Mitch leaned back in the wheeled office chair and remained silent as Jackson and Chloe explained to Amelia Sage and her team how they had fortuitously discovered the continued existence of the leopard and brought it back to the States. They informed them that they kept it a secret to stave off any potential interference from Reiden Global. The room fell silent as Jackson played the recording of Mitch's experiment.
"It's edited," Sage's advisor noted.
"Yes," Chloe said, "we had to redact it to protect the privacy of a person who was there. We did not alter anything about the creation of the cure or the test."
"For security purposes, we're going to need to know the identity of everyone who was present," Amelia informed them.
"That's not going to happen," Mitch spoke up at last. "We've been screwed too many times by people we thought were on our side who turned out to be on Reiden's payroll."
"Dr. Morgan, I promise you that I have no interest in helping Reiden Global. If this works, you and your friends are going to be heroes."
"How about this," Jackson offered, "test it yourself. Then once the distribution has begun, so we know that we have your full protection, we'll tell you who our friend is. Fair enough, Mitch?"
"Sure," Mitch waved dismissively. In reality he wasn't planning on telling anyone anything until Jamie finished her story. She was quite close to finishing, however, and the test would take a little time. The government doesn't do anything in a hurry, he reasoned.
"Do you have any serum remaining?" Sage asked.
Mitch nodded. "Yeah, about two more doses." He slid the vial across the table to her.
"Ok," she said. "We'll begin the test immediately and we'll be in touch. If it works the way it did in that video, we can begin replicating and disseminating it as early as tomorrow."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How did it go?" Jamie asked as Mitch walked in the door.
"We'll know soon enough. They're testing it already."
"Wow."
"I know, right? Who knew anything involving the government could be done in a reasonable time frame?" His voice failed to hide his concern.
"Don't be nervous," she comforted him. "It works, you know it does."
"And then they're gonna want to know about you."
"Me?"
"They want to know who was edited out of the video."
"Damn, I should have stayed out of sight and silent."
"No, you were—hey, what happened there?" He pointed to the cracked kitchen window.
"Birds," Jamie said simply.
"What kind of birds?"
"The kind that fly. There's like a million different kinds of birds, Mitch."
"Actually, about 10,000."
"Great, well these were brown with black feet if it helps. Anyway they're gone now, but as bad as that crack is, if anything else hits it, it's done."
"Going to have to board it up," he said, half to himself. "Had to drive five miles out of my way thanks to coyotes."
"Well, the good news is," she patted the laptop, "I'm up to the plane crash. Almost done."
Mitch glanced at the screen on his ringing telephone then answered it. "Hey, Chloe….good, so what's next?...ok, are they going to come get him?...just a minute, you know what, let me call you back."
He drew in a deep breath and let it out.
"The test they did with the dose I gave them was a success. Now they want the leopard to try it themselves."
"So they're coming? How are they planning to use just one leopard to create enough cure for everyone?"
"I'm sure they'll clone some cells. They'll be here in about an hour. Listen, uh, Chloe really trusts this Sage lady and wants to tell her you're alive. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it's your call."
"By the time it makes it through all of the official channels to have me declared alive, I'll be ready to publish. So as long as this person truly isn't dirty, I'm fine with it."
A little over an hour later, Jamie stood outside the leopard's pen as two handlers sedated him and loaded him into a truck.
"You're not going to hurt him, right?"
"No, ma'am, he's gonna be the most pampered cat ever. He's a hero, too."
Nodding, she gave a half smile and went back into the house.
"So in just forty eight short hours, Jamie Campbell will be alive again," Mitch commented. "Chloe told them the whole story. They're working on an expedited passport so you have some ID."
"Yay! And I'll be publishing by then. I'm hoping to be finished by morning. Then I want you to read it, give me honest feedback."
She settled in to work on her manuscript, and indeed was occupied late into the night. Mitch sat in bed, doing a little research of his own on his iPad. It appeared that Virginia was where they needed to go. Yes, Virginia, nice and close, he thought. That would work beautifully.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
By noon the next day, they received word that all tests were successful. Distribution would begin immediately. Once the press got word of what exactly it was that the government was doing with those mosquitos, there would be no stopping the spread of the news.
Mitch sat reading the pages Jamie printed for him, offering comments here and there.
"I like what you did there. About Ray," he told her.
"Ray was certifiable, but he had a good heart. He really did care about the animals. He didn't deserve to die the way he did."
"That he didn't."
Soon he had read the paper in its entirety.
"So…anything to add? Constructive criticism?," she asked anxiously.
"Well, you could expound a little on the brave scientist's brilliant mind and dashing good looks, but other than that, perfect. What now?"
"Hmm?"
"Now that it's finished, what are you gonna do with it?"
"That's a really good question. My first inclination is to walk into the office at AP. But the Washington Post might be faster. It's a little long for a newspaper, though…"
"Not really my area of expertise, but I would go with the fastest route. It'll spread like wildfire anyway. Maybe concurrently talk to someone like 60 Minutes."
"That's not a bad idea," she agreed. "I won't lie, I'm still pretty pissed that they can't be held criminally liable."
"No, but they can tried in the court of public opinion."
"It's possible that civil action can be taken, too. Guess it depends on the wording of the deal they made with the government. Can you imagine the class-action suit?"
"I would very much like to imagine that," he responded honestly.
"First things first, I guess. I'm going to make copies for the others. I want to make sure everyone is happy with it. I can't believe it's almost over. Soon I can be me again."
"I see you're publishing as Jamie Campbell."
"It's ok, right?"
"Yeah, yeah Reiden won't touch you after that hits the papers. Everyone would know it was them. They'll have enough bad publicity to deal with without a Karen Silkwood on their hands. Ah, poor Clayton. He's in for a tough time," he couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. "Poor bastard'll never see it coming."
Jamie had the printer overheating by the time two more copies had been inked. The couple then set out to deliver them, one for Abe and one for Jackson and Chloe. If no one suggested any changes, she would go to the press the following day.
By early evening, they were called to a meeting with Amelia Sage's team. They were briefed on what was to happen and when, and Jamie was finally introduced to the woman she'd been hearing about for weeks. She was shocked to be presented with her new passport so quickly. The icing on the cake, however, was when Amelia assured her that Reiden's deal did not release them from civl liability; it merely protected them criminal charges and, through the gag orders, effectively squashed any evidence that could be used against them in a lawsuit. Jamie's lack of a gag order left her evidence on the table.
The rollout of the cure had begun in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C.. More cities would follow the next day as they spread across the country. Most of the European Union was on board as well, provided the initial U.S. rollout went well. Other nations would surely follow suit.
After the meeting, Chloe, Jackson, Abe and Jamie went to dinner. Mitch excused himself, giving a vague story about needing to run some errands. Jamie was mystified, but she trusted him, so she didn't question it any further. He was in an exceptionally good mood; whatever he was up to couldn't be too terrible, she figured.
Mitch drove around to three stores before he found one that was both open and had what he wanted. Satisfied with his purchase, he went to join the others at the restaurant for dessert. There were few eateries that remained open for business, but still the clientele was small. Most people simply did not venture out after dark anymore.
The group said their good nights and parted ways. Jamie was curious when Mitch steered the car in the opposite direction of their home.
"Where are we going?"
"Just someplace I want you to see."
They pulled up to the curb near a bar and Mitch cut the engine. "We're here."
"This should be interesting," Jamie mused.
As they entered, Mitch sauntered immediately over to examine the jukebox.
"Still no Soundgarden?" He smiled at the bartender.
"Hey, man," Dalton greeted him.
"Glad to see you're still here. And Bamba, too," he said as he scratched the pug's ears.
"I ain't going nowhere. Why you been such a stranger?"
"I was sitting here one night, pondering the crappy turn life had taken, and just like that," he snapped his fingers and pointed to Jamie, "I had a miracle just drop into my lap," Mitch answered. "How about a couple of beers, for old times sake."
Suddenly, she got it. She understood why this bar held significance for him. She chose the barstool next to his and sat.
Dalton set the beer on the counter and went about serving other customers.
Mitch looked at Jamie. "You're wondering why we're here," he acknowledged.
"This is where you were when I called."
"This very stool. I sat here every night for three months, perfecting the art of anesthetizing myself so I didn't have to feel the grief, or the rage, or the hopelessness or…or anything at all. And then in the blink of an eye everything changed. And there was hope and kindness and beauty in the world again. A new beginning, if you will."
"For me, too."
Mitch turned to Jamie with the same intensity in his gaze that overwhelmed her in that hospital lab what felt like a lifetime ago. "I've learned that life is very, very delicate and unpredictable. It can be insanely beautiful and brutally cruel at the same time. It's difficult to navigate on its best day. But it's much easier knowing that there's someone you can count on, someone who will always have your back. That one person makes the entire struggle worthwhile, gives it meaning and value."
He reached into his pocket and produced the ring. "I'm quite certain that you're that one person for me. And I'd like to be the one for you."
"You already are," her voice was barely a whisper.
"So let's get married. I'd be honored if you would be my wife."
She felt almost paralyzed by the weight of the moment, just as she had before; but this time there would be no bolting for the exit. She knew exactly what she wanted.
"I'd be honored to be your wife." She leaned in and kissed him lovingly. "So, yes."
They barely touched their beers. They simply wanted to take in the moment and each other.
"Anything else?" Dalton asked as he happened by.
"Maybe I should have ordered champagne. This amazing woman has agreed to marry me."
"She don't know what she's getting into," Dalton joked.
"Believe it or not, she does."
Jamie nodded. "It's true."
"Congrats! I hope it all works out for you."
"Well, Dalton, I want to thank you for putting up with me through an impossibly dark time. And don't worry, the thing with the animals is going to start getting better very soon and you won't have to protect the mutt from the quarantine centers."
"You know something I don't know?"
Mitch smiled. "Yep. And you'll see us again, on the news."