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Hoover Building

Deputy Director’s Office

Washington, D.C.

Wednesday

He said in his smooth baritone voice, “Sherlock, tell me how you think we might assist Lady Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth blinked at him. “I never considered that, nor did John Eiserly. At least he didn’t say anything to that effect.”

“Why?”

Sherlock said, “We haven’t had a whole lot of time to process this, but if we’re talking killing her, it could be revenge for Basara’s death, or for the imam’s and Bahar Zain’s imprisonment, one or all but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me they’d wait a year. So, just maybe there’s something else going on here.”

Sherlock gave him a fat smile. “Imagine, sir, three months with Hurley and she’s still alive to tell us about it.”

Everyone laughed. Looking at her, Mr. Maitland thought she’d found her grit just fine. Still, he’d call Hurley, get his opinion of her.

Sherlock laughed. “Goddess of what, I wonder.”

Mr. Maitland said, “As for you, Savich, Hurley kept threatening to get in the ring with you.”

Savich grinned. “When I feel like having a couple of bones broken, I’ll give him a call.”

Mr. Maitland turned back to Elizabeth. “And what do you have in mind? Tell me how you think we can help you.”

Mr. Maitland turned to Savich, raised a salt-and-pepper eyebrow.

Sherlock said, “Or they know about Hurley Janklov and knew that was a no-go.”

Elizabeth looked at each face, said slowly, “Do you think you can use me as bait?”

Mr. Maitland said, “Foxe? He’s fairly new to the CAU, isn’t he?”

Savich said, “True. Rome’s still feeling his way in the unit, but he’s smart and he’s resourceful.”

“So you want to throw him in the deep end, let him prove himself?”

Elizabeth rose straight up, leaned forward, and planted her palms on the conference table. “I won’t go back, sir. I can’t, not until this is over. I came here because of Sherlock. She’s Hurley’s goddess. I want her to be my goddess too. She’ll help me take care of these insane nutters.” Her chin went up. “You can’t kick me out, I’ll claim asylum. And please, call me just plain Elizabeth. After all, we’re here in the United States.”

Sherlock lightly touched her fingertips to Elizabeth’s arm as they walked past Goldie, Mr. Maitland’s own personal dragon. She actually smiled at Elizabeth. Sherlock said, “It’s past time for lunch and the baby and I are starving for a taco. What do you say, Elizabeth? You hungry?”

Elizabeth said, “I confess I’ve never eaten a taco.”