Don't Order Dog_ 1(67)

Tatyana’s mind suddenly seized on an idea.

The archive room.

Built of thick, lead-lined walls, the archive room was essentially a large fire-proof safe designed to protect the lab’s paper-based research. A relic of the past, the room’s once massive library of information had long ago been digitalized, leaving it to now serve as little more than a glorified storage closet for outdated or broken lab equipment. Nevertheless, the room was still accessible only through a single, vault-like door armed with a sophisticated electronic keypad. And I know the code Tatyana thought excitedly as she stood there staring at the American. Of course, the hardest part of the plan would be finding a way to get a head start on her assailant. But if she could somehow get to the room and lock herself inside, Tatyana calculated she would have enough oxygen to survive until her colleagues arrived the next morning. Her legs quivered with anxiety as she considered her next move.

“Dr Aleksandrov, on the day your research was published, a chain of events was set in motion that you couldn’t begin to imagine, nor would you want to.” The American’s voice trailed off as his fingers stroked the dark steel barrel of the gun. “As I’m sure you’ve learned in your professional career, business and science make for strange bedfellows. They both see the world very differently. Like any doomed relationship, the only thing they seem to agree on is that they can’t live without each other.”

Tatyana tensed as the American casually cupped the pistol in his hand as he continued talking. She had to make her move soon.

“Whereas the mind of science is focused purely on the joy of discovery, the mind of business is focused purely on the exploitation of that discovery.” The man paused and looked her in the eyes. “Tonight, Tatyana, you’re unfortunately experiencing the business side of your discovery.”

Tatyana sprang forward and grabbed the edge of the table just as the American raised the gun. She screamed out in terror, feeling a torrent of strength-giving adrenalin course through her arms as she pulled the heavy table into the air and tossed it forward on top of the man. She turned and sprinted from the cafeteria as the muffled sound of surprised laughter echoed behind her. As she bolted through the door and began running down the long corridor, her heart felt as if it was going to explode from her chest.

Faster… faster! she told herself.

A hundred meters ahead, the door to the archive room stood quietly next to her research laboratory. The distance appeared maddeningly far, and Tatyana felt like she was in the middle of a slow-moving nightmare as she rushed towards it.

“Dr. Aleksandrov!” the American’s voice suddenly cried out in the corridor behind her.

Tatyana ran even faster. She knew stopping or even looking back would only make her an easier target.

“Tatyana!”

The door to the archive room was tantalizingly close when something sharp stabbed forcefully into the right side of Tatyana’s back. She cried out in alarm when a second, more intense sting pierced the back of her neck. To her horror, her limbs immediately began to feel sluggish, forcing her to slow to a stumbling walk. Tatyana reached back frantically to find the source of the pain. Her fingers touched something hard protruding from the base of her neck. She pulled it free and glanced terrified at the object in her hand. It looked like a child’s toy, a tiny rocket comprised of a long metallic tube and four miniature, wing-like fins at its base. Only the short needle at its tip revealed the object’s true purpose.

“Move!” Tatyana screamed, pleading with her body as she tossed the tranquilizer dart to the ground. But it was no use. Just a few short steps from the door to the archive room, her legs went numb and she fell heavily to the floor.

Seconds later, Tatyana realized she was completely paralyzed.

She laid motionless, sprawled out on the cold linoleum floor staring at the door to the archive room as the sound of the American’s footsteps echoed behind her. Moments later, a pair of black leather shoes stepped into view just inches from

her face.

“Vecuronium bromide,” the man said quietly as he dropped his backpack on the floor next to her. He then kneeled down and quickly took her pulse. “A very effective paralyzing agent, as you would no doubt agree if you could speak.” He gently removed the other tranquilizer dart before turning Tatyana onto her back and carefully straightening her arms and legs. She watched expressionlessly as he examined her, his hands deftly checking her arms and legs. Satisfied, he then reached into his backpack for something. Tatyana felt her pulse rise as a large needle and syringe came into view.

“Don’t worry, Dr. Aleksandrov, no more vecuronium. I just need some blood samples if you don’t mind.”