Jeremiah Crowell

So as Robert Stevens is lying in a coma, investigators put a sample of his spinal fluid on a private jet and fly it halfway across the country directly to Paul.

So as Robert Stevens is lying in a coma, investigators put a sample of his spinal fluid on a private jet and fly it halfway across the country directly to Paul.

A few hours later, Paul gets in his truck and heads to the small local airport in Flagstaff. He doesn't know quite what to expect.

A few hours later, Paul gets in his truck and heads to the small local airport in Flagstaff. He doesn't know quite what to expect.

Paul may not be in a Hollywood movie right now, but in a way, he is a detective. And in this very moment, the fate of American biosecurity is quite literally in his hands. So he takes that package and drives it back to his lab. And there he goes into the biosafety suite and opens the box.

Paul may not be in a Hollywood movie right now, but in a way, he is a detective. And in this very moment, the fate of American biosecurity is quite literally in his hands. So he takes that package and drives it back to his lab. And there he goes into the biosafety suite and opens the box.

And inside that is a vial with the spores found in Robert Stevens' spinal fluid.

And inside that is a vial with the spores found in Robert Stevens' spinal fluid.

Once Paul knows that, he needs to figure out what strain it is.

Once Paul knows that, he needs to figure out what strain it is.

Think about this. Here's a college science professor, an expert in theoretical bioterrorism. And now he's seeing right up close anthrax from what appears to be an actual bioterrorist.

Think about this. Here's a college science professor, an expert in theoretical bioterrorism. And now he's seeing right up close anthrax from what appears to be an actual bioterrorist.

Paul's lab is the only place in the world that now knows the very threat weighing on Agent Scott Decker and the FBI is the real deal.

Paul's lab is the only place in the world that now knows the very threat weighing on Agent Scott Decker and the FBI is the real deal.

For the moment, the story hasn't spread to the media. Paul Keim and the FBI have only a short window to try to get answers before the bad news spreads. And they're all wondering the same thing. Was it the 9-11 hijackers who deployed this anthrax? Jean Malecki, the health director in Florida, worries about that too.

For the moment, the story hasn't spread to the media. Paul Keim and the FBI have only a short window to try to get answers before the bad news spreads. And they're all wondering the same thing. Was it the 9-11 hijackers who deployed this anthrax? Jean Malecki, the health director in Florida, worries about that too.

If there was an aerial attack, is it possible the 9-11 hijackers, or people working with them, had dropped anthrax in an area that included Robert Stevens' backyard? Is that how it ended up in his system? Stevens' home was less than a mile from an airstrip, so his house could have easily been in the path of travel.

If there was an aerial attack, is it possible the 9-11 hijackers, or people working with them, had dropped anthrax in an area that included Robert Stevens' backyard? Is that how it ended up in his system? Stevens' home was less than a mile from an airstrip, so his house could have easily been in the path of travel.

Jean takes a biohazard crew to scour the property from top to bottom.

Jean takes a biohazard crew to scour the property from top to bottom.