It was no easy matter to reach Section 10. The bioweapons lab was deep underground and a code was required for a separate lift that went only to that floor. Anticipating the question, Bell said, "Four people have the code to operate this lift. There is myself, of course, General Forrest here, Dr Roger Maitland, and Jamie Todd. Dr Maitland is an epidemiologist, that's the study of how diseases spread and how to stop or control them. Brilliant man, worked all over the world wherever there was an epidemic."
"And Jamie Todd?" asked Bodie. "What does he do?"
"She. Miss Todd is a microbiologist. She's a specialist in the manipulation of microscopic organisms." Bell frowned. "She's also rather outspoken about the use of animals in research."
"She's chosen a strange profession," said Doyle.
"Miss Todd's work has always been exemplary," countered Bell. "And her concern about the animals is a recent development." He hesitated, then went on. "In fact, I never knew her to voice any problems with our methods until she began working on the Queller."
Doyle's eyebrows went up. "That is interesting." He looked at Bodie. "She sounds like a good person to start with." His partner nodded.
The lift stopped but the doors remained shut until Forrest entered another code, causing them to slide open on a white corridor. The general exited first, waving a hand. "Welcome to Section 10."
Every door was locked with a keypad, and the last door, the actual bioweapons lab, required both a code and a key. "How many people have a key to this door?" asked Bodie.
"Only the four," said Bell. He held up a key bristling with oddly angled protruberances. "It's a Chubb key, impossible to replicate, and the lock itself is supposed to be unpickable. A code is required to open the door, but the keypad doesn't work until it's released by the key." He inserted the key into the keypad and turned it.
"Half a minute," said Bodie. "Don't we need masks?"
The doctor sighed with the manner of a long-suffering adult dealing with a backward child. "No, Mr Bodie, in this instance masks are not necessary. The lab is serviced by a closed air system that scrubs and then recirculates the air. If the Queller had been loose in there, it would have died hours ago. And no mask in the world would protect you from the Queller, not even a gas mask, which only filters out contaminants. The Queller has been refined to such a small diameter that only a sealed device like a scuba breathing apparatus would keep it out."
"Wonderful," said Doyle, heavily sarcastic.
"A bioweapon that can be filtered out by a mask is not very useful," said the general coldly. He punched in the code on the keypad and the door, a massive steel affair, swung slowly open. The bioweapons lab was lined with shelves holding cages of mice. In the center of the floor, a long table was covered with microscopes, centrifuges, Bunsen burners, and a row of test tubes.
"This is where you stored the Queller?" asked Doyle.
"Right here in this cupboard," answered Bell. He opened the door to a built-in steel cupboard. "There were a number of infectious agents undergoing testing but after the break-in I moved them all to the vault."
"You mean you just keep all those germs in a cupboard?" Bodie shook his head in disbelief.
Forrest snapped, "That's where we've kept them for the past ten years and they've always been perfectly safe. You've seen how difficult it is to access this lab."
"Then you should be able to see one of your own people must have been in on the theft!" Doyle was thoroughly exasperated. "If only four people could get in here, those are the only possible suspects."
Forrest's voice acquired a dangerous edge. "Are you accusing me?"
"Frankly, sir, I would be highly suspicious of you if you didn't see that you are a suspect." Doyle squared up to the general. "We've seen your place. Now you and the good doctor are going back to our place."