Valentina was Selena's half-sister by a Russian mother. Selena's father had been a CIA agent, stationed in West Germany during the Cold War, Valentina's mother a KGB agent assigned to seduce and corrupt her father. To the dismay of their respective services, they had become lovers for real. Valentina was the product of their illicit union. It had been a shock to both sisters to learn of the existence of the other.

  "Come in. I've missed you."

  "And I have missed you as well, sister."

  "The twins are out with Anna at the moment, but she should be back soon. When did you get in?"

  "Only hour ago. I come straight here from airport."

  Valentina's English was good, but she still tended to drop the article when she was speaking. In her native language, words like "the" and "an" didn't exist.

  "We have plenty of space. There's a guest room and bath you can have," Selena said. "You can stay with us. As long as you like."

  "Nick will not object?"

  "Don't be silly. How about a cup of coffee?"

  "You have tea?"

  "I do. What flavor?"

  "Black. Strong."

  Selena busied herself brewing the tea. Valentina sat down at the table where Selena had been working on the hieroglyphic puzzle.

  "What is this you work on?" Valentina asked.

  "It's a code written in Egyptian hieroglyphics."

  "You are making progress on it?"

  "Not much. It's confusing. Whoever put it together knew what they were doing."

  "How are Elizabeth and everyone?"

  "The Project doesn't exist anymore," Selena said. "We've set up a consulting service in its place. We have a new headquarters. It's not quite what it was before, but it's never dull. Elizabeth will be happy to see you. We thought you were going to be a permanent part of the team, until they decided to ship you off to Kansas."

  "I would like to be a permanent part," Valentina said. "Your CIA thought it was better for me to hide."

  "Yes, they're like that," Selena said. "But you're here now."

  "I am not going back to Kansas."

  "I think enough time has passed that it doesn't matter anymore."

  "It will always matter, sister. Orlov will never forget or forgive."

  Vladimir Orlov was the leader of the Russian Federation. Valentina had become Orlov's mistress for a time. She'd been under orders to seduce him, but it wouldn't have made any difference whether she was under orders or not. What Orlov wanted, he got.

  He'd showered gifts upon her, promoted her, introduced her to the elite society of the Federation. One day she had been riding in a car with General Vysotsky, the Director of the SVR, when they were ambushed by armed assassins. Vysotsky was killed. The assassins had tried to kill her as well. She'd gotten away, leaving their bodies by the side of the road. She hadn't known who had ordered the attack, but it would have been foolish to return to Moscow. That was when she'd decided to defect. She'd contacted Selena and asked for her help.

  Orlov was enraged at what he saw as personal betrayal. He'd sent people to Washington to try and kidnap her, then an assassin. It hadn't worked out well for them. After that, she'd been granted asylum and placed in the witness protection program.

  And now she was here.

  "Nick is here?" Valentina asked.

  "He's out at the moment, but he'll be home soon. He'll be pleased to see you."

  "Of this, I am not so certain. The last time I was here brought much trouble."

  "Don't worry, he's not like that. Things are different now, anyway. They're not going to come after you again."

  Even as the words came out of her mouth, Selena wondered if they were true.

  Later that night, Nick and Selena lay in bed.

  "I don't think having Valentina stay here is a good idea," Nick said.

  "Why not?"

  "You know I like her, it's not that. But she's a target. Once Orlov discovers she's out of hiding, he's going to go after her, like last time. I don't want the kids exposed to that kind of danger."

  "You really think he's going to try again?"

  "Wouldn't you, if you were him?"

  Selena looked up at the ceiling. "I suppose so."

  "You know I'm right," Nick said.

  "She has to stay somewhere. She's the only family I've got, aside from you and the twins."

  "Sure, I understand that."

  "If Orlov does come after her, she's going to need help. I feel responsible for her."

  "Remember where she comes from, Selena, who she is. She's a tough cookie. She can take care of herself."

  "I still think we have to do something."

  "Harker was willing to put her on the team before," Nick said. "She'd probably do the same now. Her experience makes her a valuable asset."

  "She said she'd want to be on the team."

  "What else is she going to do? Her resume isn't what you'd call conventional."

  "You really think they might come after her again?"

  "I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't think that."

  "We could talk to Elizabeth and see what she says about taking Valentina on."

  "We could take her with us when we go in tomorrow."

  "Okay."

  Nick reached over to her. "How about a good night kiss?"

  "Only a kiss?"

  "Maybe a little more than a kiss," Nick said.

  "Only a little?"

  "Maybe a lot."

  6

  The next morning Nick, Selena, and Valentina were sitting at the kitchen counter drinking coffee. Anna and the twins could be heard laughing in the playroom down the hall from the kitchen.

  "Sister, I have been thinking. It is better I do not stay here. I will find hotel today."

  "Valentina, you're welcome here."

  "I know. But my presence puts you in danger. Mostly it puts Jason and Katrina in danger. I would not want anything to happen to you or to them because of me."

  Selena started to say something, but Valentina held up her hand.

  "Sister, I have made up my mind."

  "Selena and I were talking about you last night," Nick said.

  "Oh?"

  "I appreciate what you're saying," Nick said. "About not wanting to put the twins in danger."

  "You said yesterday you would like to work with the team again," Selena said. "You could talk with Elizabeth about it."

  "You said the Project was no longer," Valentina said.

  "In name, yes, but we still exist as a team. We still get assignments, and sometimes they can get a little hairy."

  "Hairy? I do not understand this image of hair."

  "It's an expression, Valentina," Nick said. "It means difficult or dangerous, or at least unexpected."

  "I will never understand your English idioms."

  "What do you think? Would you be interested in working with us again?"

  "I think I would like that very much."

  "Good," Selena said. "That's settled. You can ride in with us to work today. I'm sure Elizabeth will be happy to add your expertise to the group. We'll figure out where you can stay."

  "Anyone want more coffee?" Nick said.

  An hour later they pulled up in front of the house in Virginia.

  "This is now where you work?"

  "It is," Selena said. "I love old houses like this. When I saw it was on the market, I knew it would be perfect for us. There's lots of space and we're away from any neighbors, so we have plenty of privacy."

  Nick parked under the portico in front of the house. They went up the steps and through tall oak doors into a wide entrance hall. Sunlight streamed down through a large, circular skylight of diamond-shaped panes overhead. A wide staircase with a polished wood banister rose in a sweeping curve to a balcony on the second floor.

  A large oil painting on the wall above the balcony showed John Paul Jones's ship the Bonhomme Richard engaged in battle with the British ship Serapis. The painting had replaced an 18thcentury portrait of George Washington, destroyed during a vicious firefight with Japanese criminals a few months before. Fresh paint on the walls hid other damage from the fight.

  "The office is straight ahead," Selena said.

  "Does Elizabeth know I am here?" Valentina asked.

  "We thought we'd surprise her," Selena said.

  Elizabeth was writing something as they entered the office, intent on her task.

  "We brought someone to see you," Selena said.

  Elizabeth looked up. "Valentina! Where did you come from?"

  Selena burst out laughing.

  "What's so funny?" Elizabeth said.

  "The expression on your face," Selena said. "You should've seen it."

  "Hello, Elizabeth," Valentina said. "I have come from Kansas."

  "Just like Dorothy, Director," Nick said. "Showed up out of nowhere."

  "Dorothy?" Valentina said. "Who is this Dorothy?"

  "A character in a movie," Selena said. "She came from Kansas."

  Elizabeth stood. "It's great to see you, Valentina. Please, sit down. Let me get Stephanie in here."

  "Where is Steph, anyway?" Nick said.

  "With Freddie. Where else would she be?"

  Elizabeth pressed a button on an intercom on her desk.

  "Steph, can you come in, please. I have a surprise for you."

  The speaker crackled. "Right there."

  A minute later Stephanie walked into the room. Her face broke into a wide smile.

  "Valentina!"

  She went over to Selena's sister and gave her a hug.

  "Hello, Stephanie. It is nice to see you also."

  "What are you doing here? Where have you been?"

  "Let's all sit down, shall we?" Elizabeth said.

  They took seats on the couch. Stephanie sat down at her console off to the side.

  "Elizabeth, we'd like to run something by you," Selena said.

  "What is it?" Elizabeth said.

  Valentina sighed in frustration.

  English idioms.

  "We think Valentina should join the group. She'd be an incredible asset."

  "Valentina?" Elizabeth gave her a thoughtful look. "Is this something you want to do? What about witness protection?"

  "I am tired of witness protection. It is boring and I am stranger there. There is nothing for me in Kansas. People do not wish to know me. If I am truthful, perhaps I do not wish to know them. I cannot talk to anyone about who I am. It would frighten them, I think."

  It would probably scare the shit out of them, Nick thought.

  "You're not worried about Orlov finding out where you are?" Elizabeth said.

  "There is no point in worrying about things I cannot control," Valentina said. "If he sends someone after me again, I will deal with it then."

  "Mmm."

  "I think she'd be a great addition to the team," Nick said. "She has a hell of a lot of skills. She's a perfect match for us."

  "We're a consulting firm now, Nick. It's not like when we were working under the protection of the White House."

  "Smell that fresh paint?" Nick said.

  "What about it?"

  "Did a nice job of covering up the bullet holes, didn't it?"

  "So?"

  "That's a reminder not much has changed. People still end up shooting at us."

  "I've been trying to get us away from all that," Elizabeth said. "Speaking of which...have you made any progress on the scroll, Selena?"

  "I'm working on it. It's early days, yet. I thought I'd work with Freddie today. He may be able to help me figure it out."

  I would be honored to help you figure something out, Selena. What is it you are having problems with?

  Freddie's electronic voice boomed out through the room.

  "Freddie, turn down the volume," Stephanie said.

  Sorry, Stephanie.

  "It's a scroll with hieroglyphs, Freddie."

  That will be interesting, Selena. Hello, Valentina. How are you?

  "I am fine, Freddie. How are you?"

  I am always the same, unless Stephanie adds new circuits or programs. Will you be joining us, Valentina?

  "We haven't decided that yet, Freddie," Elizabeth said.

  I have learned one hundred and twenty-three new Russian songs, Valentina. Would you like to hear them?

  Stephanie interrupted. "Not right now, Freddie, thank you."

  They are very nice songs.

  "Another time would be better, Freddie," Valentina said.

  I will enjoy singing for you.

  "Where are you staying, Valentina?" Elizabeth asked.

  "I arrived yesterday. I spent last night at my sister's, but I think it is good I stay somewhere else."

  "Valentina doesn't want to risk endangering the twins, on the off chance Orlov finds out where she is and is still thinking about revenge," Selena said.

  "She could stay here for a while, until she gets settled," Elizabeth said.

  "I do not want to...how you say...impose," Valentina said.

  "Nonsense. There's plenty of room. The kitchen is well-stocked. You could stay here until you figure out something permanent. Besides, if you're going to work for me we need to get to know each other a little better. It will only take a few days to get one of the rooms ready for you."

  "You are offering me job?"

  "I am. It worked out well when you were here before."

  "I am not sure what to say. Thank you."

  "That will do," Elizabeth said.

  "Looks like the good times are here again," Nick said.

  7

  Selena and Stephanie were in Stephanie's office. Selena was looking at the papyrus scroll.

  "I've never seen anything like this," Selena said. "Normally I don't have any problems interpreting hieroglyphics. With this I can understand individual glyphs, but I can't make sense of the whole."

  "How can you tell which direction you're supposed to read it in?" Stephanie asked. "To me it looks like a bunch of figures in a square."

  "That's the easy part," Selena said. "The way the animals and birds are facing tells you whether you read from right to left or left to right."

  "Is each one of these symbols a letter?"

  "Some of them. Some are a combination that represents a sound, like two or three consonants put together."

  She pointed at a symbol that looked like half a watermelon.

  "That's one. It translates as 'neb.' See this owl? That would represent our letter 'M.'"

  "Better you than me," Stephanie said. "Let's have Freddie take a look."

  Stephanie held her smart phone over the framed scroll.

  "Can you see this clearly, Freddie?"

  Please tilt the phone forward.

  Stephanie adjusted the phone.

  Thank you Stephanie, that is clear. Hmm.

  "Hmm?" Selena said. "Did you just say 'hmm', Freddie?"

  I have noticed that humans often say hmm when they are considering something puzzling. It seemed appropriate.

  "You find this puzzling?"

  It is quite interesting. I am processing the symbols. They are straightforward, but as you told Stephanie, at first glance they make no sense as a whole.

  "You said at first glance. Does that mean you can translate what's on the scroll?"

  Yes.

  "Well? What does it say?"

  The computer was silent.

  "Freddie?" Stephanie said.

  The hieroglyphics are directions to a hidden tomb that contains the remains of the Sun God. I do not think it would be a good idea to try and find it.

  Stephanie and Selena looked at each other.

  "Why wouldn't it be a good idea, Freddie?" Stephanie asked.

  There is a warning.

  "What warning?"

  There is a curse. It states that the gods will curse anyone who enters and challenge them. All who violate the tomb will die.

  "Lovely," Stephanie said. "Sounds like the perfect tourist destination."

  "Curses are only superstition, Freddie." Selena said. "It was common for the ancient Egyptians to threaten death if someone violated a tomb."

  I am aware that curses are superstition. However, it is likely that the tomb is protected by traps. I believe anyone attempting to enter this tomb would certainly be killed. I would be distressed if you were killed, Selena.

  "From what you have translated, can you tell us the location of the tomb?"

  Yes. I referred to references from the time to determine the modern equivalents. The tomb is on the coast of the Gulf of Suez. The scroll states that it is located approximately three hundred and thirty-five stadia north of the present day city of Ras Gharib in Egypt.

  "How long is a stadia?" Stephanie asked.

  Stadia is the plural of the Greek word stadion. By modern definitions of distance there are several possibilities for the length of a stadion.

  "Freddie, use the Ptolemaic version," Selena said.

  Using the Ptolemaic version, three hundred and thirty-five stadia would be the equivalent of approximately one hundred miles.

  "So the tomb would be about one hundred miles north of Ras Gharib?

  That is correct.

  "Freddie, please bring up a map of Egypt on the monitor," Selena said.

  The map appeared.

  "Highlight the approximate location of the tomb according to your translation."

  A flashing marker appeared on the map.

  "That's right on the edge of the mountain range that follows along the coast," Nick said.

  "If it's on the coast, how come it hasn't been discovered by now?" Stephanie asked.

  It is likely that the tomb is located underground.

  "Why do you say that, Freddie?"

  The directions say that the tomb may be found in the lair of Anubis. Anubis is the Egyptian god of the underworld. Logically, if the tomb is located in the lair of Anubis, it is underground.

  "That would explain why no one's found it," Selena said. "Wherever the entrance is, it's probably been hidden for centuries. We can scan the area with ground penetrating radar. Elizabeth can set up a scan. Freddie?"