The Earthrise Trilogy Read Online Free Page B

organisation after all."  
    They ran to Vinkle's office, and sure enough the door wasn't locked. They went in and couldn't believe what they saw. Everything was a mess.  
    "Wow," Steve said, "someone sure did a number on this place, call security."  
    "Right," Janice said, looking for the phone. "The files are all gone," she said seeing the empty cabinet.  
    "Computer's gone too," Steve, said, "this is not good."  
    Security arrived and took over, there were procedures in place for just such an event. The whole building was put in lockdown, all doors locked and all personnel taken to a secure waiting room.  
    "I hope we're on overtime," Jimmy said, grinning.  
    "I wonder what happened to Vinkle?" Kay asked, "I do hope he's all right."  
    Jimmy looked with disbelief at that last remark. "I hope who ever took him is all right," he laughed. The laughter stopped abruptly as Carter walked in.  
    "I want to see each of you in the office," he said gruffly, but Steve had a feeling he wasn't as mad as he was making himself out to be.  
    "Guess this will be the third degree," Jimmy said to no one in particular.  
    "Could be Jimmy," Steve said, "we'll soon find out."

    Steve arrived home a little early that day. "Hey, you're early," Clare called out to him as he entered.  
    "We need to talk," Steve said, greeting her in the kitchen. They went to Steve's study and closed the door.  
    "Uh oh," Chris said, to Shelley, "this looks serious."  
    "Well, whatever it was, you shouldn't have done it!" Shelley responded.  
    "But I didn't do anything!" Chris protested, putting the TV on.
    "So, Vink' has gone missing," Clare said.  
    "Yes, and all his files and computer too, the place was a real mess. Carter conducted the interviews himself, but it seemed that he was not really interested, I think he knew all about it and was just covering his tracks."  
    "So what now Hun, what's the next move?"  
    "I don't know Sweetie, I wasn't expecting this."  
    They came out of the study to hear the newsreader on the TV say:  
    " the outbreak is localised to the surrounding regions. The Russian government has issued a statement claiming that there is no link to yesterdays explosion, and that all necessary precautions are being taken to minimise the risk of further cases of the mystery virus. "  

    "What was that about guys?" Steve asked the kids.  
    "There's some kind of sickness broken out in Russia, near where that explosion was, and no one seems to know what it is."  
    "Has anyone died from it?" Clare asked expecting the answer.  
    "Yes, mummy," Shelley said, "more than a hundred so far."  
    "A hundred dead in less than twenty-four hours," Steve said, looking knowingly at Clare. "It's a cover up," he said, "it's got to be. No known virus can kill a hundred people in that amount of time, I've got a really bad feeling about this."  
    "Steve," Clare said slowly, "you don't suppose this is anything to do with MBA do you? Carter is in the army..." Her voice trailed off as she heard,  
    " missing scientist ," on the TV.  
    "Coincidence?" Steve asked.  
    "I certainly hope so," Clare said, "cos if you're thinking what I'm thinking, we're all in a lot of trouble."
    The next day the news was worse, the TV news stated:  
    "There have been several hundred more deaths in the region around the recent explosion in Russia. World experts are flying out to see if they can help with this tragedy. The Russian people are distraught at this loss of life in such a short period of time. World health organisations are rushing aid and emergency supplies to the region.  
    "Another VIP is missing. General George Carter, the chief of staff and advisor to the government has gone missing. His home was ransacked in the early hours of this morning. His aid discovered the disappearance when he called for the General to take him to a NATO conference. There is still no news of Dr. Henry Vinkle, the missing scientist. A representative for Star Labs said, 'we are