An Alpha wolf.
By contrast, Selena Connor's eyes were a dark blue that was more often violet. One of her cheekbones was a little higher than the other. Her reddish hair and the color of her eyes spoke of her Celtic ancestors. Her lips were full, sensuous. It gave her a deceptive look of femininity that served her well in the field. Enemies saw only a woman, and underestimated her.
She wore a white knit Irish sweater, black slacks and black boots. A soft cast on her leg was a reminder that she'd taken a bullet in the thigh during their last mission. The cast was due to come off in a few days. A cane rested by the arm of the couch.
"What is it that you wanted to see me about that we couldn't discuss with the whole team?" Elizabeth asked.
"We thought it better to talk with you privately," Nick said. "It isn't anything that the rest of the team can't hear, but we wanted you to hear it first."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Elizabeth said.
"Why don't you go ahead?" Nick said to Selena.
"Where shall I start?"
"Start with Junior."
"Junior?" Elizabeth said.
"I'm pregnant," Selena said. "I think about eight weeks."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. Selena laughed.
"I wish I had a picture of you right now, Elizabeth."
"How long have you known?"
"Not long. I didn't realize it until right before we left for Korea."
Elizabeth took a breath. "This changes things."
"You could say that," Nick said.
"I want to go back to what I was doing before I joined the Project," Selena said. "Working with ancient manuscripts. I've received several requests in the last couple of months to either present a lecture or examine a document. As a matter of fact, I want to go to New York to examine a new find. "
"Does this mean that you're quitting?" Elizabeth asked.
Selena took a deep breath. "Yes. Nick and I have talked it over. I don't want to risk the baby by going on missions like the one we just finished."
She tapped the cast on her leg.
"You'll have to replace me with someone new for the rough stuff. I'll still be available for anything else, if you want me here. I'd like to stay involved."
"Finding someone to take your place is going to take some time."
"I know, I'm sorry. This wasn't something we planned, but I don't feel I have a choice."
"No, of course not," Elizabeth said. "Actually, I think it's wonderful."
"You do?"
"I can't wait to see how Nick handles being a father," Elizabeth said.
Nick said, "You're not the only one."
Both women started laughing.
"Okay, okay." Nick waited for them to finish.
"I've been thinking about who we might bring on," he said. "There are three or four who come to mind. They're all active or former Special Forces. They have the skills and attitude we need."
"Do the others know you're quitting?" Elizabeth asked.
"Ronnie and Lamont both know I'm pregnant. They found out by accident."
"Then they'll be expecting something like this."
"I don't think it will come as a surprise."
Elizabeth picked up her pen and began fiddling with it. "I won't pretend I'm happy about it." She set the pen down. "Selena, I'd like to propose a compromise."
"What kind of compromise?"
"I don't want to lose your expertise. You stay on as a consultant. You keep your security clearance and access. All I ask is that you keep yourself available if I need you."
"As a consultant?"
"What changes is that you no longer go with the team on a combat mission. You're free to do whatever you like when it comes to lectures, consultations and the like. You keep your pistol and your identification."
"Why would I need a weapon, if I'm not going on missions?"
"You've been part of the team for a long time and we've made a lot of enemies along the way. For your own safety, I think you should continue to be armed. It's a lot easier if it's official. Besides, if I keep you on the payroll it's a requirement."
"I have to think about it," Selena said.
"Fair enough. Let me know your answer as soon as possible."
Elizabeth looked at Nick. "Nick, I want you to give me a list of the people you're thinking of. They'll need to be vetted. If they get through that, we'll go on from there."
"I don't think that's going to be a problem, Director. High security clearance is or was part of their job description."
"Good. Assuming they all get through that, we'll begin interviewing them."
"At least there's nothing going on at the moment," Selena said. "It gives you a chance to evaluate my replacement without the pressure of a mission on top of it."
"Let's hope it stays that way," Elizabeth said.
CHAPTER 2
Nick and Selena lived in a converted loft overlooking the Potomac River and Virginia. On a clear day, it was easy to imagine armies of blue and gray marching across the view. On a day like today, there was nothing to see except a blur of sleet and freezing rain beating against the windows.
"When are you going to New York?" Nick asked.
"Tomorrow," Selena said. "The airports are a mess, but I can take the train. I'll be back tomorrow night."
"What do you make of what Friedman sent you?"
Alan Friedman was the director of the Jewish Museum in New York, the oldest museum of Jewish history in the world. He'd sent pictures of a scroll to her, asking for help in translating it.
"It's fascinating," Selena said. "It's written in biblical Hebrew."
"What does it say?"
"I can't read it yet," Selena said. "It's written in code."
"Codes were pretty simple back then," Nick said. "It should be relatively easy to crack. It's not like what they do today."
"That's true, but it could be unique to the person who wrote this. In which case I may not be able to translate it."
"Whoever wrote it, someone else would have to be able to understand it. Otherwise, why write it in the first place?"
"Sure, but that doesn't make it any easier. Codes were common in biblical days. The various armies used them. Merchants used them to conceal things from their competitors. When I look at this I can understand some words but they seem unrelated to each other. Until I can determine the underlying pattern, I can't read it."
"It's a challenge. You like challenges." He changed the subject. "I thought Harker took it pretty well today. What did you think of her offer?"
"I'm going to accept. Part of me feels like I'm letting the team down by pulling out of the missions, but mostly I feel relief."
"It's not going to be the same without you out there," Nick said.
"That's right. You're going to miss me."
"I won't miss worrying about you getting killed," Nick said.
"You'll still be out there. It's my turn to worry."
"It might not be an issue, once Corrigan takes the oath. He may disband the Project."
"I don't think he will," Selena said.
"Why not?"
"He'd be a fool to throw away one of the best tools he's got, and he doesn't strike me as anyone's fool. He needs the Project. Rice wasn't afraid to send us out, even when it could have blown up in his face. I think Corrigan will be the same. He'll be under a lot of pressure to take on all the crazies out there who want to destroy us. Besides, someone has to tell him the truth about what's going on. That's why Rice hired Elizabeth and created the Project in the first place."