by Radclyffe
badly she felt like she was bleeding inside, she let go of Valeries jacket.
“Come soon.
“Il
try.
I
promise.
Then Valerie turned and hurtled down the stairs until all
that remained was the distant echo of her footsteps.
* * * * *
“Hey! Blair said. “You missed the fashion show.
“Sorry, Diane said breathlessly. “I got lost in the
shoes.
“So what do you think. Blair held up a strapless black silk
chiffon dress.
“Nice, Diane said, running her fi ngers over the sheer fabric.
Blair frowned and cast a glance in Paulas direction.
Paula appeared not to be watching them, although Blair knew
she was. She lowered her voice. “Youre shaking. Whats wrong?
“Nothing.
“Of course, Blair said, loud enough for Paula to hear, “now I
have an excuse to buy more shoes. She moved closer to
Diane. “Bul shit. What happened?
“I just saw Valerie.
Blair slipped one arm around Dianes waist and draped the
dress
over her free arm as she guided Diane through the dress
department and out of hearing range of her security team.
“Here? When?
“Yes. Just a few minutes ago.
“You talked to her?
“Briefl y. Shes scared, Blair. Dianes voice broke. “She scared,
and shes alone.
“What did she
say?
Diane shook her head. “Not much. It was only a couple of
minutes. She laughed unsteadily. “And I was kissing her about
half the time.
Blair rol ed her eyes. “Why am I not surprised. Jesus, Diane.
You have to be careful. When Diane started to pull away,
Blair tightened her grip. “Im sorry, I know you love her. And
I love you. And if shes in trouble, you could get hurt. Blair
felt Diane shiver. “What? What happened?
“Nothing, Diane said quickly. “Real y. Its
just
“What?
“Someone came into the stairwell while we were together,
and Valerie acted as if she expected someone to try to hurt
her. She was armed and
“Thats it, Blair snapped. “You have to talk to
Cam.
“I dont have to do anything until Im certain Valerie will
be
protected.
“You dont trust Cam?
“Shh, Diane warned, aware that Paula and Felicia had closed the
distance behind them. “I dont know who to trust, al right? I trust you .
Just let me have a few days. Please.
Blair bit back another angry retort, thinking that she would probably
behave the same way in Dianes position. Stil , she wasnt certain she
trusted Valerie, not just with her best friends heart, but possibly with her
life.
Chapter Nine
I ts Cameron Roberts, Cam said in response to the question cal ed
through the door. The thunk of the lock disengaging was fol owed by the
door opening, and she was face to face with a panicked-looking Renée
Savard.
“Is Paula okay? Savard asked, her voice
tight.
“Yes, Cam said immediately. “Shes fi ne. Sorry, I shouldnt have
come by unannounced. I wanted to talk to you.
“Thats okay, Savard said, running her fi ngers quickly through her hair
as she stepped back.
“Thanks, Cam said. A quick visual sweep of the dimly lit room revealed
closed drapes, an unmade bed, and a room service cart just inside the
door. The food on the uncovered plate was mostly uneaten. The three
bot les of Becks were empty.
Savard grabbed the cart. “Here, let me get rid of
this.
“Ive got it. Cam held the door open with one hand as she pul ed the
cart out
into the hal . Then she fol owed Savard toward the two chairs and
smal table that comprised the sit ing area. She noticed Savards
limp fi rst and then registered that she wasnt wearing her knee
immobilizer over her navy FBI sweatpants. The loose wrinkled white
T-shirt was also FBI issue. Savards initial panicked expression had
changed to one that Cam recognized as weary resignation. “Hows
the leg?
“Fine, Savard avoided her eyes. She eased into one of the chairs
without bending her knee.
“Going a lit le stir-
crazy?
Savard grimaced. “Been there and
back.
“How did you like being assigned to counterterrorism? Cam asked as she
took the chair opposite Savard at the lit le round table.
Savard blinked, then her body seemed suddenly infused with energy.
She sat forward, her elbows on the table, her eyes fi xed intently on
Cams face. “Before
9/11 it used to bug me a lit le bit, how much time I had to spend at the
desk on the computer, sifting through bits of data and chunks of memos,
screening crazy tips from civilians about strange looking characters in
their neighborhood. She shrugged. “Stil , when we identifi ed persons
of interest or traced messages to potential cel s, I felt like I was doing
something.
“What about now? You said before
9/11.
Savard averted her gaze again and slumped back in her chair. “I
fucked up.
“You did? You personal y? Cam had seen Savard close to coming apart
when Stark had been hospitalized fol owing exposure to a possibly
lethal biological agent. Even as bad as it was then, Savard hadnt looked
or sounded like this. As if shed somehow already given up on
everything. “How do you fi gure that?
“I was there, Commander. Not just in New York City, but right in the
goddamn building that they hit. What kind of an agent sits in the target
zone and doesnt even have a clue about whats coming?
“I was in the Aerie, Cam said, “and my only job my number one priority
was to see that no one got close to Egret. I failed.
“Thats not true, Renée said sharply. “Blairs alive because of you and
your team. No one could have anticipated that kind of assault in the
middle of Manhat an. Jesus, Foster was one of us.
“Thats real y the point, isnt it? No one anticipated either of those events,
which makes us al equal y responsible. Cam didnt point out the very
real dif erences between her degree of culpability and Savards. It had
not been Renée Savards responsibility to anticipate disaster
scenarios on a worldwide scale, but safeguarding the fi rst daughter
against any conceivable at ack had been Cams. No amount of
rationalization would change that.
“I know in my head what youre saying is true, Savard whispered. “But I
stil feel guilty.
“Are things bet er or worse than a month
ago?
“Its dif erent. Then, I was just so angry. Now I
feelhelpless.
“Are you seeing anyone about
it?
Savard fl ushed. “Yes. Couple times a week, were talking on the
phone.
“Good, Cam said briskly. “Then the only thing left to do is get you
back to work.
“Im due for my fi nal med check in a coup
le of days. Once I get
cleared, Im going to cal the SAC where I was last assigned and try to fi
nd out if Ive stil got
a
job
there.
“Ive got another suggestion.
Savards eyes brightened.
“What?
“How would you like to work with me in homeland
security?
“Youre
moving
over?
Cam nodded. “Of i cial y as of
today.
“In
what
capacity?
With a sigh, Cam confessed to the title shed rather not use, but
understood was part of the package. “Deputy director of
counterterrorism.
“Oh man, Savard whispered. “And you can take me with
you?
“Ive got the green light to handpick my core agents. Cam grinned. “Kind
of a special ops thing.
“Yes. Im
in.
Cam laughed. “I havent outlined what youl be
doing.
“I dont care. When can I
start?
“How does tomorrow sound? Cam stood. “0700, room B-12 in the
West Wing. At Savards look of surprise, she said, “Temporary quarters,
just until we get organized.
“Looks like I need to get some clothes. Savard glanced down at her
sweats. “I just brought hanging-around stuf . I guess Paula wil have to
take me shopping tonight.
“Since thats what shes been doing al afternoon with Blair and Diane,
Cam said with a straight face, “Im sure shel be eager to do a lit le more.
Savard smiled, some of the pain lifting from her eyes. “Shel probably
hate it, but she wont complain.
“Bet er woman than me, Cam mut ered as she started toward the
door. Turning, before she exited, she said, “See you in the morning,
Agent Savard. And welcome aboard.
“Thank
you,
Director
Roberts.
“Make
it
Cam.
“Yes
maam.
Commander.
With a shake of her head, Cam walked out into the hal . She had a
few more people to talk to, a few calls to make, and then
she could go home. Home to Blair. She smiled, liking the sound
of it.
* * * * *
The phone rang in a room two fl oors below Stark and Savards. A
broad-chested, trim-waisted man with an upright, military bearing
strode across the room and picked up the receiver. His
dark button-down collar shirt and black pants were
pressed and wrinkle-free. On some men the clothes would
have appeared casual. On him, they were a uniform.
“Youre right on time. I hope you have something useful to report.
“Nothing yet, Im afraid.
The general smiled thinly. “How is it that one of your own
people,
someone you presumably control, can evade you so successful y?
“Lawrence is a chameleon. She was trained to be elusive and
is very good at it. But well fi nd her. For now, I have
someone watching the girlfriend.
“We dont even know that Lawrence is trying to make contact
with her.
“We have reasonable intel that theyre lovers. Thats not her pattern
with women, so I suspect shell try to contact her.
His smile disappeared. “Its a long shot, but I suppose its the
best we have at the moment. Its your job to improve those
odds. I want her silenced before the rest of our operation is
compromised.
“Yes, sir. Im tracking her through every known alias
and attempting to set up a meet, but I obviously cant go
through channels. Its slowing me down.
The generals jaw tightened. He hadnt been prepared for the
attack on his compound because he hadnt expected anyone
on the governments payroll to uncover his connection to Foster
and the assault teamcertainly not as quickly as Roberts had
managed. The warning from his contact within the CIA that his
mountain camp was about to be raided had barely come in time
for him to escape. Hed slipped their net but at the cost of
revealing that he had sources within the Company. He
preferred not to sacrifi ce those sources, but if he couldnt fi nd
the one person who might expose the link, then he might
be forced to take other action. “Im not interested in excuses.
You have someone on Bleeker?
“Yes sir, but close surveil ance is out of the question. Shes
with... her friend, sir, and security there is very tight, especial y
afterNew York.
“Yes, your percentages have been poor lately. The general
rolled the hotel pen idly between his fi ngers. His mission had
come so close to succeeding. His men, his handpicked boys,
had nearly succeeded in eliminating their prime target. “Im not
impressed.
“Were confi dent Lawrence will attempt contact eventual y,
and then we can eliminate any chance of compromise.
“Lets hope the bait is sweet enough. Matheson drew a circle on
a notepad next to the phone and then placed a precise X through
the center. When he turned the pad, the X looked like the
crosshairs of a gun sight. “Perhaps this time we can sweep
the board. In memory of our fal en friends.
There was a moment of silence, then, “Yes, sir. And may
God bless America.
“May He indeed. You know where to reach me if anything
changes before our next scheduled communication. Lets take
care of these loose ends quickly, agent.
The general broke the connection, then pushed the extension
for valet parking and requested that his vehicle be brought to the
front of the hotel. He clipped a holster with his Glock to his
belt and selected a dark overcoat. It was time to take another
drive through the city, past the White House and Cameron
Robertss apartment building.
The time was rapidly approaching when he would have to
take
care of unfi nished business personal y.
* * * * *
Cam stepped off the elevator and, with a quick rush of
relief, nodded to Greg Wozinski, who stood just outside her
apartment door. For the fi rst time in almost a year, she hadnt
sat in on the morning briefi ng with Blairs security team.
She hadnt been advised of the shift schedule or known from
one minute to the next where Blair was. She had been uneasy all
day.
“You can spell Hara in the lobby now that Im here, Cam said,
appreciating the close surveillance but knowing that it
spread
Starks team thin. “I may not be offi cial, but I still know the
ropes.
Wozinski grinned. “Ill check with the
chief.
“Absolutely. Whatever Stark says. Cam let herself into
the apartment and closed the door behind her. The fi rst thing
she noticed was that the living room was empty, and the
second was an amazingly good smell coming from the direction
of the kitchen. She fol owed it, to discover Blair and Diane
cooking together.
Cam eyed the stir-fry concoction that Diane tosse
d in a
large skil et. “Chinese?
“Thai, Blair said. She slipped both arms around Cams neck
and kissed her hel o. “Wine?
Cam encircled Blairs waist. “Sounds great. Let me change, and Il give
you two a hand.
“Il help, Blair said, grinning at Dianes snort. “Il be right
back, Di.
“Sure, Diane said good-naturedly. “I wont time you, but dont be
too long because this wil be done soon.
“Promise, Blair said, tugging Cam by the hand across the living room
and into the hal way to the bedroom.
“How was your day? Cam asked as she fol owed Blair into the bedroom.
She hung up her blazer and removed her weapon and holster. She
secured them on the top shelf in the closet and unbuckled her belt.
“It was fun, Blair said, sliding Cams belt through the belt loops and
draping it over the rack on the back of the closet door. “Id forgot en what
it felt like to just have fun, even though Stark seemed to be in serious
pain.
Cam laughed. “Shes in for some more, Im afraid. I saw Savard this
afternoon, and she said something about Stark taking her shopping for
work clothes.
“You saw Renée? Blair asked as she unzipped Cams trousers and pul
ed her shirt free, then began working on the but ons. “How come?
“I recruited her for my
team.
“Oh.
Cam covered Blairs hands with one of hers and tilted Blairs chin up
with the other. “And Felicia.
“Thats good. Theyre good
people.
“But?
Blair shook her head. “Nothing. Its just She smiled a lit le crookedly.
“Goddamn it! Id got en used to you and the rest of them being on my
detail. Now Im not going to know what youre doing, and they wil .
Cam sensed Blairs real concern that in this new position there were things
they would not be able to discuss. Theyd worked hard to
overcome the twin obstacles to communication between themCams
natural reluctance to share professional and personal information, even
when it wouldnt violate procedure or protocol, and Blairs deep-seated
need to safeguard her privacy, even from those she loved. Now, Cams
job was reconstructing those barricades, and this time she would be
taking some of the important people in Blairs life behind those wal s
with her.
Cam eased away and shed her trousers, exchanging them for a
pair of sweatpants. She fi nished unbut oning her shirt, placed it on the
pile to go to the dry cleaners, and pul ed on a T-shirt. Then she drew
Blair with her to the side of the bed, sat down, and guided Blair onto