Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

worked out of in the West Wing. “Lets 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 careful y 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. Hell need a network in order to reestablish himself.

“A guy like that wont give up control easily, Savard said. She

wore

jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. Shed pul ed 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 shed been rol ing between

her fingers at Davis. “He didnt do much to hide the

compound in Tennessee because he didnt expect us to come

after him. This time hell take more precautions. Background

himhis family by blood and marriage, the military academy and

its faculty, donors to the school, previous graduatesanyone who

might have purchased or inherited land. For now, Id 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, Ill

confiscate every scrap of paper in the entire place.

“The FBI should have files on the other patriot organizations, Savard

said, “and if hes ever so much as made a phone cal to one of their

leaders, there should be a record of it somewhere. She grimaced. “The

biggest problem is the files are so decentralized its practical y impossible

to search them.

“Try.

“Yes maam, Savard said smartly. “We might get something

from the interrogations of his captured personnel too, if the Company

hasnt buried the intel by now.

“See what you can find there, Cam said, pleased with Savards natural

instincts for counterintel igence. Shed need that kind of backup

from her second-in- command. “And that brings us to the problem of

Valerie Lawrence. We need to know who her Company handler is and

determine if theres a link to Matheson.

Davis took a breath. “Due respect, Commander, but there wont be any

records

of Lawrences handler. Its not like they keep employment

files.

“I know, Cam said, “and thats just one reason why we need to bring

Valerie in.

“We dont 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 dont think she is. Cam expected her people to examine

every option, and Daviss comment didnt bother her. “But until weve

proven it one way or the other, she has to be considered potential y

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 tel me. In the

meantime, weve got Foster and the four dead commandos from the

assault on the Aerie. We know they were al at Mathesons military

academy. Maybe thats not their only connection.

“We real y need someone whos an expert on these paramilitary

organizations, Savard said. “I bet al of these guys know each other.

“Il work on that. Absently, Cam rubbed her sore shoulder. “Blair is

scheduled to make a public appearance Saturday night at a fundraiser

in Boston. Id like you two to assist with the security detail. I know its

not in your job description any longer, and Starks doing a great job

integrating Tanners people, but Il feel bet er if we had seasoned agents

for this. Its her first solo appearance since

9/11.

“Of course, Savard said, joining Davis in accepting the assignment.

“Do you think theyl try again so soon?

“I dont know. Cam tried not to let her fury, or her seething sense of

frustration, show. “But we cant af ord to think they wont.

Chapter Fifteen

S o, 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

Blairs shoulders and the other around Dianes 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?

“Its amazing, Blair said. “Somehow youve managed to do al this and stil

keep the untamed feel of the rest of the island.

“Its great, Diane said, echoing Blairs sentiment. She hugged Tanner. “I

admit, I never thought youd set le down enough to run the family

business, let alone do something like this. I figured youd be lying out on

some beach with a string of bored, horny cover girls breaking their

heartsuntil you were fifty or so.

“I might have been. Tanner grinned, then her expression sobered.

“Except I

dont know that I wouldve made it to fifty. I was a lit le crazy before

Adrienne.

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

tamed you.

“Ah, look whos talking. Tanner hip-bumped Blair playful y. “Who

would have guessed youd pick a spooky to marry!

“Yeah yeah, Blair said. “Come on, lets get of the pier. Its freezing in

this wind.

“I have to run up to the charterhouse for a second to check something,

Tanner said, “then Il 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 doesnt work on me, Whitley. So Id watch your step. As

Tanner laughed and hurried away, Blair grasped Dianes hand and studied

her worriedly.

“You okay? Tanner and I rhapsodizing about the joys of set ling down

must be tough for you to hear right now.

Diane nodded. “Im happy for you. Both of

you.

“I know that. But these tears arent from the wind. Blair gently brushed

at the moisture on Dianes cheeks. “You look worn out.

“Im okay. Im just not sleeping very

wel .

“Or eating very wel . Blair loosed an exasperated sigh as she keyed the

remote to Tanners SUV. She pointed for Diane to get into the front

passenger seat as she got behind the wheel and started the engine. “Its not

going to do anyone any good if you make yourself sick.

“Its hard not to think about it al the time, Diane whispered. “Its hard

not to wonder where she is. Not to wonder if someones hurt she

looked away, her voice breaking.

“You dont have as much experience with this kind of waiting, of not

knowing or understanding whats going on, as I have, Blair said

emphatical y. “And Im glad. But now youve fal en in love with

someone whose whole life has been a secret. Shes always going to have

secrets, Diane, and you cant 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 wel most of the time, Blair said, grinning sheepishly. “After

a while you accept that there are parts of themselves they dont, or cant,

let us see. And once youre done being pissed of 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,

doesnt it?

“That just might be the understatement of the year. Blair laughed briefly,

thinking of the night shed unexpectedly discovered Valerie at Cams

apartment in DC, and recognizing their connection, how much she had

resented the place Valerie held in Cams 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 Valeries 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 al that real y mattered.

“Shel need you, Di. Shel need you, but she wont let you know. Blair

reached for Dianes hand. “Thats the hardest thing to rememberthat

the need is there, even though its buried so deeply even she cant see it.

Its a pain in the ass, but youl just have to get used to it. I know youre

strong enough, and stubborn enough, to do it.

“I dont feel very strong

sometimes.

“Then thats when you come find me, and Il

remind you.

“It helps to be with you, and I usual y love Whitley Point, Diane

confessed, “but the quiet is driving me a lit le bit crazy right now. Ive 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, wel 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 suf

er, I suppose she can too.

“There, see? Youre sounding bet er already, Blair said, smiling. “Here

comes

Tanner. Il get in the

back.

As Blair stepped from the car, she caught sight of Tanners

expression and stopped. “What is it?

Tanner handed her the Boston Globe. “I dont know how you put up

with this shit al 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 “Presidents daughter to

marry lesbian loverAnti- same sex marriage groups protest.

“Wel , 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 at empt 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. Shed 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.

“Its okay. Its just another day at the

office.

“It sucks.

“Yeah, that, too. Blair leaned forward and squeezed Tanners

shoulder. “But try not to give Stark a heart attack and slow

down a little.

Tanner half turned her head, a grin pul ing at her mouth. Then

she looked back to the road and eased off on the gas. “Sorry,

force of habit. Im used to you tel ing me to lose your spookies.

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

* * * * *

Cams jaw tightened as she scanned the newspaper. “Call

Lucinda and tell her youre 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 shed pul ed 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 wouldnt do that even

if it would do any good, which it wont. Once Lucinda makes up

her mind

“Lucinda is the presidents chief of staff, not yours. Cam tossed

the newspaper onto the oak table and started for the front of

the house. “If youd prefer, Ill tell Stark to call her.

“Im sure Stark will appreciate

that.

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

mean?

“I know about the whole rank thing, but shes still my chief

of security. I dont imagine shell 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 fil ed her chest. “The timing is bad, especial y after

this newspaper article.

“Weve already discussed this, Cameron. If it isnt this event, it

will be some other one. We cant 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 youre not, and I know youre worried. Blair kept her

hands on the counter, because she wanted to reach out and pul 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