Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“To me, narrowing down what could be causing these deaths was really a matter of putting together the body’s response to the toxin, if it was venom or a chemically introduced poison. There was evidence that this venom was able to bind to a human protein. That’s a very bad thing.”
“Completely off subject, Harlow, but I find you the most extraordinary, intriguing, amazing woman when you talk like that,” Wilder said, his voice sincere. “And you’re going to have to explain to me exactly what that means,” he added. “Unlike Rainier, my doctorate is in mathematics, not medicine. I’m going to have to really work to keep up with you.”
Color swept up her neck into her face. She’d been called hot many times in her life by various men, but none of them sounded sincere and admiring the way Wilder did when he told her she was amazing and intriguing. She knew he was very intelligent, but he made it sound as if he had to really reach to match her.
“It means,” Rainier answered, “that the result of the toxin binding to the protein is a permanent open state, so it is continually firing.”
“You’ve lost me,” Wilder said.
“Channels transmit electrical signals,” Harlow explained. “They are designed to switch off quickly. And they need to do that in order to be ready for the next response.”
“What made you think the toxin was binding to a protein?” Wilder asked.
“The responses in the victims,” Harlow said. “If the nerves are in a hyperactive state and keep firing, that would produce sweating, excessive muscle tension, more saliva, all of which I observed. But then, once the neurotransmitter reserves are exhausted, the exact opposite occurs. Everything begins to shut down.”
“Holy shit, Harlow. There you go again. I can’t imagine how I managed to get you to even look my way. Believe me, mon rêve, I know how lucky I am.”
“That would lead to,” Rainier continued, completely ignoring Wilder’s ravings about Harlow, “things like systemic effects on the cardiovascular system, the heart and pulmonary edema. I noticed you didn’t call me amazing. Or even intriguing.”
“You aren’t nearly as hot as she is when she’s throwing out information,” Wilder defended. “And I definitely don’t find you intriguing.”
“I beg to differ,” Rainier said. “Shabina finds me incredibly hot when I’m answering her questions. I haven’t asked, but more than likely she thinks I’m intriguing.”
“We’re having a very serious conversation,” Harlow reprimanded, doing her best not to laugh. It was a serious subject, but the two men were veering far off topic. “Stay focused. We need to figure this out.”
“I’m following,” Wilder assured.
“All of the symptoms Rainier mentioned would be lethal to a human being if there is nothing to reverse them.” Harlow decided it was best to ignore the exchange between the two men and get them back on track.
“Why weren’t the experts looking for the cause of the toxin?” Wilder asked. “If they’re here for that express purpose, wouldn’t they want to know what they’re dealing with?”
“In cases like this,” Rainier explained, “they want to rule out a new disease. Chemical warfare, if you would. Sadly, we both know many countries weaponize viruses. Viruses escape from labs or are deliberately tested in populations, quite often in small towns or remote villages. Before anything else, it would be imperative to exclude that possibility to ensure they don’t have to quarantine the entire town, which they would if this were a new disease.”
“Is that a possibility with the symptoms you described?” Wilder persisted. “A toxin binding to a protein? Is that seen in diseases?”
“Yes,” Harlow answered. “Anthrax, botulism, ricin poisoning.”
“Cholera, diphtheria, and,” Rainier continued, “things such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, even Alzheimer’s. The list goes on and on. That’s why the team would come in and look to see if a new or even one of the older diseases is causing these sudden, unexplained deaths.”
Wilder brought Harlow’s knuckles to his mouth almost absently, clearly thinking over the information they’d both disclosed to him. She instantly became aware of him, of the closeness and warmth of his body, and the feeling of safety she’d never had until he came into her life.
It meant everything that he listened to her. That he seemed to respect her opinion and encouraged her to tell him what she thought. Mostly, she loved that he listened to her.
“Neither of you believes it’s a new disease?”
“I don’t,” Harlow admitted. “Watching Lawyer’s body shut down was agonizing and very much in keeping with the way a toxin would work if it had a component that attacked the system the way we’ve described.”
“If that’s the case, that it isn’t a disease,” Wilder said, “what do you think is causing it?”
“It has to be a venomous reptile or insect of some kind,” Rainier said, his voice thoughtful. “But we’re back at the same problem of where did it go? Outdoors, whatever it is might get away easily without being discovered, but indoors or in a car, that wouldn’t be probable.”