SKV -- Smart Killing Virus: Meret Mather Techno Mystery, #2

By E L Russell

Description

Smart Killing Virus, a Techno Hard - Science -Thriller is the second book in the Meret Mather Mystery Series.

In this sequel to Genecaust, Meret is Driven by the invention of CRISPER, the first Toolbox for programming Genome. She continues her efforts to protect the possible plethera of  advances in genomic medicine from those who would use the power of CRISPER to the Dark Side and develope malware for ransom or assignation. "Their Mantra is" What could go wrong?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Entanglement Publishing
• Release date: Nov 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201179526

E L Russell

Editorial Reviews About the Authors Enid and Enos Russell hail from Houston and sincw 2010 have published 15+ high-concept science fiction and techno-thriller novels, as well as 10+ Short Stories. Our first question is always, "What could go wrong?" Educated in mathematics and research, I have spent ten years writing White Papers advising corporations on emerging technologies. My latest research has resulted in a series of novels and short stories about the ability to re-program inheritable genetic code, curing disease through self-healing, waging war, and acquiring immortality. Our protagonists, powerful women scientists, medical researchers, are members of the next human species, Homo Evolutis. We publish through Entanglement Publishing. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Book preview

Smart Killing Virus - SKV

THIS STORY BEGINS  with Meret and Granger meeting with Poppy for a Sunday brunch on the middle of the arc of their shared balcony in the adjoining hotel penthouse apartments at the ZaZa hotel. The leaders for the Evolutis expedition team to the Sagittarius cluster to seek out the location of the giant maelstrom was a success. There engagement with the GateKeeper went better than expected and his help and assurance that the Maelstrom’s role as portal to the adjacent galaxy would remain open to them. Today’s gathering found them sitting in silence enjoying the soft mashup of  sound from cutlery on dishes and background birdsong from the distant park and gardens below. Each had dressed in the promise of a substantial jog in a warm winter sun, and happily postponed the  pleasure of a leisurely moment of indulgence with warm bagels and dark coffee.

While Meret's normal life once began each day in this mode and she needed to distance herself from the uncertainties of life in the CIA. She stretched the shoulders of her six-foot frame, cracked her neck bones and then speaking to no one said, This is the life I've always wanted to have with you guys.

The sun broke through the morning fog and warm shafts of brightness filled their faces. Meret loved the sun and thrived being in it more than she should. She imagined Poppy is off camping somewhere in Australia's outback. Meret enjoyed covering her nose and ears in sunscreen and , who hadn't shaved for several weeks seldom wore short shirts and always took to shade when given the choice. She stayed in the warm glow and slowly ran her hands over her Carmel chocolate forearms and thanked her long gone Egyptian mother for sharing her genes.

Poppy tugged at the corner of her ubiquitous walkabout floppy tarp hat before folding her Sunday copy of the Times to page one . Crikey, take a gander at this, will ya? She held it for them to see. Somebody's gone off pissed. Meret and Granger quickly shifted their copies of the Times to the same full page ad.

Meret read aloud. Holy Shit, Fifty-Four CEO's of the top world-wide pharmco has been publicly denounced for unethical pricing practices and have been targeted, her voice emphasized , for assassination.

The trio pulled their papers back from the table and exchanged glances. No one spoke until Granger said, And below the list of names, they promise that  one of the CEOs will be killed each week of the new year, until those remaining publicly adhere to the published demands.

Poppy added, Right, and whoever they are, their demands are clear. Says here the first CEO is scheduled for death during the first week in January unless, . . .

She paused and Meret jumped in. Holy shit. There's no way this first guy isn't gonna die. The first week in January is only six days away. None of these CEOs are going to agree to all of these demands in such a short time.

Granger added, If at all. You're right about that. It's going to take some spilled blood before these greedy bastards consider to comply. I'll bet they are already scrambling for their secret safe house. He folded his paper and tapped his finger on it. And as your new head of security, I'll wager this will have an impact on our business in many ways.

Meret nodded and continued reading. This has bad biology written all over it.

Seeing nothing to add on the back side of the full-page ad she folded her paper and pushed back from the table to stand. You are correct, Granger, I agree they'll run for cover, but I think you're wrong about the blood part, unless the terrorists plan to use an Ebola variant.

Poppy looked over her paper and rolled her eyes up to Meret's. You're thinking some kind of virus is behind all this?

Meret nodded. Definitely, this has to be an engineered smart killing virus.

Granger folded his fingers behind his head and stretched. I think you're on to something, but this isn't like targeting the President in a room at a designated time. These CEOs have been alerted and have the resources to hide anywhere in the world and you can bet your ass there's a bunch of company jets being refueled right now.

I’f I were one of them I’d pack my kit for sure. Poppy pointed at him for emphasis, And go walkabout right now.

Hey. Wait a minute. Meret picked up her folded copy of the Times and re-examined the list of names. That's strange. Missing from the list of fifty-four names is John K. Jackson of the Houston based pharmco Jackson & Jackson. She tossed the paper into her chair. I've known JK Jackson since I was a little girl. He's an old family friend. I haven't seen him since we last met at Grandfather Elias' place in River Oaks a few years back before I graduated from Rice. I wonder if Grandfather knows something about the list and why JK's name's not on it.

Her phone vibrated and then began to ring as she pulled it from the back pocket of her shorts. Without glancing at anyone she turned from the table and walked quickly toward the far end of the long curved balcony. She sees Elias' distressed face on the screen and takes his call. Speaking softly, she says, Grandfather, is this about JK?

You saw the Times?

Yeah.

His face flashes with a startled expression. Why? Yes. I'm not surprised you caught that. I'm glad you remembered him and why his name might be missing from that goddamn hit list.

Meret began to pace. I've always admired his humanity and social conscience. You seem upset, grandfather, what's going on?

JK called me and arranged meeting in the park next to the ZaZa at the top of the hill by the theatre in twenty minutes and I need you to hear what he has to say.

Why not here inside the ZaZa? After the recent attack on the government, we raised our level of security for our VIP clientele. I can arrange for a secure private room.

"That was my first thought but JK was told they are monitoring his activities