BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

white columns in ancient Greek ionic style. They, in turn, supported a massive granite portico. Jack climbed the flight of stairs quickly, reached a wide wooden door and pushed … The Harvard Medical School looked as impressive as its reputation merited.

Jack entered a spacious hallway decorated with old and new portraits of the pioneers of medical science. The receptionist, a young man in a dark jumper, welcomed him. Professor Park, the director of the BIG programme was ready to receive him. Jack apologised. He was a little early.

The young man stood up and accompanied him to the lifts at the back of the entrance hall. He flashed his ID card over an electronic eye and pressed floor six. Professor Park was waiting for him as he alighted, the tall Asian man sporting an intelligent smile and the expected narrow-rimmed glasses.

They shook hands and Professor Park lead the way. “Let’s get settled into my office.”

They exchanged a few casual words about Jack’s journey, the cold weather and the Boston Red Sox scores.

Jack settled himself onto a small sofa that occupied one of the corners of Professor Park’s office. He accepted a cup of coffee.

“So it’s bioinformatics that brings you here?” Professor Park sat down in the armchair across from Jack. He was drinking his coffee in small sips, cautiously and methodically.

Jack could not help but be impressed. The man must be in his mid-30s, without question much younger than Jack, and yet was running one of the most forward-looking programmes in Harward’s medical school.

“That’s right … or more precisely one of your former students in bioinformatics … Ollie Wilson.”

Jack had introduced himself as a member of the CIA. This was as much as he was prepared to disclose. It was not difficult to convince Professor Park that the agency was interested in the field, and looking for an above average candidate from one of its programmes to perhaps join their ranks.

“Ollie Wilson was by far one of our most promising students … an unusual blend of creativity and scientific precision. I am not surprised he chose to apply his mind to virology and immunology.”

Jack cocked his head. He had read the exhaustive summary that Laurie had compiled for him, but the topic of virology had not come up. “How so?”

“Applying bioinformatics to understanding viruses and their behaviours is critical to the development of drugs going forward. There is so much information to process when a new virus emerges, hypotheses about its mutations, its origin … it’s a perfect application for bioinformatics and Ollie was our first student to realise the potential.”

Jack leaned back into the sofa cushions and let Professor Park expand on the subject. He was without doubt thrilled about his student’s project himself, willing to explain in detail why it was so significant.

“So, you think international labs would fight to employ Ollie?”

For the first time, Jack sensed slight reservation.

“He is a brilliant brain.”

“But …” Jack placed his empty cup on the table at the side of his seat and waited.

Professor Park leaned forward elbows on knees, hands clasped loosely together. “Look … I think it’s a very personal matter to employ someone.”

“Professor Park, whatever it is that makes you cautious … I will easily find out elsewhere.”

The other man’s lips twitched a little. “I guess so …” he exhaled slowly. “Ollie had a problem with addiction.”

Jack frowned.

“Drugs …” Professor Park cleared his throat. “I know … because it was I who sent him to rehab.”

Chapter Ten

“Has everybody gone?” Cora closed Beth’s bedroom door and came over to sit next to Johnny on the old sofa. He laid his laptop on the coffee table, stretched an arm toward her and smiled.

“C’mon Da’ling … come and sit next to Uncle Johnny.”

Cora curled up into a tight ball against her friend’s lean body.

“They’ve all gone down to check on something …”

“That’s a little vague,” she murmured, but she didn’t mind. She was desperate to rest her brain, to take a step back and make sense of the past 24 hours.

“He really loves you a lot you know …” Johnny stroked Cora’s hair, flattening the spikes … She had not given a thought to gel this morning.

Cora was no longer sure she did know.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

Cora buried her head in the sofa cushions.

“Sorry … I shouldn’t be prodding. It’s all been very rough.” Johnny dropped his forehead against her back and they remained like that for a moment until they heard the sound of the door to the flat opening and voices coming through.

“I’ll fix you a cup of tea.” Charlie’s voice sounded concerned.

Cora turned away from Johnny to see who was being invited in rather than out of embarrassment.

“That would be very kind.” Cora recognised Nancy’s voice and jumped up from the couch, dashing to the hallway. Pole was there too. She heard him chatting to Charlie.

Nancy was a sight. Her jacket was stained with blood. Her hair had been roughly pinned back and her face bore a number of fresh cuts.

“Someone tried to enter your flat again.”

“I’m so sorry Nancy. I should never have got you involved.” Cora bit her lips to stop them from trembling.

“Nonsense … I’ve been through much worse.”

As she entered the lounge, Johnny leaped up and threw his arms in the air. “Nancy … how wonderful.” His arms stayed up for a moment, not certain whether they should embrace her or simply come down.

“Oh …” He simply said when he spotted the blood on her jacket. He moved to one of the sofas that created an L-shape with the one he had just vacated and invited Nancy to take the more comfortable seat.

“How kind.” Nancy walked over to the couch and lowered herself gingerly as though she needed to lessen the impact.

“Who were they?”

“We don’t know yet … the floor collapsed underneath one of them.” Nancy stopped. There was no need to let Cora have all the details of the fight.

“Did they find what they were looking for?”

“I don’t think so …