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office sent us blood and tissue samples from Joe Palmer’s autopsy.” She paused, as if for respect. “The ME noticed a wound on the corpse’s hand that resembled a MRSA infection, so he decided to be precautious and send us samples. The tissue revealed the presence of a previously unidentified bacterium.”
    McDowell drew in a nervous breath and continued. “The microbe is closely related to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but appears to have mutated. The good news is that it’s not particularly contagious—‌yet. The bad news is that, like MRSA, it can be deadly to anyone with a compromised immune system or any other body-weakening conditions. We believe the bacterium, which we’ve labeled SA-13, may have killed Mr. Palmer, who was already suffering from an upper respiratory infection.”
    “Are you worried about an outbreak?” River had to ask. Her own body wasn’t exactly healthy after the operations and hormones she’d been through.
    The CDC official nodded, a vigorous gesture. “It could mutate again and become highly contagious. Everyone working on this case needs to be very careful.”
    River remembered the device Jana had found in her husband’s pocket. “What about the PulseTat I turned into the ME’s office? Did you test it?”
    “What’s a PulseTat?”
    “It’s a medical patch—‌a little sticky film that transmits data. Joe Palmer had one in his pocket, and I took it to the ME’s office to test.”
    McDowell’s eyes went wide with discomfort. “I don’t believe that came to our lab. Please check with the county and have them send it over.”
    River hoped it hadn’t been misplaced. “Mrs. Palmer told me the PulseTat had to be pulled from the market a few months ago because it started causing skin infections. I think you should look into those infections and compare them to Joe Palmer’s tissue.”
    “What’s the company?” McDowell picked up a pen.
    “DigiPro. It’s owned by ProtoCell.”
    “We’ll investigate, but bacteria doesn’t live long on inorganic surfaces.”
    That failed to be reassuring. “What are the symptoms of the infection? In case one of us gets exposed.”
    “We’re not sure because we’ve only had one case, and he’s dead. But fever is a classic symptom. Or if an area of your skin becomes red, swollen, or painful, get to a doctor, get some antibiotics, then call us.” The CDC woman gave a grim smile. “But until it becomes contagious, don’t worry about being quarantined.”
    Small comfort.
    “Any other questions?”
    River had one more. “Do you think it’s more likely that Palmer’s exposure to the bacteria was purposeful or accidental?”
    McDowell looked startled. “Are you asking if someone could have killed him by deliberate contamination?”
    “That’s what we all want to know.”
    “I suppose it’s possible, but also unlikely. A perpetrator wouldn’t know how the bacteria would react in a particular individual, other than that they would be sick for a while.” She stopped and reconsidered. “Unless the killer was a scientist and had already tested antibiotics against the pathogen.”
    Agent King spoke up. “What is the most likely source of the infection?”
    “Probably a food product.”