Triple Threat - James Patterson Page 0,39

no world religion scholar, but I’m pretty sure there are plenty of Hindus and vegetarians alike in places like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia. And those countries are reeling from some of the worst animal attacks on the planet.

“Interesting theory” is all I say, placing the empty glass back on the tray and extending my other hand to shake. “I’m Oz, by the way. Thanks again.”

“My name is Putu. Welcome to Bali. I hope you find what you are looking for.”

That makes two of us.

The porters are wheeling the last of our gear to our villas. I know Freitas will want us to head out as soon as possible to begin running tests. So first, I take out my new international satellite phone, issued to all team members so we can stay in constant touch no matter where in the world we go. Thrilled to see I have a few bars of reception, I scroll down my very short list of contacts until I find the one I so desperately want to call: “Chloe ~ Paris.”

“Did he tell you what time the bar opens?”

I look up. Sarah has walked over to me. She’s carrying an industrial metal laptop case and wheeling a crate of empty test tubes and plastic specimen bags.

She’s also stripped down to cargo shorts and a tight gray tank top. Like me, her skin is glistening with sweat. But unlike me, on her it actually looks pretty sexy.

“Sorry. I didn’t ask. And with so few guests, I bet they don’t even open it at all.”

“Too bad,” Sarah replies. “I was thinking, after we spend the day trekking around the island, we could…have a drink. Compare notes.”

Huh? I don’t believe it. Is star CDC biologist Dr. Sarah Lipchitz…hitting on me?

I can’t tell if that glint in her eye is professional curiosity or something more. Sure, it’s a scary time to be single and alone in the world. But Sarah knows I’m happily married. This is a path I definitely don’t want to go down—especially with a woman as smart and dangerously cute as she is. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.

“Maybe, uh…another time.” Then I hold up my satellite phone. “Excuse me.”

I step into a quiet corner of the lobby and dial. It rings. And rings.

Finally, I hear a click. The sound of rustling. Then a familiar voice.

“Allô?”

“Chloe? It’s Oz! Can you hear me? How are you and Eli doing?”

The connection is awful, full of crackling static. I can barely make out what my wife replies.

“We’re fine but…and food is low…and animals keep trying to…please hurry…”

“Chloe, honey,” I interrupt, “I can’t understand what you’re saying. I’m going to hang up. Give Eli a hug for me. I love you both. And…I will hurry. I promise.”

I wait for her to answer, but all I hear is more white noise. Then the line goes dead. Which gives me a sudden sinking feeling deep in the pit of my stomach.

My wife and child are under siege in Paris and I’m here in paradise.

I’d better get to work.

Chapter 10

Most mornings, I like to start the day with a shower. Today I feel like taking a dip in the sea, right outside my front door.

I’m standing by the entrance of my wooden villa, gazing out at the crystal water all around me. The sun is just starting to rise, casting vibrant streaks of pink and orange along the horizon.

It’s a precious moment of peace before what I know will be another grueling day.

After arriving in Bali yesterday afternoon, our team wasted no time getting down to business. Freitas, Sarah, the other scientists, and I spread out to cover as much ground as we could. We took samples of the water, soil, pollen, and air. We tested the island for unusual patterns of radiation and electromagnetic activity. We dug through mud as thick as tar to collect insects and worms. We waded into a rushing river to net fish and plankton. We even trekked through the punishing jungle in Padangtegal to trap a feisty twenty-two-inch-long macaque. Before we left, Sarah told me to bag a stinking pile of the monkey’s dung. I thought she was kidding—or maybe stung by my rejection earlier—but Freitas insisted I obey.

By the time we all made it back to the hotel, well after midnight, I could barely keep my eyes open. I knew the next day would be even more exhausting: the plan was to head further inland into the mountains to capture additional animals to study, including a