by Radclyffe
“ Im going to get the morning reports together for the briefing, Renée said as she rose. “See you in a few minutes.
She closed the door gently on her way out.
* * * * *
Cam stared at the closed door for a moment, then sank into her seat. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling. “Sorry.
Valerie moved her chair closer until her stocking-clad knees just barely touched Cams dark blended silk trousers. She rested her fingertips on Cams thigh. “You neednt apologize to me.
“ What are the chances that hell give up?
Valerie considered lying, because Cam looked tired. More than just tired, she looked soul-weary. At one time, Cameron had escaped her pain and loneliness by taking refuge in Valeries arms. She had comforted Cam then, and by doing so had found her own solace. She had nothing as simple to give now, because that door were closed for both of them. So she gave her what she knew Cam needed most. The truth. “He wont give up. He might have had some rational plan before Septembersome reason, at least in his mind, for what he was doing. I dont think thats the case now. Hes a fanatic, and Blair is a symbol of everything he seeks to destroy.
“ Why go after her and not her father? Cam asked, as if there were some reason to insanity.
“ I dont know, Valerie said. “Perhaps because shes more real than her father. The presidency is an institution as much as a person, but Blair is a living, breathing woman. Her loss would strike at the heart of people.
The pain in Cams chest at the thought of Blair hurt was real, as acute as the bullet that had torn into her flesh and spilled her blood out onto the sidewalk in front of this very building. When she looked at Valerie, agony swam in her eyes. “If I find him, Ill kill him. No questions asked.
“ Yes, Valerie said calmly. “If you do, and it comes to that, Ill make sure it appears totally justifiable.
“ Just like that? Your total support, even if Im wrong?
“ Youre not wrong. We both know hes guilty. Hes a murderer and a traitor.
“ What about the law? What about justice?
“ Justice, Valerie said contemplatively. “Justice is often so much simpler than the laws we create to define it. There isnt a member of this team or Blairs security detail who would question the rightness of eliminating him.
“ That makes us vigilantes.
“ No, that makes us soldiers, and make no mistake, Cameron, this is war.
Cam placed her hand over Valeries. “I dont want you or any of the others to jeopardize yourselves for me.
“ Thats an order you cant give. She smiled as she threaded her fingers through Cams. “Or I should say, you can give it, but I doubt that any of us will listen.
“ Some leader I am, Cam muttered.
“ Thats exactly right.
The door opened and Felicia Davis, a statuesque African American woman who looked as if she should be gracing the pages of a fashion magazine rather than hacking into databases, said, “The teams assembled and theres a message for you, Commander. Her gaze flickered down to their joined hands and then away, her expression never changing. “Do you two want more coffee?
“ No, thanks, Cam said, continuing to clasp Valeries hand lightly. “Well be right there.
“ Good enough.
Valerie waited until they were alone again, then asked, “Does Blair know just how badly you need her to stay out of the public eye right now?
“ No. And Im not going to tell her.
“ Why not? If she knew what this was doing to you
“ No. Everyone who has ever loved her has asked her to give up something, and Im not going to be another one.
“ Well then, well just have to find him and make sure hes not a problem.
Cam smiled grimly. “I have a feeling if we dont, hell find us.
Chapter Three
R icky, why dont you bring us up to speed on your frontrunners, Cam said, addressing the newest member of her team. Ricky Sanchez, a thirty-year-old with curly, dark hair, an olive complexion, and bedroom eyes, had most recently been stationed in the Southwest with the ATF. Hed run a number of operations with the DEA when their territories overlapped. Drugs and firearms often went hand in hand, and both were popular commodities with the paramilitary groups for use in financing their operations. The patriot organizations served as conduits between drug runners from Mexico and South America and dealers in the States, and the money they made brokering the goods went for guns. The guns were valuable assets when negotiating with foreign terrorists, who very often had money but no ready access to weaponry. Sanchez was as close to an expert on the patriot organizations as could be found, and when Cam offered him the opportunity to come over to her team, he jumped at it. Married with two kids, hed been urged by his wife to get out of the field, and every agent knew that antiterrorism was the hot place to be now.
“ The patriots have no central organizationno ruling hierarchy, Ricky said, lounging back in his chair. He wore boot cut jeans, a wide leather belt with a hammered silver buckle, and scuffed hand-tooled Tony Lamas. “These guys have too much ego to actually work together. They all want to be in charge.
He leaned forward enough to push several keys on a small laptop computer and an image projected on a wall-mounted monitor. Head shots of three men, ranging in age from late twenties to early fifties, appeared. All were clean-shaven, with short, military-style haircuts and flinty stares.
“ From left to rightJohn Jamieson, Robert Douglas, and Randolph Hogan. The White Aryan Brotherhood, the Soldiers of God, and the Homeland Liberation Front. These three are the most radical of the patriot leadersthey like to make noise about taking back America for the Americans, meaning white menbut we havent been able to put them anywhere close to the guys who took down the Towers.
“ What about Matheson? Cam asked. “Any connection to him?
“ Were looking for one. Ricky shrugged. “These guys are camera shy, and they rarely communicate by anything other than disposable phones or face-to-face meetings. Even then, they usually send their second or third in command.
Savard cut in. “On the other hand, the hijackers werent particularly careful about covering their movements after they entered this country. The FBI has a fairly complete picture of where they lived, where and when they took their flight training, and the routes they took to get to the airports. Somewhere along the way, they crossed paths with the team that hit the Aerie. Theres no way it could have been coordinated the way it was without someone organizing it here. We just need to find the intersection point.
Cam nodded. “I agree. We know Matheson sent that team to Manhattan to hit Blair. They were his hand-picked boys. Which means he knew the timetable for the hijacking. I cant believe he would have let anyone else orchestrate this thing. We need to backtrack his movements. She looked to Felicia. “Somewhere, he left a bit of paper. He used a credit card for gas, paid for dinner, spent the night in a Motel Six. Got a parking ticket. He might be elusive, but hes not invisible. Find out where hes been in the last four months and put him with one of Rickys guys. Or one of the hijackers.
“ Im on it, Commander, Felicia said. “If he so much as took money out of an ATM, Ill find out when and where.
Cam swept her hand toward the screen. “All of these guys. We need to know everything there is to know about them. Yesterday.
A knock on the door caught everyones attention, and Cam walked over to open it. Stark stood in the hallway.
“ Sorry to interrupt, Commander, but I just got a call from Egret. She informed us shes going to DC.
Cam frowned. “First Ive heard of it.
“ Lucinda Washburn was mentioned.
“ Ah, that explains it, Cam said with a sigh. Lucinda Washburn was Andrew Powells chief of staff and also a close, longtime friend of Blairs family. When Lucinda called, everyone jumped. “When?
“ We have a flight scheduled in two hours, so I thought youd want to know. I assume youll be accompanying her, and wer
e leaving for the airport in forty-five minutes.
“ Thanks, Chief. Let me finish up here, and Ill be with you.
“ Yes maam.
Cam closed the door, thinking the dog-and-pony show was about to begin. She would have minded the public exposure a lot more if she wasnt looking forward to getting married. Love had a funny way of changing ones outlook on things. She turned back to her team. “So, lets go over it again. What do we know, and what do we need to know. And how are we going to find it out.
* * * * *
Cam found Blair in the studio section of the loft where Blair painted. The 4x5 foot canvas on the easel in front of her was a riot of bright red, glaring purples, and garish yellows. Blair had applied the paint thickly, in wide swirling swaths, and Cam felt almost dizzy from the motion as her gaze tracked over the surface. Blair didnt usually paint abstracts, but she had been for the last few weeks. As Cam took this one in, she realized it wasnt as abstract as shed first thought. She recognized what she was looking at. A fireball. Shed seen something like it time and time again in the replays of the jetliners crashing into the North and South Towers. She wondered if Blair had consciously depicted the inferno that had resulted, and didnt know if she should ask. After growing up with a mother who was a world-renowned painter and being surrounded by her mothers friends, Cam had learned that artists drew from deeply personal, often painful emotions to infuse their art with power and passion. Perhaps this was Blairs way of exorcising the horror, and Cam wouldnt take a chance of hurting her by asking.
In her usual work attire of paint-streaked jeans and T-shirt, with her hair tied back by a red bandanna, Blair looked young and vulnerable. Cams heart swelled and she wished with everything she was that
Blairs life could be as simple as other peoples seemed to bethat her days could be filled with friendship, and with the work she craved, and with the love they shared. Jazz played on the stereo in the corner, and Blair didnt turn as Cam approached.
“ Baby, Cam called softly.
Blair looked back, a question formed in her eyes. “What is it?
Cam smiled. “Nothing.
“ No. You sighed. Whats bothering you?
“ Youre scary, you know that? Gently, Cam kissed Blair and put her arms around her waist.
“ Cam, Im covered with paint, Blair said, trying to pull away. “Your suit.
“ Forget my suit, Cam murmured. “I love you.
Blair stilled and her eyes softened. She looped her arms around Cams neck and kissed her back. “Im all right.
“ I know. Cam held her, running her hands lightly up and down her back. “Stark told me Lucinda requested our presence.
“ She called after you left for the briefing. I told her we were both too busy, but she insisted we talk face-to-face. Blair rolled her eyes. “At least this time she didnt play the national security card.
Cam grinned. “Shes probably holding that in reserve.
“ Lucinda never holds anything in reserve. She doesnt need to. Shes always got plenty of ammunition.
“ True. Cam released Blair and checked her watch. “Do I need to pack? Are we staying overnight?
“ I think its an in-and-out thing. Besides, Im not staying in DC. We just got home.
Cam glanced around the loft. It was home. At least one of them, she thought with satisfaction. They had just completed the purchase of the house on Whitley Point where theyd been staying intermittently for the last two months. That house above the windswept dunes was their refuge, and at least a dozen times a day, she wished she could just send Blair there with a security detail until some kind of sanity was restored to the world. Except that wasnt likely to happen soon, if ever, and Blair would never submit to being sequestered. Even for her own safety.
“ Let me get some work together for the flight, then, Cam said.
“ I need to shower and change. Blair brushed her fingers over
Cams cheek. “I expect this will be about the wedding, and I know how much you have on your mind right now. Thank you for doing this.
Cam caught Blairs wrist and brushed her lips over Blairs fingertips. “Im doing this for me too. Im fine.
“ Say that in a week. Blair kissed Cams cheek and walked away.
Cam watched her go, thinking that a lot could happen in a week.
* * * * *
The West Wing of the White House was never quiet, but since 9/11, the activity level had escalated to the point that there was very little difference between noon and midnight. Aides worked eighteen hours straight and staffers slept on couches. Even the White House chief of staff catnapped on her sofa, which was where Blair and Cam discovered Lucinda Washburn when her assistant Emilio bade them to enter her hallowed quarters.
“ Sorry, Blair said as Lucinda lifted the arm that had been covering her eyes and glanced toward the door.
“ Good, youre here. Instantly alert and looking completely fresh, Lucinda shifted her stocking-clad feet to the floor and slid into her pumps without looking. She walked to the credenza and poured coffee. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “Some for you?
“ No, thanks, Blair said. She and Cam took their usual seats side by side on the sofa. “How are things?
Lucinda lifted her brows as she settled into the wingback chair across from them and sipped her coffee. “Were making progress. Being able to identify the hijackers has helped things tremendously. She shifted her gaze to Cam. “How are we doing on identifying the domestic cell?
“ We have a lot of threads, but no connecting factors yet.
“ Its frustrating that we can identify a terrorist leader thousands of miles away but we cant use our surveillance to find a traitor in our own backyard.
“ I think we call that preserving civil rights, Cam said dryly.
“ Of course, Lucinda agreed. “But its damned inconvenient when were under attack from our own people.
“ Well get them, Cam said.
“ No doubt. Lucinda set her cup aside. “Youre here for another reason.
“ I cant imagine what, Blair said.
Lucinda half smiled. “We tried to quietly slide an announcement of your upcoming nuptials into the press briefing this morning.
Blair snorted.
“ Yes. Suddenly, global terrorism is no longer everyones top priority. She fixed Blair with a piercing stare. “You are.
Blair stiffened, and Cam took her hand.
“ So far, weve had calls from the Christian Morality Coalition, Family First, the chairman of the reelection campaign, several of our largest donors, and the National Organization for Gay Rights. Lucinda shook her head. “Congratulations, Blair. Youre a celebrity.
“ That wasnt my intention, Blair snapped. She rose abruptly and took one step toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that fronted the Esplanade before realizing that shed made that trip across Lucindas office in anger or frustration a dozen times before. Not once had the journey ever helped her understand why her private life was of such interest to so many, and it never changed the outcome of whatever Lucinda had decided to do about it. She regarded Lucinda. “Hows my father taking it?
“ We havent drafted his official statement
“ I dont care about the party line. Blair hoped Cam couldnt see her shaking. She hated that her life was something that required her father to consult with his advisers before commenting.
“ Im sorry, Lucinda said gently. “Your father feels exactly the same way today as he did when you first told him. He supports you, and he plans on attending.
“ Thats a very bad idea, Cam said immediately.
“ As is usually the case, Commander, Lucinda said wryly, “I agree with you. However, you may have noticed that its a Powell family trait to do exactly as they please regardless of what their advisers recommend.
Blair sank down beside Cam. “Ill ask him not to come.
“ You certainly can, Lucinda said, “but I dont think it will change his mind.
“ We havent factored a presidential presence into ou
r advance planning, Cam said. “Starks team hasnt
“ Tom Turner sent his people to Colorado several days ago. I suspect theyll liaise with Mac Phillips and Ellen Marks today.
“ And Stark hasnt been informed? Cam said incredulously. “Thats a complete breach of protocol.
“ These are unusual times, Lucinda said. “The presidents security adviser wanted it done this way. While in Colorado, President Powells security chief will command the total operation.
“ I dont like it, Cam said flatly.
“ No, I didnt think you would, and I imagine that Agent Stark will agree with you. Lucinda lifted her hands. “On the other hand, its not negotiable.
“ Tom is a good man, Cam went on as if Lucinda hadnt spoken, “but he isnt used to the kind of personal security that Blair requires. No one gets as close to the president as they do to Blair.
“ Agent Stark will remain in charge of Blairs personal detail, unless there is an emergent situation.
“ Which is exactly when Blair would need the best coverage. Cam shifted on the sofa and took Blairs hands. “Blair, I know what this means to you. It means a lot to me too. But I think we should postpone.
Blair studied their joined hands, then met Cams gaze. “All right.
Lucinda crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. “A month ago you would have made me very happy. Unfortunately, we cant back out now because too many eyes are watching. Plus, we cant have it appear as if your father is capitulating to the vocal right.
“ You cant force us to get married, Blair objected. She ran a hand through her hair. “This is unreal. All of a sudden, you want me to get married.
“ Dont you?
“ Yes!
“ Good. Lucinda rose, walked to her desk, and called her assistant. “Emilio? Is Dana Barnett here yet? Send her in, would you?