His phone rang. The display showed an unfamiliar number. Only Elizabeth Harker and Stephanie had his number, and it wasn't either one of them.
The phone rang again.
"Yes."
"Nick, this is DCI Hood. There's been an accident. Director Harker is badly hurt."
Selena was nearby and saw the look on his face.
"What's the matter?"
"It's Hood. What happened, Director?"
"She was on her way to the hospital with Stephanie. The lead car in her convoy blew a tire and flipped over. They were in the middle of heavy traffic. It caused an eighteen car collision and Elizabeth's car was caught in the middle of it. She was in surgery for more than six hours. Now she's in intensive care."
"Shit."
"Yes."
"What about Steph? Is she alright?"
"Shaken up and badly bruised from the airbag, but yes, she's all right."
Selena had been listening to Nick's end of the conversation.
"What about the baby? Ask him about the baby."
"I heard that," Hood said. "The baby is fine. He had quite an entrance, just as they were bringing the two of them into the emergency ward."
"The baby is okay," Nick said to Selena. "But Harker is in intensive care."
"You need to come back, Nick."
"Right."
"I've sent my Gulfstream to pick you up. It should arrive about 1900 your time today."
"Thank you, Director."
"Elizabeth is in serious condition and the prognosis is guarded. She's going to be out of commission for some time. I don't think Stephanie is the best choice to take over at the moment. She has a new baby and she's had a bad shock. She needs time off. Can you run things for a while, until Elizabeth recovers?"
"Of course, Director."
"All the resources of Langley are at your disposal. Analysis, surveillance, whatever you need."
"Thank you."
"You may not thank me when you find out what you're dealing with. But we'll talk about that when you get here."
"Copy that."
"I'll see you when you get back."
Hood broke the connection.
"Well?" Selena asked. "What did he say?"
"Harker is in intensive care and the doctors are hedging their bets. He's asked me to take over for her."
"What about Steph? She's Elizabeth's Deputy."
"Hood thinks she needs time off. He's right, but I'm not looking forward to doing Elizabeth's job. The last time she was out of action, I had Steph to help me hold down the fort. She handled all the political stuff and the day-to-day and I pretty much kept doing what I'd been doing before. It was a real stretch until Elizabeth came back."
"They're both fine? Stephanie and the baby?"
"That's what he said."
"We have to go back."
"We are. Hood is sending his plane to pick us up. We're leaving tonight."
"I wonder if Steph found out anything about the Grail?" Selena said.
"If she did, Hood didn't mention it. We'll ask her when we get there." Nick looked at his watch. "I'd better go tell Ronnie and Lamont what's happened."
"It makes you wonder," Selena said.
"What does?"
"Whether or not we're meant to find it."
"The Grail?" Nick said. "We either find it or we don't."
"You don't think there might be more going on here?"
"Like what?"
"What if it really is more than just a cup? What if there is a mystical connection to it? If there is, only the right person can find it."
"It's just a story, made up a thousand years ago to keep people entertained. Medieval TV, sitting around the fire pit listening to the minstrel."
"Maybe," she said.
CHAPTER 46
Back in Washington, Selena and Nick made a quick stop at home and went to the hospital. They visited Stephanie first. She had two black eyes and bruises all over. Aside from that, she'd escaped with nothing more than an aching body and a wrenched shoulder. It was Elizabeth's side of the car that had taken most of the impact in the crash.
The new baby lay on the bed next to Stephanie. The two women bent over the sleeping child, talking in low voices. Nick stood nearby wondering what else to do after congratulating Stephanie. He decided to ask about the Grail later.
"Where's Lucas?" Nick asked.
"Shh, you'll wake the baby," Selena said.
"Don't worry about that," Stephanie said. "He's like his father. He's a sound sleeper, at least when he's asleep."
"What's his name?"
"Michael."
"I thought Lucas would be here," Nick said.
"He had to go over to Langley. Something's up, I'm not sure what. I should be used to it by now. Have you seen Elizabeth yet?"
"Not yet."
"She's in ICU. It's on the third floor."
"You go ahead, Nick. I'll join you in a few moments," Selena said.
Nick left the room and headed for the elevator.
Glad to get out of there, aren't you?
His critical inner voice whispered to him. He never knew when it was going to stick it's two cents worth into his life.
"Always got something to say, don't you?" he said out loud.
A nurse passing in the hall gave him a wary look.
On the third floor he followed arrows painted on the wall to the intensive care unit. Elizabeth's room had a glass window that allowed hospital staff to observe her and kept visitors and their germs at a distance. Nick recognized two of the security team sitting in the hall. They nodded to him as he approached. Clarence Hood stood outside the viewing window, looking in.
"Hello, Nick."
"Director."
Nick looked through the window. Elizabeth lay on her back, slightly raised in the hospital bed. Her head was tightly bandaged and locked into a brace. She looked as white as the sheets she lay on. Her eyes were closed. A bag dripped clear liquid into one of her veins. A second bag hung next to it.
A monitor near the bed displayed a steady stream of half a dozen vital functions in bright, digital colors. More machines stood ready nearby. Nick didn't know what their function was, but they looked as though you'd be in deep trouble if you needed them.
Intensive care wasn't a fun place to be.
"She's sedated," Hood said. His voice sounded strained. "I can't talk to her, let her know I’m here."
Nick and Selena had speculated about the relationship between Elizabeth and Hood and wondered whether or not the rumors were true. The way Hood was looking at Elizabeth told him they were. Hood's face had the haunted look of a man who thought someone he deeply cared for might die. Nick had seen that kind of face before, but not on the director of the CIA.
"She has a cracked cervical vertebra, three broken ribs, a hairline fracture in her skull and a broken collarbone," Hood said. "One of the ribs punctured a lung."
"She's tough. She'll pull through."
"I know," Hood said. "But seeing her like that… "
"It never gets easy."
"All these years, working in the agency, I never once had to go through this. Waiting to see if someone close was going to live or die."
"She's made it this far," Nick said. "If were you, I'd stick with that thought."
Hood turned to look at him. "You have no idea how refreshing it is to have someone say it like it is. Thanks. I was beginning to let my self-pity get the best of me."
"I know the feeling," Nick said.
"You're stepping into a bad situation," Hood said. "I don't want to brief you here. In any event it can wait until tomorrow."
Nick looked at Elizabeth, lying unconscious.
"You'd better count on being in charge for a while," Hood said.
CHAPTER 47
Early the next morning, Selena sat in the kitchen in a Japanese robe, sipping coffee and thinking about Stephanie.