Chapter Seven

The Antidote

Burgess and Ruzek pulled up outside a rather anonymous building in the city of Chicago. At a small sign next to the entrance the acronym CDC could be read.

Will Halstead and the doctor who'd aided them when the city was under attack by the crazed Doctor Seldon stood in the lobby, waiting for them.

"Will, Doctor Danover," Kim said softly.

"Please call me Andrea," she said with a smile. "You are members of the CPD Intelligence team. I remember you from that horrible flesh-eating bacteria incident."

"Yeah," Adam beamed. "It was a good collaboration."

"It is good to meet you again but I wish it were under better circumstances," Kim replied seriously. "We understand that you have something to show us?"

"Yes," Danover said and motioned for them to come with her. "This way."

"This is one of the smaller research facilities CDC has utilized here in Chicago," Will explained as they waited for the elevator to arrive. "Andrea and her team were in the neighborhood and heard that we needed some help."

"We can't thank you enough for that," Kevin said.

"We struck gold, as a colleague of mine would say," Doctor Danvers said. "We are currently in the process of studying South American snake venoms. It is a joint adventure where we collaborate with the American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA. "Will handed us a sample from Gaffney to work with and we were able to isolate several markers of the pit-viper venom."

They exited the elevator and walked into a large laboratory. A burly black man stepped away from a computer-aided microscope and greeted them with a smile and a strong handshake.

"Welcome, I am Miller Jones, expert on snake venoms from South America," he introduced himself.

"Officer Kim Burgess, my colleague Officer Adam Ruzek," she replied. "CPD Intelligence Unit."

"A pleasure," he replied charmingly. "I am delighted to be brought such rare gifts. It's not everyday someone manages to mix such a potent cocktail."

"I am sure it is marvelous," Kim said curtly. "I mean no disrespect but one of the victims was our superior officer."

Miller Jones's smile grew even bigger. "So, if I could kindly get to point?" He nodded. "Fair enough. But just so you understand, the ecosystem and geography of South America makes it a biodiversity hotspot. Around 3,600 snake species inhabit South America, 375 of which are venomous."

Ruzek let out a low whistle.

"Now, the pit-viper venom is only part of this substance. It also consists of a very rare plant, which is isolated to a smaller area deep within the jungle of the Mexican plateau, and some local herbs," Miller Jones explained.

"A friend of a friend works as an archeologist," Doctor Danvers explained. "She's currently in South America, not in that area, but she knew enough to point us to an old excavation site from the 1930s."

"Wow, I am beginning to feel Indiana Jones vibes," Adam said in awe.

"We should thank our lucky star that the plants only grow under special conditions and that its existence was recorded by the missionaries Emily and Kenny Suissman."

Adam harrumphed. "So, does that mean that you can produce a counteragent or an antidote?" he asked hopefully.

"The good news is that we don't need too," Andrea explained. "The doctors at Gaffney has got our report. They are able to counteract the lingering effects with a cocktail of medications."

"Sergeant Voight has already been given a dose of it," Will assured them. "However, that doesn't mean he can leave the hospital within the hour."

Adam laughed. "Who's going to be the one to tell him that?"

OOOOOO

Desk Sergeant Trudy Platt straightened in surprise as Commander Carreira walked into the 21th precinct. "Sir?" she said curtly. "What can I do for you?"

"I am here to visit Intelligence," he replied with a nod towards the sealed off area upstairs.

"The office is empty except for Officer Atwater," Platt informed.

"Then he'll be the messenger," the commander said. "You'd better hear this as well."

Platt made a face and rounded the desk to walk him upstairs.

Kevin glanced at the entrance and abruptly stopped typing on the keyboard as he noticed who came his way. "Commander Carreira, Sergeant Platt," he acknowledged. "I am afraid I am the only one present at the moment."

Carreira nodded. "Sergeant Platt told me so," he replied. "I was in the neighborhood and decided to swing by and talk to the team in person. You and Platt will have to be my messengers. I am going to be straight with you. The brass is concerned about the late bombings which has occurred across the city."

Kevin nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, some crazy guy has been targeting old folk's homes, a veteran clinic. He even blew up the orthopedic ward at Lakeshore Hospital."

Carreira snorted. "How do you know it's a he?" he pushed sternly.

"I guess I don't, sir," Atwater replied.

"That bomb going off at Lakeshore Memorial Hospital yesterday was the final straw," the commander informed. "Media is going crazy, the public is going crazy, the staff at Lakeshore refuse to go back to work until the CPD has found the culprit."

"With all due respect, commander. I don't see what we can do about it? From what I understand several other divisions are working around the clock."

Carreira nodded. "I had the Homicide division drop their other cases after the Lakeshore bombing but-," he paused and made a face. "-it is a delicate matter and we need to see some results and soon. Intelligence supposedly wrapped the Dark Demon Cult case earlier this week."

Platt crossed her arms over her chest, looking annoyed as she fixed her commanding officer with a cold glare. "Commander," she protested. "Sergeant Voight is at the hospital following an attack on nine innocent people. The team is working to come up with the who and the why."

He looked at her impatiently.

"I am just saying that Homicide won't like being pulled off the case, especially with Voight out for the count."

Carreira huffed. "Voight is never 'out for the count'. I called Gaffney earlier. Sharon Goodwin says that the lab has had a breakthrough concerning the composition of the venom and that some sort of countermeasures was to be given within hours. Knowing Voight, I fully expect him to be here tomorrow. That's how long Homicide has to solve this on their own."

Atwater and Platt shared a dark look as the commander stormed off.

OOOOOO

"Back already?" Atwater stated. "It felt like you just left."

Jay smirked as he sat down at his desk while Hailey did the same across him.

"So, you haven't missed us even a little?" Hailey asked and then added in a teasing voice. "You kind of hurt our feelings."

Kevin chuckled. "How did it go?"

"Crazy SOB practically admitted the cult is behind the whole thing," Jay let on.

"Huh," Kevin grunted. "So, Professor Franklin was right about the 'ideology-lives-on' thing?"

Jay and Hailey shared a glance.

"What does that mean?" Kevin pushed. "Is Dale Rogers their new leader?"

Silence settled over the small group for a moment.

"Look, Commander Carreira was up here while you were gone," Kevin informed. "He wasn't a happy camper. Said we should get ready to take over the bombing investigation from Homicide as soon as the boss got back on his feet."

"Speaking of Voight," Jay began. "Have you heard anything from Kim or Adam?"

Kevin shook his head. "Nope. But Platt drove off to the hospital. Should I call her for an update?"

Jay's head whipped around as the door to the garage opened and the missing duo walked in. "Hold off on that for a second," he said.

"Good news everyone," Kim said softly with a smile. "The CDC knows what that poison consisted of. Sarge and the rest of the victims are given counteragents as we speak."

A collective sigh could be heard across the bullpen.

"However, your brother cautioned us that it wouldn't be a quick fix," Adam added seriously.

"Then he should be the one telling Voight that," Jay replied smartly.

"While we were there, we may have gotten some interesting intel," Adam said and looked from Hailey to Jay. "You said Morgan confessed? That the cult was responsible?"

"Yeah, some sort of retribution most likely," Jay stated. "I don't understand why he sold out Dale Rogers just like that?"

"He didn't know the camera worked," Kevin spoke up. "Morgan don't know that we know Dale Rogers is the one who brought everyone into the elevator. He doesn't know that we can link him to the cult."

"What kind of intel?" Hailey asked curiously.

"Doctor Danvers said a part of the poison found in the bloodwork of the victims came from a very rare plant that grows only in the deep jungles of South America," Adam explained. "She said we should thank Emily and Kenny Suissman, the missionaries who found it in the 1930s."

"Wow," Kevin called out excitedly as he stared at his screen. "Emily and Kenny Suissman had a daughter named Edemia Suissman. She married an archaeologist called Bradly Rogers. But judging by the look on your face, you already knew that."

Hailey leaned forward in her chair. "Rogers, huh?"

"Edemia Rogers," Adam mused. "Dale Rogers."

"Any family ties?" Jay asked.

"So far, Dale Rogers family tree is sketchy at best," Adam returned. "I haven't had time to delve into it but think about it? Emily Suissman finds this rare plant in the jungle. Eighty-five-years later her relative uses it to poison people in Chicago. The leader of a mysterious cult who worships 'the dark side' claims responsibility. For all we know the Dark Demon Cult might be loosely based on what the Suissmans found in Mexico. Maybe they even started the cult in the first place?"

"For all we know, Edemia Rogers and Dale Rogers might not be related at all," Kim reminded him.

"Adam," Jay said. "Get on to that, make it top priority, see what you can find."

OOOOOO

To be continued