“Sarah Beth will not ever deploy outside this compound without your permission, David. No child here does, and I promise you the few who travel are exceptions. Decisions to allow our students outside the walls of St. George’s requires a tremendous amount of prayer, discussion, and consultation with families. But we do feel strongly we owe it to Sarah Beth to provide additional instruction and training.”

“We agree,” her mom said with decisive finality. “We trust you, Sarah Beth, and we trust in what God has planned for you. But you must promise me that you won’t keep things from us like you did with the Vatican.”

“I promise, Mom. I’ll never hide things from you again,” she said, wrapping her arms around her mother and feeling the shaking breath as her mom hugged her back. She pulled away and looked at both her parents. “Thank you .”

You’ve earned this, Mom said in her head. Then she turned to Pastor Dee. “We’re trusting you, Pastor Dee, and expect you to keep us informed every step of the way.”

“And I appreciate and thank you for your trust,” Pastor Dee said, folding her hands in her lap. “I take that responsibility very, very seriously.”

“So . . . ,” Sarah Beth said, playfully narrowing her eyes. “Since it’s decided, does that mean I get to learn what’s behind the white door?”

Pastor Dee rolled her eyes and smiled. “All in good time, child. All in good time.”

Sarah Beth felt a wave of excitement and a paradoxical sense of dread at this new and unexpected turn of events. She was thrilled at the prospect of what she’d learn but also uneasy. Because if God needed her now, it must mean something terrible was coming.

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

TRINITY LOOP COMPLEX

1142 HOURS LOCAL

After jumping through the requisite security hoops at the front gate, Gayle James followed Trinity Loop Road to visitor parking. A quarter of the outdoor lot had been “functionally” converted to covered parking with a series of carport structures placed end to end. After parking in an open slip in the front row, she climbed out of the car to greet Jed, who was standing at the curb  under a scaffold-supported awning that ran from the parking lot to the building. It had been only a few days since she’d seen him, but already she’d forgotten just how massive the guy was. When she clasped his outstretched hand, her own looked like a child’s hand inside.

“How was your trip?” he said, shaking her hand firmly without squeezing.

“Easy. I caught a nonstop from Dulles.” Looking around, she added, “Wow, you guys rolled out threat protocols quickly. Looks like you’re taking this threat pretty seriously.”

“Yeah, well, we can’t have our staff getting vaporized on the way to and from work,” he said with a crooked smile. “Or our guests.”

“I appreciate that,” she said, returning his smile.