remained in good hands — even if the team could only afford one human and two vamps, William and Daniel, on site at the moment.
Dixon felt a heavy weight upon his shoulders. The Colony needed more team members. The current president was single. In years past, the team stood divided between the president, his wife and any children they may have had. Now, thanks to Homeland Security, the team would be even more shorthanded during the next presidential election since one team member would have to accompany the current president and the candidate running against him. Dixon sighed. Worse yet, a two–term exiting president and two new candidates for the job and their families would all need to be protected. The team definitely needed to grow, but evidently not with him as a vampire team member.
Dixon sighed. All the members were scattered, with more work to do than members to fill all the slots. If you weren’t directly protecting the president, you were doing cleanup with the press.
The team planned to tell the press that Marine One had safely transported the president to Camp David and that the man currently enjoyed some well deserved rest and relaxation. Of course, right now Mason’s discovery remained suspicious. But, Dixon couldn’t focus on that potential nightmare. He had to focus on Sulie’s disappearance. He needed to bring her home.
Pacing in front of the conference room table where the team sat, Dixon felt the muscles in his back tighten. Too many unanswered questions existed, as did too many ignored texts to Sulie. Even if she was upset, why wouldn’t she at least let them know she was all right?
Dixon wrung his hands in worry. It had been a long night. Tossing and turning — but mostly worrying. Marine One had taken off at 6:00 am, Dixon had arrived early enough to see Daniel, not Sulie, board the helicopter. And Raymond had agreed that it wasn’t like Sulie to dodge her official duty by missing the flight, especially without securing a backup for the president. Dixon felt relieved to now have Raymond on his side. After all, Sulie wasn’t a scotch drinking slacker. Her career meant everything to her and it had always seemed to fulfill her. She had even taken on extra assignments in the past.
Dixon thought back to what Raymond had said. Dixon would never have guessed Sulie wanted to be married. It felt odd thinking of her dating someone. She never dated, at least not that he had known about. Actually, now that he thought about it, why hadn’t she dated? Even if he didn’t allow himself to think of her in such a way, he knew she was quite the catch — and any vampire would be lucky to have her.
He sighed heavily. Whatever crisis Sulie was going through, she did so alone. Why hadn’t she confided in him? She had always told him everything. No secret seemed too personal, or so he thought. Plus, who had she been engaged to? And why would the vampire break up with her? She was a prize.
The conference phone line rang and Dixon jumped, taking him back into the moment. His eyes were bloodshot and his body ached from lack of sleep. He watched as Ben answered the phone and put it on speaker. Another Colony member, Alex, Raymond’s wife, had dialed in. She was down in the maternity wing of the hospital.
Dixon originally had picked Alex as his replacement as director for the team, but love got in the way. Raymond could not resist the redhead’s beauty and charm, and Alex fell for him the moment she met him. She was one of the lucky ones. The Council approved her turn right away. She was an athletic human, in her late thirties, and highly skilled in team operations. Dixon figured it was an easy decision for the Council to approve her turn. He again wondered why his request had been so quickly denied.
“ Unfortunately, there’s nothing to report ,” Alex’s voice came from the intercom.
Ben typed on his keyboard and a record list from the day before appeared on the large screen on the smart wall of the
Dixon felt a heavy weight upon his shoulders. The Colony needed more team members. The current president was single. In years past, the team stood divided between the president, his wife and any children they may have had. Now, thanks to Homeland Security, the team would be even more shorthanded during the next presidential election since one team member would have to accompany the current president and the candidate running against him. Dixon sighed. Worse yet, a two–term exiting president and two new candidates for the job and their families would all need to be protected. The team definitely needed to grow, but evidently not with him as a vampire team member.
Dixon sighed. All the members were scattered, with more work to do than members to fill all the slots. If you weren’t directly protecting the president, you were doing cleanup with the press.
The team planned to tell the press that Marine One had safely transported the president to Camp David and that the man currently enjoyed some well deserved rest and relaxation. Of course, right now Mason’s discovery remained suspicious. But, Dixon couldn’t focus on that potential nightmare. He had to focus on Sulie’s disappearance. He needed to bring her home.
Pacing in front of the conference room table where the team sat, Dixon felt the muscles in his back tighten. Too many unanswered questions existed, as did too many ignored texts to Sulie. Even if she was upset, why wouldn’t she at least let them know she was all right?
Dixon wrung his hands in worry. It had been a long night. Tossing and turning — but mostly worrying. Marine One had taken off at 6:00 am, Dixon had arrived early enough to see Daniel, not Sulie, board the helicopter. And Raymond had agreed that it wasn’t like Sulie to dodge her official duty by missing the flight, especially without securing a backup for the president. Dixon felt relieved to now have Raymond on his side. After all, Sulie wasn’t a scotch drinking slacker. Her career meant everything to her and it had always seemed to fulfill her. She had even taken on extra assignments in the past.
Dixon thought back to what Raymond had said. Dixon would never have guessed Sulie wanted to be married. It felt odd thinking of her dating someone. She never dated, at least not that he had known about. Actually, now that he thought about it, why hadn’t she dated? Even if he didn’t allow himself to think of her in such a way, he knew she was quite the catch — and any vampire would be lucky to have her.
He sighed heavily. Whatever crisis Sulie was going through, she did so alone. Why hadn’t she confided in him? She had always told him everything. No secret seemed too personal, or so he thought. Plus, who had she been engaged to? And why would the vampire break up with her? She was a prize.
The conference phone line rang and Dixon jumped, taking him back into the moment. His eyes were bloodshot and his body ached from lack of sleep. He watched as Ben answered the phone and put it on speaker. Another Colony member, Alex, Raymond’s wife, had dialed in. She was down in the maternity wing of the hospital.
Dixon originally had picked Alex as his replacement as director for the team, but love got in the way. Raymond could not resist the redhead’s beauty and charm, and Alex fell for him the moment she met him. She was one of the lucky ones. The Council approved her turn right away. She was an athletic human, in her late thirties, and highly skilled in team operations. Dixon figured it was an easy decision for the Council to approve her turn. He again wondered why his request had been so quickly denied.
“ Unfortunately, there’s nothing to report ,” Alex’s voice came from the intercom.
Ben typed on his keyboard and a record list from the day before appeared on the large screen on the smart wall of the
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