The Cup

CHAPTER 45

Nick and Selena were quartered in housing reserved for visiting officers. It was functional and well used, decorated with the same government furnishings and boring colors Nick had seen a thousand times in his career. Interior decor was not a military specialty.

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.