Finding Dani (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 3) by Kori David

and hoisted the kid over his shoulder in a fireman carry. He just hoped the kid didn’t puke all over him. “Lead the way.”
    They passed the two soldiers that had been in the tent with Jenson. Damon waved them over. “You two need to come with us and get checked out.”
    “What’s going on, sir?” The younger one said.
    “We have Ebola in the camp,” Damon said. “The three of us need to get checked out along with Jenson here.”
    The other soldier said, “Shit. How the hell did that happen? We haven’t been anywhere near the villagers.”
    “Not sure, but let’s just make sure we don’t have it, and then figure out the rest.”
    They muttered between themselves, but followed along. At a distance. The instant fear in their voices pissed Damon off. These kids hadn’t signed up for a monster with a pet virus. They looked barely out of high school. When he found who was doing this, he wasn’t sure he could wait for justice to prevail. And it wouldn’t be the first time he’d taken matters into his own hands.
    Once inside the medical tent, he headed for the heavy plastic. Dr. Monty Nelson had run ahead and was busy moving a bed over and away from the other beds. The rest of the hospital staff had been busy setting up a new infirmary on the other side of the camp for normal maladies and injuries. This tent was now the containment area.
    He settled Jenson and turned to leave. Dani’s hand on his arm stopped him.
    “I need a sample of your blood,” she said.
    He flinched, but nodded. “Alright, but be quick. I have a call to make and I need to find Hailey, since she was the last one seen with Jenson.”
    “You need to stay here with the other two soldiers, Damon. You’ve been exposed.”
    He could feel himself grimace at her words. He knew that. “This whole damn place has been exposed at this point, Dani. Jenson was a radio operator in the command tent and had dinner tonight with A and B Company in the chow hall. Who do you think he hasn’t been in contact with?”
    She sighed. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to keep an eye on you.”
    “You can keep your eyes all over me, anytime you want.”
    That dragged a reluctant smile out of her, just like he hoped. He was serious, but he gave her a wink and a smile as he sat down next to her work area. “But for now, draw some blood and let me go find Hailey.”
    “You think she did this?”
    “I think she’s on my suspect list, especially since no one has seen her for hours.”
    “She might be sick, Damon.”
    He nodded. He’d thought about that too, in which case, she needed to be found ASAP. “I’ll find her, Dani.”
    “Thank you.”
    After she’d taken a vial of blood and marked his name on it, he stood and put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her in for a quick hug. “You be careful, Red.”
    “This is what I do, Damon. It’s what I’m good at.”
    “I know you are. And I’m headed out to do what I’m good at.”
    “You planning on killing someone?” Her whisper was low and playful, but he could see the worry in her eyes.
    “That’s not the only thing I’m good at. I also play a mean game of poker.”
    “And fly helicopters.”
    “See, I’m good at all kinds of things.”
    With a last squeeze of her shoulders through the bunny suit, he slipped out of the tent. He planned to avoid anyone he came into contact with, but he wanted his scope and the SAT phone.
    He had a call to make.

Chapter 10

    The call picked up after the second ring. “Yeah?”
    “Tell me you have something for me, Mike,” Damon said. He was up on the same hill in some scrubby brush that provided some decent cover. He had the SAT phone to one ear and a scope to one eye. Night vision goggles would have been better, but he was damned good without them, so he’d just grabbed the scope for this outing.
    “I have some. I’ll have more when Zach and Jesse check in.”
    “What are they doing?”
    Mike chuckled. “What they do best.