The Messiah Code

Chapter One

Midnight. December 10, 2002
Stockholm, Sweeden

It continues to snow. As it has done throughout the award ceremony and the celebration banquet that followed. Huge flakes of white fall from the dark sky, appearing suddenly in the powerful lights that illuminate the red brick of the Stadshuset, Stockholm's City Hall. Despite the cold and the snow, a small hardy crowd has gathered by the steps to watch the royal couple and the prizewinners leave.

Hands pushed deep into overcoat pockets, one broadshouldered figure moves to the front, perhaps hoping for a better view. But as Olivia follows Dr. Tom Carter out of the City Hall and into the Swedish night, she doesn't notice this watcher's unusual eyes staring at her husband.

She's too busy checking that her eight-year-old daughter buttons her red coat. "Put your hat on too, Holly. It's freezing."

Holly scrunches up her hazel eyes as she buttons her collar. "It makes me feel dorky."

"Dorky? That's a new one." Olivia laughs and puts the Russian-style fur hat over Holly's spiky blond hair. "Anyway, it's better to feel dorky than cold."

"You don't look dorky, Holly," Tom says, turning to his daughter. He crouches down to Holly's level, his blue eye ... read full excerpt from The Messiah Code ebook