The Beginning of the End (Book 1): Toward the Brink

by Craig A. McDonough

  “Yes, he’s with a patient just over there.” She pointed to the drawn curtains nearest her.

  Bronden thanked the nurse before moving off to see Dr. Morrisey.

  “One more thing,” the counter nurse said. “At least ten patients have died so far.”

  # # #

  “Doctor, we need to speak!” Nurse Bronden flung the curtains back.

  Dr. Morrisey wheeled around. He was prepared to rip the intruder a new one until he saw RN Bronden holding the curtain back.

  “You’re damn right we need to talk. You take care of that, okay?” Morrisey said to the assisting nurse.

  Morrisey and Bronden strode to the back garden where staff would eat under the shade of the tall trees during the good weather. The weather today was good, but there wouldn’t be any time for eating. Not today and probably never again.

  “Where have you been? I’ve tried calling several times,” the doctor began as soon as they stepped outside.

  “I got the call from the hospital less than an hour ago and came straight in. I had no calls from you.”

  “I called your cell.”

  “That thing hasn’t worked properly since I dropped it. Anyway, have you informed Mr. Lang?”

  “No, not yet. I wanted to speak with you first.”

  “Why? Why would you wait? The nurse just told me that ten patients have died since they started coming in, and …”

  “Thirteen.”

  “What? Look at all the people out there. This could develop into an epidemic!” Bronden brought a trembling hand to her mouth. “We can’t keep covering it up now. We don’t know who is responsible, but we have to let the authorities know.”

  She paused a moment as her last inference sunk in on her as much as the doctor.

  “My God.” Bronden stared straight ahead as if a ghost had just revealed its presence to her. “What if this is happening across the whole country?”

  “It’s not,” Morrisey said.

  “What?” She turned back to face her ‘cloak and dagger’ colleague. “How do you know?”

  “I called around to other hospitals. It’s only occurring here in Idaho.”

  “You had time to call other hospitals but not enough time to inform Lang?”

  “That man scares me,” he finally admitted.

  “And people vomiting green sludge doesn’t?”

  The doctor had no answer. He was guilty as charged.

  “What the hell is that racket?” Morrisey heard the yelling coming from Filer Avenue.

  “A demonstration against Baer and the hormone. Their website said they had information from an ‘inside source’ about the amount of sick people. It even mentioned the birth defects.”

  “What, how? No one knew about them outside of the select staff!”

  “I assume it was that damn young nurse. I should have kept a closer eye on her, but that’s all moot now.”

  Bronden took charge, taking Morrisey’s cell phone. She would place the call to Mr. Lang that the doctor should have done long ago. Wretched lazy man! She would also call the CDC. There would have to be a quarantine placed on the center.

  “Get back to the ER, Doctor.”

  # # #

  “Mr. Lang.” Langlie used his alternate name when he answered the red cell phone. “Yes, Miss Bronden, what can I do for you?” he said after the caller identified herself.

  Bronden informed him of the disaster unfolding at the medical center.

  “Is that so? Well, that’s disappointing isn’t it?” Langlie’s less-than-surprised response told his caller that he obviously had prior knowledge.

  “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

  Langlie heard the distaste in her voice.

  “Yes, I was informed earlier that a few individuals had returned to the center with symptoms that …”

  “A FEW INDIVIDUALS?” Bronden yelled. “Are you crazy? We’ve got hundreds of patients in here and thirteen dead at last count. Thirteen, Mr. Lang, or whatever your name is. I’ve covered up a lot, but no amount of money will cover up murder!”

  Langlie’s demeanor changed now that he realized the full extent of the situation. There was a long pause before he finally said to his informant, “Thank you, Nurse. Thank you very much for that information. You won’t be forgotten about, I promise you.”

  He wouldn’t forget about her at all. In fact, she would be a priority now that she had ceased being of any use. Langlie ended the call without giving the nurse a chance to say anything more. He made a series of phone calls immediately.

  “Doug? Get the plane ready. We’ll be leaving soon,” was the first call.

  “Sir, the walls are coming down around us. It won’t be long before even your highest friends abandon you. We have no choice. It’s time to leave,” was the second.

  For his third call, he retrieved yet another cell from the top drawer of his desk. After connecting this to an encryption device, he made the call. “You on the scrambler?”

  On receiving confirmation, he continued. “The job I mentioned; it’s a go.”

  A pause.

  “Yes, their names are Doctor Morrisey and Nurse Bronden at Filer Avenue Medical Center … and don’t forget the movers.”

  Langlie stood and looked around the lavish office he had built in his home. It would be a shame to burn this down, but burn it he would.

  # # #

  Elliot bought a couple of sodas and handed one to Cindy while they watched the demonstration go by.

  “From the time my mom got sick, I’ve avoided anything with potato—especially fries. You know, my mom never lied. She saw it firsthand.”

  “Saw what exactly, Elliot?”

  Elliot’s answer had to wait as he was interrupted by sirens from several police cars.

  “That’s coming from the street behind us. Let’s go take a look!” Elliot grabbed Cindy by the hand and headed for Fillmore Street, getting there just in time to see three police cars escorting a series of Army Humvees down Fillmore toward Filer Avenue.

  “Why would the Army be called, Elliot?”

  “I think it would be the National Guard, and they were medical teams,” Elliot said. “Only the governor can call in the National Guard.”

  “Where would they be going, Elliot?”

  Elliot stood for a moment, watching the convoy as it disappeared toward Filer Avenue. “The medical center,” he pointed. “Let’s go!”

  While Elliot and Cindy raced down Fillmore, advance teams of protesters notified the main body that three police cars and Army Humvees had arrived at the medical center. The demonstration picked up a gear as they were flagged on by organizers.

  “To the medical center, get to the medical center,” came the call over the bullhorn.

  # # #

  Everyone was advancing on the medical center on Filer Avenue in Twin Falls: police, Army, a thousand protesters, and high school sweethearts Elliot Goodwin and Cindy Baker. Unknown to all parties, there was another who had his sights set on the medical center: Langlie’s man.

  # # #

  Langlie had just completed pouring accelerant around the interior of his house when one of his many cell phones sprang to life. He knew who was calling by the color of the phone. This time, the black cell phone was ringing. He thought black was an appropriate color for an executioner.

  “What’s the problem?”

  “Sir, there may be some difficulty in getting into the medical center.”

  “Explain.”

  “Sir, several Army vehicles and local police arrived moments ago. They know something is up, I’m sure. There’s an anti-growth hormone demonstration taking place on Filer Avenue, and they’ve caught wind of the military’s presence here. They’re moving on the center as we speak.”

  “Okay, you best not get caught in that mess. We’ll just have to trust the disease takes care of our two problems for us. Go supervise the clean out of the main office and take care of any potential problems as you see fit.”

 
“Yes, sir. Will you be …”

  Langlie ended the call. Like his boss, he didn’t entertain underlings.

  He made an urgent call to Phillip Baer. Things were getting desperate—he could sense it.

  “Phillip, we’re going to have to move things forward. We’ll have to take a small plane to British Columbia. We can leave from there. The second Baer jet is already in Canada, and I can have it redirected. Things are moving too fast; it will be only a matter of time before the authorities come looking for us,” he said.

  “Why can’t we leave from here?” Baer asked. ‘Here’ meaning taking one of the company’s private jets.

  “We won’t be able to get a flight plan put together in time and besides, it looks certain that all international flights, including private jets, are to be grounded. We have to leave right away, sir. We’ll have to drive to Canada then make our way to the nearest airport that can accommodate our plane. There is a little risk involved, I won’t lie to you on that, but if we stay—the risk will be far greater.”

  # # #

  Elliot moved along at quite a pace. He could have sprinted the entire distance without question, but not with Cindy in tow. She wasn’t dressed for it either. Not in those shoes. As they entered the medical center’s public parking lot, a covered “deuce and a half” of the National Guard pulled up at the side of the center. Elliot watched intently as five or six soldiers exited from the rear of the “deuce,” forming up in a loose group. An Army medical captain, who had arrived in a Humvee, went directly over to address the group and its driver. Elliot sensed the situation was serious by the pensive look of the captain, but when the enlisted men began squeezing their hands into latex gloves and pulling surgical masks over their faces, he figured that whatever was the problem, it was obviously contagious.

  “Stay here, Cindy. I’m going to ask the officer what’s wrong,” Elliot said.

  He wanted to find out what was going on for sure, especially if it concerned the growth hormone, but if the issue inside the center was communicable, then he wanted to protect his girl from it.

  I’m already thinking of her as my girl again. He smiled.

  “Sir,” he marched up to the captain, “my name is Elliot Goodwin and …”

  “Just hold it right there, son!” the captain ordered.

  The soldiers each brought expandable batons out from holsters in a single move. The metal clicking the batons made sounded like a collection of bolt action rifles slamming another round into the chamber.

  “Easy does it. Easy.” The captain raised a hand to the soldiers.

  This was Elliot’s chance. He took a breath then started again.

  “Sir, I’m Elliot Goodwin. I just completed basic at Fort Sill, sir,” he lied, hoping the captain would listen to a “fellow” soldier. “My mom used to be a nurse here at the clinic. I think I know what the cause of the problem is.”

  “Oh, you do, Elliot Goodwin whose mother used to be a nurse here? Well, that’s just fuckin’ great, but y’see, there’s a slight problem with that, Elliot Goodwin.”

  “What would that be, sir?”

  “We don’t even know what the fuckin’ problem is yet!”

  Elliot didn’t flinch. He’d half-expected a response such as this. The group of enlisted men cracked up with laughter.

  “I’m just trying to help, sir!”

  “Boy, why don’t you grab your pretty little girlfriend and get the fuck out of my sight?” The captain then spat on the ground. “I think we can handle this.”

  Elliot didn’t want to leave like a mangy dog dragging its tail between its legs, but he couldn’t think of anything to say that would redeem himself. As he walked away, the clang of the ER staff door caught his attention.

  “Officer, officer, come quick. We need your help now!” A nurse stood at the open door and pleaded.

  “All right, men, let’s double time it,” the captain said. He turned to Elliot. “And you better be gone when I come back!”

  Elliot stood and watched as the captain caught up with his men and entered the medical center. He turned to Cindy and shrugged; just then a scream from inside the medical center put him on instant alert.

  “What’s happening, Elliot? Who’s screaming?” Cindy yelled.

  “I don’t know. Stay here. I’ll …” Sharp reports of gunfire from inside interrupted him.

  “Fuck it!” Elliot rushed to the staff door. He yanked hard on the handle, but there was no give.

  “Open the door, damn you. Open the …”

  Another shot rang out. Elliot dropped to the ground instinctively.

  “Get down, Cindy. Get down!”

  He raised himself up and peeked through the reinforced glass in the top half of the door when Cindy called out from behind.

  “Elliot, why is all the shooting …”

  Cindy stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes stared in shock above Elliot’s head. Elliot felt a forceful impact from the other side of the door. A rush of air burst from Elliot’s lungs when he looked up and saw the bloodied face of the Army captain squashed flat against the door’s window.

  “Don’t let them out, don’t let them …” The captain mumbled his last words of warning before he was pulled down from behind.

  Five

  It took Elliot a moment or two to come to his senses. “We have get out of here, Cindy. Where’s your cellphone?”

  “It’s back in the car; I didn’t think of it, Elliot. I’m sorry.” She started sobbing, and Elliot put his arms around her and held her.

  “It’s all right, neither of us were expecting this to happen.” It felt good to hold her again. He had missed her. Whatever this mess is about, maybe it will bring us back together.

  “The demonstration, Elliot.” She pulled back. “There were police officers on duty there!”

  “Yes, you’re right but …” Elliot put a hand to his chin.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “The demonstration was headed here, wasn’t it? It will be chaos with all those people. We have to stop them.” He paused for a moment as he hatched his plan. “You tell the cops you heard shots fired from inside medical center, and I’ll grab the rally organizer. Let’s hope I can talk some sense into him!”

  # # #

  Four stern-looking men in dark suits marched into the offices of Baer Industries in Twin Falls as Elliot and Cindy rushed to stop the police and protesters in time.

  “FBI; could I have everyone’s attention?” the tallest one of the four said.

  The entire staff of the upper office floor stopped what they were doing instantly.

  “We have a warrant here to search the premises, and to do so without interruption, the office will be closed for the next two days.”

  A murmur resonated through the office as employees stood at their office cubicles and questioned each other over what was taking place.

  “Everybody please, please.” The tall Fed waved his arms. “Your questions will be answered in good time, but for now, you must take what personal belongings you have and exit the building through the front doors. Thank you.”

  “And all computers, including laptops, are to remain in the building,” another sour-faced Fed added.

  The tall Fed had turned his attention to the door of a private office behind the detectives when it opened. A thin, gawkish-looking man in his forties balancing oversized, thick-rimmed glasses on his nose appeared.

  “What’s this about?” Paul Dennard demanded. “Who are you people?”

  “We’re from the FBI, sir. We have a warrant to search these premises.”

  “Search? Search for what?”

  “Sir, can we talk in your office please?” the Tall Man said.

  “You can’t just come in here and—”

  “Sir, please … in your office?”

  The staff reluctantly gathered their belongings and were ushered out the doors by the three remaining Feds as the taller one escorted Dennard back into his office.

  “Are you g
oing to tell me what the fuck is going on here, Detective?” Dennard didn’t swear often, but when he did, it meant he was really pissed.

  The “detective” put an index finger to his lips, asking for silence as he withdrew a cell phone from his jacket pocket with the other. He tapped in a number and waited a moment for the other end to answer.

  “Sir, everything has been taken care of,” he said into the phone. He looked at Dennard as he listened to the reply. “Yes, sir, I’m with him now. Yes, sir.”

  He handed the phone over. “Mr. Langlie wants to speak with you.”

  “What did you …? Give me that!” He snatched at the phone.

  “Langlie, did you alert the FBI to this?”

  “Take it easy. They’re not FBI; they work for me. Let me spell it out just so you understand, okay? The disease has returned, only more aggressively. Deaths have been reported here in Twin Falls. Our supporters in the government, and especially the group, won’t help us now. We’re a sinking ship, and they’re keeping the life rafts for themselves.”

  Dennard swiped at the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead. His other hand searched for the edge of the desk to steady himself. The Tall Man wheeled an office chair over for him to sit on.

  “Dennard, are you there?” Langlie asked.

  “Yes, yes, I’m sorry. It’s just … I modified the hormone to prevent this, and people were becoming accustomed to it, and we hadn’t had an illness for months.”

  “Never mind all that. There is no point in discussing it. We have to move, and we have to do it now.”

  Langlie explained his plan by which they, along with Baer and a handful of other execs, could escape with a sizeable fortune. “You have to get to this airport in Canada by noon tomorrow, and I don’t need to mention that you can’t tell anyone you’re going, and that includes your wife!”

  The enormity of the problem hit Dennard hard, but he couldn’t for a moment imagine leaving his wife behind.

  “I could not possibly leave without my wife. We’ve been inseparable. Besides, she knows exactly what it is I do here and supports me every step of the way.”

  Langlie received the true answer he sought, one he’d more than half-expected.

  “Do you want to spend the next twenty-five years in maximum security prison? Because we will be charged with multiple murders, make no mistake of that!”