We All Fall Down Read Online Free Page B

government. Your careers depend on making someone in DC happy.”
    “Our work is funded by a private consortium called CDA Labs. CDA contracts with the Department of Defense to provide cutting-edge tools in the ongoing war against chemical and biological weapons. Yes, we have ties to the government. But we don’t work for them. As such, we’re not subject to a lot of the regulations and restrictions placed on their agencies.”
    “And that allows you to do what?”
    “That allows us to kick some ass.” That was our driver, flashing hard eyes in the mirror and shaking out a shock of red curl. “We spend a lot of money and take a lot of chances that taxpayers might not like. But we do it because we have to, and we get results.”
    Brazile snapped open a case she had by her feet and took out a small black-and-yellow device about a foot long by six inches wide.
    “Know what this is?”
    “Looks like a controller for an Xbox.”
    “It’s called a Ceeker. It’s highly classified. In fact, there are only a handful of them available in the world.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “Up until recently, identifying a pathogen required the collection of samples that were ferried back to the lab for analysis. The Ceeker uses wavelengths of light and a special algorithm to identify the presence of anthrax within minutes. It’s handheld, operates on batteries, and can be used by any first responder.”
    “How come I’ve never heard of it?”
    “No one hears much about the war on bioweapons,” Brazile said. “Too scary.”
    “How accurate is it?”
    “Ninety-nine percent. At least in the lab.”
    “How about in real life?”
    We rolled up to the Blue Line L stop at Clinton.
    “This will be the first time it’s ever been used in the field,” Brazile said.
    “Great. But my point is still a valid one. If the Ceeker tells you this stuff is hot, then what? People still die.”
    Molly Carrolton slipped the van into park and turned. “That’s where the cases in the back come in.”
    I looked behind me. “What’s in there?”
    Brazile popped open her door. “Ever heard of carbon nanotubes, Mr. Kelly?”
    “No.”
    “All right, then. You have a lot to learn. Let’s get suited up.”

CHAPTER 8
    The upper level of the Clinton L station looked entirely normal, save for the fact it was entirely empty. We walked down the stairs and onto the platform, crowded with gear and divided by a series of opaque plastic curtains. Brazile disappeared through the first set without a word. I moved to follow, but Carrolton held up a hand.
    “Got to put our suits on first.” Carrolton popped the seal on an aluminum case and pulled out what looked like a space suit. “This is an NBC suit.”
    “Nuclear, biological, and chemical?”
    “Very good. It’s state of the art and will protect you against any airborne pathogens up to .011 microns in size.”
    “Means nothing to me.”
    “Just put it on. It has its own respirator, and a comm system so we can talk to each other.”
    Carrolton began to climb into her suit. I did the same.
    “How far are we from where the pathogen was detected?” I said.
    “Half a mile.”
    I stopped putting on my suit. “Call me crazy, but shouldn’t we have put these on before we got down here?”
    Carrolton pulled out a helmet with a tinted visor and handed it to me.
    “The platform and stairwell have already been swept for pathogens. Once we determined them to be clean, we set up what amounts to a negative pressure room along the tracks starting here and extending in both directions.”
    “Ever done that before in a subway?”
    “We’ve never done any of this before. The restricted area starts just beyond the last set of partitions. The air is scrubbed by a HEPA filtration system, and the environment is constantly monitored for leaks.”
    Carrolton slipped on her helmet and then showed me how to put mine on. I found a pocket along the thigh and zipped my gun into it.
    “There are two buttons on your