19. 19 #3
“We need to cover all of our bases, Agent Correa. If Dr. Hayes is required outside of the United States, we need to be prepared for that,” Deborah said simply.
Elias threw the contract to the center of the table. “Absolutely not.”
“You know as well as anyone that there is no room for negotiation here.” She looked at me next.
“Dr. Hayes, I can assure you that this is standard operating procedure. Your situation is rare, but you are not the first. Your responsibilities will be to the scientific community and to the general public.”
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” I asked, looking between Elias and Deborah. Elias’s mouth was pressed in a tight line.
“Of course you have a choice, Dr. Hayes,” she said, smiling. “And we are more than prepared to do everything in our power to help you make the correct one.”
A chill ran through me at the veiled threat.
“What is the compensation like?” Elias asked.
“Is that something you’re comfortable discussing with an audience, Dr. Hayes?
” Deborah asked. I nodded my head. “Very well. Base salary will start at 150,000, four weeks of paid leave, insurance, retirement plans, all very standard. You will receive stipends for your vehicle and home, and will be reimbursed for anything you need while traveling, as well as uniform and supply costs for your day-to-day work.”
“Any incentives?” Elias pushed.
“Major scientific discoveries, overtime beyond the scope of what is considered normal, and of course any special operations that she may be involved in.”
Elias exhaled with a huff. “I’m not happy with the last bit.”
“Fortunately, only Dr. Hayes needs to be happy with her contract,” she retorted.
“I’ll sign it,” I said.
Elias whipped his head around, staring at me.
“I don’t want to cause trouble. Taking the path of least resistance is easiest for everyone involved,” I said.
“I want it added in there that I’ll be traveling with her. As her security or partner, whatever is appropriate per the assignment.”
Deborah cocked her head, looking between us. “That is an interesting request that I’m sure the President will be happy to discuss.”
I wanted to stop him from talking, to tell him that I would be fine, but I didn’t really believe that, and I didn’t want to draw the wrong kind of attention.
Elias was garnering enough just fine on his own.
The last thing I wanted for him was to put his life or career on the line for me, he’d already done so much.
A knock on the door was followed by another member of the Secret Service.
“He’s ready for Agent Correa,” he said.
Elias stood, but not before warning me. “Do not sign anything until I’m back in this room.”
I nodded and watched him walk out of the room, Kenny in tow, unsure if I would heed his advice. No one spoke until he was gone.
Deborah leaned forward, collecting the contract from where it had been discarded. “We will worry about this later,” she said. “At this point I’d like your recollection of events.”
I took a deep breath and began at my discovery of the potential vaccine, and my desire to share it with Dr. Fassi, and how quickly that desire faded.
She inquired about potential signs or symptoms that he was infected that morning, but I didn’t have any information to offer her.
If there were signs, I wasn’t paying attention to them.
Describing Elias’s intervention, she stopped me to ask a few questions, scribbling wildly on a legal pad. I had questions of my own.
“Was Agent Correa’s objective to get me out of the building?” I asked. “I don’t want him to get in trouble for bringing me along.”
She smiled. “I’m sure you understand that I cannot discuss mission details, but securing the vaccine was of the utmost priority.
If Agent Correa felt that you were a necessary asset, then there should be no trouble.
Especially considering how important your work will be for us in the future, should you decide. ”
Satisfied with her response, I described the rest of our journey, leaving out the more intimate details. She was particularly interested in the basement and subbasement of Baker and Pryor, asking me to repeat several parts of my story as she took diligent notes.
Even if I could be useful, and they seemed pleased that I was kept alive, I doubted that sleeping with me would do Elias any favors. Though judging by his actions, it didn’t seem to matter to him what they knew. I could only hope that I was useful enough to keep him out of trouble.
“Ms. Maynard?” I asked.
“Yes?”
“Do you know what happened at the CIA building? How the virus infected the people there?” I didn’t have high hopes that she would give me a straight answer, but I just wanted to know anything I could.
“The person or persons responsible have been dealt with accordingly,” She stated, matter of fact. “I’d like to apologize on behalf of the United States government for the inconvenience. We all appreciate your contribution to the safety of the citizens of this great nation.”
“Yes ma’am. Thank you for the information.”