📎A/N. Hello my lovelies. With any luck, you are all having a wonderful weekend. We are heading into winter here in NZ and it is getting a little chilly. For those of you with a bit of heat, can you please send it my way :)

This week, I decided to post the reader world map for Evolution. I am always completely blown away at the range of countries where my story is being read. Thank you all so very much for your continued support. 

I hope you enjoy the chapter. It's a little long, so settle back with a drink and a box of popcorn.

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As Petra approached the gates that halted her path the day before, she slowed, expecting it to be closed.

That's odd.

Unlike the previous visit, they were wide open, and no one stood guard. She picked up her speed and drove through the narrow opening that had been cut out of the mountain range. Not long after, the road became a dual carriageway again, and she continued down the only access that lead in and out of Daniel Locke's property.

Not for the first time, she questioned her sanity. Anyone else would have brought back up. There was something odd about this part of Colorado. The entire parcel of land which encompassed a section of the national forest, as well as two very large valleys, and a number of lakes and streams, had been in Daniel Locke's family for nearly three hundred years. Wanting to know what she was heading into, Petra spent hours trying to discover what lay on the other side of the gates. Much to her disgust, she could find nothing. Not even Google earth had images of the land. Which was weird, as there wasn't a public place that couldn't be located from the satellite images.

Petra glanced around at her surroundings. She was about a mile beyond the gates, and there was nothing to see apart from trees, hills and more trees.

So why was there people at the gates stopping me from getting in, if this is all there is?

Ignoring her inner doubt, Petra noticed a blur from the corner of her eye. She slowed the car to take a better look, only to discover a pair of gray wolves racing through the underbrush of the dense forest that flanked to her right.

Petra pursed her lips and her brows scrunched together. In of itself, there was nothing strange. This part of the country had a high population of wolves. It was the size of the wolves that stood out. While her idea of roughing it was a three-star hotel and she hadn't the first clue about animals, she was fairly positive they weren't supposed to be that large.

Once the wolves disappeared into the forest, Petra shook off her concern as paranoia and focused on the rough gravel road. After another ten minutes of weaving up hill and down dale, Petra turned a corner and was thankful it was her last. Another gate was in front of her. This time, there was a large building just beyond. She had finally arrived at her destination.

Just as she reached the iron gates, they swung open and a woman she recognized from the day before, stood on the other side. Following the woman's directions, Petra swung her rental to the right and found herself in a car park the size of the one at her local mall. What was more surprising was that it was almost a quarter full. As she got out, the woman that had ushered her through approached.

"Dr. Baghurst, I'm Jo, if you follow me, Mr. Locke and Miss. Johnson are expecting you."

With that Jo swung on her heel and strode off, not bothering to check to see if she'd follow. Petra, not wanting to be left behind, locked her car and raced to catch up. As they neared the large building she had spotted earlier, a small group of people holding steaming hot travel coffee mugs, headed towards the carpark and nodded to Jo as they passed. They looked as though they were about to say something to her when they spotted Petra, clamped their mouths shut and their faces turned to stone as they picked up their pace.

When they drew closer to the structure, Petra couldn't help but admire the rustic log building that resembled a high-priced ski chalet. It was tucked perfectly into the mountain behind and looked out onto a large clearing that watched over the valley below.

Jo cleared her throat, and Petra felt her face heat up at being caught staring. She quickly raced through the open door only to stop short. This time it wasn't her that was staring. All the occupants fell silent the moment she walked through the door. At least she knew where the others had been. There were a dozen or so people lined up with empty travel mugs, waiting patiently for the barista's behind the counter to make them their morning brew before they left for work. Petra raised her nose and sniffed. The aroma was divine. No wonder they were happy to wait.

Jo lead Petra to the right and through a set of double doors that lead down a small hallway. Three doors down, she stopped abruptly, knocked, opened the door, and stood back to allow Petra to enter a large executive looking office. As expected Daniel and Parker were waiting for her.

"Good morning Dr. Baghust," said Parker as she rose and held out her hand.

Daniel looked over Petra's shoulder and nodded. "Thank you, Jo," he said. "I'll let you know when we are through."

A small click from behind and Petra wondered about her rash decision to not let anyone know where she was. Perhaps that hadn't been the smartest of moves on her behalf.

Daniel held out his hand towards the couches they had just vacated. "Please take a seat. The Impasse cottages is not known for its food, so we thought you might like some sustenance."

Petra sat and eyed the assortment of pastries, and her stomach growled. The weak excuse for earl gray tea, and burnt toast a reminder that she hadn't eaten since last evening. "Actually, I wouldn't mind a hot drink," she said, eyeing up the coffee press.

Daniel leaned back into the dark leather and lifted his arm to rest on the back of the couch. "Let's get down to the why you are here, Dr. Baghurst. The reason we are reluctant to release Carbine's body, is that we are endeavoring to develop a vaccine to counteract the effects of what infected him," said Daniel.

"How's that going to help anyone?" asked Petra, "Vaccines only work if you are given it before you come in contact with the disease, not after. You'd have to know who's in the high-risk groups and the FDA is not about to—" Something in their expression made Petra stop mid-sentence. "You know who's at risk."

Neither Daniel or Parker's expression gave anything away.

"We have a general idea of the possible targets," said Daniel.

Petra blinked twice and stared at him without moving. Surely, she misheard? "I'm sorry, but how can you predict random animal attacks?"

"Unfortunately, there is nothing random about it. We are aware of how Carbine Jefferson and the others died, and are attempting to track down who's doing this, as well as find something to fight it."

Petra filed away his odd turn of phrase to deal with later. How could there be a who in these deaths?

Parker finished pouring and held out a cup to Petra. "We know that the current assumption is that the victims are being infected by an animal that they've come into contact with."

"That's the working hypothesis, yes." Petra stomach plummeted. A nagging suspicion that she was about to head down the white rabbit's hidey-hole gnawed at her.

Parker pulled the glasses she had resting on her head like a headband, folded them and placed them on the small table. "Unfortunately, that's not entirely correct. We have reason to believe that there is someone who's behind this."

Petra visibly balked. "How do you know that?"

"I have to protect my sources. You'll just have to have a trust me and believe that it's true," said Parker.

Petra's mind raced overtime, thinking through the possible scenarios. She took a long drink of the coffee and hoped her hands didn't shake from where her conclusions landed her. "Would it be the same set of people that the genetic bomb was targeted at?"

Parker winced, and her eyes darted to Daniel.

"Yes and no," Daniel said as he leaned forward. "Dr. Baghurst, we are on a ticking time bomb. If you take Carbine's body, he'll be dissected to find out what killed him. You won't be looking to develop a vaccine, and without that, good people are going to die."

Positive he was over-reacting, Petra fired questions at him. "How much do you know about how the victims are being infected? What's the portal of exit? What about—"

Before Petra could finish the question, there was a knock at the door.

Daniel looked up expectantly. "I believe the person most qualified to answer that question has just arrived."

The door opened, and a woman in a white lab coat entered the room. "Sorry I'm late, but Jimmy Botha took a tumble this morning from that large oak at Pierson's bend and broke his arm."

Petra studied the new arrival with interest. So this is the doctor who's looking to develop a vaccine.

"Again?" said Parker.

The blond haired petite doctor sighed and rolled her eyes. The dark circles and worry lines, a tell-tale sign that she wasn't as well as her feigned brightness implied. "You'd think he'd learn by now."

"Dr. Baghurst, I'd like to introduce our doctor in residence, Dr. Alice Hayes."

Alice turned to Petra and smiled as she held out her hand. "You can't imagine how relieved I am to have some help on this. Thank you so very much for agreeing to do this."

Petra raised an eyebrow as she shook the other woman's hand. "As yet, I haven't agreed to anything."

Confusion clouded Alice's expression as she turned her head to face Daniel and Parker. "I'm sorry," she stuttered, "I assumed—"

Daniel stood and cut Alice off. "Dr. Baghurst has a few questions that I think are more your domain than ours."

"Petra. Please call me Petra. I was just asking about the chain of infection."

Alice thrust her hands in her coat pocket and began to speak a hundred miles a minute. "We are dealing with a zoonosis that presents very much like a fasciitis. So far, I can't seem to locate the causative micro-organism. I believe that it's an endogenous infection transmitted via a claw scratch. Until your story about the paramedic we'd assumed that there was no danger of any other method of contamination."

The woman spoke so fast, even Petra, who understood the terminology, found it difficult to keep up. However, something about the situation did not add up. She held up her hands to halt the flow then rubbed her forehead. "So, let me get this right. You know who or what is making these animals attack, but you won't say. You are fully aware of who these perpetrators are targeting, but you won't say, and you appear to know a lot more about this disease than anyone else. On top of this, you want me to help develop a vaccine for a bacterium that you can't find?"

Daniel shrugged and nodded. "That sums it up, and Alice's lab is at your disposal."

Petra let out a sarcastic chuckle. "I know those stupid TV show make it look easy, and all you need is a microscope and a Bunsen burner, but in the real world there is a lot more to solving these sorts of puzzles. My lab has all the equipment I need. I hardly think your local GP's medical practice would have anything beyond a sterilizer and a urine chemistry analyzer." She looked over to Alice. "No disrespect intended. But surely you must understand the futility in attempting something like this without the proper tools."

Daniel stiffened at the remark "You'll find that the lab is adequately equipped, and you have access to the same tools and equipment as you do in your lab in Atlanta."

"The only thing we didn't have is a live cell imaging system, which we ordered and it should be here by tomorrow," said Alice in a rush.

Petra held up a hand to slow Alice down lest she burst a blood vessel. "Let's forget about the fact that the average price for a high-end system is half a million dollars. How do you know what my lab does and does not have?"

"You seem to forget there is not too many systems I can't get into," said Parker, reminding her of their first meeting.

Petra tilted her head and frowned. "How? We bolstered our security the last time you got in."

"I know. If it makes you feel better, it did take us a little while longer to get in."

Much. Not.

Petra was stunned. The three of them looked as though they were having a mundane conversation. Yet, in less than a minute she had discovered, not only had her lab been violated, but they had access to a wide range of laboratory equipment, and didn't appear to blink an eyelash at the cost.

Who the hell are these people?

Not sure whether she should escape before she got too involved in their hair brain plans, or call in reinforcements, Petra decided to reserve her decision. For now. "How about you show me this lab of yours," she said to Alice, "let me see Mr. Jefferson's body, and I'll make a decision then."

***

Petra trailed behind the others as they left the same way she had arrived. As they headed across the large compound, she realized that the area was a natural plateau in the mountain range that encircled the valley. When they began their descent down a wide path made of a mixture of large, flat rock embedded in the ground, with grass instead of mortar, she took the time to survey the valley. As expected, there were houses and large buildings dotted across the floor of the gorge.

"How many people do you have living here?" she asked Alice.

"Just a little over five hundred."

"Is this one of those eco-friendly communities that seem to be popping up everywhere these days?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, you have a whole township scattered all over the place. There are no roads, save this one that sorta feels like the yellow brick road. The houses seem to blend in with the environment, and, from what I can see, they look as though they all have solar panels." Petra narrowed her eyes to make out an area near one of the lakes in the distance. "I really can't make it out, I think you have a large market garden by the water."

Alice let out a chuckle and smiled. "To answer your question, no. We just choose to live close to nature and respect that we need to not take from the earth more than we need."

For the rest of the considerable walk to wherever they were going, Petra asked Alice pointed questions on her background. She was curious how a local GP would have the skills necessary to perform some of the analysis needed to create a vaccine. The way in which Alice avoided the question, raised not only her curiosity but her reservations. They were hiding something, but what, was the question.

Petra was thankful when the trees began to thin, and another set of buildings came into view. It appeared like tiny town. On her right was three buildings that could be mistaken for shop fronts. Except, there were no signs to indicate what was inside. A moment later, a woman with two small children following behind, emerged from the larger of the buildings balancing two large paper sacks. Petra paid closer attention to what lay behind the storefront window to discover it was a mini-supermarket.

Her eyes then darted to the next building. It too had nothing to give away the secrets that lay inside. As they drew closer, it became clear it was a beauty salon which doubled as a barber shop. She just made out the third and would lay odds it was a clothing repair shop.

As with most of the buildings she'd seen, the majority were constructed of rustic looking logs. What was surprising, was their size. In her experience, tree huggers did things on a small scale. Small houses, small cars, small everything. The people who lived here were the opposite. The houses tucked away in the small clearings they passed, were all single level large dwellings. If she had to guess, they each had, at a minimum, four to five bedrooms.

It was the building on their far left that fascinated her the most. Unlike the others, this one was constructed with a combination of rock, timber, and logs. The building appeared to be split into two sections. The only entryway was through the older section; with a newer looking wing, that hadn't yet looked as though the paint had fully dried, branching off from the original building.

Daniel and Parker, who had walked ahead, were waiting on the front porch. Alice placed a foot on the first step and gave Petra a nervous smile. "Dr. Baghurst, I really do appreciate your help on this."

"Like I said before, I haven't agreed to anything yet. How about you show me what you have and I'll reserve my decision for later."

"Fair enough."

Alice led the way, and Petra found herself heading down a bare hallway that took them to the newish wing. After a few turns, Alice stopped as she reached for the door handle. "This is our morgue."

"Morgue?" Petra asked as she opened her eyes wide with shock. "Why would you have need for a morgue?"

Daniel cleared his throat and stepped forward. "We do not believe in embalming. If a resident dies, we need to preserve their bodies until the funeral. Depending on who wishes to attend the ceremony, it could be a week or two they will need to be kept here."

Petra considered his answer. While it sounded plausible and there was nothing in his countenance that appeared otherwise, she was sure there was more to the story. Deciding to let the matter rest, for now, she said, "Let's see this body then."

When they entered, and Petra viewed the room, she found it difficult to hide her skepticism. Just how many people die at once in this place?

The small eight bay morgue fridge was what she would expect for a small hospital, not a local GP.

Alice opened one of the doors, pulled out a body tray, and stepped to one side to allow Petra to view Carbine Jefferson's corpse. Unable to hide her shock, she looked closer at the dead man's injuries.

"What is it?" asked Alice.

"The fasciitis is a lot more pronounced and aggressive with its depth, but the paramedic's entire upper body was ravaged before his body gave out. However, it wasn't as deep as this one was."

"I understand that it was second-hand transference," said Alice. "That might have something to do with the difference."

Petra looked up at Alice. As with Daniel's responses, the answer sounded rehearsed. However, nothing in her expression gave her any indication that the woman was lying.

They know more than they're letting on. She was not more positive of this than before.

Keeping her suspicions to herself, Petra stepped away from the body and allowed Alice to push him back. She followed without comment as Alice led them out and then back up the corridor with Daniel and Parker silently bringing up the rear. When they enter a white pristine room with state of the art lab equipment, she was no longer able to hold her tongue. "You weren't joking when you said you had everything I'd need." Petra swung around to face Daniel and crossed her arms over her chest. "What the hell are you all up to here. There's millions of dollars of equipment in here. What does a tree hugging community need with this stuff, and how could you afford it?"

"Dr. Baghurst, we have already explained to you we know who is being targeted. It just so happens, everyone in this valley is at risk. The only way to keep them safe is to find a vaccine," said Daniel.

Petra arched an eyebrow. "I would have thought that finding the so-called people behind this was the obvious way."

"Have no fear Dr. we will find them, and make them pay for what they have done."

"That's a job for the authorities, not a bunch of vigilantes."

Daniel narrowed his eyes, and his expression changed in an instant. "That is out of the question."

Petra took a step backward when Daniel let out a low, menacing growl, and her heart leaped into her throat. He looked as though he were about to rip her limb from limb. From the size of him, he was capable.

Parker reached out and laid a hand on his arm. "What Daniel means is that we have no proof. Like the last time, we've stumbled on information that puts a lot of people in danger, but nothing tangible that the authorities will believe."

Petra let out a deep breath. Her heart raced overtime, and she needed to settle it to think straight. While her rational mind knew she wasn't in danger, her emotions were racing wild with fear.

Parker took a step forward and placed herself between Daniel and her. "Petra, you trusted me last time. I'm asking you to take a leap of faith that there is just as much danger of people dying this time as there was then. Do you really want to have their deaths on your hands if you could have prevented it?"

Petra closed her eyes. There were so many things wrong with this situation she should run now while she had the chance. She opened them and turned to Alice. Right now, she needed to look anywhere other than at Daniel Locke. She was sure if she looked at him much longer he'd have the ability to bend her will.

"But how do you know a vaccine is possible or will work? So far anyone who's come in contact with whatever it is has died."

Alice shook her head. "It's not quite one hundred percent."

"What do you mean? I've not had any reports across my desk that someone survived this."

"That's because it wasn't reported, and he was treated here."

Petra sank down on the nearest stool. I've just entered the twilight zone. "Why do I feel like I am only getting half the story?"

"Dr. Baghust, you've already been given far more information than I'm comfortable with," said Daniel. While his tone wasn't as amicable as he'd been earlier, it was a lot less aggressive than a few moments before. "I made a vow to protect my people. Right now, the only way to do that is with your help. Believe, me at this point in time, I am more fearful of you than you are of me. I know you won't understand my meaning, but we are placing our very lives in your hands. Something that I've spent a lifetime trying to avoid. Parker believes you are trustworthy, my only hope is that you are worthy of that trust."

"How many more communities are there like yours?" Petra asked.

Daniel shoved his hands into his jean pockets. "More than a few and less than a lot."

Well, that's helpful. Not.

Petra fiddled with her bracelet as she sifted through everything she'd been told. "Everyone at risk has this additional gene." It was a statement, not a question.

Parker and Alice hesitated before eventually nodding.

"How about you take me through your findings, and we'll see where we are after that."

A measure of relief washed through Alice's face. Whatever was going on was over the poor woman's head. It was an expression she knew well. It was same one she'd seen around the globe when dealing with doctor's who were holding on by a thread, trying to save patients who had no chance or hope.

"Fair enough," said Daniel, "Parker and I will wait for you outside."

An hour later, Petra and Alice emerged from what she now realized was a small hospital. The exterior was deceptive and gave nothing away on what was behind its doors. She had so many unanswered questions. While the laboratory was a researcher's wet dream, the examination rooms only appeared to have half of what she would normally expect. There was virtually no diagnostic equipment in any of them and an overabundant supply of first aid supplies. The only exception to this was the intensive care room which had every high-tech monitor under the sun.

Petra stared at the three of them before delivering her verdict. "If I were to do this, I'll need access to the person who was infected and survived."

"That won't be a problem," said Daniel.

"And I will retain any information on whatever this is, including any vaccines or method to combat this."

"Agreed. You have my word."

"I cannot promise that what you are asking me to do is possible, but I do believe that there is a real and present threat that is deliberately infecting innocent people. As much as I think I will regret this, I will help you. However, the moment I think you are lying to me, or holding back vital information, you will be overrun with federal agents faster than that temper of yours."

And just maybe, I'll find out why I share a junk gene with these people.

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📎A/N. So Petra is on board. That's a good thing. Although, I suspect her goal to find out more about this additional gene, which may uncover some things she's not ready to face... What do you think?

Now, here's a challenge for you.  Books in a series have a name that links them together.  If I was to publish Masked, Buried and Evolution, what do you think a good series name would be?

Don't forget to hit that little star if you enjoyed the chapter. Next one will be posted next Sunday PST. 

Till then, take care.

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