Honor Under Siege

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