Chapter 11
When Erik walked into the office, he found a strangely peaceful atmosphere.
Laurent and Janssen were having a hot drink near the vending machine, apparently happily chatting; Meyer was at her desk, and from what he could see on her screen she was reading the day's news with an indifferent expression.
Only Hoffman talked animatedly on the phone, but his office was separated from the open space in which the junior staff worked by transparent and sound-proof walls, so Erik had no way of telling what the call was about.
He found Zoe Hernandez at her desk, staring at the computer screen with a look of concentration.
Good morning, he greeted her.
Hey there, she replied, not taking her eyes off the screen.
Erik pressed the power button of his own computer and looked around while waiting for it to turn on.
It looked like a typical morning in the office: the usual hushed moments of the first half hour of work, when everyone was still sleepy and wanted to sort out their own ideas and prepare for the day that loomed ahead. Usually his colleagues would take something to drink, barley beverage or some caffeine-loaded surrogate; they would read the news or organize the meetings for the rest of the day.
Only today wasnt supposed to be like that, Erik thought. It was not a normal day: they had arrested an infected woman only yesterday, and two potential spreaders of infection were on the loose in the city. Such a circumstance, in his opinion, should have meant phone calls at five a.m., mobilized patrols, control shifts to all stations and blocking points.
And yet, nothing.
Only Hernandez looked worried.
So, he asked, any news?
Not really, she said with a grimace. Unless the lack of any events isnt a sort of news itself.
Erik nodded: I was thinking the same thing.
Zoe got up, took a chair and approached Eriks desk. Can you believe that the routine investigation of looking for the two fugitives hasnt even started? she said in a low voice.
What? he was astounded. No interrogations, no special patrols?
Hernandez shook her head: Nothing at all.
She began drumming her fingers on the desk. In that moment she reminded him very much of Maja, who behaved similarly when she was nervous. We just cant work like this, she said. We cant let these two potential infected go loose around the city. They could bring on another epidemic that would spread through Europa and beyond
Beyond? Erik smiled Are you worried for the quarantined areas?
Zoe shrugged: Did you know that apparently the first wave of the epidemic has been started by just one person?
Are you sure? I thought that the expedition that found the dragon eggs had been infected first, all together, and from there the virus had spread to various districts...
Yeah, I know, this is the official theory, Zoe admitted, mimicking the quotes with her fingers. Then, in an even lower voice, she went on: But I heard another rumour some time ago. They said that the disease was not born directly from the contact with dragons, but that it had been created by some kind of error in a lab. Patient Zero was just a guinea pig, but the experiment went wrong and he found himself in the city without any control. Her voice had an anxious note. A single person. Think what two of them could do.
Erik felt an icy chill run down his spine.
He saw Thea, Maja and Peters faces before his eyes, and for one horrible moment he also unwillingly imagined their bodies contorted by the swellings, then the scales, and finally going cold and limp.
I want to find out what happened, with or without an official assignment, Zoe stated. Do you want to help me?
Erik did not need even a moment to think about it.
Sure, he said, Of course I will help you.
During the morning Erik and Zoe handled all the routine work as quickly as possible, and in the afternoon they went to the former medical centre.
The area that had been used by the clinic was closed and isolated, but of course there were still a lot of people inside the building that housed several residential flats and some other commercial enterprises.
They should have sent someone to interview the patients when they were still here yesterday, Erik said. I thought they would do it!
I thought so too - in fact, I was sure. They havent sent anyone, Hernandez said bitterly.
Well, at this point we should comb through the records of the appointments.
They removed the tape at the door and entered the foyer of the centre, which also served as a waiting room: it was an impersonal-looking room, with walls painted in white, the chairs covered in green fabric, some posters reminding the public of the importance of this or that periodic inspection, and a faint smell of medicine that still hovered in the air.
Where do you think they marked the appointments down? Zoe asked.
Erik looked around and walked to the desk to the bottom of the room. He was about to open a drawer when a voice made him raise his eyes.
Is there anyone...?
On the threshold of the doctor's office there was an old man with a felt hat and an old brown coat; he was hesitantly looking around.
Is the medical centre open again? he asked, then saw their uniforms.
Im sorry, officers! he exclaimed. I thought that there was someone I could ask about the results of my blood tests... Now Ill be on my way.
No, please, come in, Hernandez ordered. Wed like to ask you a few questions.
Her tone was polite, but it was clear that this was not an option invitation.
The man took off his hat and sat down on one of chairs.
They discovered that his name was Hans Verlinden, and apparently he used to visit the medical centre with a certain frequency.
I have many problems, you know... he explained. My heart, my lungs and... well, sure my digestion is no longer what it used to be...
Erik privately thought that the old man seemed to have a classic case of hypochondria. Were you here yesterday, when Amanda Solarin was arrested?
Verlinden nodded vigorously: To be sure... I had come to collect the results of my tests... you know, Ive had heart problems lately, I always have this pain in my chest, see, right here...
I understand, Hernandez interrupted him. So, about yesterday - did you happen to see Dr. Solarins assistant, Sophie Weber?
Yes, of course! She was with a patient, an elderly lady. I remember the latter very well because we arrived together, but she stepped ahead of me when we took the number at the distributor at the entrance. Of course, I am an old-fashioned man - once, you know, we were taught to give way to women, it was considered common courtesy... but I must say that even so the lady could have...
And when did you see them last?
Verlinden scratched his head: Well... I think it was before all the confusion about the arrest...
Then you didnt see her leave the building?
Definitely not. I'm sure because I was in the crowd and I've been waiting in the hallway... I was very frightened, a police raid like that, you see...
And you walked out of the medical centre immediately?
Of course, I was one of the first to exit. I was near the door, although I must say, I'm not like one of those curious folks who always have to be there to watch what happens to others, as if it was a show on TV! No, no, I'm happy to mind my own business...
Then you cant be sure that Sophie Weber didnt exit the medical centre the same way?
Verlinden spread his arms: Well, at some point she must have done so, otherwise she would still be here!
When they were down questioning Mr Verlinden, Erik glanced at the other rooms: there was only one bathroom, a lab and two rooms used for receiving the patients. One of these was the place where they had caught Amanda Solarin.
Erik noticed that the room still bore the marks of recent scuffle: objects were overturned on the floor; there was broken glass, and a sheet of paper on the stretcher was ripped out and never replaced.
A closet was open, and most of the bottles and medicines had fallen to the ground.
Its cold in here, Hernandez said, entering.
The temperature was actually lower than in the rest of the centre, Erik agreed.
We checked every corner in the building yesterday... Shes not here, Zoe said, rubbing her hands on her arms to warm up.
That woman must be out there somewhere, then, Erik said.
His partner shrugged, a gesture that reminded him very much of Peter: But there is no other exit. We are in a basement, so there are not even windows facing outside.
Erik paused to reflect: could there be a door or a passage that they had not found yet?
But where could it be?
He felt a draft of air against the back of his head. It was really cold in that room. It made it difficult to concentrate.
Maybe we could get a map of the building from the real estate agency, Hernandez suggested. If there was another way out...
Yeah, lets go, I cant think with this... he broke off, feeling very stupid. Wait a minute.
How could there be drafts in a basement?
What are you doing? Zoe asked. Erik followed the draft, which brought him to the medicine cabinet that was left open. The air was definitely cooler there.
He touched the edges of the shelves, where he could feel the flow of cold air. He pressed against the closet floor, trying to figure out if it could possibly open.
Here, his partner said, handing him a piece of plastic that had broken away from the cabinet door. Erik placed it in the crack between the wall and the closet, then pressed. The panel offered some resistance, but then he heard a snap and the back of the closet opened.
An underground tunnel, seemingly endless, stretched into the darkness.
The two partners remained speechless for a few moments.
Zoe was the one to recover her voice first: Shit.
For a while, they were unsure whether or not to call for backup. For all they knew, at the end of that tunnel could be a room where the infected rebels gathered, some sort of meeting place. But there was no time and, given their bosss attitude in the last days, calling for reinforcements could even be counter-productive.
At the end they decided to go to the car and retrieve their suits and helmets: at least this way they wouldnt be infected by mere physical contact.
The precaution proved unnecessary, though, because after going on for some distance, the tunnel did not lead to anything other than an exit to the street through a manhole.
When Erik hoisted himself up and climbed out of the manhole with some effort, he found himself in an alley full of garbage. Zoe pulled herself up in one fluid movement, then looked around.
Where are we?
Still in the third ring, he said, recognizing an area that he had patrolled many times before. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it and inhaled deeply. This small thing helped him recover his focus.
He didnt ask Zoe if she wanted one: she, like most young people, considered smoking an incomprehensible habit. The times really had changed.
We could ask around to check if anyone had seen them, she offered.
Erik slowly exhaled the hot smoke: Its difficult to imagine that they were noticed. Rather, we could check the videos of the stations security cameras. If I were them, I would try to go away, to the outer rings which are a lot less well-monitored.
Zoe nodded: Ok. Back to the headquarters, then.
Erik looked sadly at the rest of his cigarette: Guess I wont be able to smoke in the car, will I?
She gave him a stern look: Nope.