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couldn’t have stolen a rabbit without being seen on the monitors. Then he had to pass several security guards on the way out—they would have noticed if he were carrying a rabbit. Finally, the scientists working in the lab the following morning would have realized immediately that an animal was missing. They might not be able to tell the difference between one rabbit and another, but they certainly know how many there are in the experiment.”
    Early though it was, his brain had fired up like the V12 engine in his Ferrari, Toni thought. But he was wrong. “I put all those security barriers in place,” she said. “And I’m telling you that no system is perfect.”
    â€œYou’re right, of course.” If you gave him good arguments, he could back down alarmingly fast. “I presume we have video footage of the last time Michael was in BSL4?”
    â€œNext thing on my checklist.”
    â€œI’ll be there at about eight. Have some answers for me then, please.”
    â€œOne more thing. As soon as the staff begin arriving, rumors will spread. May I tell people that you’ll be making an announcement?”
    â€œGood point. I’ll speak to everyone in the Great Hall at, say, nine-thirty.” The grand entrance hall of the old house was the biggest room in the building, always used for large meetings.
    Toni had then summoned Susan Mackintosh, one of the security guards, a pretty girl in her twenties with a boyish haircut and a pierced eyebrow. Susan immediately noticed the picture on the wall. “You look good in a uniform,” she said.
    â€œThanks. I realize you’re due to go off duty, but I need a woman for this job.”
    Susan raised an eyebrow flirtatiously. “I know the feeling.”
    Toni recalled the company Christmas party, last Friday. Susan had dressed like John Travolta in the movie Grease, with slicked hair, drainpipe jeans, and the kind of crepe-soled shoes known in Glasgow as brothel creepers. She had asked Toni to dance. Toni had smiled warmly and said, “I don’t think so.” A little later, after a few more drinks, Susan had asked her if she slept with men. “Not as much as I’d like,” Toni had said.
    Toni was flattered that someone so young and pretty was attracted to her, but she pretended not to notice. “I need you to stop all employees as they arrive. Set up a desk in the Great Hall, and don’t let them go to their offices or labs until you’ve spoken to them.”
    â€œWhat should I say?”
    â€œTell them there’s been a virus security breach, and Professor Oxenford is going to give them a full briefing this morning. Be calm and reassuring, but don’t go into detail—best leave that to Stanley.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œThen ask them when they last saw Michael Ross. Some will have been asked that question over the phone last night, but only those certified for BSL4, and it does no harm to double-check. If anyone has seen him since he left here on Sunday two weeks ago, tell me immediately.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Toni had a delicate question to ask, and she hesitated, then just came out with it. “Do you think Michael was gay?”
    â€œNot actively.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œInverburn is a small town. There are two gay pubs, a club, a couple of restaurants, a church . . . I know all those places and I’ve never seen him in any of them.”
    â€œOkay. I hope you don’t mind my assuming you’d know, just because . . .”
    â€œIt’s all right.” Susan smiled and gave Toni a direct look. “You’ll have to work harder than that to offend me.”
    â€œThanks.”
    That was almost two hours ago. Toni had spent most of the time since then viewing video footage of Michael Ross on his last visit to BSL4. She now had the answers Stanley wanted. She was going to tell him what had happened, and then he