Carlson then explained what they knew of the devices that had been discovered, showing slides of them, both assembled and broken down.
“Do not attempt to disable any device you locate,” Carlson warned. “They are very deadly, and should be removed and made safe by the special team of experts we have assembled. Also, we don’t want to take any chance that disturbing the devices might alert those who placed them in the first place. The devices we have discovered thus far have had no broadcast capability, perhaps because they might reveal their presence, but we can’t count on that always being the case. One of the difficult parts of this task will be to maintain the search while not revealing we are aware of the existence of the weapons. You will be operating under the guise of employees of the Department of Health and Public Safety, and will be making a check of the facilities around Washington.”
Carlson assigned the agents in pairs and passed out assignments each team was to focus on. Agents were assigned to chase down the cases, the electronics, and the manufacturing of the anthrax agent. Others were assigned organizations and individuals to pursue. Sister agencies were to be polled, and undercover assets and spies within the various militant groups questioned about new members, unusual activities, or other changes that could suggest those organizations might be involved.
“We will meet briefly each morning in this room at seven,” Carlson said. “One reason you are working in pairs is so that at least one of you can be present for that meeting. Those who have teams will be responsible for gathering inputs and bringing a summary to this meeting. Any questions?”
There were quite a few, and it took almost another forty-five minutes before the agents were satisfied and the meeting broke up.
“Looks like we’re together,” Laney said after everyone else had left. “I want to go over to the museum and have a look at where the original devices were located. Is that acceptable to you?”
Jake was fairly certain that it didn’t matter whether Jake agreed or not, but that was what they had done when they began their investigation the last time around so it was more than acceptable.
“I have to make a stop at the hospital for that test,” Jake reminded Laney.
“Okay, hospital, and then we’ll go to the museum.”
At the museum, Jake led the way without realizing he was doing so. Laney had visited the museum before, but he didn’t know the way to the roof where the mechanical rooms were located along with the air conditioning for the building. Jake was moving on automatic, thinking about what the visit to the hospital had revealed.
“This is good news,” the doctor had said when he stepped into the office where Jake and Laney had been waiting after the scans were completed. “I’ll want an expert to have a closer look, but from what I can tell, there is no swelling visible at all. Whatever problem you had before seems to have cleared up.”
The doctor had activated a flat monitor screen which displayed the image that had been taken of Jake’s head. It meant nothing to Jake, even with the doctor’s attempts to show him key areas. What he got from the explanation was that all signs of his problem appeared to have disappeared. For that reason, or the fact he’d been off the medications for a couple of days, his head no longer felt stuffy. The only lingering indication he’d had a problem at all was the nagging discomfort with any thought of activating his ability. Jake wondered if that was simply fear, and not a real manifestation of a problem.
When they came to the alarmed doorway that led to the roof levels, Laney asked, “Shouldn’t we have looked for someone to show us around?”
“Karl Peterson,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Sorry, my mind was elsewhere. He’s the guy who found the devices. He has an office around here nearby.”
Peterson was an older man, his hair graying, his face narrow and lined. Even his eyes were gray and sad looking. He was sitting in his office, reading the latest Guns and Ammo magazine when they found him. Obviously a slow day. Laney showed him his FBI identification and explained what they wanted. Peterson nodded and led the way back to the door they’d been at a few minutes before. He’d been escorting a number of people up to the roof of late and had thought