“We’re not sure, exactly, sir,” the Colonel said. “She began acting erratically, first when she disposed of a specimen for no apparent reason. According to the technician who was with her, she appeared to calm down after that and said something about going to her office. An hour later we received a security alert from the primary containment cell block.”

The Colonel guided them along a corridor. Lori noticed the security cameras and warning signs that suggested they had moved to a more sensitive area of the facility.

She asked, “The containment blocks?”

“Yes Ma’am. We’ve got about three dozen specimens contained on the lower levels for biological study and weapons testing.”

“Yes, yes, but what about Anita? What has happened?”

They stopped at a freight elevator flanked by a pair of well-armed guards.

The Colonel said, “She started moving through the cell blocks down there and euthanizing the specimens.”

“She just started killing off the things?” Lori asked. “For no reason?”

“Not that we can tell, ma’am.”

“So what is the problem? She decided to destroy the specimens. Is this such a big deal? Is she not in charge here?” Omar may have lost his ethnic accent but he found another accent, one of defensiveness.

The doors to the elevator opened. The Colonel motioned them inside and pushed a button for Sub-Level 6.

He said, “You have to understand, doctor, your wife oversaw most of these things. She knew how hard it was to get them. They were a gold mine of information to her.”

Lori broke in, “Did anyone try and talk to her?”

“That’s the problem, ma’am.” The elevator hummed and descended into the bowels of the facility. “Security and some of the techs tried to intercede. She grabbed a pistol from a weapons locker and forced every one out.”