Read Quarantine for Free Online Page A

could go make your own,” Dean offered helpfully and laughed when Jasen flipped him the finger.
    “Can I have a bite of your burger?” Nate asked, leaning over my shoulder and sniffing the sandwich in my hand.
    I rolled my eyes but lifted the bun so he could take a large bite out of it. He kissed my cheek, leaving a greasy lip print on my face before walking over to sit by Dean.
    We devoured the food in minutes and when the baskets were empty Dean, Jasen and I looked expectantly at Nate who groaned theatrically but stood and walked into the kitchen to make more.
    While he was frying more appetizers, Jasen found the remote for the television and flipped it on. Dean cried out in surprise when a picture of the bar came on screen.
    “Hey Nate, get your bony ass out here,” Dean called. “We’re on TV.”
    Jasen turned up the volume, and we listened as the chipper newsgirl talked about the quarantined bar in Jericho Falls. They went live to the scene, and I think we were all shocked to see a bubble had been erected around the place while we’d been…otherwise occupied.
    “I’m speaking with the senior CDC advisor on scene, Rebeccah,” a short man with too perfect hair and teeth said into his microphone before turning to a short, dark haired man in a suit. “Sir, can you tell us the situation here?”
    “We were alerted earlier this evening that someone has deposited large quantities of Anthrax inside the building. We cannot yet confirm or deny that this is true, but we at the CDC feel it would be unwise to take any chances. We’ve quarantined three men and one woman inside until we can figure out if the threat is real.”
    “When do you think you’ll have answers?” the reporter asked.
    “We’re not sure. We’ll start testing the potential victims tomorrow. But we’re working with a mobile unit, and samples will have to be sent to Atlanta for examination before we’ll be comfortable lifting the quarantine.”
    “Thank you for your time, sir.” The reporter turned back to the camera. “A shocking scene here in the small town of Jericho Falls. Our thoughts are with the poor souls trapped inside and their families. We’ll be here live on scene throughout this developing story. Keep it tuned in to WKLB News for more updates as they become available.”
    Jasen muted the television and we all looked around at each other with a mixture of horror and amusement on our faces.
    I shrieked and jumped when noise exploded around us. Cell phones, the bar phone, and the alarms on the fryer all went off creating an unexpected cacophony of sound that had scared the hell out of me.
    The men fumbled with their cells while Nate ran to pick up the business phone. Choruses of “We’re all fine,” and “Stop crying” rang through the room. Since I didn’t have anyone who was worried about me, I went back into the kitchen to take care of the food.
    Not wanting to go back out and listen to the men talk to their loved ones, reassuring them that everything was fine, I dumped the food in the baskets and climbed back up on the counter, a full tray of cheese sticks on my lap and started eating so I had something to do.
    “Jo?” Dean called from the other room. “Where did you go?”
    “I’m in here!” I yelled back around a mouthful of scalding hot mozzarella.
    “Aw man, she’s hogging all the food,” Jasen complained as I heard him rush toward the door. “You’d better not have eaten all the poppers.”
    I laughed as he darted through the swinging door and glared at me. Pointing at the basket of deep-fried, stuffed jalapenos, I giggled again at the look of relief on his face.
    “I’d hate to have to fight a girl over my peppers,” he said. He picked up a few of the baskets and jerked his head to indicate I should follow him. With a sigh, I slid to my feet and protectively carried my cheese sticks toward the table we’d all just vacated.
    Nate was still on the bar phone, his back to the room. Dean had sat when the