Radclyffe - Oath of Honor

her or the operation—”

“I think I’m perfectly capable of making expert observations,”

Wes said calmly, “and would probably recognize conditions or

circumstances conducive to exchanging and transporting a biologic

agent more readily than anyone else. If it’s a question of asking her

out to dinner or spending an evening with her or more, I’m perfectly

willing.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Evyn squared her body to Roberts. “You can’t

really expect her to do this.”

“Evyn—” Wes said.

“It’s up to the captain, of course,” Roberts said, “but we expect an

attack to be imminent, and we need to take advantage of every avenue

of information we possibly can. I admit it’s a long shot, but even the

remote possibility of picking up information that would help us pinpoint

and intercept the individuals involved is worth pursuing.”

Stark asked, “How strong is the connection between the lieutenant

and Angela Jones?”

“Loose,” Roberts admitted. “But more than we have been able to

find anywhere else. I want Agents Daniels and Block to work together

on surveillance. The lieutenant is familiar with PPD, so Agent Daniels’s

presence will likely be unnoticed. And Pattee doesn’t know Blair’s

agents at all, so Block can take the lead outside official functions. That

will allow us to stagger the coverage without putting a larger detail in

place. Unfortunately, we’re not sure how deeply we’re compromised.”

Evyn was no longer a suspect, but that knowledge didn’t make her

feel better. All she could think about was Wes suddenly in the middle

of some crazy extremist conspiracy, without backup.

“Is Wes going to wear a wire?”

“Yes.”

Evyn closed her fist by her side, struggling to keep her voice even.

“That’ll help us monitor her. But if she’s discovered with it on, she’ll

be an immediate target.”

“You forget, Agent,” Wes said softly, “I earned my rank. I can take

care of myself.”

“This isn’t some field hospital, Wes—”

• 233 •

RADCLY fFE

Roberts cut in. “You can leave Captain Masters’s security to

me, Agent Daniels. Your job is to keep the lieutenant in your sights

whenever she’s in proximity to the president.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Evyn said tightly. As much as she trusted the

director—Roberts had proved more than once she was the best—she

didn’t plan on leaving Wes’s safety in anyone else’s hands. She kept

her mouth shut though—she’d already revealed too much about her

personal feelings. “Why isn’t Tom here?”

“Need-to-know,” Cam said quietly.

“I’ll get to work on adjusting the schedule,” Wes said.

“Good. We’ll communicate by phone and text. Stay off the comm

channels. Block, your contact is Stark. Agent Daniels, I’m yours.” Cam

glanced at Wes. “And yours.”

“Understood,” Wes said.

Cam stood. “Good. Let’s go.”

Evyn held back while others pushed back from the table. “Wes—

Captain Masters—a word, please.”

“Of course,” Wes said as the others filed out.

The door closed, leaving them alone, and Evyn stalked around the

table. “This is crazy. You know that, right? Jesus Christ, Wes.”

“Evyn, we have jobs to do. There’s no time for this.”

Evyn gripped Wes’s forearm. “Just be sure you observe and

nothing else.”

Wes shook her head. “Do you really think I’m in need of

protection?”

The metallic taste of fear, foreign and paralyzing, blurred Evyn’s

focus. She took a deep breath, then another. “I know you don’t. It’s

just—if something happens to you…I can’t go there, okay?”

“Then don’t. Just trust me.” Wes skimmed a fingertip along Evyn’s

jaw. “It’s okay. I like that you worry, but you don’t have to. I’ll be

fine.”Evyn wanted to grab Wes’s hand and hold it to her, wanted the

warm certainty of her touch. She went very still as Wes’s eyes turned

that deep green they got when they were alone with nothing between

them—no pretense, no fear, no excuses. Deep calm—solid and clear—

centered Evyn like no amount of self-imposed control ever had. Last

night she’d thought she was losing herself in Wes’s eyes. Now she

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Oath Of hOnOr

realized she was finding her true strength. “I’m sorry. I know you can

handle this. It’s just—last night. Wes, I thought—”

Wes shook her head. “Evyn, don’t. You don’t need to explain.”

“Yeah—I do. I need you to know—” Evyn shook her head. “We’ve

got work—I know it’s not the time.”

“There’s always time if you need me—but I promise you don’t

need to worry about this.”

“You’ll be careful?”

“Yes. You too.”

“Always.” Evyn gave her stock answer, only now it wasn’t just a

piece of the armor she put on to compete every day in a world where

she had to be the best. Now she knew she could feel and still win. “Last

night isn’t over. It can’t be over.”

“I don’t want it to be either,” Wes said quietly, “but I don’t want to

need what I can’t have.”

“I know I fucked up—”

“I didn’t say that.” Wes smiled wryly. “When this is over, we’ll

talk.”Not what Evyn wanted—not all of what she wanted. But she’d

wait. She’d wait, but she wasn’t going to let Wes forget. Or slip away.

She kissed her—swift, hard. “I’m not quitting.”

“Do you ever?” Wes asked.

“Never.”

v

Jennifer knocked on Wes’s office door. “Hi. I got your text. I’m

fine with the schedule changes.”

“You’ll be short and then doubling up two days in a row.” Wes

pulled a file folder over the report she’d been reading.

“Like I said, it’s no problem. This time of year, OT is always

welcome.”

“Thanks. Sorry about the late notice. A couple of people have had

personal matters come up—it’s the season for it, I guess.”

Jennifer stepped a little farther into the room, her shoulder nudging

the door almost closed. “I’m glad for the excuse to spend time with

you. It should be pretty quiet.”

• 235 •

RADCLY fFE

“I hear the Christmas buffet for staff is a big event.” Wes thought

ahead to the president’s schedule—no trips planned until after New

Year’s. No State events during the holidays either. The largest gathering

of staff and press would be in two days.

“Shouldn’t be a problem.” Jennifer smiled.

“Well, I’m sorry you’ll be working part of Christmas Eve and

Christmas Day too.”

“You’re in the same situation, right?”

“I’m new in town, remember? I didn’t have any plans, so working

isn’t that much of a hardship.” Wes wasn’t really sure how convincing

she’d be suggesting a personal interest. She didn’t have a hell of a lot

of practice—make that no practice—getting up close and personal with

colleagues or anyone else. Except with Evyn—being close to Evyn

hadn’t taken any effort at all. Last night isn’t over.

“Well,” Jennifer said quickly, “like I said, my plans fell through

too. Maybe that’s a sign.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

Apparently, her skills weren’t as bad as she thought. Jennifer’s

eyes sparked, and color rose above the vee of her pale-blue cashmere

sweater to her throat. “How about we catch a late dinner when our shift

is over tonight. Unwind before the last-minute Christmas Eve duty.”

“If you don’t have any plans—”

“I don’t, but even if I did,” Jennifer said, her smile slow and

seductive, “I’d change them. I’ve been hoping we’d have a chance to

spend some time together.”

“Then I’d like that. Tonight, then?”

“Yes, perfect.”

“Shall I meet you somewhere?”

“Why don’t you come over to my place for a drink after work, and

we can leave from there.”

“All right. That sounds perfect.”

Jennifer smiled that suggestive smile again. “It does, doesn’t it?

See you later.”

“Yes. Definitely.”

Jennifer left and Wes sagged back in her chair. When she was sure

Jennifer wasn’t returning, she called Cameron Roberts and reported the

conversation.

• 236 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Report to the briefing room before your shift ends,” Cam said.

“We’ll wire you up.”

“There’s something else,” Wes said.

“Go ahead.”

Wes slid Len O’Shaughnessy’s toxicology report out from under

the file folder. Nothing had jumped out at her until she’d looked at the

tissue analysis. “Colonel O’Shaughnessy had unusually high levels of

potassium in his cardiac muscle. Enough to cause cardiac arrest.”

“Enough for us to investigate his death as a homicide?”

“Postmortem levels might vary depending on when they were

drawn—and he was given a lot of drugs during the resuscitation. This

isn’t hard evidence, I’m afraid.”

“Your opinion, then,” Cam said.

“If someone had wanted him out of the way,” Wes said, “I’d say

they succeeded.”

• 237 •

RADCLY fFE

chapter twenty-nine

Blair set her book aside when the door opened and Cam walked

into the apartment. Cam looked tired, and she never looked

tired. She always seemed to have endless energy and incredible stamina.

The only signs of fatigue were a crease between her dark brows and a

tightness around the corners of her mouth. Blair saw the stress, even

though to anyone else Cam would appear as calm and centered as

always. “Did you catch any sleep?”

“I grabbed a couple of hours in the ready room. I’m okay.” Cam

leaned over the sofa and kissed her. “Morning.”

“What’s going on?” Blair grasped Cam’s hand and pulled her

down beside her. Draping her legs over the arm of the sofa, she shifted

until her head rested in Cam’s lap. Blair tugged Cam’s shirt from her

trousers and kissed her bare abdomen. “Have you eaten?”

“Coffee and half a chocolate doughnut.”

“That’s not food.” Blair settled back, and Cam stroked her arm

beneath the edge of the threadbare USSS T-shirt of Cam’s she wore to

bed. The light touch was gentle and reassuring and exciting all at the

same time. She never realized how much she missed Cam until she

walked back in the door. The scent of her, just looking up and seeing

her nearby, filled her with comfort and a peace she’d never known

she wanted. “You’re not supposed to deal with everything alone any

longer.”

Cam sifted Blair’s hair through her fingers, soothed by the silky

softness. “I’m not. I promise.”

“But?”

“I can’t help wanting to protect you.”

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Oath Of hOnOr

“I know that. I love you for that. But it’s a two-way street,

right?”

“Yes, it is.” Cam sighed. “I think we may be honing in on our

leak.”“Who is it?” Blair kept a tight rein on the anger blazing in the very

core of her. Disbelief and outrage stoked the flames. She wanted to

strike back—and not being able to focus her rage only fueled her fury.

Cam gave her a capsule summary of what she’d reported to

Lucinda. “If I’m right, there may be an attempted assault soon.”

Fear licked around the edges of Blair’s consciousness, but she

pushed it away. “How? When?”

“I don’t know. Guesses are all I have.”

“Your guesses have always been good.” Blair sat up and faced

Cam, her knee sliding over Cam’s thigh. She kissed her. “I know you’re

doing everything that can be done. It’s not all on you.”

Cam nodded. “I know. I’m just...things are starting to move and

I’m preoccupied. Sorry.”

“You’re also not giving me much in the way of details.”

Cam smiled softly. “Noticed that, did you?”

“Really, Cam.” Blair shook her head. “Who told you to keep me

out of the loop? Lucinda?”

A spark of humor lit Cam’s dark eyes. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Uh-huh. Okay. And exactly why aren’t you following Lucinda’s

orders?”

The humor disappeared but the darkness remained in Cam’s gaze.

“Because I want you to be safe, and you can’t be safe if you don’t

know what’s going on. I think Lucinda’s wrong in thinking you’ll be

safer if you’re away from the action. We don’t know what’s coming, or

where it’s coming from, and the only way to be prepared is to hone our

defenses while we work out an offensive plan.”

“Meaning?”

“If your father’s the target, and I believe he is, you should limit

your time with him.”

“That’s not going to happen. If my father’s the target, then I want

to be with him. That means more agents, more surveillance, more

protection for him.”

“That’s exactly what Lucinda wanted to avoid—both of you in the

line of fire.” Cam stroked Blair’s jaw. “She loves you, you know.”

• 239 •

RADCLY fFE

“I know. So why are you telling me anything at all?”

Cam circled the back of Blair’s neck, feathering her fingertips

through her hair. “I’m telling you because I don’t think anywhere is

safer than any other place, right now. And since you won’t abandon

your father, you need to know what the potential threats are, to best

protect yourself.”

“And you know I’d kick your ass if you kept this from me.”

Cam grinned again. “That too.”

“So tell me what you think I need to know.”

“I will.” Cam kissed her, a slow exploration that melted the tension

in Blair’s body and settled the disquiet in her mind. “As soon as I say a

proper good morning.”

Blair slid her hand under Cam’s shirt and stroked upward to her

breasts. “Not too tired?”

“Not tired at all.”