Honor Under Siege

Cam, intending to appear like a late-night business traveler, had dressed in a cotton shirt and lightweight wool trousers beneath a casual leather jacket and had exchanged her usual shoulder harness for a hip holster. She nursed her Scotch and waited fifteen minutes before calling the bartender over.

“You know, I must’ve gotten my signals crossed. I just got in from the airport and I was supposed to meet a colleague here. We’ve got a big meeting in the morning…”

“A lot of people come through here,” the stocky bartender said.

“We’ve never actually met in person. Only on the phone,” Cam said, as reluctant to give a description as he was to disclose anything about patrons. She patted her pockets as if looking for something. “Hell, maybe I got the time wrong. I thought for sure Claire said—”

“Claire.” The bartender smiled. “Yeah, she was here for a couple of minutes, but left when you didn’t show. She said if anyone came looking, to tell them room 418.”

“Thanks.” Cam dropped a ten dollar bill on the bar as she rose. “You saved me a lot of embarrassment in the morning.”

She took her time walking to the elevators, once again covertly observing those around her. Satisfied that no one was watching, she rode to the conference level and stepped off. She couldn’t access the room floors without a keycard and hadn’t planned to anyway. As expected, the foyer was empty in the middle of the night. She picked up a house phone and dialed 836.

“I’m here. Third floor.”

“I’ll come down.”

Two minutes later the elevator stopped and Valerie stepped off. She immediately pushed the up button, shaking her head in irritation as if she’d forgotten something. She did not look at Cam, who stood nearby. An up-elevator stopped and they both stepped into the empty car. Valerie, in narrow, low heeled black boots, a black boatneck sweater with a wide band at the waist, and flaring black silk slacks, looked very much as she had the first time Cam had seen her. Her hair was shorter and, rather than platinum blond, was now shot through with red highlights. Her elegant near-patrician features were strained.

The door opened on the eighth floor and Cam followed Valerie to room 836. Once inside, Cam removed her leather jacket and laid it over the back of the antique desk chair. The room was typical for the Four Seasons, with a king size bed and a formal sitting area complete with sofa, end tables, coffee table, and a minibar.

“Scotch?” Valerie asked, her voice as rich and mellow as the whiskey she offered.

“A short one,” Cam said as she walked into the sitting area.

Valerie poured an inch of the smoky liquor into two crystal rock glasses and offered one to Cam. “You didn’t bring Diane.”

Cam shook her head and drank off half the Scotch. “Did you think that I would?”

Valerie smiled softly. “No. I knew that you wouldn’t, especially after giving her the message that you would meet me here.”

“Sorry.”

“You shouldn’t be. I didn’t want her to come. I was calling her to tell her that.” Valerie sat on the sofa and sipped her Scotch, her expression distant. “I couldn’t walk out twice without saying goodbye.”

“Going somewhere?” Cam sat next to Valerie.

“What happened to your face?”

“Someone tried to run me down not far from my apartment tonight.”

Valerie lightly touched one finger to Cam’s chin, tilting her face toward the lamp. “Blair must be wild.”

“Good deduction.”

“If your face looks like this, I imagine the rest of you is pretty sore too.”

“You would be right again,” Cam said, aware that Valerie’s hand was shaking. “How are you doing?”

“I’ve been more comfortable.” Valerie dropped her hand into her lap. “You know it wasn’t me.”

“In the vehicle that tried to turn me into road kill? I know. What I don’t know is what else is going on.”

“Neither do I.” Valerie shifted until her knee lightly touched Cam’s leg. “You remembered our system.” She smiled almost wistfully. “The first time you called the service and I met you downstairs in the bar, I was surprised.”

“About what,” Cam asked gently. She was in no hurry. There was too much between them not to let Valerie say what she needed to say.

“You were gorgeous. I couldn’t imagine that a woman like you would need to…”

“Pay for it?” Cam said with a sardonic shrug.

“Find comfort with strangers.”

Cam smiled. “We’re not strangers now.”

Valerie rested her fingers lightly on Cam’s forearm. “No, we’re not. But you don’t altogether trust me, do you?”

“I know you’re a professional and I know that you’ll follow orders. Your orders might be at odds with my mission.”

“You want Matheson,” Valerie said with certainty. “And so do I.”

“Someone warned him before we could get to him.”

“I know that. What I don’t know is who.”

“The leak had to come from you,” Cam said mildly.

Valerie sighed. “Yes. I know.”

“Your handler?”

Valerie looked pained. “I don’t know. I hope not. I’ve known him fifteen years.” She met Cam’s gaze, an apology in her eyes. “I’ve told him a lot in those fifteen years.”

Cam grimaced. “I’ve already come to terms with the fact that my private life isn’t private and hasn’t been for some time. What’s his name?”

Valerie hesitated.

“Jesus, Valerie,” Cam snapped. “If he’s not dirty it won’t matter. If he is, we need to know because he’s probably not the only one. Do you seriously think that Matheson could pull off something like the assault on Blair with only one contact on the inside? For all we know, he’s got a network. For all we know, he’s going to try again.”

Cam jumped to her feet, too wired to sit, and winced at the sudden surge of pain that sliced down her back and into her right leg. She barely bit back a groan.

Valerie grasped her hand. “Sit down, Cameron. You’re in too much pain to stand.”

“What’s his name?” Cam looked down at Valerie and at their hands, still joined, remembering. She had held this woman in the night. She had come in her arms. She had found some semblance of peace in her touch during the darkest hours of her life. And she had loved her as much as she’d been able to then.

“Henry,” Valerie said softly. “That’s all I know.”

“Fifteen years and you never tried to find out more?”

Valerie shook her head. “That’s not the way things are done.”

Cam gently released Valerie’s hand and sat down again. “I know. Do you think he’s the link?”

Pain flashed across Valerie’s face and was quickly erased. “I don’t know. And until I do, I can’t contact him or anyone else on the inside.”

“Where were you planning to go?”

“Just before 9/11 we began to see intelligence that there was an active cell in France, possibly Paris, working with other cells in Europe and the Middle East. They were rumored to be planning a coordinated attack here.”

Cam swore and struggled to keep her temper in check. “Why didn’t anyone else know this?”

“Cameron,” Valerie said with a resigned sigh. “You know how every agency guards its intelligence. And certainly those of us in the field were never told anything. I didn’t learn this until after everything happened.”

“When they sent you to work with us,” Cam said bitterly. She’d been used, and although it hadn’t been the first time and in all likelihood wouldn’t be the last, she resented it.

“Yes. They were hoping we might find a lead to the cell in Paris in the course of investigating Foster.”

“What do you think you can do there on your own?”

Valerie shrugged, clearly frustrated. “I don’t know. Possibly nothing. But if I don’t find the link that ties Foster and Matheson and the Company together, I’m never going to be able to come in.”

“Come in now, with me.”

“I trust you, but you can’t protect me once I’m visible. And we both know the easiest way to make this all go away is to eliminate me.” Valerie drained her Scotch and set the glass carefully on the end table. “Whoever tried to run you down tonight probably knows about our relationship. Killing you would cut off one more avenue of escape for me.”

“I came to the same conclusion,” Cam said, hoping Blair hadn’t.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Cam laughed wearily. “For believing in the Company line, or for meeting me in the bar that first night?”

“Certainly not the latter. I’m coming to regret the first. I’m already responsible for one attempt on your life. I don’t want to be the cause of another.”

“I’m your best shot, and you know it.” Cam stood. “If you let me bring you in, I give you my word no one will know until we’ve identified Matheson’s source. I’ll personally guarantee that you are protected.”

“I don’t want to spend months, possibly years, in a safe house, Cam.” Valerie laughed. “God knows, if I wanted to disappear and start over as someone else, I could. I’m tired of being someone else. I want out.”

Cam made a decision based on everything she knew, and more importantly, on everything she believed. “Work with me and my team to find Matheson, and I’ll get you out.”

“I’m not sure even you can do that, Cameron.” Rising, Valerie slid her hand to the back of Cam’s neck and kissed her on the cheek. “I need to think about it.”

“The longer you stay under, the worse it looks.”

“I know.”

“What about Diane?”

“I shouldn’t have contacted her today. It was selfish.” Valerie hooked her arm through Cam’s as they walked toward the door. “I won’t try to see her again.”

Cam gave her a secure phone number as she shrugged into her jacket. “No one will know. You have my word.”

“I won’t be here in the morning, in case you were wondering.”

“I won’t come after you, not unless I have to.”

“Thank you.” Valerie smiled sadly. “Goodnight, Cameron.”

Cam drew her into a gentle embrace. “Call me. Soon.”

Chapter Twelve

Wednesday

Thomas Jefferson Matheson picked up the phone on the first ring. If he hadn’t been listening for it, he wouldn’t have recognized the faint buzz emanating from the electronic jammer. He’d put his own people on surveillance duty as soon as he’d gotten word of where the bait had landed. Trusting an agent he couldn’t directly control was not ideal, and he wanted his own back-up plan in place if he needed to settle matters himself. “Yes?”

“Nothing to report, sir.”

“No activity during the night?”

“No sir. Everyone is still in the apartment.”

“Really.” Matheson swallowed a generous mouthful of steaming coffee, ignoring the burn in the back of his throat. He’d slept well, risen before dawn, and worked out vigorously in the hotel health club for an hour. And he’d had a most satisfactory evening. “No one in or out?”

“Well…” his man said hesitantly.

Matheson heard the rustle of papers.

“Routine movement reported at…ah…around 1900 yesterday. Roberts went for a run…several hours later security changed shift… uh, today…three subjects arrived at 0800, most likely for start of shift briefing. Nothing beyond that.”

“You seem to be missing a few details in your report.”

“Yes sir. What would that be, sir?”

Matheson smiled, picturing the man squirming. He was new. “At 1932 last night, Roberts was struck by a passing motorist and may have sustained substantial injuries.” He still felt a surge of pleasure thinking about the flicker of shock on her face as he bore down on her. When

he’d had the good fortune of passing by just as she exited the building, his only intention had been to follow her. But the longer he’d watched her pound through the streets as if she owned them while he hid like impotent prey, the more his anger had grown. She had destroyed his compound and killed some of his best boys, and now she stood in the way of him completing his mission. She needed to be neutralized. “Apparently your surveillance team didn’t think it necessary to cover her.”

To the man’s credit, he defended his team. “I’m sure they felt it more important to watch for any contact between our critical target and those on site, sir.”

“It’s just as strong a possibility that Lawrence will contact Roberts. I expect Roberts will move her base today. It’s what I would do after a pre-emptive strike. As soon as you have a new location, contact me. Bleeker is the bait, but Roberts is in command. Without her, they’ll break ranks.”

“Yes sir. I’ll relay your orders.”

“Be prepared to take action soon.” Matheson felt his groin tingling as he considered a plan to turn the hunters into quarry. “I’m growing tired of this waiting game.”

“Are you sure you want me to come with you?” Diane asked as she packed her suitcase. “I know what Cam said, but—”

“If you weren’t already here, we’d come and get you.” Blair sat cross-legged on the bed in blue jeans and a long-sleeved navy T-shirt. Her hair was loose and she was barefoot. “I can’t believe I let you go back to Manhattan alone in the first place.”

“Who knew that these people… these maniacs… who tried to hurt you would keep coming? How can they possibly think they can gain power in this country? We aren’t some third world dictatorship that’s likely to topple at the slightest show of violence.”

Blair shrugged. “They’re fanatics. Look at all the paramilitary and right wing fundamentalist groups springing up across this country. They think they can change the order of things, and they’re recruiting more people all the time who agree.”

“God, it’s like those zealots who shoot abortion doctors and think that’s going to stop the pro-choice movement.” Diane looked at Blair in confusion. “I can hardly believe it’s real.”

“I can’t believe we didn’t see it coming, and after what happened last month, I don’t think it’s going to stop.” Chafing at the inactivity, Blair stood and started folding clothes. “Every psycho with an agenda is going to think they have a chance after 9/11.”

Diane stopped what she was doing, her fingers digging into the sweater she held. “I’m ashamed to admit that part of me wishes your father wasn’t president, because I hate to think of you or Cam in danger. I can only imagine how you must feel.”

Blair smiled ruefully. “You know, for the first time in my life I’m honestly glad that my father’s president, and I want him to be president for as long as he can be.” She carefully placed a silk blouse into the suitcase. “Because these fuckers, whoever they are, wherever they are, have to learn that we won’t be victims.”

“I guess we’ll have to keep that sexy dress you bought for the wedding in the closet a while longer.”

“Why?”

Diane regarded her with surprise. “I can’t imagine either you or Cam is going to want to think about wedding plans until all of this is resolved.”

“We’re not waiting for something that might never happen.” Blair folded her arms, part defiance, part comfort. “And we’re not putting our lives on hold until it does. I’m instructing Lucinda to slip a nice quiet statement out to the press today that Cameron and I intend to be married in a private ceremony before the end of the year.”

“Oh boy.”

Blair grinned. “And girls.”

“Indeed.” Diane kissed her cheek. “I think you’re the bravest person I know.”

“I wish I were,” Blair said. “I’m terrified every day that something will happen to Cam. And if it did, I don’t think I’d survive it.”

“I would never have imagined you with her.”

Blair lifted her shoulders. “We don’t choose who to love.”

“No. We don’t.” Diane smiled sadly. “Now I can’t imagine you with anyone else.”

“Neither can I.” Blair stroked Diane’s arm. She was already dressed to travel in a pale blue cashmere cowl-neck sweater and tan slacks. For the first time Blair realized that Diane, always slender, had lost weight. “How are you holding up?”

“It’s so hard, knowing that Cam saw Valerie last night and I can’t even speak to her.”

“Have you thought maybe you should try to let her go?” Blair reached for Diane’s hand. As hard as it was to ask, it was even harder to watch her suffer.

Diane twined her fingers through Blair’s and squeezed lightly. “Cam didn’t tell me very much about what went on. I understand that she can’t. She wouldn’t tell me exactly why Valerie is staying away, but I know it’s partly because of me.”

“She doesn’t want you to be hurt.”

Diane trembled and Blair drew her close. With a shaky breath, Diane continued, “Cam must trust her, because she didn’t try to detain her. I love Valerie. I have to trust her as much as Cam does.”

“You’re really sure, aren’t you?” Blair said.

Diane smiled almost shyly. “I really am. Nothing has felt as right since I met you.”

“Then I’m on your side,” Blair said, hugging Diane tightly. “And hers.”

“We’ll travel in two groups to Whitley Point,” Cam said, scribbling on a flip chart that she had dug out of the closet earlier. She couldn’t find the stand, so she balanced the oversized pad of paper on her knees facing Stark, Savard, and Davis, who clustered around her in the living room. “Stark, you and your people will take Blair and Diane. You’ll fly out of Andrews again at 1100 hours, but this time you’ll land at Westover, Mass.”

Stark frowned. “What’s there?”

“It’s an Air Force Reserve base, so it’s relatively low profile. We’ll have Tanner’s people pick you up in three vehicles and take you the rest of the way, each vehicle following a different route.”

“Who knows about the itinerary?”

“The flight plan was filed through Lucinda’s office, but there’s no attendant passenger list. Only Tanner knows the routes and final destination.”

“You’re putting a lot of faith in Tanner’s people,” Stark said mildly.

“My feeling is that we know more about her team than we could about anyone coming to us from inside the system right now. You’re the security chief. What’s your call?”

Stark took her time. “Until we find Valerie and Matheson, I don’t want anyone new getting close to Blair.”

“I agree.” Cam blew out a breath. “Basically we’ll handle Blair’s security in the same way the Vice President’s has been set up since the attacks. She’ll be based in a secure location away from the White House known to as few people as possible, and she’ll make very few and only essential public appearances. We can’t keep her completely sequestered—first because she’d never allow it, secondly, because we can’t make prisoners of our elected officials and their families, and finally because the public is going to be looking for her. She’s too popular to just disappear.”

“We’re going to be thin on the ground,” Stark said, “now that Davis has gone over to OHS.”

Cam nodded as she drew a grid and added names. “You’ll have to work with a smaller team than usual for the time being. Hara, Wozinski, yourself, and Tanner’s people. Can you handle it?”

Stark didn’t hesitate. “Yes, we can.”

As satisfied with the security as she could be when all she really wanted to do was take Blair to some remote island for six months, Cam switched her attention to Savard. “We’ll follow by ground as soon as you and Davis are happy that you’ve accessed all the data immediately available to us. You can use the computers in my office in the West Wing and wipe them when you’re done.”

“How long will you need, Felicia?” Savard asked, sitting with her injured leg straight out in front of her. The cane she’d used in lieu of her knee immobilizer rested against the arm of the chair. She looked focused and steady.

Davis smiled, her dark eyes glowing. “I want to make sure I look in everybody’s closets and leave myself a backdoor before we leave. Say, three hours.”

Cam checked her watch as she stood. “It’s 0815 now. We should be leaving DC by 1200 hours, which puts us into Whitley Point around 2300.”

Savard and Davis rose, and Savard asked, “Where will we rendezvous, Commander?”

“In case anyone is checking, I’ll schedule you and Davis for a meeting at FBI headquarters at 1130 hours. On your way there, the meeting will be canceled and a vehicle will pick you up at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue.” Cam regarded Stark. “When would you like to depart here, Chief? If there’s anyone following Blair, they’ll lose the trail at Andrews.”

“We’ll have the vehicles out front at 0900 hours. I’ll wait downstairs until then.”

“Thanks,” Cam said, appreciating the few moments of privacy she would have with Blair. After returning from her meeting with Valerie, she’d been up all night talking to Lucinda and the president’s security adviser. She had yet to tell Blair the specifics of the plan, because she hadn’t worked it out until shortly before Stark and her security team had arrived. She was sore and tired, but it felt good being in the field again. Working. Doing what she knew how to do.

When the others had left, Cam walked down the hall to Diane’s bedroom and tapped on the door. “Can I talk to you a minute, Blair?”

“Sure,” Blair said. After she’d finished helping Diane pack, she’d gone to the kitchen for more coffee and heard the murmur of voices in the living room. Although she knew Cam wouldn’t exclude her from the discussions if she asked to sit in, she also knew that Cam and Stark were getting their first real test of working together in their new roles. She doubted that anyone in security or intelligence was going to like being overridden by agents from the new Homeland Security Office, not even Stark, not even when the agent in question was Cam. She decided her presence would only add to the tension. “When are we leaving?”

“About forty-five minutes.”

Blair glanced over her shoulder at Diane. “I’ll meet you in the living room in a few minutes, okay?”

“Yes. I’ve got some calls to make. I should let my gallery manager know how long I’ll be away.”

“Tell her three weeks for now.” Cam rested her hand lightly on Blair’s shoulder. The contact felt good. She had missed her the previous night, missed the way holding her through the night rejuvenated her.

Diane nodded. “All right, but I can’t be away any longer than that.

Sooner or later, I have to go back to my life.”

“I understand.”

“Will I be able to call or give them a number where they can reach me?” Diane asked.

“Everyone will have temporary cells by tonight. Once we reach Whitley Point you can call them.”

“Thank you.” Diane squared her shoulders. “You two go ahead. I’m fine.”

Blair slid her arm around Cam’s waist. “Come on, darling. Better fill me in on what’s going on.”

“Let me get this straight.” Blair leaned against the dresser in the bedroom watching Cam pack this time. “I’m being spirited away to Whitley Point surrounded by armed guards, while you drive for twelve hours out in the open where anyone could follow you.”

“We’re not going to be followed.”

“Then why can’t I come with you?”

Cam passed Blair the extra suitcase. “You need to take anything?”

Blair dropped it on the bed. “Yes. I’ll pack in a minute. Why can’t I go with you?”

“If anyone is watching us they’ll have a hard time following two separate groups. It buys us time.”

“Bull. You don’t want me with you in case someone comes after you again. In case someone…” Blair stalked across the room and pulled the shirt Cam was folding from her grasp. “Someone tried to kill you last night. And you think they might try again, don’t you?”

“Blair—”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Cam cradled Blair’s face between her hands and kissed her softly. “I won’t. You know that.”

“That’s what you think, isn’t it?”

“It’s a consideration, especially in light of my past relationship with Valerie. Matheson might suspect that she would come to me and that I might be able to bring her in. If someone wants to prevent that, getting me out of the way is the logical step.”

Blair forced herself to keep her expression neutral, even though the calm way that Cam discussed why someone would want to kill her chilled her to the core. If she wanted Cam to tell her the truth, she had to be able to handle the truth. No matter how much it terrified her. “Did you tell Valerie where we’re going?”

“No, but she has a number to call me.” She lowered her hands to Blair’s shoulders and rubbed them softly. “I’ll be okay. I’ve got good people with me and I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you think Valerie will call?”

Cam sighed. “I don’t know. When it comes right down to it, her training may win out. And she’s been indoctrinated not to trust anyone.”

“I don’t like us being separated.”

“Neither do I, but it’s only for a few hours. I’ll be there tonight, and we’ll wake up together tomorrow.”

Blair closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Cam’s waist. “You didn’t sleep all night. You’re hurt and tired. You’re not at your best, Cam, and you need to be.”

“Savard and Davis will be with me. They’ll do the driving. I’ll sleep.”

Blair rubbed her cheek against Cam’s shoulder. “I don’t want other women taking care of you.”

Cam laughed. “I think I’ll be safe with them.”

“What about the thing Saturday night I’m supposed to do for Lucinda?”

“I don’t like it,” Cam said, “but we all agree we can’t keep you completely out of the public eye. Lucinda is arranging for a suite of rooms at the Copley for us and the rest of the team for the weekend. I’ll be your escort, and Savard will accompany Diane.”

“Oh, Stark’s going to love that.”

Cam grinned. “It’s all in the line of duty.”

Blair leaned back, a glint in her eyes. “Is it, now? Then you’d better pack something besides work clothes. Like a tux.”

“That’s what rental places are for.”

“And you better make sure you sleep in the car,” Blair murmured, running her fingers along Cam’s collarbone and down over her chest. “I missed you last night.”

“Me too.”

“What about your hip and shoulder?”

“I’m stiff and sore, but functional.” Cam kissed Blair, taking her time, because it would be hours before they saw each other again and despite her words of confidence to Blair, she knew that anything could happen in the interim. “Besides, massage therapy will be good for them.”

“Then I’ll put you on my schedule for the morning.”

“I’ll be there.”

Blair held her tightly, unable to imagine any other possibility.

Chapter Thirteen

“Paula,” Blair said with quiet intensity, just the slightest bit of edge in her voice.

“Yes?” Stark said solemnly.

“If you had a round robin, why didn’t you bid more?”

Diane snorted and, despite the fact that it had been dark for over three hours and it was impossible to see the beach, Wozinski seemed to find something fascinating happening out the window. Stark hastily squinted at her cheat sheet, obviously at a loss.

“A king and queen in every suit. I would’ve taken the bid if I’d known you had that much meld,” Blair said.

“I didn’t see it,” Stark said bleakly. “I was so excited about the pinochle—”

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Blair abruptly pushed back her chair, strode across the kitchen, and slammed out the door.

The room was silent for a moment and then Diane rose. “It’s freezing out there. She doesn’t have a jacket.”

Wozinski glanced at Stark. “Should I go with her, Chief? I can take her jacket.”

Stark shook her head. “Hara is out back and Tanner stationed a team in a vehicle on the street. She’s covered.”

“I’ll take her jacket,” Diane said, patting Wozinski’s shoulder as she passed behind his chair. “But thank you.”

“Yes ma’am.” Wozinski flushed. “Pleasure.”

It took less than thirty seconds for Diane to reach the back deck after grabbing Blair’s jacket, but she saw only a single figure standing at the railing, facing toward the ocean—shorter than either herself or Blair by several inches and more slender than Stark. Hara. Not Blair. For an instant, her heart twisted with an overriding sense of dread, as if Blair too had walked out the door and simply vanished. Just like the morning she had awakened in the guesthouse in a still room beneath a silent dawn and realized that Valerie had disappeared while she’d slept. “Where’s Blair?”

Hara did not turn, and even in the darkness, Diane knew that she was watching Blair. The cloud cover was so dense even the light from the full moon barely penetrated the inky sky.

“Sitting on top of a dune, fifteen yards down the path and ten feet off to the right.”

“It feels like thirty degrees out here, and you just let her go?” Diane snapped.

“Thirty-eight degrees.”

“Never mind,” Diane muttered, hurrying down the stairs to the path. A minute later she knelt beside Blair. “Put your jacket on.”

“Thanks,” Blair said, shrugging into it. “You don’t need to stay.”

With a sigh, Diane shifted around to sit facing the same direction as Blair and leaned against her. When Blair wrapped an arm around her, she snuggled closer and lightly rested her head on Blair’s shoulder. “Couldn’t you brood inside where we can have a fire?”

“It’s a lot harder to do if you’re comfortable.” Blair pressed her cheek to Diane’s hair. “Do you have any idea how much I hate waiting here, safe and sound and protected by armed guards, while Cam is out there somewhere with people who want to kill her?”

“I think I know,” Diane whispered.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry,” Blair said. “Of course you do.”

“Renée called Paula with an update,” Diane pointed out gently. “She said everything was fine and that Cam was resting.”

“I know.” Blair sighed. “But that was three hours ago and they’re not due here for another four at least. Anything can happen.” She reached beside her and dug her fingers into the cold sand. “I just want to be able to protect her the way she protects me.”

“I bet you already do.”

Blair laughed harshly. “Hardly. Since everyone thinks I’m so important, I seem to be the one destined to wait, just like tonight.”

“You are important—”

“I’m no more important than Cam or you or Stark or any of the others.”

Diane wrapped both arms around Blair’s waist and hugged her. “You, Blair Powell, may not be more important than the rest of us, although I happen to think you’re pretty special and I’m sure Cam does too, but it’s not about Blair Powell.”

“No, it’s about the first daughter.”

“Yes. And I imagine that makes it all the harder.”

“There’s a reason you’re my best friend, you know,” Blair said softly.

“Besides the fact that I’m smart, beautiful, and well-connected in the art world?”

“Those are definite pluses, but you might be the only person other than Tanner who’s ever understood that having a famous father mostly just sucks.”

“Yes, I never did think living in a mansion was all that cool when it came with a bunch of state troopers hanging out on the front porch.” Diane tried not to shiver from the cold. She sensed Blair’s mood beginning to lighten and wanted to keep her talking. “Tanner could relate, because she had to put up with a lot of the same thing. Not the bodyguards and everything, but having a lot expected of her because of who her father was.”

“Mmm,” Blair said, patting the sand she’d squeezed into a hard ball back into the ground. “Tanner understands. But she’s not a girl, like you are. It’s not the same.”

“You mean you wouldn’t snuggle with Tanner in the dark?” Diane teased.

“Snuggling is not what I had in mind with Tanner. Definitely not when we were teenagers.” Blair thought back to how wild and drop-dead sexy Tanner had been then. “And I don’t think I would, even now. After all, I’ve had a lot more practice resisting you.”

“Thanks, I think.” Diane kissed Blair’s cheek. “We have to go inside, sweetie. I’ve officially frozen my ass off.”

Blair reached for Diane’s hand as they rose. “Thanks for coming out to get me and just for…getting it.”

“Cam’s going to be okay,” Diane said gently. “She’s amazingly good at what she does, and besides, Felicia and Renée are with her.”

“I know.” As they started back toward the house, Blair added, “Cam’s going to figure out a way to help Valerie, too.”

“That’s what I keep telling myself. I have to believe it, because I can’t stand to think of anything else.”

“Sometimes it’s better not to think.” Blair stiffened. “Did you hear a car door slam just then?” She hurried up the stairs, tugging Diane behind her, and rushed past Hara into the kitchen. The room was empty. She raced toward the front of the house, Diane right behind her. “Paula, is someone here? Is Cam…oh my God!”

Blair skidded to a halt, barely stopping herself from throwing her arms around a beaming Mac Phillips. He was unnaturally pale, and whereas he’d always been slim and muscular, now he was simply thin. But his gaunt face was still handsome and his blue eyes bright and mercifully pain-free. She hadn’t seen him for several weeks, and he had still been in the rehab center then, recovering from the gunshot wound that he had sustained while protecting her during the attack on the Aerie. “Oh my God. What are you doing here?”

Mac clasped Blair’s hand, half shaking it, half holding it. “I got a call late this morning from the commander to pack my bags, and I’d barely finished when a Humvee with two of Tanner’s people showed up, and…here I am.”

“Did you know about this?” Blair asked Paula.

“No.” Paula tried to look serious and in-charge, but she couldn’t help grinning at their old team member. “Apparently it was arranged after we left DC.” She carefully clasped Mac’s shoulder. “How are you doing?”

“A hell of a lot better than I was yesterday. I’m officially cleared for light duty starting next week, but I’ve been sitting around all this week doing nothing but going crazy.” He reached down for his suitcase but Wozinski grabbed it first.

“I have that, sir.”

Mac raised an eyebrow. “Jesus, Greg. I’m not your boss.”

Greg’s face was totally serious. “No sir. Anything you need, just let me know, sir.”

Mac looked perplexed, but Blair understood. Mac had almost died trying to save her, and when an agent was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, other agents considered them heroes. The same thing had happened to Cam when Cam had been shot in the line of duty, and Cam was just as uncomfortable with the adulation as Mac seemed to be. Blair hooked her arm through Mac’s and gave him a little hug. “Does Felicia know you’re coming?”

“I’m not sure,” Mac said, blushing and looking even more handsome. “She told me about her new posting with the commander.” He met Paula’s gaze. “And Renée’s.”

Paula nodded, realizing that they had more in common than ever. She and Mac were all that remained of the original team. They’d been together before the commander took over, and now they were the veterans. And they shared something else, something almost more critical…the women they loved were both part of the commander’s OHS team. Renée and Felicia were involved in something potentially more dangerous than any of them had ever experienced. She squared her shoulders. “She’s really happy about it, and I think it’s exactly where she belongs.”

“Yeah.” Mac nodded. “Felicia too.”

“Come on back to the kitchen,” Blair said. “Are you hungry?”

“I could—” Mac broke off at the sound of footsteps on the front porch, and both he and Paula automatically stepped between Blair and the door, their shoulders touching, shielding her.

“It’s Tanner,” a voice called as a knock sounded.

Paula opened the door just enough to check outside, blocking the view into the room. After a second, she swung the door open and Tanner Whitley strode in with her characteristic saunter, a strikingly beautiful blonde in a naval uniform by her side.

“Mac,” Tanner said. “I trust the trip went all right?” Without waiting for an answer, she kissed Blair soundly on the mouth. “You look terrific.”

“You don’t look too shabby either,” Blair said, thinking that with her windblown dark hair, piercing dark eyes, and muscular build Tanner looked every inch the playgirl she had once been, rather than the head of a huge corporate conglomerate and the owner of Whitley Island. As usual, she was dressed in casual pants, an open collar shirt, and well-worn black boots. Blair smiled at the blonde who held Tanner’s hand. Adrienne was more than a decade older than Tanner, and Blair had only to see Tanner with Adrienne to know that the new peace in Tanner’s eyes was entirely due to Adrienne’s presence in her life. The gold wedding bands they wore only affirmed what was obvious from seeing them together.

“Hello, Adrienne. How are you?” The last time Blair had seen Adrienne had been immediately after 9/11. Adrienne had been spending almost all of her time at the nearby naval base where she was stationed.

“Slightly less crazy than last time we met.”

“I wish we weren’t always dropping in on you quite so unexpectedly.”

Adrienne’s calm blue eyes held Blair’s. “We’re happy to have you, anytime, under any circumstances.”

Blair was certain that Cam would not have confided any of the details surrounding their precipitous return to Whitley Point to Tanner, and she knew that Tanner would not have asked, but she understood Adrienne’s message. Without even knowing the circumstances, Adrienne and Tanner would be there for them, whenever they were needed. To her horror, Blair felt her eyes sting with tears. “Thank you.”

“Tanner, darling,” Diane said, kissing Tanner’s cheek. “Thank you for the wine and other essentials in the guest house.” She extended her hand to Adrienne. “Thanks for taking such good care of us.”

“If you need anything else that our security people can’t get for you, just let us know. We’ll see to it.”

“How are you at pinochle?” Blair asked.

Stark groaned. Adrienne smiled.

Just after midnight, the door to Blair’s bedroom opened slowly and a thin shaft of pale yellow light slashed across the room.

“Cam?”

“Hi baby,” Cam said. “Did I wake you?”

Blair rolled onto her side and turned on the bedside lamp. She canted the shade so that most of the light angled away from the bed and then sat up. “No. I wasn’t sleeping. Are you all right?”

“Beat, but okay.” Cam sighed as she crossed to the bed. “I’m going to take a shower and talk to Stark for a while, then I’ll—”

“You don’t have to shower and you can wait until tomorrow to talk to Stark. I want you to just come to bed.”

Cam hesitated. “Okay. I’ll wait until the morning briefing to check in with Stark. But the shower isn’t optional.”

“I like the way you smell,” Blair said, folding back the covers and patting the bed beside her. “If you don’t get in here soon, I’m going to think you’re avoiding me.”

“The only thing I’ve been thinking about for the last twelve hours is you.” Cam kissed Blair, put her weapon in the top drawer of the bedside table, and undressed rapidly. “But I’m still going to shower. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Blair waited until she heard the shower running and then followed Cam into the bathroom. When Cam stepped out of the enclosure and reached for the towel that Blair held, Blair shook her head. “You just stand still. I’ll do this.”

“You know what I’d really like?” Cam said as Blair toweled her hair and then wiped her face and neck.

“No, darling, what?” Blair bit back a murmur of concern when she saw that the bruises on Cam’s shoulder and hip had spread, darkening in the centers to almost black.

“I’d like that massage. I’m too damn tall to sleep in the back of an SUV.”

Blair knew that if Cam was asking, she was more than stiff from sleeping in the car. She was hurting. “I think that can be arranged.” She dried Cam’s chest and stomach, then her back. Kneeling, she gently smoothed the towel over Cam’s buttocks, down the outside of her legs, over her calves, and up her inner thighs. “Turn around, darling.”

Slowly, Cam turned. She skimmed her fingers through Blair’s hair and then over her cheek. “Feels good.”

Tenderly, Blair dried Cam’s thighs and hips, taking care with the bruise on the right side. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Let’s go to bed,” Cam said thickly.

Blair rose, her nipples tight beneath the T-shirt she had worn to bed. “Come on, I’m not done yet.” She took Cam’s hand and led her into the bedroom. “Lie on your stomach and get comfortable.”

Cam complied, pillowing her head on her folded arms. When Blair knelt next to her, she said, “Aren’t you getting undressed?”

“Not just yet.” Blair decided it was safer if she kept her T-shirt and panties on. Although her only intention was to help Cam relax, she became aroused any time she touched her, for any reason. Starting at the back of Cam’s neck, she worked her way down, pausing when she found the clusters of knotted muscles along the way and gently massaging them until they softened.

“Jesus,” Cam muttered at one point, “that feels great.”

Blair smiled. “Good. Now turn over.”

Cam carefully flipped over. Her limbs felt loose, her mind more than a little hazy. She was also wet. Blair knelt beside her in a short T-shirt and skimpy panties, her hair down, her face void of any makeup. Her full breasts pressed against the thin cotton as she leaned forward, her hard nipples clearly visible. Cam swept her hand up Blair’s side and cupped her breast.

“Stop that,” Blair protested with more determination than she felt.

“I want to touch you,” Cam murmured.

“Tonight is for you. Just relax.”

Cam sighed but she felt so good she couldn’t argue. She moved her hand to Blair’s side and left it there as Blair worked.

Staying away from the bruise on Cam’s right shoulder, Blair circled her thumbs along the muscles under her collarbone. Cam had a warrior’s body—her sleek muscles long and tight, her breasts small and round. Her nipples were neat pink circles, as compact and hard as the rest of her body. Scars marked her chest and thigh—the gunshot wounds she had earned in battle. “I love you very much.”

“Makes all the difference,” Cam whispered.

Blair smiled. “I know.” She stroked Cam’s stomach, then worked her way down the front of Cam’s legs. As she slowly skimmed her fingers along the insides of Cam’s thighs, she felt a different kind of tension infuse her lover’s body. She leaned down and kissed Cam’s stomach, then rubbed her mouth over Cam’s navel. “Feel good?”

Cam twisted her fingers in Blair’s hair. She was so relaxed she could barely move, but every nerve was singing with arousal. “Not even close.”

“That bad, huh?” Blair stretched out along Cam’s uninjured side, resting her cheek in the center of Cam’s stomach. She drew one leg up over Cam’s and nestled her sex against Cam’s calf. “If you promise to lie still, I’ll see if I can make you feel better.”

“You’re hot,” Cam whispered, drawing strands of Blair’s hair through her fingers. “I can feel how hot you are against my leg.”

“I am,” Blair said, smoothing a fingertip up and down the cleft between Cam’s thighs. “I’m very hot. And wet. That’s what happens when I touch you.”

Cam groaned softly. “Seems the same thing happens to me.”

“Oh yeah?”

“See for yourself,” Cam whispered, her fingers trembling as she caressed Blair’s face.

“I love this,” Blair said. “I love you. Now don’t move.”

Cam closed her eyes as Blair softly, ever so softly, massaged her clitoris until she climaxed. Blair moaned quietly, her mouth against Cam’s stomach, her legs shaking as she rubbed against Cam’s leg until she came.

“I didn’t know it was possible to come without moving a muscle,” Cam murmured, the last tendrils of tension bleeding away. “Jesus, I couldn’t get up now if I had to.”

“Good,” Blair said lazily, turning on her back so she could reach the lamp to turn it off. She found the sheet and pulled it over them. “Because I’m not letting you get up. Maybe not for a couple of days.” She turned on her side again and wrapped an arm around Cam’s middle. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Cam stroked Blair’s hair and held her tightly. “I need to be here. I need you.”

“I’m here. Go to sleep now, darling.”

Morning would come soon enough, and when it did, the hunt would begin again. But for now, Cam accepted the peace that only Blair could bring her, and slept.

Chapter Fourteen

Thursday

Matheson smiled at the man who joined him on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He was much younger, a stocky redhead in neatly pressed work pants and a brown leather bomber jacket with an American flag patch stitched onto the sleeve. They shook hands and moved off to one side of the rotunda as a maintenance worker began polishing the stone floor with an electric buffer. The noise made conversation difficult, but it also provided excellent cover.

“How are things at the new compound, Colonel?” Matheson asked his freshly-promoted secondin-command.

“The men have nearly finished the barracks, sir.”

“How is morale?” Matheson had lost some of his best officers during the Special Ops raid on his compound in Tennessee. Unfortunately, many of his ground troops were unseasoned volunteers who had never faced combat or even given any thought to what a real battle might be like. Now he needed to rebuild his paramilitary force and relocate his base, and some of the men—mostly truck drivers and other blue-collar workers—were beginning to realize that they weren’t just playing at being weekend soldiers. There was a war on. And war meant casualties.

“We lost about twenty percent of our original force to desertion, in addition to those who were captured,” the redhead reported. “But we’re adding new men at twice the normal rate since 9/11. The patriots are rising across the nation in response to the attack.”

As we predicted, Matheson thought. The only reason that he and his patriot brothers had been willing to aid the foreign insurgents was to further their own agenda. An attack on American soil was guaranteed to rally the loyal. Now, with more men joining them every day, he and his compatriots could consolidate their power base and expand their sphere of influence.

“The FBI will undoubtedly accelerate their attempts to infiltrate our ranks now, so be vigilant,” Matheson said.

“Yes sir. We’re screening carefully.” The redhead hesitated. “Have we resolved the problem with the security breakdown here, sir?”

Matheson shook his head. “Not yet. Take this lesson to heart, my friend. Never rely too strongly on anyone but your most trusted brothers-in-arms.” He clamped a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “But, despite the unreliability of dealing with bureaucrats and low-level informants, it’s also useful to have sources inside the system. We may be able to deal with all our problems another way.”

“Sir?”

“I was advised that the White House press secretary released an interesting tidbit last night,” Matheson said. “Blair Powell and her deviant secret service guard intend to hold a so-called wedding ceremony. I imagine the papers will have that this morning.”

The redhead grunted. “She’s an embarrassment to the entire country.”

“But the timing is good for us. If a morally outraged man—or woman—were to put a stop to them, we’d fulfill our mission to destabilize President Powell’s administration, and we’d cut off a possible return route for our missing CIA agent.”

“And we could disavow any involvement.”

“Exactly. Let’s call on our friends to activate someone, preferably a member of one of the splinter groups—someone expendable who won’t be traceable to us or our Conservative Coalition allies.”

“What should I tell them about the target, sir?”

“That we want both neutralized, but Roberts should be the priority.”

“Do we have their location, sir?”

Matheson grimaced. “No, we’ve lost them temporarily, but Powell’s official schedule of appearances is updated daily.”

“A public assault is a suicide mission,” the redhead said mildly.

“All the better, as long as he—or she—takes the targets out first.”

“Yes sir.”

The men shook hands. “Godspeed, Colonel.”

“God bless America, General.”

When Blair awoke, she was surprised to discover that Cam had gotten out of bed without waking her. Ordinarily she was a light sleeper, but she had lain awake for a long time the night before, after Cam had fallen asleep in her arms. Partly, she’d still been wound up from worrying about Cam all day, but it was more than that. Felicia and Renée were staying in the guesthouse, which had been transformed into an ad hoc office for the OHS. Her security team had relocated to the main house, and Mac was probably already setting up a command center in the dining room downstairs. Diane remained in the main house at Paula’s suggestion, which made it easier to protect her as well. The new arrangements made it impossible to deny that she was living in a high security complex. And now her lover was a deputy director in a national security organization that had not existed two months before. Blair was faced with the cold hard realization that, even when her father was no longer president, her life was not suddenly going to be normal. This was normal, and it was what she’d been fighting to avoid all her life.

Blair rolled over and opened the bedside table. Cam’s weapon wasn’t there, because she was wearing it. Because even in this, their soon-to-be new home, they weren’t entirely safe. She walked to the window to look out over the dunes to the ocean. There was no one in sight. Even the fishing trawlers were so far out to sea they were no more than dots on the horizon. She was as alone here as she had ever been, and she should have felt free, but she didn’t. With a sigh, she pushed her melancholy aside and went to look for her lover.

She found Cam in the kitchen, leaning against the counter drinking coffee. She wore her casual work attire—chinos and a button-down collar shirt—and her weapon.

“Did you eat something?” Blair asked as she placed a hand in the center of Cam’s stomach and kissed her. Then she sidled around her to pour her own cup of coffee.

“I had some toast. You want some?”

“No thanks.” Blair kept her back turned. “I’ll grab some later. How’s your shoulder and hip?”

“Fine.” Cam set her mug down and caught Blair’s wrist before she could slip away. “What’s the matter?”

Blair smiled and brushed her fingers over Cam’s chest again. “Nothing.”

Cam waited until Blair had sipped her coffee, then plucked the cup from her hand and deposited it next to hers on the counter. Then she threaded her arms around Blair’s waist and pulled her gently against her body. She kissed Blair a little bit longer than her normal morning hello, and then studied Blair’s eyes. “Something happen I should know about?”

“Just a case of the blahs,” Blair said lightly. She nipped at Cam’s chin. “Really. Go to work.”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready, right?” Cam murmured, placing another kiss gently on Blair’s temple.

“Mmm hmm,” Blair sighed.

“Ready now?”

Laughing, Blair pressed her mouth to the hollow at the base of Cam’s throat. “I’ve forgotten how persistent you are. I was just thinking that what you do, what you all do, isn’t confined to some office in a building in DC or Langley anymore. It’s everywhere, wherever you are. Wherever we are. Even here.”

Cam caressed Blair’s back. “I wish I hadn’t had to bring this into our home. I wish it didn’t touch you, or us. As soon as I can, I’ll move the team—”

Blair shushed her with a kiss, sliding her hands into Cam’s hair and melding her body a little more tightly to Cam’s. She felt Cam’s heart beat against her breast and the muscles in Cam’s stomach and thighs tighten. She felt the connection that held her secure no matter where she was, no matter what was happening, and realized that just as the danger was part of their life, no matter where they were, so was their love. And that mattered more to her than any place on Earth. She stroked Cam’s neck as she leaned back in her arms. “That’s not necessary. I’d rather you and the others work here if it’s the most secure location.” She pressed her hand to Cam’s heart. “This is my safe place.”

Cam’s eyes darkened and she held Blair more tightly. The next kiss was rougher, longer, deeper.

“Cam,” Blair said just a little breathlessly. “One word.”

“What,” Cam growled, sliding her hands under the back of Blair’s T-shirt.

“Briefing.”

Cam hesitated. “What?”

Blair laughed and bumped her pelvis into Cam’s crotch. “I love to make you forget yourself, but…what time is your briefing with Felicia and Renée?”

“Hell,” Cam muttered, tracing the edge of Blair’s ear with her mouth. “How did you know I had one?”

“Because it’s morning and you always brief in the morning.” Blair murmured appreciatively and closed her eyes as Cam sucked her earlobe. Cam’s breath was quick and hot against her neck. Nothing aroused her more than Cam’s desire. “Careful.”

“I was tired and sore when I got home last night,” Cam whispered, kissing her way down the pulse that shimmered in Blair’s throat. “I’m not anymore.” She nipped at Blair’s neck when Blair tilted her head back with a sigh. “And I didn’t thank you yet for the massage.”

Blair caught her breath as Cam skimmed her fingers around her sides and over her stomach. When Cam stroked higher, brushing the undersurfaces of her breasts, her nipples tightened in anticipation of a caress. She was dangerously close to not caring if Cam had a briefing or if Diane came looking for her any minute to take a walk on the beach, which was their habit. “You have two seconds to decide—either move your hands or be late for your briefing. Because if you get me any more excited, I’ll have to come, and since you started it, I expect you to take care of that.”

“You started it.” Cam was seriously considering delaying the briefing when a discreet cough from the doorway caught her attention. She lifted her head from Blair’s neck and found herself staring at Tanner Whitley.

“Sorry,” Tanner said, grinning broadly, “but Stark said to come on back.”

“Remind me to speak to her about that,” Cam muttered.

Blair pushed Cam’s hands away and spun around, leaning her back against Cam’s front. “Tanner!”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

“Ha ha. You live next door.” Blair drew Cam’s arms around her middle and folded hers over them. “What’s up?”

“Well, I was wondering if you and Diane were up for a little trip to see what I’ve been doing at the marina.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her khakis and rocked back and forth, still grinning. “But I get the feeling this isn’t a good time.”

“It’s a great time,” Blair said emphatically. She tilted her head back and kissed the side of Cam’s jaw. “Cam has to go to work and I don’t have anything planned until this afternoon. Once the light’s a little better, I’m going to paint.”

“I’ll let Stark know so she can organize your teams,” Cam said as she carefully loosened her hold on Blair. She would have preferred that Blair stay close to the compound, but that wasn’t her call anymore. Plus, the whole team would be heading to Boston the next day for the fundraiser. Maybe if Blair had the opportunity to relax today she might not resent the upcoming restrictions so much.

She kissed Blair lightly. “Have fun. I’m heading down to the guesthouse.”

“See you later, darling.”

“You will,” Cam murmured.

“Sorry about that,” Tanner said after Cam had left. She strode across the kitchen and looked out the back door. A member of her private security force stood guard on the rear deck. “When Stark asked me to assign some of my security officers here, she requested the ones with military training. Combat troops.” She turned to face Blair. “I know you can’t tell me anything, but I just wanted you to know that Adrienne and I are prepared to do whatever you need us to do.”

“You two have done enough. I’m not even sure we should have come back here.” Blair loved the island and she loved this house. But part of what made the property so perfect for their needs was that it abutted Tanner’s estate. They had no year-round neighbors to the north and Tanner’s house, which occupied half of the island, was less than a mile down the beach—close by if they needed her, but far enough away for privacy. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of our friendship. And Adrienne shouldn’t feel obligated—”

“Adrienne is a naval officer. Do you think I could convince her that it wasn’t her duty to assist you in any way possible?”

“God, this is hard.”

Tanner walked over to her and put her arms around her. “It is. But it would be harder if you didn’t let us help.”

Blair rested her forehead on Tanner’s shoulders. “You’re helping. Not just with your security people, but because you understand. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. So, let’s get Diane and go cruising.”

Blair laughed at the line that Tanner had always used when they were planning to sneak out for a night of partying. She squeezed Tanner’s hand, grateful that despite all the changes, the love that the three of them had forged had never faltered. “I’m afraid this time, we’re not going to be able to duck security.”

“No problem,” Tanner said, grinning. “I’ve already pissed off your lover once today. I’m not about to push my luck.”

“So,” Cam said, taking a chair across from Davis and Savard at the sleek glass and wood table that now served as their conference table. They had turned the first floor of the guesthouse into their base of operations. Davis had the computers up and running and networked. The dining room did duty as their file room. All things considered, it was a better working area than the converted storage closet they would have worked out of in the West Wing. “Let’s prioritize.”

No one took notes. Everyone understood that there would be no reports generated by their work, and the only files would be the ones they appropriated from other security agencies.

“First order of business is to find Matheson, because we have to assume that there will be another attack on Egret. He and his organization will lose credibility if a failed attempt is allowed to stand.” Cam carefully kept her voice and face from showing her rage. “We can assume he will either establish a new paramilitary base of his own or join forces with another one. He’ll need a network in order to reestablish himself.”

“A guy like that won’t give up control easily,” Savard said. She wore jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. She’d pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail, and she looked more rested than Cam had seen her in weeks.

Cam nodded and pointed the pen she’d been rolling between her fingers at Davis. “He didn’t do much to hide the compound in Tennessee because he didn’t expect us to come after him. This time he’ll take more precautions. Background him—his family by blood and marriage, the military academy and its faculty, donors to the school, previous graduates—anyone who might have purchased or inherited land. For now, I’d prefer a covert examination of the academy files, because anything else is going to tip him off.” She shrugged. “But the academy is the logical place to start. We know he recruits there. If I have to, I’ll confiscate every scrap of paper in the entire place.”

“The FBI should have files on the other patriot organizations,” Savard said, “and if he’s ever so much as made a phone call to one of their leaders, there should be a record of it somewhere.” She grimaced. “The biggest problem is the files are so decentralized it’s practically impossible to search them.”

“Try.”

“Yes ma’am,” Savard said smartly. “We might get something from the interrogations of his captured personnel too, if the Company hasn’t buried the Intel by now.”

“See what you can find there,” Cam said, pleased with Savard’s natural instincts for counterintelligence. She’d need that kind of backup from her secondin-command. “And that brings us to the problem of Valerie Lawrence. We need to know who her Company handler is and determine if there’s a link to Matheson.”

Davis took a breath. “Due respect, Commander, but there won’t be any records of Lawrence’s handler. It’s not like they keep employment files.”

“I know,” Cam said, “and that’s just one reason why we need to bring Valerie in.”

“We don’t know if Matheson only uses men he recruited from his military academy. She could be his mole,” Davis said. “Just like Foster.”

“She could be. I don’t think she is.” Cam expected her people to examine every option, and Davis’s comment didn’t bother her. “But until we’ve proven it one way or the other, she has to be considered potentially hostile.”

“How do we find her?” Savard asked.

Cam sighed. “Our only link is Diane. We have to hope Valerie tries to meet with her again and that Diane trusts me enough to tell me. In the meantime, we’ve got Foster and the four dead commandos from the assault on the Aerie. We know they were all at Matheson’s military academy. Maybe that’s not their only connection.”

“We really need someone who’s an expert on these paramilitary organizations,” Savard said. “I bet all of these guys know each other.”

“I’ll work on that.” Absently, Cam rubbed her sore shoulder. “Blair is scheduled to make a public appearance Saturday night at a fundraiser in Boston. I’d like you two to assist with the security detail. I know it’s not in your job description any longer, and Stark’s doing a great job integrating Tanner’s people, but I’ll feel better if we had seasoned agents for this. It’s her first solo appearance since 9/11.”

“Of course,” Savard said, joining Davis in accepting the assignment. “Do you think they’ll try again so soon?”

“I don’t know.” Cam tried not to let her fury, or her seething sense of frustration, show. “But we can’t afford to think they won’t.”

Chapter Fifteen

“So, what do you think of the place?” With a sweep of her arm Tanner indicated the world-class yachting marina tucked into a deep, narrow inlet on the ocean side of the island. Wrapping one arm around Blair’s shoulders and the other around Diane’s waist, she led the two women to the end of the longest pier. Sailboats and cruisers were moored in the slips along either side. The charterhouse and a luxury hotel completed the accommodations. “You like it?”

“It’s amazing,” Blair said. “Somehow you’ve managed to do all this and still keep the untamed feel of the rest of the island.”

“It’s great,” Diane said, echoing Blair’s sentiment. She hugged Tanner. “I admit, I never thought you’d settle down enough to run the family business, let alone do something like this. I figured you’d be lying out on some beach with a string of bored, horny cover girls— breaking their hearts—until you were fifty or so.”

“I might have been.” Tanner grinned, then her expression sobered. “Except I don’t know that I would’ve made it to fifty. I was a little crazy before Adrienne.”

Blair shook her head fondly. “God, she certainly has tamed you.”

“Ah, look who’s talking.” Tanner hip-bumped Blair playfully. “Who would have guessed you’d pick a spooky to marry!”

“Yeah yeah,” Blair said. “Come on, let’s get off the pier. It’s freezing in this wind.”

“I have to run up to the charterhouse for a second to check something,” Tanner said, “then I’ll meet you at the car.” She tossed Blair her keys. “Turn the heater on and warm her up for me. Kind of like old times.”

“Your charm doesn’t work on me, Whitley. So I’d watch your step.” As Tanner laughed and hurried away, Blair grasped Diane’s hand and studied her worriedly. “You okay? Tanner and I rhapsodizing about the joys of settling down must be tough for you to hear right now.”

Diane nodded. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.”

“I know that. But these tears aren’t from the wind.” Blair gently brushed at the moisture on Diane’s cheeks. “You look worn out.”

“I’m okay. I’m just not sleeping very well.”

“Or eating very well.” Blair loosed an exasperated sigh as she keyed the remote to Tanner’s SUV. She pointed for Diane to get into the front passenger seat as she got behind the wheel and started the engine. “It’s not going to do anyone any good if you make yourself sick.”

“It’s hard not to think about it all the time,” Diane whispered. “It’s hard not to wonder where she is. Not to wonder if someone’s hurt—” she looked away, her voice breaking.

“You don’t have as much experience with this kind of waiting, of not knowing or understanding what’s going on, as I have,” Blair said emphatically. “And I’m glad. But now you’ve fallen in love with someone whose whole life has been a secret. She’s always going to have secrets, Diane, and you can’t let that eat you up.”

Diane regarded Blair as if seeing her for the first time. “How do you handle it with Cam?”

“Not very well most of the time,” Blair said, grinning sheepishly. “After a while you accept that there are parts of themselves they don’t, or can’t, let us see. And once you’re done being pissed off by it, you understand that those are the parts that make them frighteningly good at what they do. Valerie has to be that kind of good to have ever fooled Cam.”

Diane smiled weakly. “I guess the fact that my girlfriend and your girlfriend have a history makes some kind of cosmic sense, doesn’t it?”

“That just might be the understatement of the year.” Blair laughed briefly, thinking of the night she’d unexpectedly discovered Valerie at Cam’s apartment in DC, and recognizing their connection, how much she had resented the place Valerie held in Cam’s heart. Cam swore that there was nothing between them any longer, and Blair knew that Cam believed it. But she had seen something that Cam had not. There had been a sadness in Valerie’s eyes that Blair understood with perfect clarity. Valerie had been deeply in love with Cam. Thinking about that sadness now, Blair found that she no longer resented what Valerie and

Cam had shared. Valerie had been there when Cam needed someone, and that was all that really mattered.

“She’ll need you, Di. She’ll need you, but she won’t let you know.” Blair reached for Diane’s hand. “That’s the hardest thing to remember—that the need is there, even though it’s buried so deeply even she can’t see it. It’s a pain in the ass, but you’ll just have to get used to it. I know you’re strong enough, and stubborn enough, to do it.”

“I don’t feel very strong sometimes.”

“Then that’s when you come find me, and I’ll remind you.”

“It helps to be with you, and I usually love Whitley Point,” Diane confessed, “but the quiet is driving me a little bit crazy right now. I’ve got too much time to think. Maybe I should go back to Manhattan.”

Blair shook her head vehemently. “Not a chance. I want you to come to the fundraiser Saturday night. And if Paula can take it, we’ll go shopping again.”

“Okay.” Diane laughed shakily as she glanced out the rear of the vehicle to where Stark and Hara sat in the Suburban. “If I have to suffer, I suppose she can too.”

“There, see? You’re sounding better already,” Blair said, smiling. “Here comes Tanner. I’ll get in the back.”

As Blair stepped from the car, she caught sight of Tanner’s expression and stopped. “What is it?”

Tanner handed her the Boston Globe. “I don’t know how you put up with this shit all the time.” She slid into the front seat and slammed the door.

Blair glanced down at the grainy picture of her in Paris with Cam standing just behind her. The caption read “President’s daughter to marry lesbian lover—Anti-same sex marriage groups protest.”

“Well,” Blair said as she climbed into the backseat, “Boston is looking a lot more interesting.”

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, trying not to think about the crush of reporters sure to be waiting for her when she arrived at the fundraiser. She had wanted to go public, because any attempt not to would make her and her father appear like hypocrites when news of her plans inevitably leaked out. Nothing could be worse for a politician than the appearance of having one set of standards in public and another in private. She’d insisted on disclosure, but it was never easy exposing her personal life to public scrutiny.

“Let me see that,” Diane said.

“Hey Tanner,” Blair said, handing the newspaper to Diane as Tanner rocketed the SUV out of the parking lot and onto the narrow twisting road that hugged the ocean shoreline. Gravel spewed out behind them.

“What?” Tanner snapped.

“It’s okay. It’s just another day at the office.”

“It sucks.”

“Yeah, that, too.” Blair leaned forward and squeezed Tanner’s shoulder. “But try not to give Stark a heart attack and slow down a little.”

Tanner half turned her head, a grin pulling at her mouth. Then she looked back to the road and eased off on the gas. “Sorry, force of habit. I’m used to you telling me to lose your spookies.”

“Yes,” Blair said softly. “How things have changed.”

Cam’s jaw tightened as she scanned the newspaper. “Call Lucinda and tell her you’re canceling for the fundraiser.”

Blair braced both arms on the kitchen counter behind her and lifted herself up so that she was sitting on it. She still wore the blue jeans and red sweater she’d pulled on to go out with Tanner. Cam was in her work clothes and still wearing her weapon, and although Blair knew it was foolish, the additional height advantage made her feel better. “I wouldn’t do that even if it would do any good, which it won’t. Once Lucinda makes up her mind—”

“Lucinda is the president’s chief of staff, not yours.” Cam tossed the newspaper onto the oak table and started for the front of the house. “If you’d prefer, I’ll tell Stark to call her.”

“I’m sure Stark will appreciate that.”

Cam turned, her eyes narrowing. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I know about the whole rank thing, but she’s still my chief of security. I don’t imagine she’ll appreciate being told anything. You never did.”

“Stark understands the situation,” Cam said, thinking about the briefing with Davis and Savard, and about Blair at a crowded cocktail reception where it would be impossible to control the guest list or secure the physical environment beyond the most basic measures. Thinking how exposed Blair would be. A ball of anger and anxiety filled her chest. “The timing is bad, especially after this newspaper article.”

“We’ve already discussed this, Cameron. If it isn’t this event, it will be some other one. We can’t prevent a public response to anything we do.”

“Why do you sound so calm?” Cam moved closer, but stopped two feet away. Just outside of touching distance.

“Because I know you’re not, and I know you’re worried.” Blair kept her hands on the counter, because she wanted to reach out and pull Cam across the divide. It was odd how she hated distance between them now. Once she had wanted, demanded, nothing but distance between herself and anyone who had the potential to hurt her. Mostly she resisted the urge to draw Cam near because she needed to judge exactly how much of Cam’s concern was her normal distrust of any public appearance and how much was a lover’s less rational concern. If she touched her, her perspective would be gone. “Why are you so much more worried about this event?”

“Jesus, Blair! Maybe you’ve forgotten what happened—” Cam bit off the rest of the sentence, cursing herself inwardly when she saw Blair flinch. Of course Blair hadn’t forgotten the assassination attempt at the Aerie. Blair would never be able to forget it, and bullying her with the memory instead of explaining her own unease was cowardly. And cruel. “I’m sorry, baby.”

Blair took a long breath. “Don’t apologize. Just trust me.”

Cam fell silent and Blair watched her struggle, waiting.

“I don’t feel like I’ve got a handle on anything right now, and I can’t afford to be wrong when your safety is at stake.” Cam took one step closer and rested her fingertips lightly on the outside of Blair’s thighs. “No one knows what really happened in September. We don’t know how much of the attack was orchestrated outside the country and what part insurgents inside the country might have played. But we know someone got very very close to you.” She hesitated.

“Say it, Cameron. All of it.” Blair pressed Cam’s hands to her legs, covering them with her own. She’d been wrong about not being able to think when Cam touched her. As the distance dissipated she could hear her far more clearly.

“There’s no reason to think they won’t try again,” Cam said. “Until we have Matheson, until we have Valerie, the risk is greater than I’m comfortable with.”

“I’m not the only one at risk,” Blair said softly. “Have you forgotten someone tried to run you down?”

“That might not even be related.”

Blair gave her a look. “What does Stark say about Saturday?”

Irritation flared in Cam’s dark eyes. “I haven’t discussed it with her.”

“Because…”

Cam grimaced. “Because I haven’t managed the transition to her as your security chief very well.”

“You take a lot on yourself, Commander.”

“I love you,” Cam whispered.

“Oh I know.” Blair said. “What if you don’t find either Matheson or Valerie?”

“We will.”

“All right, until you find them, what do you suggest I do? It could be months. Years.”

“Are you trying to make me say things that will piss you off?”

“Well, I do enjoy makeup sex.” Blair lifted Cam’s hand and kissed the top of it. “But I’m trying something new. I’m working on being reasonable and rational.”

“I think maybe you’re more dangerous this way than when you’re flat-out furious,” Cam grumbled. She eased forward until she was completely between Blair’s legs, then wrapped her arms around Blair’s waist and pulled her forward until Blair’s crotch rested against her middle.

“I’m not ready for the makeup sex yet,” Blair whispered, wrapping her arms around Cam’s neck. “So don’t get any closer.”

Cam rested her forehead against Blair’s. “You’re calling the shots.”

“Hardly,” Blair murmured, running her fingers through Cam’s hair. “I understand why you’re not happy about the fundraiser, but it was scheduled months ago and if I cancel now, it will seem as if we’re afraid. Add to that the newspaper headlines this morning, and it will also look like I’m ashamed of us. Neither of those things is true. It’s not going to get any better, darling, because if it’s not Matheson, there will be someone or something else that poses a threat.”

“Unfortunately, you’re right.” Cam sighed. “Assuming we do this, there are going to be a lot more press than usual.”

Blair grimaced. “I know.”

“Have you given any thought to what you’re going to say about the wedding?”

“Well, if it’s all right with you, I was thinking that I’d say that I’m deeply in love with you and plan to spend the rest of my life with you, and since that’s traditionally the situation when people get married, that’s my plan, too.” Blair nuzzled Cam’s neck. “What are you going to say?”

Cam grinned and kissed Blair. “If it’s all right with you, I just thought I’d say that I’ve never met anyone who was better in bed, so it seemed like marrying you was the smart thing to do.”

“Really?” Blair skimmed her lips along the edge of Cam’s jaw.

“Really.” Cam dragged Blair another inch forward, her hands cupping Blair’s butt.

“I think I like your reasoning,” Blair whispered.

“And I think we need to finish this conversation in private.”

Blair nibbled on Cam’s neck, then bit her. “See, it’s not so difficult for us to come to an agreement.”

Chapter Sixteen

Saturday

“You’re not ready for field duty,” Paula said. Renée clipped her Sig Sauer to the waistband of her flaring black silk pants, settling the pistol at the middle of her back. Then she pulled a dark green, notched collared jacket on over her black shell and closed it loosely with a wide belt. She checked first that the lie of the jacket was smooth, concealing her holstered weapon, and then that she could draw unencumbered by any snag in her clothing. Satisfied that the short jacket covered her weapon but wasn’t going to interfere with it, she checked her makeup in the mirror over the dresser. After slipping into black heels, high enough for a formal event but low enough to run in, she walked over to sit next to Paula on the sofa in their hotel room.

“I’m Diane’s escort. It’s not exactly field duty.”

“You’re splitting hairs. Just because you’re wearing a fancy outfit,” Paula said, smoothing her hand up and down Renée’s thigh, “doesn’t mean you’re not providing protection.”

“I know, sweetie.” Renée caught Paula’s hand and held it. “And I promise if all the standing around starts to get to me, I’ll signal for help. But I can handle this. Really.”

Paula sighed. “I’m not doubting you. I’m just a little worried.”

“Of what?”

“Has it occurred to you that we’re all operating off the radar ever since we left Washington?”

“You mean because we’re not reporting to some desk jockey who doesn’t know what it is that we do half the time anyway?”

Paula laughed. “Yeah, I think that’s what I mean.”

“Sweetie, we’re on Cameron Roberts’s radar. I’ll take her being in charge over some SAC or deputy director I’ve never seen and who’s never had my back in a firefight. What about you?”

“Yeah, me too.”

Renée slipped her arm around Paula’s waist and turned her lover’s face toward hers with one finger on her chin. “I’m really okay. You know that, right?”

“You still looked tired,” Paula said, adding quickly, “but, I can tell you’re feeling better.”

“Oh yeah?” Renée kissed her lightly on the lips. “How?”

Paula grinned. “You’re sleeping better.”

Renée kissed her again, a little more firmly. “Is that all?”

“You’re walking better. No cane.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Renée said, trailing a line of kisses along the edge of Paula’s jaw.

“Honey,” Paula said just a little breathlessly. “We’ll mess your makeup.”

“Oh, like I care,” Renée whispered.

“You know I can’t have sex before a big game.” Paula eased away. “It saps my strength and makes my brain sluggish.”

Laughing, Savard skimmed her hand inside Paula’s jacket and over her breasts. “Are you afraid you’ll forget all the big plays and run toward the wrong end zone?”

Paula jumped up and backed away. “No fair touching when you’re just teasing. You know I get excited.”

Renée’s eyes glittered. “Do you now?”

“Renée,” Paula said, hearing her own voice rise with a combination of excitement and nerves. “I’m leaving now. I’m going to Wozinski’s room for the briefing.” She held out her arm, palm facing forward. “Don’t get up.”

“I know the schedule. You’re not briefing for an hour, Chief.”

“I want to review everything by myself, first.”

Renée smiled. “Okay sweetie. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind.” She rose and kissed Paula on the cheek. “But when we’re back here tonight, I’m going to show you just how much I’ve recovered.”

“I’ll look forward to a demonstration. Be careful tonight.”

“You too, sweetie.”

Cam tapped on the hotel room door, feeling like an interloper. Stark, in a smartly tailored navy blue suit and white shirt, answered.

“Do you mind if I sit in on your briefing, Chief?”

“No, come on in.”

When Stark stepped aside, Cam nodded her thanks and entered the dimly lit suite. The drapes over the windows were closed and the overhead lights turned off, leaving only the scattered table lamps for illumination. The effect was oddly intimate. Cam strode directly to one of the empty chairs grouped around the coffee table in the seating area, nodding to Mac, Wozinski, and Hara as she sat down. Stark returned to the chair in the center of the group.

“We were just reviewing the exit routes, Commander.”

“Go ahead,” Cam said. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No problem,” Stark said quickly and handed Cam a printout. “The timetable, shift assignments, and agent placements are all outlined there.”

Cam glanced at it briefly. It was thorough and complete, as she anticipated it would be. It wasn’t the things they planned for that concerned her. It was the threat of the unanticipated that had her pacing in the suite across the hall until Blair had strongly suggested that she ask to sit in on the pre-departure briefing. So now Cam found herself in the awkward position of being an observer.

She was on the verge of getting up and leaving when Stark pushed the papers aside and said, “Is there something in particular you wanted to review, Commander?”

Cam cleared her throat. “First of all, I just wanted everyone to be clear that I’m here because Blair threw me out, not because Stark needs any help.”

Stark smiled and the other agents laughed.

“Well,” Cam continued. “I’m definitely more use over here than across the hall right now.” She addressed Stark. “I don’t suppose metal detectors are feasible, considering that the reception is in the open mezzanine?”

“We could insist that everyone use one escalator and one bank of elevators, but I think we’d get a major logjam as a result. That kind of chaos sometimes makes it easier to overlook things.”

“I tend to agree. Plus,” Cam said with a sigh, “it rather defeats the purpose of having Blair make a public appearance if we ramp up the security measures to the point where it’s obvious we’re worried.”

“I’m not worried, Commander,” Stark said steadily. “As far as I’m concerned, every time Egret makes a public appearance, we have to assume she is a target. That’s the only way to do the job.”

After a moment of complete silence, Cam said, “You’re absolutely right, Chief.” She glanced at the others. “Perimeter coverage?”

“I get to sit this one out in the surveillance van,” Mac said, unrolling a schematic and spreading it out facing Cam. He pointed to a red X with a circle around it. “Here. The other vehicle will be at the south entrance.” He pointed to a blue X. “Here. One of Tanner’s men will drive that vehicle.”

He then opened another schematic of the ballroom. “Exits…here, here, here, and here. Also covered by Tanner’s people.”

“Are we using the local field agents?” Cam asked.

“No,” Stark said. “I decided that Tanner’s team has just as much experience, maybe more. And we’re already used to working with them.”

“Good call,” Cam murmured. She was as certain as she could be that the local Secret Service agents were not compromised, but they also weren’t as likely to fit seamlessly into their current team as Tanner’s security personnel were. Under the circumstances, she would have made the same decision.

“Savard will be with Diane,” Cam said. “We have to assume Diane is a potential target as well.” She glanced at Stark. “But Savard still has mobility issues. She’ll be fine at close range, but you’re going to need mobile backup for her.”

Stark never changed expression. “Already taken care of.”

“Did anything turn up in the doctor’s background?” Cam asked, referring to the keynote speaker. “Threats, angry protesters, anything that might spill over tonight?”

Stark nodded to Mac, who opened a file folder. “Emory Constantine. She’s thirty-one years old, has been at the Johnson Institute for five years, and received a sizable federal grant matched by the Institute two years ago. Has a bunch of recent publications and is considered one of the front runners in stem cell research in the world.”

“Young for that,” Cam observed.

“Apparently she was one of the few to see the writing on the wall before anyone else. She did a lot of the preliminary work while she was still an undergraduate. A case of good timing and, from what I’ve been able to find out, a lot of brains.”

“Personal life?”

“Not much there. Lives in Beacon Hill in the family residence with her mother, divorced, no children.”

“Threat assessment?”

Hara spoke up. “There have been right-to-life protesters at the last three seminars where Constantine has been a headliner. This guy,” she passed out photographs, “was arrested at the last one for physically threatening her as she left the podium. Alexander Frenkel. There’s a restraining order on him now. If he shows up within five hundred feet of her, he goes to jail.”

“Everyone has his picture,” Stark said. “He’s not registered at the hotel, at least not under that name.”

“These four,” Hara went on, fanning out another set of images like playing cards, “have been observed at two out of the last three locations where Constantine made a public appearance.”

Cam frowned. “Affiliations?”

“Three belong to different groups, but the fourth doesn’t appear to have any group connections at all,” Hara replied. “Two are fetal rights activists, one is a pro-lifer, and the loner is an unknown commodity.”

“Who’s providing this intelligence?” Cam asked.

“Local FBI,” Mac said. “They’ve kept a file on the doctor since another stem cell researcher—James Bennett—was attacked in a car park a year ago. The injuries kept him in the hospital for two months.”

“Did the victim have any relationship to Constantine?”

“None other than the fact that they knew each other professionally,” Mac said.

Stark said, “We anticipate the usual demonstrators tonight. We’ll bring Egret in through the side entrance, because the protesters will most likely be out front where they’ll get more press coverage. The hotel can legally bar them from entering, so once we’re inside, she’ll be in the clear from the majority of the organized dissenters.”

“What do you have on local anti-gay factions?” Cam asked.

“A few religious groups, but they’re mostly involved with debates over the church recognizing gay priests and performing same-sex marriages,” Stark answered.

“None of them with a history of violence?”

“No.”

“The press will be all over her tonight, and we’re not going to keep them out of the banquet. It’s a fundraiser, and I’m sure the PR people from the institute will want reporters present.” Cam shook her head. “It’s going to be a long night.”

“There’s one other issue, Commander,” Stark said.

Cam gave her a questioning look.

“You were targeted this week, so we have to assume you’re at risk. Wozinski will cover y—”

“No,” Cam said flatly. “I appreciate it, Chief, but don’t pull someone off Blair’s detail for me. I don’t need it.”

“With respect—”

Cam stood. “I’m officially refusing, Stark. You already have two to cover—Blair as the primary and Diane as the secondary. You don’t have the people to cover anyone else. Are we clear?”

“Yes ma’am,” Stark said tightly.

“Thank you.”

“You ready for this?” Blair asked Diane, who sat across from her in the rear of the limo. Renée Savard sat next to her and anyone who didn’t know better would think they made an amazing looking couple. Diane, slightly taller and more willowy than Renée, wore a fitted cobalt blue evening gown with a halter tie and keyhole openings in the bodice. Renée’s jacket and pants were equally elegant. It was obvious to Blair that Renée walked just slightly ahead of Diane and scanned the surroundings with every step. Blair noticed the subtle surveillance because Cam always did the same thing.

Now Diane peered through the bulletproof, one-way glass as the armored limo, courtesy of the Boston Secret Service office, slowed at the side entrance of the Ritz-Carlton. “There are fewer press here than for one of your gallery openings.” She smiled at Blair, but her eyes were sad. “I was hoping to get a chance to plug your next show.”

Blair laughed, appreciating Diane’s fortitude. She hoped that the evening would at least provide a diversion for her for a few hours. She settled her hand onto Cam’s thigh, absently running her fingertips along the seam of the silk tuxedo pants. “Most of them are probably out front, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Cam said. “But it won’t take long for them to figure out where we are.”

“Well, then,” Blair pushed the door open as the limo stopped at the curb, “let’s make them run for it.”

With a muffled oath, Cam jumped out and surreptitiously grasped Blair’s hand. “God damn it, Blair, wait.”

Stark barreled out of the front and rushed to Blair’s opposite side. Renée and Diane moved up behind them with Hara following.

“Sorry, darling,” Blair said lightly, hooking her arm through Cam’s. “We’ve got cameras on the left and people waving signs off to the right.”

“I see them,” Cam muttered, keeping her expression neutral as Blair smiled briefly in the direction of the photographers.

When several called out questions to Blair, she waved but didn’t answer, pretending she hadn’t heard them. She pointedly ignored those calling on God or whatever other powers they believed in to punish her for her sinful ways.

“Lovely,” Diane said from close behind.

Cam reached for the hotel door and found Stark there before her.

“Go ahead please,” Stark said. “The escalators to the mezzanine are directly to your right.”

Cam hesitated for just a second, then moved through with Blair by her side.

“You’re just my date, remember?” Blair murmured.

“Sorry,” Cam muttered.

“Don’t be.”

Blair and Cam joined the crowd on the mezzanine and a moment later, a small, compact brunette in a black evening dress approached. Even in heels, she was of average height, but her dynamic expression and confident carriage made her presence seem larger.

“Ms. Powell.” She extended her hand. “I’m so honored that you could come this evening. I’m Emory Constantine.”

“Dr. Constantine,” Blair said, taking the researcher’s hand. “Thank you. My partner, Cameron Roberts, and my good friends Diane Bleeker and Renée Savard.”

“Agent Roberts, a pleasure.” Emory Constantine shook hands with Cam, then indicated the open doors to the banquet hall behind her. “Please, won’t all of you join me at my table.”

“Thank you,” Blair said. “We’d love to.”

“You should burn in hell,” a male voice shouted from across the foyer. “The Bible says you are an abomination.”

Cam instinctively stepped between Blair and the direction of the voice just as Stark did the same. Stark slid a hand under her jacket.

“Wozinski has him,” she murmured just loud enough for Cam to hear.

“Good.” Keeping between Blair and that side of the hallway, Cam took Blair’s hand and said, “We’re clear. Let’s go inside.”

Blair met Emory Constantine’s concerned gaze. “I’m sorry for the disruption.”

Emory smiled faintly. “I was about to say the same thing to you, Ms. Powell. I have a number of fairly vocal opponents.”

“Then we have quite a bit in common,” Blair said.

Emory’s gaze flickered briefly to Cam and then to Diane and Renée. Then she grinned, her dark eyes sparkling. “It seems that we do.”

Chapter Seventeen

“I’m sorry,” Emory Constantine murmured, bending over Blair, who sat at the head table with Cam, Diane, Renée, and a number of notables from the scientific and financial world, “but would you mind posing for one more round of photos? The president of the Institute—”

“No, I don’t mind,” Blair said with a smile, even though she’d been photographed with and without her permission more times than she cared to count in the last three hours. She was used to the press and had expected more than her usual share of attention after all the events of the last few months and the recent announcement of her personal plans. Emory it seemed, also garnered a fair amount of media notice, so with the two of them sitting together, the questions and photos had been nonstop all evening. “I’ll be right there.”

As she rose, Cam did also. Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw Paula wending her way through the tables toward her. When Blair followed Emory onto the stage and joined the small group waiting there, Cam and Paula took up positions off to each side. Randolph Sumter, the current president of the Johnson Institute, was middle-aged, handsome, and wore his power with subtle arrogance. He didn’t try to hide his non-philanthropic interest as his gaze swept over Blair during their introduction.

“Ms. Powell,” he said in a smooth baritone, “we’d love to have you tour the Institute. I think you’ll find we are doing some remarkable work.”

“Yes,” Blair replied with polite reserve. “I’ve followed Dr. Constantine’s research with interest. You must be very pleased to have her and her team on board.”

To his credit, his smile never wavered. “Without a doubt. Please remember me to your father. The board was a staunch supporter during his last campaign.”

“I certainly will.” Blair took Cam’s hand. “I don’t believe you’ve met my partner, Cameron Roberts.”

Sumter acknowledged Cam perfunctorily, signaled to the photographers, and positioned himself between Blair and Emory with a hand on each of their backs. Once the obligatory photo shoot was over, Blair drew Emory aside.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to slip out a little early.”

Emory shook her head. “Please, you don’t need to explain.” She glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “They’re hungry tonight, aren’t they?”

“Tonight?” Blair laughed. “I’m really glad we got to meet. I thought your speech was dynamite. If there’s ever anything I can do, just give me a call.”

“Thank you.” Emory walked Blair to the far side of the stage where the crowd on the floor was thinner. “I might just take you up on that someday.”

Blair smiled. “Good. I’m serious.”

“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too,” Emory said, waiting until Cam was close enough to hear.

“Thank you,” Cam and Blair said together.

“I’ll walk out with you,” Emory said, “and we can trade phone numbers.” She looked over the several hundred people in the banquet room and sighed. “I’ve still got another hour’s networking to go, and I could use a break.”

“Come on, then.” Blair grinned. “I’m an expert at sneaking out of things like this.”

Cam motioned to Stark. “Let the team know we’re ready to leave. I’ll get Diane and Savard. We’re still using the planned exit?”

“Yes. I’ll have the cars move around now.” Stark murmured instructions, then said to Blair, “Five minutes, Ms. Powell.”

At the appointed time, the small group took the elevator at the rear of the building to the ground floor and headed briskly down the service corridor toward an exit used by the hotel staff. Blair couldn’t see anyone in the alcoves and smaller hallways branching off the main corridor, but she was certain that members of the security team were stationed along the way. She leaned close to Emory.

“If you really want to break ranks, you can come back to the hotel with us for a drink.”

Emory laughed. “God, don’t tempt me. Unfortunately, fundraising is a necessary evil and I’ve got enough to worry about without adding money problems to my list.”

“I can imagine,” Blair said. “Don’t worry too much about anti-stem cell research legislation. I can tell you my father does not support measures to restrict your work.”

“Thank you. I—”

“Stark,” Cam said sharply as a man in a three-piece suit rounded a corner twenty feet in front of them and strode rapidly toward them. Even as she spoke, she started to step toward Blair. He raised his arm.

“Gun!” someone shouted.

Blair barely heard the warning before the hallway erupted in gunfire and she was knocked to the floor. As she fell she grabbed for Cam but could not reach her. Then she was on the floor with a tremendous weight pinning her down. She pushed and struggled to get free but was only able to turn her head. She saw a hand and part of a sleeve stretched out on the floor a few yards away. Cam’s hand. She screamed but couldn’t get enough air to emit more than a choked sob. Someone groaned.

Then Blair was yanked to her feet, then off her feet, and propelled down the hallway by someone she couldn’t see. Someone big. She finally twisted enough in the iron grip to make out the features. Wozinski.

“Cam,” Blair gasped. “Where is she?”

Wozinski didn’t answer as he shouldered his way out into a narrow service alley. The metal service door banged against the stone building façade with a sharp clang.

The limo idled directly in front of the exit with the back door open. Hara crouched beside it, her gun extended in both hands as she visually swept right and left. Blair jerked in Wozinski’s grasp and almost wrenched free, but he dragged her across the sidewalk, pushed her head down, and shoved her into the backseat.

“Cam,” Blair shouted, immediately trying to climb out of the vehicle. Diane’s body blocked her way as she too was pushed inside. Savard followed, the door slammed, and the vehicle careened away.

Blair stared at Savard, whose face was bone white. Her own heart was racing so quickly her chest ached. She took a breath and then another and dug her fingers into the leather seat. “What do we know?”

“Nothing,” Savard said tightly.

Beside her, Diane sat rigidly upright, her arms wrapped around her torso, her pupils dilated so much her blue eyes looked black. She said my God, my God over and over in a hushed voice.

Blair heard sirens, and then tires squealed behind them and she hastily knelt on the seat to stare out the rear window. Renée leaned across the space between the seats, grasped her shoulder, and gently pulled her back down.

“Please stay away from the windows.”

“Where’s Cam?” Blair took a shaky breath. “Where’s Paula?”

“Paula…is down. I’m not sure about the commander,” Renée said in a monotone.

For an instant, Blair couldn’t decipher the meaning of what she had just heard. Paula is down. Down. Shot? Her mind veered away from the thought. Cam. Cam wasn’t wearing a vest.

“Who’s behind us?” Blair carefully enunciated each word and forced herself to think calmly. Her only hope of getting to Cam was to maintain, or take, control. She wasn’t about to become an unwilling captive of her own security team ever again.

“Mac. I’m not sure who else.”

“Call them,” Blair demanded.

“Protocol is for radio silence,” Renée said.

“I don’t care. Call them now. Consider it an order, Agent Savard.”

Savard stared at Blair for a long moment, then punched two numbers on her handy talky. “Status?”

Blair couldn’t hear a response, but only a few seconds passed before Renée said, “We’re secure,” and slipped the radio back into an inside pocket of her jacket. At the sight of her hand trembling, Blair’s stomach clenched into a painful knot.

“Report?” Blair asked.

“All present and accounted for.”

“What…what does that mean?”

“It means no one was left at the scene. Stark and the commander are in the Suburban behind us.”

“Are they—”

“I don’t know,” Renée said.

The tight fist around Blair’s heart loosened enough for her to breathe without each movement feeling like a knife stabbing through her. “Diane, are you all right?”

Mutely, Diane nodded.

Blair concentrated on burying her panic. Cam was in the car behind her. That was all that mattered. “Where are we going?”

“If Paula…”

Renée shuddered and for just a second, Blair thought she was going to break down. Then she squared her shoulders and continued.

“Paula will let Mac know the exit route, and he’ll communicate with our driver.”

Blair looked out the window and saw that they were heading out of the city. The last thing she wanted was to end up in another safe house, but she realized that was one decision she couldn’t impact. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to go blank. It didn’t work, but it kept her from trying to break down the barrier between herself and whoever was driving and demanding to know where they were going. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, she felt the limo slow down. She jerked upright and saw a sign for Interstate 495 South flash by as the vehicle turned into a deserted truck weighing station by the side of the highway. “What’s happening?”

Renée shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Blair reached for the handle, but Renée stopped her. She was about to protest when the door opened and Cam slid in. The limo immediately accelerated back onto the highway.

“Are you all right?” Cam slid her arm around Blair’s shoulders and pulled her close.

“Am I?” Blair laughed shakily and pressed her palm to Cam’s chest. “I was afraid…” She lost the words and just kissed Cam instead. “Are you?”

“Other than a few sore ribs from ending up under one of Tanner’s security guards, I’m fine.” Cam stroked Blair’s hair and looked at Diane and Renée. “You both okay?”

“Yes,” Renée reported, sitting tensely on the edge of the seat.

“Stark took a round in the chest,” Cam said. “Her vest stopped it. She’s in pain, but she’s still in charge. She’ll be okay.”

Renée blinked and looked away. “Thank you.”

“Was anyone else hurt?” Blair asked.

“Another one of Tanner’s people took a shot to the vest in the process of shielding Emory Constantine.”

“Emory!” Blair said, momentarily stunned. “My God, is she hurt?”

“She sprained her wrist, but she’s tough and taking everything in stride.” Cam glanced at Savard. “We brought Emory with us. She’s in the Suburban.”

“Smart call,” Savard said. “What about the assailant?”

“He’s dead. Stark left Wozinski behind temporarily to coordinate with the FBI and police.” Cam coughed and winced.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Blair said immediately.

Cam shook her head. “Sore ribs. I got a quick look at the guy. He’s one of the four on Emory Constantine’s watch list.”

“You mean Emory was the target?” Blair exclaimed.

“We’re not sure, but it’s possible.” Cam shifted, obviously trying to get comfortable. “For now, we’re not making any assumptions.”

“How much of this can we keep out of the press?” Blair asked.

“Stark’s already been on the line to Lucinda, who’s spinning some story right now about Emory suddenly being taken ill to cover her leaving the banquet. Fortunately, the scene was contained immediately so we may be able to keep the real details out of the press.”

“Good,” Blair breathed. “The last thing I want is another story circulating about me being a target.” She took Cam’s hand. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yes.” Now she was, now that she’d seen Blair. Now that some of the helpless fury at not being able to reach her when she’d been in danger was dissipating. Despite the pain in her ribs, she held Blair more tightly.

“What?” Blair murmured, sliding her hand to the back of Cam’s neck. “Darling?”

“Nothing,” Cam whispered. The instant she’d seen the assailant, she’d tried to shield Blair, but Tanner’s man had grabbed her from behind and thrown her down. If Stark hadn’t been there, hadn’t moved without the slightest hesitation, Blair could be dead. Cam closed her eyes, as if that could obliterate the image in her mind, and buried her face in Blair’s hair.

Blair moved her mouth close to Cam’s ear. “I’m all right. I’m right here.”

Cam took a long breath, straightened, and directed her next comments to Savard again. “There’s been no evidence of pursuit, and this has the feel of a lone gunman.”

“I agree,” Savard said. Her color was better and her eyes focused and intent. Beside her, Diane looked exhausted, but calm. “He was probably staying at the hotel or knew someone who was.”

“But how did he know where we were?” Blair said. “Or that we were leaving?”

“He could have paid one or even several of the hotel employees to keep him informed,” Cam said. “It’s possible he had an accomplice who was a legitimate guest at the fundraiser. He might have been watching the limo from some vantage point within the hotel, but I think that’s less likely. Once Wozinski and the rest of the on-site team backtrack his route, we’ll know more.”

“He didn’t say anything, did he? I didn’t hear anything before… the shots.” Blair knew how to fire a gun. She’d had a license since her late teens and had been to the firing range fairly regularly since then. But the muffled pops of controlled gunfire in a firing booth bore no resemblance to the terrifying reverberation of gunshots echoing down a hotel corridor. She could still hear the shots, and the shouts, and her own silent screams. She found Cam’s hand and held it. “I was wondering about the guy earlier—the one outside the banquet hall who was quoting scripture, or his version of it anyway.”

“The gunman didn’t say anything,” Cam said. “His message was in his gun hand.”

“Where are we going?” Blair asked.

Cam smiled for a second. “Home to Whitley Point. Lucinda will have someone take care of the hotel room and pick up our luggage.”

“If it’s all right with you, I’d rather not leave the island again for six months or so.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Cam said.

“Thank you.” Blair knew it wasn’t possible, but for just a little while, it felt good to dream.

Chapter Eighteen

Sunday

“Tanner’s here,” Blair said as the limo pulled up behind the SUV parked in the circular drive in front of the beach house. She stiffened when three figures materialized out of the dark and approached the vehicle. Even in the middle of the night, with only streaks of moonlight to cut the inky blackness, she could make out the automatic rifles.

“They’re Tanner’s people,” Cam said. “Stark probably called ahead once we were out of range of the city and filled Tanner in on what happened.”

Despite Cam’s assurances that the figures posed no threat, Cam and Savard got out of the limo first and closed the door, leaving Blair and Diane shielded inside.

“I don’t know how you stand it,” Diane said. “It’s all so horrible.”

Blair slid across the space between the facing seats and put an arm around her. “Try not to think about it right now, honey. We’ll get you inside and once we’re safe, you’ll feel better.”

Diane laughed harshly. “Safe? That’s just an illusion, and I bet you’ve known that all along, haven’t you?” She touched Blair’s face as if seeing her for the very first time. “You’ve known you could never be safe, so there was no reason to let them pretend to protect you.”

When the door opened and Cam leaned in, Blair didn’t move but smiled over at her. “I’ll be right out, darling.”

“Go with her,” Diane said. “I’m all right.”

“No you’re not. None of us are.” Blair rubbed Diane’s arm and rocked her gently as Cam moved away. “You’re partly right, you know—about my being guarded. I used to think there was no real need for protection and I resented them for trying, especially when it meant having them in my life twenty-four hours a day. I still hate it—everything about it—but mostly I hate that one of them could be hurt trying to protect me. But they’re very good and they’ve saved my life and I trust them with it, now. All of them.” She took a deep breath. “And I know that I need them.”

Diane shivered. “I saw Paula jump in front of you and I saw her get shot. Thank God, it was just a millisecond, but I saw her body jerk, and I’ll never forget the shock on her face.” She looked down at her hands which were clasped tightly in her lap. “All the way back here, I kept wondering if Valerie’s already dead. If someone—”

“She’s not, and you can’t think that way.” Blair took Diane’s face between her hands. “You never give up. Okay? It’s not allowed. We will win.”

“God,” Diane laughed unsteadily. “You’re turning into one of them.”

“Bite your tongue.” Blair released Diane and opened the door. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

Tanner stood waiting with Cam next to the vehicle. As Blair and Diane slid out, she wrapped her arms around both of them. “Hey, you two okay?”

“Just shaky,” Diane said.

“We’ve got a fire going and a nice bottle of wine waiting for you,” Tanner said.

“I don’t even want to think about why you need your security people,” Blair whispered against Tanner’s ear, “but I owe you for the rest of my life for them.” She closed her eyes, trying to banish the sight of Cam lying on the floor. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t even go there,” Tanner said grimly. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t there myself.”

“You did exactly what we needed.” Blair eased away from Tanner. “Is Emory inside already?”

“Yes, she volunteered to check out Stark and Tanner’s security guard.” Cam wrapped her arm around Blair’s waist as they walked to the house. “Stark took a hard hit and I ordered her to stand down. I’m sorry, but I need to contact Wozinski to find out what’s going on back there.”

“I understand. Just promise me you’ll try to get some sleep tonight, too.” Blair held the door open and waited until everyone else disappeared inside before asking, “Do you need something for your ribs?”

“No, it’s tolerable. I’ll wrap this up just as soon as I can.” Cam cupped the back of Blair’s neck and kissed her gently. “I love you.”

Blair kissed her back, far less gently. “I love you too.”

“If that’s a come on, I might be too tired to deliver tonight,” Cam said.

“It is, but I think I’m too tired to accept delivery.” Blair gave her a gentle push. “Go do what you have to do. There’s always a shower to look forward to in a few hours.”

“Where’s Diane?” Blair asked when she looked in on Adrienne and Felicia in the living room.

“She wanted to be alone,” Adrienne said. “Do you think she’s all right?”

“She will be,” Blair said. “It’s the first time she’s ever been shot at.”

“If she needs a little escape from all of this, she can stay with Tanner and me,” Adrienne said. “The atmosphere around here might be a little intense for her the next few days.”

“Tanner never mentioned you had such a knack for understatement.”

“Speaking of my spouse,” Adrienne said, rising, “I should find her and get her home before she decides to stand guard herself.” She glanced at Blair. “She’s more than willing, if you need her—”

Blair shook her head. “No. And you’ve both done enough. We’re fine.”

“We’ve got plenty of people to secure this location,” Felicia added, setting her coffee aside and standing as well. “I’m going to check in with the commander.”

“And I want to see Emory,” Blair said.

She bade the others goodnight and walked down the hall to the bedroom the agents used when they were off-shift. As she knocked on the partially open door, it swung open before she could catch it, affording her a glimpse of Emory Constantine leaning over a semi-nude young woman stretched out on the bed. Steph Fletcher, one of Tanner’s security guards.

“Sorry.” Blair started to close the door.

“That’s all right,” Emory called. “We’re done.”

Blair stepped inside as Emory drew a sheet up to the shoulders of the wiry, short haired redhead. “I’m going to leave my cell number right here on the bedside table.” Emory crossed to a small desk and scribbled something on a piece of paper that she then placed next to the redhead’s holstered weapon. “Six hours of bed rest, minimum. If your chest pain gets worse, you develop a cough, or you feel lightheaded, call me immediately. Otherwise, I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

“Look, thanks.” Steph was already pushing herself up, clearly intent on returning to duty. “I really appreciate everything, but—”

“You know, Steph,” Blair said conversationally. “I bet Tanner would put you right on the inactive list if she thought you weren’t a hundred percent. Not that anyone would tell her…”

Steph groaned and flopped back down. “Okay. Okay, I got it. Roger on the six hours bed rest.”

“Thank you.” Emory followed Blair into the hall. “Is there someone who can give me a ride to a hotel?”

“We have plenty of room right here,” Blair said as they returned to the living room. “You can stay here until Cam is sure that it’s safe for you to go home.”

“I don’t know precisely what went on in that hallway, but I heard some of the conversation among the agents on the way here. That man…that man might have been trying to kill me. I certainly can’t endanger you or—”

“No one is going to let you leave, Emory, and no one wants you to.” Blair found a half-empty bottle of wine, refilled her glass, and poured another for Emory. “I’d be very grateful if you’d look at Cam later. She’s been through a lot this past week and…” She realized her hand was trembling and put the glass down abruptly.

“Of course I’ll look at her,” Emory said.

“Thank you. Is there anyone you need to call? The White House will take care of devising some story for the press, but if there’s someone who’s going to be worried about where you are tonight—”

“No, there isn’t.” Emory reached for her wine. “Since my divorce last year, I’ve been living in the family home with my mother. She travels a lot, as do I, so it works out very well for both of us. Right now she’s in Milan.”

Blair curled up on the sofa and regarded Emory thoughtfully. “Well then, consider yourself our guest.”

“All right. Of course.” Emory gestured to her evening dress. “Do you have clothes I can borrow? One of the security guards gave me his jacket in the car, but I gave that back to him when we got here.”

“Between Diane and me, I’m sure we can outfit you.”

“In that case, I gratefully accept. I can e-mail my chief technician with instructions for the lab in the morning. This will give me a chance to check on Steph again, too.”

“Is she badly hurt?”

Emory shook her head. “I don’t think so, but blunt trauma to the chest can be tricky. I’d feel better if I could x-ray her and get a cardiogram, but that’s out of the question.”

“If you think it’s necessary, Tanner is very good at making arrangements for that sort of thing without a lot of fuss.”

“You mean no records?”

“Pretty much.”

“Somehow I get the feeling none of this is new to you.”

Blair sighed, kicked off her shoes, and propped her feet on a leather hassock. Sometime in the last year she’d gotten used to living with danger. Not just the vague and barely countenanced possibility of harassment or kidnapping that she’d grown up with, but the life and death reality of bombs and bullets. Her lover had almost died, her friends had been shot, and she had been exposed to a potentially lethal bioweapon. “No, it’s not new.” She smiled wearily at Emory. “And I don’t think it’s going to go away—ever.”

“What the hell went wrong?” Matheson barked into the cell phone as he paced in his motel room. The need to change locations frequently and the inability to easily access his funds were wearing on him.

“He wasn’t a professional, sir, and the targets were very well covered,” the colonel said. “We knew using a civilian might be a problem.”

Matheson sighed. “It was still a good plan to use someone who would be seen as targeting Constantine, but relying on amateurs is too risky. We’re going to have to handle this ourselves.”

“It won’t be easy without inside help, sir.”

“According to my friend in the Company, they’re most likely back on the island, and it’s not impregnable. If Lawrence doesn’t surface soon, we’ll have to force her out.”

“Sir?”

“We’ll start eliminating her contacts.” Matheson relaxed his grip on the phone. “One by one.”

Chapter Nineteen

“If we’re going to shower together,” Blair whispered in Cam’s ear, “we have to get up now.”

“Did you wake up with an urge?” Cam murmured.

“Mmm. A big one.” Blair teased the rim of Cam’s ear with the tip of her tongue and pressed her pelvis against the crest of Cam’s hip. “I went to bed with one, and it just kept growing.” She reached around Cam’s body and caressed her breasts and abdomen. “Of course, if you’re really tired, I could probably manage on my own for a while.”

Cam rolled over onto her back and pulled Blair on top of her. “Who needs a shower.”

Grinning, Blair sat up and straddled Cam’s waist. Keeping her weight off Cam’s bruised hip, she grasped the hem of her T-shirt and stripped it off over her head. She let it fall onto the floor beside the bed and skimmed her hands slowly over her chest and down her abdomen, watching Cam follow the movement of her hands on her own body. “How do you feel this morning?”

“Surprisingly okay.”

Blair trailed her fingers along the inside of her thighs, her fingertips brushing Cam’s abdomen as well as her own legs. When Cam’s muscles tightened, she felt an answering tension between her legs. “Shoulder stiff?”

Cam raised both arms and cupped Blair’s breasts. “Not at all.”

Blair closed her eyes as her nipples hardened and her breasts swelled against Cam’s palms. “Still, let’s be sure you don’t overdo it.” She rocked her pelvis in a slow steady glide on Cam’s stomach, pressing a little harder with each stroke as the delicious pressure built. She covered one of Cam’s hands on her breast with her own, and with her other opened herself so she could rub more of her rapidly swelling sex over Cam’s belly. Soon the steady pump and glide of her hips gave way to short, erratic thrusts and she moaned softly. “Oh God, you feel so good.”

“Blair,” Cam whispered. “Open your eyes, baby.”

Smiling crookedly, Blair blinked and struggled to focus. “Sorry. I’m so close, I almost…” She took a shuddering breath. “I need to back off a minute.”

When she started to lift herself away, Cam shook her head.

“No, don’t move.” Cam kept one hand closed around Blair’s breast, the nipple vised between two fingers, and slid the other between Blair’s legs, palm up. Her fingers slipped down the hot, wet valley until her fingertips dipped just inside. “Now make yourself come in my hand.”

Blair caught her lip between her teeth and bent forward to wrap both hands around Cam’s arm, just above her wrist. “Tell me…if I hurt you.”

“You won’t. I want to feel everything.” Cam started a steady tug and squeeze on Blair’s nipple. “Fill my hand. Come on, baby.”

With a groan, Blair pushed hard against Cam’s hand, circling herself over the smooth firm muscles at the base of the palm. Soon she was balanced on a razor’s edge. Panting, she frantically sought Cam’s gaze. “I’m going to come.”

“Don’t hold back,” Cam urged hoarsely. “I need all of you. Everything.”

“Push inside me,” Blair gasped, her back arching. She jerked Cam’s arm hard between her legs, trying to force Cam’s fingers into her.

Cam buried her hand, her palm riding hard over Blair’s clitoris again and again.

“Oh God, Cam,” Blair cried, “there. Oh right there.” The muscles in her stomach and thighs shook violently as she tightened inside, over and over. When she couldn’t hold herself upright any longer, she tried to brace herself on one arm, but managed only to collapse on her side next to Cam, Cam’s hand still inside her.

“All right, baby?” Cam kissed Blair’s closed eyelids, then her mouth. “Blair?”

“Mmm, oh God, wonderful.”

“Ready for that shower?”

Blair snuggled a little closer and smoothed her hand down Cam’s stomach, smiling against Cam’s throat as she felt her twitch at the touch. “In a minute,” she murmured, caressing lightly. “Or maybe two, if you can behave that long.”

“I’ll do my best,” Cam groaned.

“That should do nicely.”

Renée Savard stifled a groan and eased to the far side of the bed, trying desperately not to shake the mattress. Her knee was so stiff and swollen, she feared she might have to crawl to the other side of the room where she’d left her cane propped against a chair two days earlier. Only two days ago, when she’d actually been walking fairly comfortably unaided. Of course, that was before she’d thrown herself down on top of Diane Bleeker and then sprinted fifty feet down a hallway and hurled herself into the back seat of a limousine.

“Can you walk?” Paula whispered.

“I’m just taking it slow,” Renée replied. “Go back to sleep, sweetie.”

Paula pushed the covers aside and started to sit up. “I’ll get your cane.”

“Don’t, Paula,” Renée said more sharply than she had intended. Knowing she must sound angry, she turned onto her side and stroked her lover’s arm. “Hey, I’m sorry. But you should stay in bed for a little while longer.”

“Where are you going?” Paula caught Renée’s hand and intertwined their fingers.

“It’s already 0600. The commander will be briefing soon.”

“And I need to brief the security team,” Paula countered.

“The commander didn’t take a bullet in the chest last night. You know you should take it easy today.”

“I was wearing a vest. The commander took a bullet in the chest for real and that didn’t keep her down for long.”

“You’re every bit as strong and dedicated as the commander.” Renée pushed a pillow behind her back, drew Paula against her side, and kissed the top of her head. “The commander is amazing—I’d follow her anywhere, do anything she asked. But you’re my lover, and I know what you did last night. I know what might have happened if he’d been using different ammo or you took that shot in the neck. Those few minutes in the limo last night… when I wasn’t sure how badly you were hurt… that was the worst kind of hell. God, sweetie, I was scared.”

“Hey, hey. I know.” Paula rubbed her cheek against the side of Renée’s breast. “I know what it was like thinking you were in one of the towers when they came down. I know, baby.”

“So,” Renée said shakily, “you get that I need you to take care of yourself for a little while.”

“I’m sore,” Paula admitted. “Every time I breathe it feels like someone’s poking a sharp stick into my chest and out through my shoulder blades. But I’m not going to do anything except sit at a table and talk. I won’t take a shift.”

“And after the briefing you’ll lie down again for three or four hours?”

“Two. Two hours and I won’t mention to the commander that you’re having trouble even standing.”

Laughing, Renée tilted Paula’s face up and kissed her. “I never realized you were so devious.”

“I can’t take you being hurt, either,” Paula whispered, closing her eyes and pillowing her face between Renée’s breasts. “Maybe you could just stay here for a few more minutes.”

“Anything,” Renée murmured. “Anything for you.”

Just before seven, Blair walked with Cam as far as the guesthouse. A light rain fell beneath a gray sky and in the distance the ocean was rough with angry chop.

“Winter’s coming,” Blair said, and for some reason, that made her feel melancholy.

Cam took her hand. “Let’s get married at the Lodge in Colorado. We can call Doris today and make arrangements.”

“What?” Blair gaped, then her eyes brightened with pleasure. “What brought that on?”

Cam brushed her thumb along the crest of Blair’s cheek. “We haven’t stopped moving for the last two months. I want a few days with you when all that matters is being with you.”

“You do?” Blair glanced down the path to the guesthouse where the current office of the Deputy Director of Homeland Security was located, knowing that Cam’s agents waited for her inside and that the work her lover was doing was critical to the nation’s well-being. She also knew that the work was essential to Cam’s well-being. The last thing she expected was for Cam to be thinking of anything except work.

“I’m sorry,” Cam murmured as if reading her mind. “I’m sorry that I haven’t made it clear to you how much I need you.”

“Cameron.” Blair skimmed her fingers through Cam’s hair. “You made that perfectly clear not more than an hour ago.”

Cam grinned briefly. “That too, but more than anything I need you…” Her eyes darkened and she touched her palm to her chest. “…in here.”

Blair caught her breath. “Oh my God. You have to go right this minute or I’m going to have to drag you back to bed. You can’t say things like that to me when we’re standing out here and I can’t have you.”

“Is that a yes about Colorado?”

“I’ll call Doris today. I know Tanner and Adrienne will love to see her again.”

“Good.” Cam kissed her. “I might be a while.”

“I know. Do what you have to do. I love you.”

“Be careful today.”

“I will be.” Blair asked the question lurking in the back of her mind. “Have you learned anything?”

“On the surface it looks like the shooter was targeting Emory.”

“On the surface?”

“He’s on her watch list, but some of these groups have multiple agendas. It’s not a stretch for an anti-fetal research zealot to also be anti-gay.”

“So it might’ve been us he was after.”

“Possibly.”

“But?”

Cam sighed. “We can’t discount the remote possibility that this might be related to the previous assault on you.”

“And you.”

“So our safest course of action,” Cam said, “is to assume all three are probable and investigate accordingly. The local FBI is putting together a file on the anti-stem cell research groups, and we’ll continue to focus on connections to Matheson.”

Blair caressed Cam’s ribs lightly, wishing fervently that she could heal them. “What about Valerie?”

“If she doesn’t contact either Diane or myself, our chances of finding her are remote. Given enough time, we might, but time is something we don’t have much of.” Cam ran her fingers through Blair’s hair. “I’m working on something that might draw her in.”

“Is it classified?”

“No, but it does involve Lucinda.”

“Uh-oh. Do I even want to know?”

“You’ll find out later.” Cam kissed Blair’s forehead. After a second she said, “No questions?”

“I’ll wait for you to tell me about the briefing. Perhaps I’ll go down to the marina in a while to see Tanner.”

“Take three people…” Cam grimaced. “I’m sure Stark will take care of that.”

Blair smiled. “I never mind you looking out for me. Stark doesn’t have to know.”

“Thanks, baby.” Cam kissed her again, then turned and strode briskly away.

Blair waited until Cam disappeared inside, then continued down the winding path to the beach. As she turned north, tucking her hands in the pockets of her windbreaker and walking quickly to keep warm in the brisk wind, she was peripherally aware of the two figures shadowing her. They had been there, of course, the entire time that she and Cam had stood on the path sharing something so intimate she still felt like crying. Those who had watched would of course never acknowledge in any way what they had witnessed, and during those moments, she hadn’t been aware of anyone except Cam. She stopped and pulled out her cell phone and speed-dialed.

A moment later, Cam answered. “Are you all right?”

“I’m sorry, I know you’re briefing. I just want you to know that I’d love to go to Colorado to get married.”

“All right,” Cam said probingly. “And?”

“And this morning in bed was wonderful, but the only thing I really need is for you to look at me like you just did for the rest of my life.”

“You can count on that.”

“I love you,” Blair said quietly. “I’ll see you later.”

Blair closed the phone, slid it into her pocket, and turned her face up to the rain. It was cold and sharp against her skin and she felt unbelievably alive.

When Blair let herself into the kitchen forty-five minutes later, Diane was waiting for her. She was without makeup, in loose cotton slacks and a pale blue cotton blouse, and she didn’t look like she’d slept at all the night before. Her freshly washed hair was loose and unstyled. She looked vulnerable and young, and Blair’s heart ached. Diane had finally fallen in love and instead of being able to immerse herself in the joy of it, she might lose Valerie and never know why.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Blair skimmed her fingers over Diane’s back as she passed behind her. She stopped abruptly when she felt Diane stiffen. “What is it?”

“This.” Diane’s normally sultry voice was scratchy from fatigue. She pointed to the newspaper spread out in front of her. “I don’t understand this.”

Blair peered over her shoulder and frowned at an article on the second page. Noted Gallery Owner Assaulted After Gala. She scanned the completely fictitious account of an assault, presumed to be a robbery, that occurred just outside the Boston Ritz Carlton the previous evening following a fundraiser for a noted research institute. The only thing in the article that resembled reality in the slightest was the fact that the victim, Diane Bleeker, was actually the owner of a trendy Manhattan gallery.

“Is this how things are done in your world?” Diane lifted her pain-filled and accusing eyes. “Are these kinds of lies necessary? I have friends, colleagues, family who will be concerned and what if…you know that Valerie will probably see this. Someone should have told me.”

“I don’t have any idea how…” Blair remembered a snippet of her conversation with Cam less than an hour ago. Cam had said she might have an idea about reaching Valerie. She had also said that Lucinda was involved, and this press manipulation had Lucinda’s fingerprints all over it. Blair straightened, her mouth tightening. “I’m not sure what this is about, but I’m going to find out.”

Grabbing the newspaper, she marched toward the dining room, now the security operations center, where she had last seen Paula and Mac. Mac was at the computer, studying what looked to be a floor plan. He swiveled on his chair to face her, his brows knitting.

“Where’s Paula?”

“She went back upstairs to bed.” Mac’s expression was polite but guarded. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“How about this? Do you know anything about this?” She extended the newspaper. From Mac’s quick glance, she knew that he was aware of the article.

“Ah, that might be something you want to ask the commander,” he replied, obviously framing his reply carefully.

“She’s in a briefing. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

Mac regarded her with mute appeal. “I’m afraid I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“All right. Of course not.” Blair turned and walked away. When she heard Mac rise she looked back over her shoulder. “Stay here, Mac. I’m not going any further than Cam’s office. God, it’s not like there’s anywhere to go.”

He grinned cautiously. “I’ve never known that to stop you. Respectfully, Ms. Powell.”

She narrowed her eyes, then laughed. “Maybe it’s time to rotate out my security team if you know me that well.”

“It does take a long time to train the new ones,” he said with a straight face.

“I suppose you have a point.” Blair felt some of her anger ease. “I’ll see you later Mac.”

“Ma’am.”

By the time she reached the guesthouse, her fury had abated enough that when Cam walked into the living room in response to her arrival, she managed to ask calmly, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Cam’s gaze dropped to the newspaper she held tightly clenched in hand. “Ah.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her black chinos. “I see that Lucinda is even more efficient than I anticipated. The article is in there?”

“Your doing?”

“Mostly. Lucinda made the necessary phone calls to the papers.” Cam shook her head. “Even with the White House behind it, I didn’t expect to see anything until this evening.”

“Lucinda doesn’t waste time or words.”

“Apparently.”

“Damn it, Cam. Diane doesn’t understand this kind of thing. You should have told her, or let me tell her.”

Cam gestured to the sofa. “Let’s sit down for a minute.”

“I don’t want to sit, I want an explanation. I told Luce I wouldn’t use my friendship with Diane like this. I didn’t think I needed to tell you!”

“Just give me a minute and I’ll explain.” Cam sat down.

“Fine.” Blair followed, but sat far enough away that they weren’t touching. “You’re using this to lure Valerie, aren’t you?”

“Not entirely. It’s a good cover story to explain all the official activity around the hotel last night. It keeps your name and Emory’s out of the paper. And, yes,” Cam said with a sigh, “it might draw Valerie out into the open. You can be sure she’s scanning news sources for any available Intel.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?”

“Other than the obvious reason being that I was preoccupied?”

Blair smiled faintly. “Other than that.”

Cam rubbed her eyes. “I didn’t think we’d see any activity around this until later in the day. Diane was still asleep, and…” she met Blair’s intent gaze. “I didn’t want her trying to contact Valerie and telling her it was fabricated.”

“Jesus, Cam. She’s my best friend and she’s hurting so much over this. How do you think she’s going to feel if Valerie is…I don’t know, trapped, because of her?”

“Blair,” Cam said gently, “Valerie is in real trouble out there. The best thing for her is for us to be able to protect her. If she surfaces because she’s worried that something might happen to Diane, or that something has happened to her, she’ll be better off.”

“Can I tell Diane?”

“It’s going to put you in the middle. I hate to do that.”

“I’m already in it. There’s no middle ground left, Cam.”

Cam moved along the sofa so she was closer to Blair, but did not touch her. “Can you tell her part of it, and leave out anything about Valerie for now?”

“She’s not naïve, Cam—she might ask me about Valerie. What shall I tell her to do if Valerie calls?”

“Tell her to talk to her as long as she can.”

“You’re tapping Diane’s phone?” Blair asked incredulously.

“We’re tracing it back through her cellular provider. It’s not perfect, but it gives us a starting place.” Cam placed her hand flat on the sofa between them. “I’m sorry, Blair. It has to be done.”

Blair was silent for a moment, then took Cam’s hand and cradled it in her lap between both of hers. “This must be hard for you.”

“I…not as hard as it is for you. I wish I could change that.”

Blair shook her head. “No. One of the things I love about you is how clear you are about the right and wrong of things. About what should be done, no matter the cost. But there’s nothing clear about any of this, is there?”

“Nothing has been clear to me since the moment I saw one of my own agents standing outside your door pointing a gun at your heart,” Cam said bitterly. “I don’t even know how to begin to think about that.”

It was so very rare for Cam to voice her pain and disillusionment that Blair had to struggle not to pull her into her arms. Instead, she leaned close and kissed Cam’s cheek. “I’ll talk to Diane. It will be okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. You shouldn’t be. Not for doing what must be done.” Blair rose. “You will be careful with Valerie, won’t you?”

Cam stood. “She’s a victim in this too. I’m sure of it.”

“I trust your judgment. I do.” Blair skimmed her fingers along Cam’s jaw. “But you’re the one thing in my life I can’t do without.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Blair smiled gently. “See that you do.”

Chapter Twenty

Cam tilted her chair back and scrubbed her face. A glance at her watch confirmed what she already knew. It was late, almost 9 p.m. Felicia and Savard looked just as exhausted as she felt, but neither had complained despite twelve hours of nonstop work at the computers. The rest of the guest house was dark, the only light coming from the computer monitors and a few muted lamps. She appreciated why so many government buildings had so few windows—the less intrusion from the outside world, the easier it was to become lost in the work to the exclusion of everything else. Even the important people in your life.

“Where are we?”

Savard deferred to Felicia, who had the most expertise in terms of computer investigation. Felicia shrugged.

“Between the files at Quantico I’ve been able to access and our own scans of Matheson’s academy records, we have solid IDs on all four of the gunmen at the Aerie. We have names for the faces now and we’re digging deeper.”

“What does that give us in terms of Matheson’s connection to the Company and Valerie’s handler?”

Felicia shook her head. “Nothing yet. These men were all too young to be contemporaries of anyone who might have recruited Valerie.”

Savard said, “If Valerie was recruited as a teenager, then we’re probably looking at someone Matheson’s age as her handler.” She spread her hands in frustration. “He could be anyone.”

“We have to work from the assumption that Valerie’s handler and Matheson are tied together. It may turn out that they’re not, but that’s a more probable scenario than postulating that Valerie’s contact within the Company reported the plans for the raid on Matheson’s compound to someone else who then relayed the message to Matheson.” Cam stood up and walked to the window, rolling her shoulders and trying to work out some of the stiffness from the previous week’s injuries and the tension of poring through files all day. The first floor of the main house was alight, and she wondered what Blair was doing. “I don’t believe in coincidences. The only person outside of our team who knew about the raid was Valerie. She reported to her handler and Matheson was tipped off. A plus B equals C.”

“Matheson has had a lifetime to build up a network inside the system,” Felicia said. “We’re looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“Maybe. But men like Matheson know that the most secure network is one that’s small and built on personal loyalty.” She turned away from the window and the reminder of the rest of her life to face her agents. “What creates the greatest loyalty?”

“Chain of command,” Savard said immediately.

“Family,” Felicia replied.

“Start with Foster and the other four men from the assault on Blair, and find their brothers, cousins, uncles, fathers, grandfathers— every male relative who might have been associated with Matheson or Matheson’s brothers, uncles, father, whatever.”

Savard frowned. “What about the women?”

Cam shook her head. “Not likely. Matheson runs a military academy for boys. All of the assailants were men. All of the paramilitary personnel at his compound were men. He doesn’t entrust women with authority.”

Felicia’s eyes flashed. “One of his many mistakes.”

“Agreed,” Cam said with quiet satisfaction. “He’s going to regret underestimating us.”

“I was wondering when you were going to surface,” Blair said when Cam walked into the kitchen a little after 10 p.m. She pulled the red sweatband from her forehead and let her hair fall free on her shoulders. She’d just come from a run on the beach and still wore sweatpants and a cutoff T-shirt. “There’s chicken in the oven.”

“Thanks, but I’m good. Tanner had sandwiches sent in for us.” Cam opened the refrigerator and extracted a beer. “Want one?”

“I’ve got wine.” Blair waited until Cam sat down at the table and took several swallows of beer before moving behind her to massage her shoulders. “Long day.”

Cam leaned her head back against Blair’s body, briefly closed her eyes, and sighed. “Yeah. How was yours?”

“About the same. I painted a little this afternoon.”

“Anything I can see yet?”

Blair smiled. “Soon. Maybe tomorrow.”

“I won’t forget. What else is new?”

“Tanner’s people took Emory back to the city. Steph is going to stay with her for a day or so just to be sure she’s okay.”

“Good. How’s Diane?”

Blair’s hand stilled. “Upset.”

“I’ll talk to her as soon as I check in with Mac and Stark. Hopefully they had better luck sorting out what happened at the hotel last night than we had today.”

“No progress?”

Cam sighed. “Some. I have no doubt that given enough time we could track the various threads back to the hub, but I don’t think we have that much time. Not when Matheson can put together assault squads like he did at the Aerie, people who don’t care if they die.”

Blair went back to working on the muscles in Cam’s neck. “You think it was a suicide mission?”

“I doubt they framed it that way, but the probability was overwhelming that none of the assailants would survive.”

“You think he’ll try again.”

Cam fell silent, wondering if spelling out her concerns to Blair was fair.

“Don’t try to decide what’s good for me or not, just tell me what you think,” Blair said.

Cam looked up into Blair’s face. “Yes, I do.”

“Well. He’s not so smart, then, is he? I just hope he does it soon so we can get this over with.” Blair kissed the top of Cam’s head. “Why don’t you take a shower and change into something more comfortable. Your back is one big knot.”

“Are you going to come with me?”

Blair laughed. “No, not unless you intend on spending the rest of the night in the bedroom.”

“Sounds good to me.” Cam grinned, tilting her head further back against Blair’s stomach. “I missed you today.”

Blair traced Cam’s eyebrows with a fingertip, then leaned over and kissed her mouth upside down. “I’ve been thinking of this morning all day. I love that position, but next time I want it to be your mouth under me.”

Cam groaned and nosed Blair’s T-shirt aside so she could kiss her bare middle. “Let me finish up a few more things, and I’ll take care of that wish. I can shower later.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Anything?” Cam asked as she strode into the operations center. Stark, Mac, and—to her surprise—Wozinski were reviewing printouts. “Hi Greg. Things finished up in Boston?”

Wozinski shrugged. “The feebies are handling it. Need I say more?”

“Other than things are moving slowly?” Cam grinned. “What do you have?”

“Shooter’s name was Allen Strassmann, and as we already knew, he was on Constantine’s watch list. He’s also on half a dozen other lists under watch—all right-wing, pro-Christian, pro-life, ultraconservative groups.”

“On the surface,” Stark said, “it looks like Dr. Constantine was the target.”

Cam leaned against the door jamb and folded her arms. “You disagree?”

“If the doctor was the target, it seems pretty stupid to try to take her out when she’s with Egret, who everyone knows would be heavily guarded.”

“Maybe it was simply a matter of opportunity,” Cam said.

“Possible. But how did they know that Constantine was in the hall with us? It was a spur of the moment decision to leave then.”

“Maybe Strassmann was in the banquet hall or had someone watching Emory’s movements who could alert him, the same as we postulated might be the case if Blair were the target.”

Stark nodded, but she didn’t look convinced. “If I were going to take a shot at Emory Constantine, I would plan to do it when she was leaving the hotel after the event—in the parking garage, maybe, or even in the crowd coming out of the banquet hall. There’d be a much better chance of getting away with it—and getting away, period.”

“Do we have any indication that this guy Strassmann might have targeted Blair?” Cam joined the others around the table.

“We don’t have anything in the files about this guy—or any organization he’s involved with—contacting her, issuing statements, or posting inflammatory messages on any of their message boards regarding her. Nothing ties him to her.”

“I’m not surprised. If I were going to choose an assassin, I’d want him, or her, to be someone anonymous.” Cam shrugged. “That assumes there was someone behind this other than Strassmann himself.”

“It would be a damn big coincidence,” Mac said as he sat down with coffee, “if someone just happened to take a shot at Emory Constantine when she just happened to be with Egret. Despite the evidence, or lack of it, it’s too big a coincidence for me.”

Stark nodded. “I agree.”

“So do I.” Cam stood. “Keep working the Strassmann angle and assume his target was Blair. See if you can find a relationship between him and any known Matheson connections—maybe he’s related to one of Matheson’s men captured at the compound.”

“Will do, Commander.” Stark hesitated, as if she were about to say more, then fell silent.

“Chief?” Cam asked.

“Nothing, Commander.”

“No,” Cam said as if the question had been asked. “We didn’t make a whole hell of a lot of progress, but we’re still digging.”

“We really need Valerie Lawrence to come in if we’re going to find the link to Matheson,” Stark said.

“I’m working on it.” Cam surveyed the group. “Until then we carry on.”

Cam leaned into the living room and tapped on the partially open French door that divided it from the hallway and the first floor bedrooms. Diane was curled up on one end of the dark brown leather sofa in front of the fireplace. A half empty glass of wine sat on the end table beside her. She’d changed from the jeans she’d been wearing earlier into black slacks and a fitted, white scoop neck top with three-quarter length sleeves. She looked remote and very much alone.

“Can I talk to you?”

Diane glanced over her shoulder. “Of course.”

Diane turned back to the fire as Cam sat down next to her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to warn you about the newspaper article before you saw it,” Cam said.

“Would you still have released it if I had objected?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for letting me make the phone calls this afternoon. My sister and my office manager were very relieved to hear that I wasn’t seriously injured.” Diane added sharply, “Of course, I stuck to the script Stark provided me. The one you approved, I assume.”

Cam winced. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like a conspirator.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“It’s complicated—”

“That means it’s about Valerie.”

“Yes,” Cam admitted. “She won’t come in to protect herself, but she will to protect you. And we need her.”

Diane shifted, studying Cam with no apparent trace of her previous anger. “That’s emotional blackmail, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it is.”

“How do you make that all right?”

“It’s better for Valerie, it’s better for you. And it’s better for Blair.”

“That’s the bottom line, isn’t it? Blair.”

Cam regarded her steadily. “Yes.”

“No apologies? No elaborate rationalizations or arguments?”

“No.”

“Clear and simple,” Diane whispered to herself.

“Not clear and not simple,” Cam said. “Necessary. Valerie will understand.”

“And you’re sure that this is the best thing for Valerie?”

“As sure as I can be,” Cam said. “You have to trust me on that one.”

Diane laughed harshly. “It seems that we all have to trust you for quite a bit, Cam. That’s asking a lot, don’t you think?”

“Diane,” Blair said from the doorway. “Cam knows what she’s doing. There’s no one better to make these decisions.”

“I hope you’re right.” Diane rose and strode abruptly toward the door, then paused to look back at Cam. “Because if something happens to Valerie because of this, I’ll never forgive you for using me against her.”

As Diane hurried from the room, Blair said, “She’s just upset. I’ll go talk to her.”

“It’s okay. She deserves to be angry. I didn’t handle it well.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Cameron. You’re not responsible for everyone, and she happens to be wrong.”

Cam’s lips twitched. “Thank you for coming to my defense. I think.”

Blair grasped Cam’s chin in her hand, and kissed her, a deep probing kiss. “I know how you get. I’m not letting you beat yourself up about this. You did the right thing even if your timing sucked.”

“You don’t usually complain about my ti—” Cam broke off as her cell phone rang. “Roberts.” She held Blair’s gaze as she spoke. “Where…? Tell them to intercept, but do not… I repeat… do not use deadly force. Alert Stark to secure the house. I’ll be right there.”

“What is it?” Blair asked anxiously.

“Intruder on the beach. I have to go.”

“Let Tanner’s people handle it. Cam—”

“Stay here, Blair. I’ll be fine. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Damn it, Cam—”

Cam ran toward the back of the house, punching in Felicia’s number on her cell. “I need back up. I’ll be on the path to the dunes.”

“Roger, Commander. Savard?”

Cam pushed through the back door. It was dark with only moonlight to guide her, but she knew the route by heart. She issued orders as she ran, phone in one hand and weapon in the other. “No. Savard’s not mobile enough. Tell her to take a position behind the guest house. No one approaches the rear of the compound except on my orders. Call Stark—red alert.”

“Copy that.”

Cam hit the beach running and saw a flurry of activity, dark shapes converging from multiple directions, a quarter of a mile up the strand.

Hearing muffled shouts, she closed the phone and shoved it into the pocket of her pants. As she drew closer, she saw three of Tanner’s agents pointing assault rifles at a figure kneeling in the sand, arms outstretched. A slender figure with short blond hair in a dark jacket and pants. Cam skidded to a stop a few feet away and holstered her weapon.

Valerie looked up at her. “Hello, Cameron.”

“Are you okay?”

“Perfectly, thank you.”

Cam motioned the others away. “I’ve got this. Thank you. You can return to your posts.”

Valerie rose and brushed sand from her pants.

“That was risky,” Cam said. “They might have shot you.”

“I knew your people would be better trained than that.”

“Pretty trusting.”

Valerie smiled softly. “I’ve always trusted you.”

Cam wondered how long the trust would last. “Come up to the house,” she said. “We’ve been expecting you.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“I take it the newspaper item was fabricated?” Valerie asked as soon as they were out of earshot of the guards.

Cam grinned briefly, not surprised that Valerie had been suspicious of the cover story. Agents indoctrinated to clandestine work understood how often and to what extent the media was used to subvert the truth. Cam had hoped that Valerie would not take a chance on ignoring the report, even though she might not completely believe it. “Most of it was an embellishment.”

“Is Diane all right?”

“Yes, she’s completely fine.”

“But there was some kind of an incident.”

“Yes,” Cam said, unwilling to discuss any further details until she had a better sense of Valerie’s agenda.

As if understanding, Valerie didn’t pursue it further. “I expected the guards to call Stark when they intercepted me,” she said. “Are you running Blair’s detail again?”

Cam shook her head. “No, but this entire operation is an OHS matter, and that puts me in charge.”

“And you’re going to take on the Company?”

“If need be.”

“The Company’s been around a long time,” Valerie said. “Homeland Security is so fresh most people don’t even know what it is.”

“They’ll find out soon enough.”

“I guess we all will.” Valerie pushed her hands into the pocket of her jacket and hunched her shoulders against the wind. “God, this is going to be a mess until people sort out their turf.”

“Probably for a lot longer than that.” Cam realized Valerie was shivering. “How far did you walk?”

“Four or five miles—I wanted to be sure to flank your guards so they’d have a good look at me as I came up the beach. I didn’t want to come out of nowhere right on top of them and have them shooting at shadows.”

“You said you thought they were too well-trained for that.”

“Let’s just say I prefer the odds to be solidly stacked in my favor when I’m unarmed in hostile territory.”

“Sound procedure,” Cam agreed. She’d find out soon enough just how Valerie had penetrated far enough into the island to get around the guards. She sensed movement in the shadows off to her right and slid her hand over her weapon just as Felicia stepped out of the cover of the dunes. Beside her, Valerie tensed.

“All clear, Commander?” Felicia asked.

“Yes. You can let Savard and Stark know to stand down.”

“Yes ma’am.” Felicia relayed the orders by radio, then regarded Valerie as the trio climbed the path toward the compound. “Good to see you.”

“Thanks,” Valerie replied. “I feel the same.”

“You and Savard should take some down time while you can, Davis,” Cam said. “We’ll brief again at 0600.”

“Yes ma’am.” Felicia veered off the path toward the guesthouse. “Goodnight, Commander.”

Cam stopped midway between the guesthouse and the main house at a point outside the visual range of the perimeter guards stationed at the rear of the house. She faced Valerie, who looked thin and pale in the moonlight. “Blair is inside. So is Diane. I know Tanner’s men already frisked you, but I need to do it myself.”

“Of course.” Valerie unzipped her jacket, then held her arms out to her sides at shoulder level and spread her legs.

“Unbutton your blouse and unzip your jeans,” Cam said. “I’m sorry it’s cold out here.”

“Just get it done, Cameron.”

“I’ll be quick.”

Wordlessly, Valerie opened her clothing.

Cam swiftly checked for weapons, which she hadn’t expected to find, and then more carefully skimmed her fingers inside the cups of Valerie’s bra, over the bare skin of her abdomen and back, and underneath the top of her jeans in front and back looking for a microphone, which she hoped she wouldn’t find. She didn’t. “Thanks.”

Valerie redressed. “Can I see Diane?”

“Yes, but just for a minute. You and I need to talk.”

They resumed walking.

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

“For the record,” Cam said, “I’m glad you finally got your ass here.”

Valerie sighed. “I’ve done things I regret, Cameron, but I would never willingly have betrayed you. I didn’t know how the intelligence I passed on was going to be used. I know it’s not an excuse—”

“I know how the game is played. I know you didn’t have any choice. We’re okay on that.”

Valerie briefly squeezed Cam’s hand. “I’m glad.”

“Let’s get inside so you can warm up.”

They climbed the stairs to the rear deck, and Cam nodded to Stark, who stood with her back against the kitchen door, an assault rifle held loosely in her arms. “All clear, Chief.”

“Do you need me inside, Commander?” Stark asked.

“Not at the moment. Standard shifts tonight should be fine. We’ll brief tomorrow.”

Stark glanced at Valerie and stepped away from the door. “Yes ma’am.”

Cam led Valerie inside. The kitchen was empty, as she knew it would be. Stark would have moved Diane and Blair to the center of the house as soon as she realized security had been breached. “Diane is probably in the living room with Blair. I’ll wait for you here, if you want to tell Blair where I am.”

“Thank you.” Valerie met Cam’s eyes. “I know you don’t have to do this, any of this. I’m sure you were told to just turn me over to whoever’s on top of the security heap at the moment.”

Cam smiled grimly. “That would be me.”

“I hope it stays that way.” Valerie’s tone was wistful. “Thank you, Cameron. I’ll be right back.”

“Oh God,” Diane whispered, rising slowly to her feet as Valerie stepped into the room.

Blair hesitated for a second, then rose and gave Diane a quick hug. “I’ll see you later.” She left Valerie and Diane alone in the dimly lit room.

Neither moved at first.

“Were you ever coming back?” Diane asked.

“I wanted to.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Valerie shivered. “I was afraid you’d get hurt.”

Diane lifted a log and laid it on the ones already burning. “Come over here by the fire. You’re cold.” When she felt Valerie beside her, she turned to touch her face. “Are you all right?”

“A little tired.” Valerie caught Diane’s hand and brushed her lips across the palm. “I missed you so much.”

“I don’t know what to do first,” Diane confessed. “I want to feed you. You look too thin. I want to hold you. Your hands are so cold. I want you to hold me. I feel…so empty.”

“First things first.” Valerie pulled Diane firmly into her arms.

Diane gave a small cry and slid both hands under the back of Valerie’s jacket, then buried her face in Valerie’s neck. “I don’t care what happens after this, but you are not disappearing again.”

Valerie caressed Diane’s hair, sifting the sleek blond strands through her fingers. “I’d promise you that, if I could.”

A tremulous smile countered the sadness in Diane’s eyes. “Blair says you and Cam are the best at what you do. So the two of you should be able to figure something out.”

“Cam’s waiting to talk to me.” Valerie couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Diane again, especially knowing that it could be hours before she could return. And hours was the best she could hope for. Agents whose loyalties were in question had been known to be sequestered for weeks. Sometimes months. She had to believe that Cam would not do that to her, and she wagered everything that mattered to her on that belief. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“She’s not going to take you away, is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why did you come? Was it because of the newspaper article? I didn’t know—”

“When I first read it,” Valerie said, instinctively pulling Diane closer, “I thought you were hurt and I nearly went crazy. I spent half a day frantically making calls and tapping into some old sources, but no one could find an accident or police report involving you. So I realized the article was phony, but I was still worried in case it was a half truth. I had to know you were okay.”

“I’m so sorry,” Diane said. “Cam didn’t tell me what she’d done, or I would have found a way to call you.”

Valerie smiled. “That’s why she didn’t tell you.”

Diane’s eyes darkened. “You’re not angry at her?”

“I figured she had probably planted the article. Either that, or someone else trying to flush me out had.” Valerie sighed and leaned in to Diane, more tired than she’d realized. “I was running out of options. It seemed like the time to come in. Besides, I missed you.”

“Cam said you would understand what she’d done and why, and even though I don’t approve of being used to trick you, I’m so very glad you’re here.” Diane brushed her fingers through Valerie’s hair. “And I’m not letting Cam or anyone else take you away from me again.”

“I need to go talk to her.”

“I’ll be upstairs. The last door on the right. Come to me.”

“Are you sure?”

Diane put her arms around Valerie’s shoulders and kissed her, a soft lingering kiss. “Never, ever more certain.”

“Scotch?” Cam closed the kitchen door after Valerie. “There’s a good bottle in the cupboard over there.”

“Now that I could use. Join me?”

Cam nodded. She watched Valerie take glasses down from the cupboard, add ice cubes, and pour the smoky liquor. She’d seen her do exactly the same thing dozens of times before, but more than just the circumstances had changed. Valerie looked different, too. It wasn’t simply that her clothes were far more casual than anything Cam had seen her wear even when she wasn’t working, or that her silky, platinum hair was far shorter than she had ever worn it. It would take more than jeans and a short haircut to hide Valerie’s cool elegance. She wasn’t just thinner, she was leaner and tauter, and she moved with a sense of suppressed anger and almost lethal purpose that Cam associated with caged animals. Valerie might not be caged, but she was being hunted.

“Just to be clear, I don’t intend to turn you over to anyone,” Cam said.

Valerie held out the Scotch. “You don’t know what I have to say, yet.”

“Who’s after you?”

“Several different parties.” Valerie sat down across the wide oak table from Cam and contemplated her Scotch. “The Company, for certain. My handler has been leaving messages at drop points for me to come in.”

“Henry?”

Valerie smiled bitterly. “Well, that’s what I’ve always called him.”

“You don’t trust him now?”

Valerie turned the heavy crystal glass slowly between her hands. Her fingers, much like the rest of her body, were long and thin, but not delicate. “It’s unusual for him to insist on a face-to-face. In fact, in all the years I’ve worked with him we’ve only met a handful of times. Now he’s making urgent requests for a rendezvous.”

“A trap?”

“That’s what it feels like,” Valerie said with a shrug. “But a trap set by whom? Matheson because he’s working with Henry? Or the Company, because they want me in for a debriefing? Because they think I tipped off Matheson.”

“They want you for some reason.”

“Yes, and if the Company’s involved, I know what will happen if I go in. Believe me, I don’t have any desire to disappear, even temporarily.”

Cam saw no reason to protest what they both knew was possible. Agents suspected of turning were forcibly detained, debriefed, and sometimes, expunged. “Henry could want you to come in for protection from Matheson.”

“I’d like to think that.” Valerie took a slow swallow of Scotch and shook her head. “But I’d be foolish to assume that just because we’ve had a professional association for twenty years that we’re friends. If he’s Matheson’s connection, I’m a liability now.”

“That’s why you’re better off here.” Cam finished her drink. “We had an incident in Boston the other night. An armed assailant penetrated our perimeter and got off a couple of shots before we contained him.”

“Who was the target?”

“We don’t know. Emory Constantine, a high profile and not so popular stem cell researcher, was with us. It might have been her. It might have Blair. It might even have been Diane.”

“Diane?” Valerie’s face became expressionless, as cool as carved marble. “What would be the point? If someone took her out, they’d have nothing to hold over my head.”

“No one? Family? Old lovers?”

An old sorrow seemed to claim Valerie for a split second, softening her features. “You of all people should know that other than you, there’s no one. Only Diane. You had someone guarding her?”

“Savard. We were lucky, there.” Cam grimaced. “It’s possible Matheson plans to clean house and take us all down.”

“Then we need to get to him first.”

“We might not be able to unless we force Henry to roll over. Do you have any idea how we can find him?”

Valerie shook her head. “I never once met him in an office. He could be stationed in California for all I know. God, Cameron, the man has run my life since I was a teenager and I don’t even know his full name.” She laughed harshly, her eyes bleak. “What kind of fool does that make me?”

“We both know that’s not what it’s about.” Cam extended her hand across the table and Valerie clasped her fingers fleetingly. “You’ve done a job most of us couldn’t do far longer than anyone should have to. That doesn’t make you a fool in my book, it makes you a hero.”

“Thank you,” Valerie whispered.

“I take it you’ve tried to locate him some other way than through a meet?”

“I was hoping to discover his identity and I’ve called in every marker I have. Or thought I had.” Valerie’s disillusionment shone through beneath the composed façade she wore so effortlessly. “I’ve tried every source I know, but in the last few weeks, those have mysteriously dried up. Contact numbers are no longer in service, bank accounts are suddenly closed, drop boxes have new locks.”

“You’re being cut off.”

Valerie nodded. “It could still just be to force me to make contact, or it could be the first step in removing me.”

“I don’t suppose you have a photograph?”

“No, and it’s not like the Company keeps a roster of employees that I could go through.”

Cam laughed. “Now, that would defeat the purpose of being a spy, wouldn’t it?”

“A spy,” Valerie said wryly. “Operative sounds so much better.”

“Let’s assume Matheson and Henry are working together—it’s the most probable scenario. So, if we find one, we find the other.”

“Any progress on your end?”

Cam scowled. “We’re accumulating a file on Matheson’s associates as far back as twenty-five years. It’s slow going, but I’ll want you to look through everything Felicia and Savard have put together so far. Unfortunately, some of the photographs are going to be of boys or much younger men than they’re likely to be now.”

“Perhaps Felicia can use age simulator software to project present appearances for any possibles.”

“We might be able to do something even better,” Cam said slowly as she stood. “It’s almost midnight. I’d like you to brief with us in the morning. 0600 in the guest house.”

“Are you sure? Savard and Felicia might not be quite as trusting as you are,” Valerie pointed out.

“I disagree, but either way, it’s not their choice.”

Valerie rose. “You’re taking a chance, Cameron, and I know that. I want you to know I appreciate—”

“Don’t insult me, Valerie.” Cam lightly touched her fingertips to Valerie’s cheek. “Get some sleep.” Then she dropped her hand and walked away.

Valerie waited until she heard Cam’s footsteps disappear before following down the hallway and up the stairs. As she passed the room that she knew was Blair’s, she recognized Blair’s sensuous alto and then Cam’s slightly deeper tones. The sound of Cam’s voice in a phone message had once stirred her heart and her blood. Now, it filled her with a sense of comfort and safety. Wondering if that was fair, but being glad for it nonetheless, she continued to the last door on the right and knocked quietly before letting herself in.

The room was lit by a bedside lamp. Diane was in bed, a sheet pulled to her waist. Her breasts formed soft curves beneath a pale peach camisole. Valerie sat on the side of the bed and took her hand. “There’s part of me that thinks I shouldn’t be here.”

“What does the other part think?”

“That it’s the only place in the world I want to be.”

Diane drew back the covers. “That’s the part I’d listen to, if I were you.”

“All right,” Valerie whispered softly.

She stood and unbuttoned her blouse, unhooked her bra, and let them fall to the floor behind her. She unzipped her jeans, pushed them down along with her panties, and stepped out of them. Watching Diane watch her, she was surprised to feel her body quicken when for so long the only sensations she’d been aware of were fatigue and desperate sadness. She turned off the light and slipped into bed. Then she did something she’d never done before. She pulled Diane on top of her and guided Diane’s hand between her thighs.

“Please make love to me. I need you.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Monday

“Any response from Lawrence on your request for a meeting?” Matheson inquired via his disposable cell phone.

“Not yet.”

Matheson sipped his coffee and watched the traffic on Main Street through the diner window in the small seaside town. A waitress slid a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him. He made eye contact when he thanked her.

“You’re very welcome.” The brunette offered him a sultry smile as she lingered by the red leather booth made shiny by years of bodies slipping in and out.

He held her gaze for a few seconds, noting the invitation in her eyes while surveying her full breasts and curvaceous hips. His penis lengthened, reminding him that it had been some time since he’d satisfied his needs. He made a mental note to take care of that, then looked away, dismissing her from his thoughts. “Why do you think your operative is ignoring your direct order?”

“Because she’s one of our best,” the man snapped. Then, as if regretting his outburst, he added in a conciliatory tone, “The leak came too soon after her report to me for her not to be suspicious, but I didn’t have a choice. If Special Forces hadn’t moved on the compound so quickly, I might have been able to find another way to warn you, but Roberts’s team was far more effective than we anticipated. I didn’t have time for a cover story, and I didn’t think you’d enjoy captivity.”

“It’s never wise to underestimate the enemy,” Matheson said mildly, spearing a fluffy mound of egg. “It’s unfortunate that eliminating her will cost us an inside link to several of our primary targets, but the longer she stays alive, the greater the likelihood you’ll be compromised.”

“I’ve warned her she’s in danger, but she won’t agree to a meet.” “You’re not using the right enticement.” “What do you suggest?”

Matheson told him, disconnected, and punched in another number. “He has forty-eight hours to take care of his mess, then we’ll clean house ourselves, starting with him.”

“Yes sir. It’s a pleasure to serve you, sir.”

“Valerie?” Diane called urgently in the dark. The bed beside her was warm, but empty. The nightmare of the past few weeks instantly closed in around her, and she felt as if she were smothering. Bolting upright, she gasped, “Oh God.”

“I’m here.” Valerie hurried to the side of the bed and pulled Diane into her arms. “I found some clothes I’d left here last month, and I was trying not to wake you while I dressed.”

“Where are you going?”

“A briefing with Cameron.”

Diane held her tightly, running her hands over Valerie’s back. She wore only a snug tank top and panties. “You’re cold. Go finish dressing.”

Valerie pulled the covers back and slid underneath. “I frightened you. I’m sorry.”

Diane shook her head. “Just for a second. I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“I’ll be back.” Valerie stretched out above Diane and kissed her throat. “I wouldn’t leave now except I might be able to help.”

“You won’t do anything foolish, will you?”

Valerie laughed softly. “There are times I think my whole life might have been foolish.”

“No,” Diane said with certainty. She feathered her fingers through the short hair at the base of Valerie’s neck. “You’re the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met.”

“Diane,” Valerie murmured, kissing her deeply. When Diane tightened her hold and strained beneath her, wrapping both legs around the back of Valerie’s thighs, Valerie immersed herself in the heat pouring off Diane’s body. Diane’s passion was like nothing she’d ever felt. The fire burned effortlessly, searing into those dark, barren places where she’d learned to hide her feelings, not realizing that eventually that which was buried, died. Desperate not to lose the connection, Valerie tightened her grip on Diane’s upper arms, digging her fingers into the firm, pliable flesh. When Diane moaned, she instantly pulled away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“No. More.” Diane dragged Valerie’s head back down, her fingers twisting through Valerie’s hair. She pressed her mouth to Valerie’s ear. “You can’t hurt me. Not by touching me. I’m dying to have you inside me.”

Valerie sobbed out a cry of need and wonder. She pushed herself down until her face was pressed to Diane’s stomach, then she cupped Diane’s breast with one hand and filled her with the other. She squeezed and rolled Diane’s nipple as she pushed into her, higher and deeper, thrust after thrust.

“God,” Diane gasped, arching frantically to meet each stroke. “I don’t want to come but you’re going to make me.”

“Yes,” Valerie whispered urgently. She kissed her way lower, gliding her tongue over soft skin and trembling muscles and into the fragrant heat. She hummed as her lips found Diane’s clitoris and she licked lightly.

“Oh no,” Diane pleaded. “Don’t make me come so soon.”

“I want you,” Valerie whispered, before sucking her even more firmly.

Diane gripped the sheets and pushed down hard around Valerie’s fingers as her clitoris swelled to fill Valerie’s mouth. “So good, so wonderful, so… oh, oh I’m…”

Valerie watched Diane’s face reflect the pleasure that rippled around her fingers and pulsed between her lips, and thought she’d never seen anyone as beautiful. She didn’t stop caressing her, inside and out, until Diane murmured a weak protest and twisted away.

“Love,” Diane whispered. “I won’t be able to walk today if you don’t stop.”

Tenderly, Valerie placed a delicate kiss at the apex of Diane’s sex, then rested her cheek in the hollow adjacent to her hipbone. She continued to fondle her breast, smiling as Diane’s mouth curved in obvious enjoyment. “That’s what you say, but that’s not what your body is telling me.”

“My body is greedy.” Diane gazed down through heavy lidded eyes. “Insatiable, in fact, for you.”

“Really?” Valerie kissed low on Diane’s belly, then nuzzled her face a little lower. “I can handle that.”

“Oh, I know you can. Take your clothes off and come up here first,” Diane murmured. “I want you, too.”

Valerie shed her tank and panties and slid into Diane’s embrace, easing her swollen center against Diane’s leg. She kissed her lingeringly, slowly rocking against her. “I only have a minute.”

“Can you come this way?”

“I think so, if you… help me.”

“Anything.”

“Play with my breasts,” Valerie said thickly, already sliding faster up and down Diane’s thigh.

“You’re so wet. So beautiful.” Diane pulled on Valerie’s nipples. “Does it feel good, darling? Rubbing against me like that? Getting me all wet? Will you come for me?”

“Oh, yes. I’m almost…almost,” Valerie gasped. “Kiss me. Kiss me…oh god, I’m so close.”

“Soon,” Diane breathed, capturing Valerie’s mouth and squeezing her breasts rhythmically. As Valerie’s motions grew more frantic, Diane plunged her tongue deeper, matching Valerie’s frenzied thrusts. Sensing Valerie struggling to orgasm, Diane drove her hips up and forced her leg more tightly against Valerie’s clitoris. “Harder, darling. Press yourself har—”

“I’m going to come.” Valerie’s head fell back, her eyes wide and fixed on Diane’s. “God, I love you.”

“I love you,” Diane cried.

Shuddering, Valerie spilled onto Diane’s welcoming body and collapsed into her arms.

With several minutes to spare before the briefing, Valerie knocked on the door to the guesthouse. Savard answered.

“Hey,” Savard said, holding the door wide. “You missed a good show at Matheson’s compound a couple of weeks ago.”

“So I hear.” Valerie stepped inside but hesitated before going any further. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it.”

“Yeah, me too.” Savard glanced toward the adjoining room where Cam and Felicia waited. “It could have been any of us in your spot. I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

“I appreciate that.” Valerie grasped Savard’s arm. “Listen. Cam told me about what happened in Boston. I owe you for taking care of Diane.”

“No you don’t,” Savard said dismissively. “But if you really feel like you do, you can plan on sticking around here where your friends are for a while.”

“Thank you,” Valerie softly. “I’ll do that.”

“Good.” Savard turned and started toward the command center. “Then let’s go to work.”

“Good morning,” Cam said as Valerie came in. Felicia nodded to her. “Our priority for the day, and every day until it’s accomplished, is to identify your handler. We’ll work from the assumption that he’s an associate of Matheson’s, because otherwise we don’t even have a starting place.”

“All right.”

“I want you to scan the files Davis has compiled of known Matheson associates, including the academy students. We might get lucky.”

Valerie smiled ruefully. “We could use some luck.”

“Before we get to that,” Cam said, “I want Stark to join us so she can hear how you got behind our lines.” She opened her phone and pushed several buttons. “Chief, can you come down for a minute? Thanks.”

While they waited, Valerie and Felicia got coffee and opened several boxes of doughnuts that Tanner’s day crew had delivered.

“It’s good to have the team back together,” Felicia said.

“It is.” Valerie opened the refrigerator for milk. “How’s Mac?”

“He’s back on the team, too. He’s up at the main house seconding for Stark. I’m sure you’ll see him later.” Felicia smiled and stirred her coffee. “He’s…making a remarkable recovery.”

Valerie studied her with interest. “Really.”

Felicia met her gaze. “Quite.”

“Well, good for you.”

“Yes, it is.” She sipped her coffee. “Ah, Diane?”

“Luckily, she’s forgiven me.”

Felicia shook her head. “I don’t believe she ever thought there was anything to forgive.”

“I hope you’re right.”

At the sound of the front door closing sharply, Felicia said, “Time for round two. Stark’s not going to be happy.”

“I don’t blame her.” Valerie followed Felicia back into the other room and sat at the table next to Cam. Stark sat stiffly across from her.

“Good morning, Chief,” Valerie said formally.

“Agent Lawrence.”

“Valerie will do,” Valerie said softly.

Stark seemed to relax by degrees. “Sorry. That was quite a stunt you pulled last night. We could have killed you.”

“I wanted to talk to Cameron.”

“Did you ever hear of a phone?”

“I don’t like phones.”

“How about a car? You could have driven right up to the foot of this road and our people would have stopped you, checked your ID, and called me.”

“Assuming they were all your people, and trustworthy.”

“You don’t trust us?” Paula flicked her gaze to Cam, who said nothing.

“I trust you and the other people in this room. And Mac, and Hara, and Wozinski. I don’t trust people I don’t know.” Valerie’s face was hard to read. “Besides, I might have been followed.”

“How do you know you weren’t?” Paula couldn’t keep the anger from her voice. “You know you’re a target, and you could have led whoever might be following you right here. And showed them a back door in.”

“Number one,” Valerie said, “anyone who might want me dead already knows where you are. I was extracted from here a few weeks ago, remember?”

Paula said nothing, but the muscles along her jaw tightened.

“Number two, no one followed me last night.”

“How do you know that?” Paula demanded.

“Because I’ve been on the island since late last week. No one has been following me.”

“The marina,” Cam said, annoyed with herself for not having anticipating that.

Felicia laughed. Stark merely stared. Savard made a point of not looking at her lover.

Valerie smiled. “Yes.”

“You came in by boat?”

“I rented a slip at the marina for my cabin cruiser a while ago.”

Cam glanced out the window, realizing how far ahead Valerie had planned her moves. On some level, she must have been uneasy with her assignment from the beginning. “You set up an alternate identity when you were here working with us last month. So when we did a sweep for any newly registered guests last week, you didn’t turn up. You were already there.”

“I worried when the Company sent me in to infiltrate your team that it wasn’t going to turn out well. It’s always prudent to establish a new identity when you can’t be certain that any of your old ones will be safe.” Valerie spoke directly to Cam. “And I knew if you wanted to get Blair to someplace inaccessible, you’d come back here.”

“Your handler doesn’t know about any of this?”

“No.”

Stark made an exasperated sound. “So last night you just circled around the tip of the island on foot and walked down the beach.”

“Yes. Not exactly the route I’d use for a surprise attack, but it got me where I wanted to go.”

“So we can assume,” Cam said, “that Matheson and your handler suspect we’re here. They know the general area since they were able to extract you undetected, but we hadn’t established a perimeter that far from the houses at the time.”

“Tanner has had reconnaissance boats on the water twenty-four hours a day since we’ve been here.” Stark looked pointedly at Valerie. “Other than normal marina traffic, every vessel is monitored to ensure they aren’t attempting a beach landing.”

Valerie felt a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and relief at the disclosure. Stark trusted her or she would not be discussing their security measures. Valerie could tell her colleague was still angry with her for ignoring procedure the night before, but at least she was talking as if they were still on the same side.

“I’m sorry I put your team in an awkward position, Chief,” she said. “To tell you the truth, I just wanted to get here.”

“Well, we didn’t shoot you, which is the main thing. It would have caused all kinds of hassles trying to come up with a cover story for that.”

Cam gave Stark a nod, part affirmation, part prompt.

Stark rose. “If you don’t need me any longer, Commander, I’ll go back to the marina and look at everyone who has a slip or rents a room there.”

“I think we’re done, Chief. You intend to advise Tanner of the situation?” Cam struggled not to issue orders to secure the marina.

“Immediately, and I’ll inform Egret and Ms. Bleeker that the marina is off-limits for the time being until we’ve secured it.”

“Thank you.”

Stark nodded to the group and left.

“What name have you been using here?” Felicia asked Valerie.

“Ingrid Klein.”

“You realize you’ve just burned that identity if you want to disappear again,” Savard pointed out.

“I seem to be limiting my options, don’t I?” Valerie met Cam’s eyes.

Savard smiled. “Looks like you’ll just have to stay.”

“Well then, put me to work.”

Felicia turned a laptop in her direction. An array of photos filled the screen. “Start looking.”

Six hours later Valerie pushed away from the table in disgust. “If he’s in here,” she said, gesturing toward the computer, “I don’t recognize him.”

“When you met, did you ever get the feeling that he was disguised?” Felicia asked.

Valerie shook her head. “No. He always looked like a nondescript guy in an off the rack business suit.

“Which I’m sure is exactly how he wanted to look.”

Valerie rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Maybe we should try military archives.”

“And start where? What branch, what years?”

“Matheson served. Let’s look at everyone he might have met from boot camp until the day he was mustered out.”

Felicia nodded. “I’m working on it, but accessing those kinds of military files… I have to use a little finesse.”

“Can’t Cameron use her Homeland Security go-anywhere-free pass to access those records?”

“She could,” Savard said from across the room where she worked at her own computer station. “But it would alert any number of individuals, and that’s exactly what we don’t want.”

Valerie nodded. “I guess until we find out how deep this goes, it’s safer to trust no one.” She looked from one to the other. “So, when will I have more photographs to look at?”

“Later today,” Felicia said.

“All right. Until then, if you give me a secure line, I’ll try contacting some of my previous sources. I might be able to pick up a hint of what’s happening out there.”

“We should be able to arrange—” Savard tensed and swiveled toward the front door at the sound of it opening. She relaxed when Cam walked in.

“Stark says there’s no one suspicious at the marina.”

“Excellent,” Savard said.

“Where are we?”

“I didn’t get anywhere with the photographs. I’m sorry,” Valerie said.

“It was a long shot with no reference point. Are you at a place where you can take a break?” Cam asked.

Valerie stood. “Yes, of course. Whatever you need.”

“I thought we’d try to work up a sketch of your handler.”

“We don’t have a sketch artist here, do we?”

“No.” Cam smiled. “We’ve got something even better.”

Blair closed the French doors to the living room and carried her supplies to the sofa. She pushed back the sleeves of her long-sleeved T-shirt, kicked off her ankle high boots, and sat cross-legged on the sofa with her sketch pad propped on her knees. “Have you ever done anything like this before?”

“No.” Valerie settled into an adjacent chair and crossing her legs. After waking with Diane and working with the team all morning, she felt almost normal again. “Have you?”

“No. It should be a challenge.”

Valerie smiled thinly. “Well, what else is new?”

Blair glanced up. “I guess it’s new ground for all of us.”

“I thought I had learned to expect the unexpected a long time ago,” Valerie said, draping her hands over the ends of the arm rests. “Apparently, I was wrong.”

“Because of 9/11?” Blair asked, sketching Valerie’s profile. It wasn’t why they were there, but she couldn’t help but be captivated by the classic lines of her face.

“That, and being asked to usurp information from an ongoing investigation and,” Valerie said as Blair drew rapidly, “falling in love with Diane.”

Blair’s hand stilled. “Is that what happened?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“You approve?” Valerie inquired with a hint of surprise.

Blair turned over a fresh page in her sketch pad. “I could say it’s not for me to approve or disapprove, but Diane is one of my two oldest friends and I love her. She didn’t ask for my opinion, by the way.”

“Which is?”

“I think you’re a terrible choice for her. You’re involved in dangerous work that requires you to lie to everyone, probably even yourself, about what you do and what you feel. Anyone with sense would find that scary.” Blair met her eyes. “Speaking as her friend, I’d rather she got involved with someone who wasn’t so likely to break her heart.”