406 Trouble in the jungle

Monday

1:57 PM

Max stepped into the elevator, followed by Hunter and a few more people. Max's eyes paused at the familiar face, which is always welcome, but he didn't expect to see.

"Liz?"

Liz perked up when she saw him. "Hey… Hi Hunter…", Liz greeted before her attention returned to Max. "Are you busy?"

Liz felt guilty for coming without an announcement, but this is important and if Max was busy, she would wait in his office.

Max could see distress in Liz's eyes, and he wondered why she is here. It must be important if she came to his office on a Monday afternoon without calling in advance.

All kinds of dark thoughts invaded Max's mind. Did someone harass her? Or blackmail her? It's not another set of gossip related to him, is it? Or what if it's one of his ex-hookups giving her a hard time? A man with stains in his past can never be relaxed.

Max shoot a glance at Hunter who nodded in understanding.

"No. I'm free. What's up?", Max said and stepped toward her, his broad back blocking the view of the people who came in the elevator after him, but Liz still saw a flash of shock and frowns on a few faces before Max filled in her view.

Liz thought that she saw Irene present as well, but it was just a flash and she was not sure if she imagined it.

"Are you sure you are free? I can wait.", Liz wanted to confirm.

Max smiled while thinking that Liz is so considerate. This is the first time she came unannounced, and she is already here. How can he deny himself her company? With Liz in the building, all thoughts about work and meetings evaporated from Max's mind.

"Hunter?", Max called without removing his eyes from Liz. 

Hunter hummed and fiddled on the tablet he was holding, before responding: "Everything was rescheduled, the rest of your afternoon is free."

"See?", Max asked Liz and the elevator door opened. Max and Liz stepped out, leaving the others behind.

This time Liz confirmed that Irene was there, and Liz gave her a smug smile as she passed by her which irritated Irene to the point of her insides boiling.

"What do you mean, rescheduled?", Irene asked Hunter before he exited the elevator.

They just finished one meeting and were going to the next one, Max included. How come his afternoon is free?

"Check your calendar. The meeting is postponed. CEO has something important.", Hunter said flatly and stepped out because his office is on the same floor as Max's.

"Important? You mean, girlfriend?", Irene called out Hunter blatantly.

"Yes. Important.", Hunter confirmed, and the elevator door closed leaving Irene and a few speechless directors and managers inside. No one dared to say a thing so they only awkwardly smiled while Irene was fuming.

In Max's office…

"It's Dr. Thomas. She is in trouble." Liz went straight to the point.

Max frowned. Since Dr. Thomas invited Liz to visit her, Max is unable to relax as Liz is mentioning that wretched lab in South America occasionally and coming up with all kinds of theories which belong in spy movies, or in movies that belong in the horror category where a lot of people die.

"What makes you think she is in trouble?", Max asked while trying to stay calm. It seems that his Liz is eager to get herself in trouble. Sure, she is worried and wants to help that doctor, but doesn't she see that her actions are making him stressed? Max does not care about some unknown doctor in the middle of the jungle. The only person he cares about is right in front of him and she seems to be itchy to get herself into a dangerous situation.

"She sent me her research.", Liz said.

"So?" Max didn't get it. Over time, Dr. Thomas sent many things. Why does now Liz sound so urgent? If she wants to spend some time in the jungle, Max can arrange for a nice vacation. It can even include hiking and exploring (in a controlled environment), and there is no need to go somewhere random and potentially dangerous. Max mentioned jungle-vacation and Liz rejected the idea. Why are they back to the topic of Dr. Thomas?

Max told Liz more than once that labs for testing viruses are not placed in the middle of the jungle and protected by the military because it's meant for anyone to stroll in and out as they please. But it seems that his precious girlfriend is set (again) on the idea of going there. 

As Liz spoke, Max realized that he was right.

"It's her research, what she is working on for more than a year in that lab. Why would she send it to me if she is not in trouble?"

"If they are watching her, as you suspect, how can she send it?", Max responded with a question. It's not that he does not believe her, but he can see where this is going and Max does not like it.

Liz exhaled, she knew that Max will be against it, but he is the only one she can talk to. Well, there, is Isaac, but if she can't convince Max, the super-doting father Isaac will definitely refuse. Isaac opposed to her coming to Seattle, and if she mentions a jungle and military, Isaac will lock her in and throw the key, just to make sure she does not go.

"It's in bits and pieces. She is sending me for the last two weeks emails, messages, and attachments that seem to be not important, but today I received in the mail a letter that puts it all together.", Liz said and pulled from her purse an envelope, showing it to Max. "She sent me her work, details about the virus and the vaccine. She would not do that if she believes that she can publish it… or walk away from there."

Max took the letter out and read it. He can see that it's written in some kind of code, probably something that Liz and Dr. Thomas created over the months they are working together.

"Why don't we call local authorities?" Max had to try.

"She is surrounded by the military. What can authorities do? And before you mention contacting our authorities, that will not work because no one will risk starting a war over one researcher."

Max agreed with this but other than worrying about some non-important doctor on a different continent, Max was worried about Liz. "Who else knows that you have that research?"

"No one. I came to you right away. Well, Dr. Thomas knows also, but that's it." Liz saw that Max is giving her a concerned look and she assured him: "I didn't tell anyone because I know that this would put a target on my back. All of us who collaborated know only bits and pieces and Dr. Thomas is the only one who knows everything and that is why she is now in danger", Liz said nervously.

Max realized that they crossed the point where they can pretend that nothing is going on. "Dr. Thomas is in danger because they believe she is the only one with this knowledge. Why don't you publish her work? Do it under an alias so that it does not lead them to you. Once the public is aware of this, Dr. Thomas will not be important, and they will let her go." Or they will just kill her, Max finished in his mind.

Liz thought for some time before responding. "It takes weeks to publish a paper. I would need to sort all the information and get it reviewed. No reputable institution would publish this without proof that it was tested and verified by an independent party and that can't be done within days. Dr. Thomas does not have that much time."

Max looked at Liz helplessly. He loves Liz to pieces, and he is aware that she will be the end of him. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know", Liz admitted. "But I can't sit still knowing that she is in danger. We had a video call this morning and she told me that final tests will be completed in ten days, however, based on the notes she sent me, her tests are done already, which means that she is only stalling."

"Ten days…", Max repeated. ���It sounds like she told you that she can hold on for ten more days."

Liz thought so too. "Can you do something? Do you have any connections that you can pull? Anything?"

"Let me see what I can do. OK?", Max forced a smile and called Ian to come to his office.

Ian and Liz met before and Liz was not sure why Max thought of Ian. "Isn't he a computer guy?"

Max confirmed. "He is my information guy. First, we need to confirm where that lab is and what we are dealing with. Without knowing what kind of security, they have there we would be walking into a trap."

Liz's eyes widened. "We are going there?"

Max frowned at her enthusiasm. "No." Does she think that is a vacation spot?

"Which part of us gathering information did you miss?", Max grumbled and sent a message to Hunter to come to Max's office. He wants more heads to discuss this issue and come up with ideas, and Hunter is the right guy.

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