Murder Burger: Book One in the Perseus Ecoterrorism Thriller Series (The Perseus Eco Terror Thrillers 1) by Brian Hartman

Author:Brian Hartman [Hartman, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Doodle Media, LLC
Published: 2024-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Working in a research lab at a prestigious university afforded all sorts of luxury accommodations for a scientist. High-end equipment, access to a community of fellow scientists, and so much more. Working in a shed by yourself offered little in the way of intellectual stimulation. No eager undergrads wanting to get their name on the list of authors for a paper, willing to do even the most menial tasks to be included on the team. Here it was simply Chloe, her streaming music, and tank upon tank of mosquitoes at various stages of development.

Chloe’s new lab exchanged two shelves of small aquarium-sized tanks with four large plastic septic tanks, each holding seven hundred and fifty gallons of water. Each tank had a whiteboard mounted near the lid containing a simple description. The first tank read “G3, August 4.” The last tank said “G6, August 21.”

“Okay, who’s hungry?” said Chloe, staring at the tanks. She walked over to a fifty-five-gallon drum of nutrient solution standing off to the side of a single ten-foot garage door. Holding up a one-gallon jug, she pumped the handle on a transfer pump connected to the lid, filling the jug quickly. She donned a beekeeper’s helmet and gloves and then walked toward the tanks.

Chloe picked up a small stepladder and placed it next to the first tank and reached up to unscrew the lid. She smacked the lid twice and then quickly unscrewed it. Once it was open enough, she dumped the contents of the solution onto a floating mat inside the tank and then screwed the lid back in place. “You little bastard,” she said, slapping a bug that had landed on her long-sleeved shirt. “I’m not on the menu.” She repeated the process for each of the remaining tanks. By the time she had finished, several mosquito smears decorated her sleeves and pant legs.

“August 22, as good a day for liberation as any other, don’t you think?” After waiting a moment, she sighed and continued speaking. “I’m not sure what’s worse. Talking to mosquitoes or waiting to see if they reply.” Chloe unlocked her phone and sent Perseus a message.

Today’s the day. First large batch of mosquito larvae to be released. Planning it for a retention pond by Naptown Raceway. There is a huge electric vehicle race in a week.

She pocketed her phone and then pushed a button by the garage door. The motor mounted above the rail sprang to life and lifted the door with a soft clanking sound. Hot, humid air blew into the shed as Chloe walked through the opening toward a large gray truck parked next to her Volt. A vinyl decal on the side read Moss Hatchery. She grabbed a water hose and pulled it toward the truck.

“Thanks Preston, this should work just fine.” She climbed up a steel ladder installed on the driver’s side of the truck. It led to a narrow walkway that ran the length of the custom truck bed. Four steel tanks occupied the

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