Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

it1202.

When the cabbie swerved toward the curb, a horn blared behind them,

making Diane jump. She peered out the street-side window in time to

see a black sedan rocket by. The cabdriver mut ered an expletive as he

parked and climbed out to retrieve Dianes luggage from the trunk.

Diane handed him a ten after hed set her suitcases on the sidewalk

outside

Cams building. The door opened as she hauled her luggage toward it,

and she smiled in recognition at the burly blond who stood just inside.

Agent Wozinski made some linebackers look smal .

“Hi,

Greg.

“Ms.

Bleeker.

Diane shook her head. Shed given up trying to get him to cal her Diane

even though shed once spent a week with Blair and had seen him every

day during that time. In the fi fteen years that shed been friends with

Blair, shed grown used to the presence of security agents. But it had

never been like this. So many, keeping such a close watch. She was

surprised that Blair didnt break out more often. She would have.

“Okay to go up? she

asked.

“Yes, maam. Il cal up and announce

you.

“Its 501, isnt

it?

“Thats

right.

The elevator was ef i cient, and Diane suspected that she arrived outside

Cams door seconds after Wozinski cal ed. When she rang the bel , Blair

immediately answered.

“Hi. Blair pul ed her into a hug. “Im so glad you

came.

Diane hugged her back, surprised at the intensity of Blairs embrace. She

leaned back, her arms clasped loosely around Blairs waist, and

studied her. Blair looked more rested than when shed seen her ten days

ago, but she could hardly look worse than she had the day after both

Cam and Renée had been injured. Stil , there was something in

Blairs eyes that telegraphed worry. Worry and...regret?

“Are you okay? Diane looked past Blair into the expansive living room

beyond. Cam, who stood behind a smal bar tucked into the far

corner of the room, nodded in greeting. As usual, Diane could tel

nothing from her expression. She waved and returned her at ention to

Blair. “Did Lucinda give you a terrible task?

“The usual, Blair said, trying to inject lightness into her tone. “I dont have

al the details yet. She grasped the larger of Dianes suitcases. “Come on,

let me show you where the guest room is.

Diane hesitated. “Are you sure? I can stay at a hotel and give you two

some privacy. I dont need to stay here.

Blair shook her head. “No, I want you to stay here. She fol owed the

direction of Dianes gaze. “Cam is fi ne with it. Real y. She laughed

without much humor. “And God knows, were used to having people

around al the time. At least with you, its by choice.

“Youre sure? Diane realized that she real y wanted to stay with Blair.

Shed been lonely almost beyond bearing in a city stil in the throes of

grief.

“Positive. Blair took Dianes free hand and tugged her into the apartment.

“So this is the living room, bathrooms over there, and the guest room is

down this hal way. She nodded to the opposite side of the living room.

“Our bedroom is over there.

Diane glanced back over her shoulder as she fol owed Blair. “Wel , hel ,

I wont even be able to listen.

Blair laughed. “Like you havent heard it al before. Wel , at

least me.

“Thats true, Diane said as they both set her luggage down in the guest

room. “But we were sixteen.

“Cam is opening some wine. Blair took in Dianes dark brown Tahari

pantsuit

and ivory silk shel . “Why dont you change into something

sloppy and comfortable and join us in the living room. We ordered

pizza.

“God, that sounds fabulous. Diane removed her raincoat and draped it

over the chair that sat in front of a narrow writing desk, kicked of her

Jimmy Choos, and fl opped backwards onto the bed. She pat ed the

space beside her as she curled on her side. “Stay for a minute fi rst.

Blair climbed onto the bed and propped her head in the palm of her hand,

facing Diane. As usual, Diane looked beautiful. Her shoulder length hair

was more gold than Blairs honeyed tones, and nearly straight, framing a

dramatic oval face with ice blue eyes. Katherine Hepburn in blond.

“I feel like were back in prep school.

“Sometimes I wish we were. Diane smiled wanly. She looked tired. Who

didnt? Her eyes grew distant. “No, on second thought, maybe not.

Because if we went back, Id stil be trying to seduce you, and youd stil

be breaking my heart.

“As I recal , Blair said fondly, “you did

seduce me.

“I dragged you into bed when you were stoned. Plus, youd been coming

on to me al night, so that doesnt count. Diane laughed at the memory.

“It was good sex though, wasnt it?

“We were fi fteen. Of course it was. Blair sighed. “I do love you, you

know.

“I know. Diane stroked Blairs arm. “So whats

wrong?

Blair shook her head. She couldnt tel Diane about the situation with

Valerie, not until shed had time to talk to Cam some more. Not until

shed had a chance to decide what shed do if Cam sided with

Lucinda and her father. Her mind rebel ed at the possibility, because

she wasnt sure what she would do if she had to fi ght everyone she

cared about. She wasnt sure she could stand being at odds with Cam

over something like this.

“God, you look sad, honey. Diane slid her hand to the back of Blairs

neck and massaged her gently. “Is something wrong with Cam? Is

she in trouble over what happened at the compound?

“No, Blair said quickly. “Im just tired. And the last thing I wanted was

to be dragged back here.

“Are you going to tel me whats going on? Because Im probably the

only person in the world besides Cam who can tel when youre upset

and trying not to show it.

“I wil , Blair said, realizing there was no point in denying what Diane

already knew. “As soon as I can.

Diane sat up and slipped of her jacket, then laid it on the bed beside her.

“Do you think Cam can fi nd out where Valerie is?

Blair caught her breath, glad that Diane wasnt looking at her. She took an

extra second to be sure her voice was steady. “I dont know. Why?

Diane stood, unbut oned her slacks, and slipped them of . Wearing

just her blouse and panties, she opened her suitcase and lifted out a pair

of soft, faded jeans. She pul ed them on and zipped them, then lifted of

the shel and placed it with her suit. “Because I thought Id hear from her

by now, and I havent. And I dont know how to go about fi nding her.

“Maybe it would be bet er if you didnt fi nd her, Blair said

careful y.

“You mean you think her disappearing act was just her way of dumping

me? Diane donned a pale blue cot on shirt and but oned it, turning

partial y away from the bed so that Blair wouldnt see her hands

shaking. She knew what Blair was trying to say, and she had considered

that obvious explanation every day since Valerie had vanished one

morning before dawn. Theyd had an af air and now it was over and she

was a fool not to simply accept it. “You think I should

just let her

go?

“I dont know, Diane, Blair said gently. “But its complicated with Valerie.

Theres no way of knowing if she left because she wanted to or because

she had to. But either way, she left without explaining, so I cant

imagine she wants you to go looking for her.

“She did cal me. Diane referred to the brief cal the morning that

Valerie had disappeared. The morning of the raid on the mountain

stronghold of a group of paramilitary fanatics. “That must mean

something. If she was. .moving on, why cal ?

Blair agreed, but was afraid to say so. She wasnt sure it was safe for

Diane to have anything to do with Valerie now. Not when it seemed like

half the country was looking for her. “You know shes an agent, and the

whole national security system is in an uproar now. Its going to take

time for everything to set le down. Weeks. Months maybe.

“I dont want to wait months to talk to her. To see her again. Diane

turned her back and walked to the window. She wrapped her arms

around herself. “I miss her. God, I miss her.

“Oh, hey, Blair said, hating the pain in Dianes voice. She scrambled of

the bed and crossed to Diane, hugging her from behind.

“Maybe Cam could just get a message to her from me. Just so

she knows Diane struggled with tears. “Just so she knows I

havent given up.

“Ill do what I can, Blair

whispered.

Diane leaned back in Blairs arms and rested her cheek

against

Blairs. “Thanks.

Blair held her tightly, wondering what shed just promised.

And how she could keep her word to one woman she loved

without betraying another.

* * * * *

The elevator jerked to a stop and Paula opened her eyes. For a

few dizzying seconds, she wasnt sure where she was. Two

women and a man, all in business suits, stood talking to her

left, ignoring her as she leaned against the wall in the corner.

She blinked at the number panel. 10 fl oor. A glossy picture of a

restaurant on the far wall advertised the Veranda at the

Wyndham Washington, DC. She was at the hotel where the

team stayed when on temporary assignment in the Capitol. She

remembered Hara dropping her off out front before he took the

Suburban around to a special reserved parking slot. Then what?

Jesus, was it possible shed fal en asleep standing

up?

“Excuse me. Flushing with embarrassment, she pushed away

from the wall and jumped between the elevator doors as they

started to close. Some Secret Service agent. Shed completely

lost track of her surroundings. It didnt matter that she wasnt

on duty. It was her job to be observant.

She slid the plastic card key from her pocket as she strode quickly

down the hal way, hoping to leave her discomfi ture behind.

She let herself into room 1020. It was dark and still inside, and

for an instant, she thought she was in the wrong place.

“Renée? Unconsciously, she swept her blazer back and rested

her hand on the grip of the Sig Sauer holstered on her right

hip. “Babe?

“Im here, Renée Savard replied.

Paula felt on the wall for the switch, then hesitated. “Can I turn on

the light?

“Just a second.

Paula heard the squeak of springs, then the bedside lamp came

on. Renée, still in the clothes she had traveled in, lay on top

of the covers on the queen sized bed. Renées holstered service

weapon rested on the bedside table next to a prescription

medicine bottle. Paulas stomach tightened, but she forced a

smile as she crossed the room and leaned down to kiss her lover.

She brushed her hand over Renées cheek.

“Taking a nap?

“Trying to.

Paula settled gingerly on the side of the bed and tapped

the immobilizer encircling Renées leg. “Is your knee bothering

you?

“Its fi ne, Renée said sharply, then just as quickly caught

Paulas hand as Paula started to get up. “Im sorry. Yeah, its a

little bit sore. She gestured toward the medicine bottle on the

table. “Im trying not to take those things, but my whole body

aches from not being able to move around much. This fucking

immobilizer She trailed off, looking disgusted. “Christ, youve

been on your feet working since dawn, and Im complaining.

Renée closed her eyes and turned her head

away.

“Since Im here now and can wait on you, Paula said lightly as she

released the

Velcro straps on the stif wraparound brace, “why dont we take this of

. The doctor didnt say you couldnt bend your knee, just that you couldnt

weight-bear. No wonder it hurts, being squeezed in this thing for hours.

You want me to lock up your weapon, too?

“You should. I was going to wait until you got here to set the

combination on the safe.

“Il take care of it in a minute, Paula said, enormously relieved. She

should know bet er than to think Renée would even considershe couldnt

even complete the thought. Unexpectedly, she felt tears prick at her eyes

and she blinked hard, her jaws clamped tight.

“What? Renée studied her through narrowed

eyes.

“Nothing, Paula said hoarsely. “Just

tired.

Renée glanced from Paula to the bedside table, and she breathed in

sharply. “You didnt think? Oh, sweetie, never.

“I know, Paula said, cradling Renées hand in both of hers. “I know. Just

for a minute there, when I walked in, it al felt so strange. Then I saw

she shook her head. “Everything is changing so fast, sometimes I just

feel confused.

“Wheres

Blair?

“At the commanders, Paula said, unconcerned by the apparent switch in

topic. Nothing happened in her life, or for the last few months, in

Renées, until what real y mat ered was squared away. And that was

Blair Powel s security. “She should be in for the night. Greg is there

now, and Hara wil take the overnight watch. Il pick her up in the

morning, unless she cal s to tel me shes going out.

“Good. Secure our weapons and change into something comfortable.

Then, come lie down with me.

“Should I order us something to

eat?

Renée careful y drew her legs up and pul ed the covers aside. She

opened her jeans and started to push them down over her hips. “In a

lit le while.

“Okay. Paula picked up Renées weapon and unholstered her own. She

crossed to the closet and, after set ing the combination on the in-room

safe, stored them away. Then she closed the drapes, stripped down, and