Louise Voss & Mark Edwards 3-Book Thriller Collection: Catch Your Death, All Fall Down, Killing Cupid

Before she could get upset about it, Leonard said, ‘I have something very important to talk to you about, Kate. It makes me very proud to see that distinction in virology. And I know how proud your father would be. Viruses are one of mankind’s greatest enemies, and to be involved in their study, in the fight to understand them and find ways to stop those harmful strains, well, I’ve always believed that this is one of the most important scientific fields. One of the most exciting too. And things have moved on so much since I was young.’ He saw her attention waver and said quickly, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you all about what it was like when I was a lad.’

‘I am interested . . .’

‘It’s okay. I don’t want to talk about me right now. This is about you and your future. Kate, you could have a brilliant future in this battle against viruses. You could do a lot of good. An awful lot of good. The field needs people like you, with brains and vitality. And you have that something extra, don’t you? A personal connection. Because of what happened to your parents. Dear Derek and Francesca.’

She waited for him to go on, wondering if perhaps he was about to shed a tear. But he quickly regained his composure.

‘I do hope you won’t think me presumptuous, but as soon as I heard your results, I got on the phone to an old friend of mine at Harvard University. Professor James Scott. The man’s a genius, and Dean of the Immunology and Infectious Diseases faculty. I told him all about you, Kate, and he wants to meet you. He’d like to see if you’d be interested in a position as a researcher in the department.’

‘Oh my God. But what about my MSc at Oxford? I’m supposed to be starting that in October.’

‘Wouldn’t you rather go to Harvard?’

‘Yes, of course, but . . .’

‘Kate, don’t worry. I’ll sort it all out for you. And, in fact, again, I hope you won’t think I’ve been presumptuous, but I’ve already booked you onto a flight to Boston. I’m told you’ll be fit enough to get out of here next week.’

He put another envelope on her bed, this one containing an air ticket.

‘So what do you say?’

She was dumbstruck. Harvard. They were renowned for having the most advanced and forward-looking immunology departments, the ideal place for a young virologist to learn and grow as a scientist. And not only that, but it was America. She had images of skyscrapers, wide avenues, Boston’s beautiful old buildings, and the brightness of the new world. It was where all the most important research was being done. And, best of all, it was a long way from here. The perfect chance to make a new start.

She didn’t want to be in this country any more if Stephen wasn’t here.

Kate picked up the airline ticket and said, ‘What time’s the flight?’

Chapter 13 (#ulink_2bb6af3b-0928-54b5-8d1c-2806eaf96afd)

‘And that was it,’ she said, as she finished her coffee. ‘I met Professor Scott, who offered me a position, and I never came back.’

She felt a tug at her arm. Jack said, ‘Mummy, I need a pee.’

‘Okay. Come on. And don’t say pee, say wee.’

When they got back to the table, Paul asked, ‘If only Bainbridge was still alive. I bet he’d be able to help. Are you sure there’s no-one else? Did you have any friends at the Unit? What about your room-mate?’

Kate almost gasped. ‘Yes. Sarah. She was my room-mate on my second visit.’ An image flashed in her head of her and Sarah fleeing the fire. ‘I would have spent most of my time with her. If there was something going on, there’s a good chance I would have talked to her about it.’

Excitement blossomed on Paul’s face.

‘Except I never had any contact with her after I left the CRU.’

‘Oh.’

‘I don’t even remember her surname.’

‘Do you think that if we went there, to see the CRU, it might jog your memory?’

‘It might do.’

‘Right.’ He pulled the laptop back towards him.

‘What are you doing?’ Kate asked.

‘Finding out the quickest way to get to Salisbury.’

Back in their hotel room, Kate packed her and Jack’s suitcases. Her heart was beating fast and her body tingled. It was almost a sexual feeling, a sense of excitement mingled with trepidation about what was to come. Jack was excited too, bouncing on the bed.

‘Don’t do that,’ she said.

He kept bouncing.

‘Jack, get down.’

Tutting and huffing he lay down on his back on the bed and said, ‘Mummy, where are we going?’

‘We’re going for a drive down the motorway.’

‘What’s a motorway?’

‘A highway.’

‘Cool. Are we going in Paul’s car?’

‘Yes.’

‘I don’t expect it’s as nice as Daddy’s car. Daddy’s car’s really big and fast, isn’t it?’

That’s to make up for his small penis, she thought. ‘Yes, it is.’

‘Mummy, is Paul your boyfriend?’

She couldn’t see herself in any mirrors, but she was certain her cheeks had turned pink. ‘No, of course he isn’t. He’s just my friend.’

‘Your new friend. Like Billy’s my new friend.’

‘Yes, sweetheart. Just like that.’

Her ‘new friend’ was waiting in the lobby. He picked up both of Kate’s suitcases and strolled off with them towards his car, which was in the hotel car park. Kate noted, with another accompanying tingle, that Paul had surprisingly muscular arms. Jack trotted along behind. ‘Mummy, can we stop on the highway for a KFC?’

‘No.’

‘Taco Bell?’

‘They don’t have Taco Bell in England.’

‘How about a Subway?’ Paul asked.