Free The Sapporo Outbreak by Brian Craighead Page A

into the leather and within seconds was back on his cell.

    Santos and Skinner were awestruck. The plane had levelled off at 22,000 feet before their whispered guesses about the cost of all the luxury subsided.  

    Polished teak, thick carpet and rows of subtle insight lighting created a warm and intimate ambience. Running along the left hand side of the cabin was a long, deep white leather couch large enough to comfortably fit six people, and opposite the couch were four large padded white leather chairs, paired to face each other over a shiny teak coffee table. At the far end of the cabin Skinner noticed the gleaming polished timber door leading into Tanaka's private room.

    After a moment's pause in the conversation, Skinner jumped forward, surprising Santos and causing her to spill wine over the table separating the two chairs.  

    "Sorry Eva - I didn't mean to scare you like that, but I've just remembered something I'd like your thoughts on."

    Before Santos could reply, one of the four air stewards whisked in, cleaned the spill and passed a white cotton napkin and a fresh glass of wine. Santos smiled at the steward, and as he moved away beamed at Skinner. "And that's why I only ever travel this way. Now - what did you want to talk about?"

    Skinner's whispered voice took on a steely edge. "On the way to the airport I had a call from an old friend of mine in Santa Clara. A detective that I worked with two years ago. He was asking for my help on a very unusual murder in Palo Alto."

    Santos gently placed her glass of wine down on the coffee table and nodded "Go on."

    Skinner relayed most of his conversation with Detective Steve Clark. He then rolled out his flexible tablet computer onto the table separating them and turned the tablet to the side so they could both see. He swiped the screen and then flicked through the forensic report, crime scene pictures and the video of the attack recovered from Sandra Brennan's phone.

    Santos reacted calmly to the material, dispassionately. The initial jolt of horror quickly replaced with professional curiosity. After a few short questions to clarify some details, Santos picked up the computer and began silently reading and reviewing all the material. Skinner leaned back in the thick padded leather and waited.  

    Absently Skinner watched as Hill continued to whisper urgently into his cell phone. Extra soundproofing and carefully designed 'white noise' sound system created a feeling of library-like silence in the cabin, and as such Skinner could still hear the faint hum of Hill's conversation despite the distance between them. Skinner could see the tension in Hill as he lowered the phone from his ear and slumped back into his chair. He looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. I guess that's what the prospect of making - or losing - billions of dollars can do , Skinner mused.  

    A few minutes later, Santos rolled up the computer and handed it back to Skinner.   Santos locked her gaze on Skinner and in a low firm voice said "Ben, none of this makes sense. Attacks of this ferocity are very rare, and almost always psychotic incidents. Drugs are pretty much always involved - and before it gets to this level there's been earlier signs. And finally, it's not what stable 13-year old straight A-girls do!"

    Before Skinner could respond, a voice behind Santos chimed in. "Where exactly did this attack happen Dr Santos?"

    Surprised, Santos head swivelled to her right to find the source while Skinner looked up with a start. Hill stood behind Santos, a look of concern on his face. Skinner wondered how much of the conversation he'd heard - from the look on his face he certainly seemed to understand the savage nature of the murder.

    Santos looked at the pale young lawyer. He didn't look good. Before she could reply, Skinner leaned forward.

    "I'm sorry Alex, but I'm afraid neither Dr Santos or I can talk about this. There's an ongoing investigation, that's all I can