Page 75 of The Lazarus Protocol

The sound of it echoed through him, busting through the confusion like a figure emerging from the smoke. “Sometimes I think about quitting and fighting wildfires instead of bad guys.”

“Phoenix.”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

Adam glanced over at the glass. “Look at me.”

Dan shook his head. “Doesn’t matter how good you are, there’s always someone in the world who is better. That’s why we’re a team.”

Adam stared at the computer, trying to remember what he was doing. “Is Steph out of the water yet?” If he looked out the windows, would he see her floating in the river like that dead doctor? He could…

His thoughts stuttered, and the screen drew his attention. A flashing cursor.

“Identity confirmed. Adam Russell Helton. Deceased.” The electronic voice was so loud it was probably audible over the comms channel.

“Yeah, we know that.” Adam watched his biographical details scroll across the page, followed by the timeline of his military service—including some missions that were so classified there should be no record of them. The final lines detailed how he had been killed in action.

More cursor blinking.

Then he saw more reports flash across the screen, signed by Colonel Alan Montrose.

Adam shuddered.

Page after page scrolled left. Then it shifted to psychology reports about a patient, John Smithson. Lengthy reports on his mental condition.

A notice that the patient had escaped.

Death certificates for the nurse, orderly, and the doctor who’d written those reports. Statements from hospital security, addressed to Colonel Montrose.

The screen went black.

Adam tried to absorb the fact he’d just seen the destruction of his entire life flash across the screen.

Cursor blinking.

“Conclusion: the Lazarus Protocol.”

“Adam, listen to me. You need to come over here and help me open the door. You’re bleeding on the floor, buddy.”

He stared at those two words on the screen.

“Later we can talk about what the Lazarus Protocol is,” Marina said. “Because I’d like to know.”

No one else responded.

Adam needed them all to focus on the mission. “Where’s Steph?”

“Communication detected.”

“Whoa.” Marina dragged the word out. “My whole system just flickered. I think there’s a worm that… What? This makes no…oh, no you don’t.” The comms channel crackled with static. “There’s a worm in my system. Gotta go.”

Adam couldn’t take his gaze from those two words. “The Lazarus Protocol.”

“Whatever it is can wait, Phoenix.” Dan’s tone drew his attention to the glass, where he watched his buddy. “Hey, there you are. Can you help me get the door open? Adam!”

The pain in his chest had turned to a heat that gathered steam now, blossoming in a way that didn’t feel good. “What’s going on?”