Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege
“Is that why you and Blair were
fighting?
“Nice evasive maneuver, Cam murmured. Assuming that Blair
wouldnt mind Diane knowing what had gone on between them, she
answered honestly. “We were fighting because I thought she should
have told me about Valerie showing up today and she didnt.
“Im
sorry.
“You dont need to be. Blair and I dont always see things the same way,
but I
understand why she made the decision she
did.
Diane studied Cam curiously. “And that makes it al
right?
“No, Cam laughed. “But it usual y means I dont stay angry
very long.
“Shes
lucky.
“That works both
ways.
“Youre right. I did see Valerie. She was at The White House today.
Diane smiled fleetingly at Cams look of consternation. “Its a boutique
in Georgetown. We talked for a few minutes.
“Did she say where she was
staying? Diane shook her head.
“Phone
number?
Again, Diane shook her
head.
“Did she say why shes
hiding?
“No. But I got the distinct impression that she was in trouble, serious
trouble.
“What
kind
of
trouble?
Diane picked at the corner of the book in her lap, recal ing Valeries
haunted look and the way shed reacted when the stranger came into the
stairwel . When she met Cams calm gaze hers was cut through with
anguish. “She acted as if someone was going to hurt her.
“I need to talk to her. You need to tel her that. Tel her if she meets
with me, she can walk away no mat er what she tel s me.
“Do you real y think she betrayed you? Or our country? After helping
you in the first place? Dianes voice trembled and she looked away,
biting her lip. “How can you think that when youve held her?
Cams stomach churned, and for an instant she remembered the dark
nights that might have been endless if it hadnt been for Valerie. Claire ,
as she knew her then. Claires tenderness and her uncanny ability to
absolve guilt without demanding explanations had kept her together
when everything inside was breaking.
“They recruited her when she was a teenager, Cam said. “Part
of the indoctrination is to isolate the recruits from everyone outside the
system. Family, friends, everyone. Your handler becomes your
primary point of contact for everythinghe or she becomes your
emotional and physical touchstone. Sometimes no one else even
knows your name. Soon you forget you ever had another life.
“What are you saying? Dianes expression verged on horror. “That shes
been brainwashed?
“No, only that shes been trainedrelentlessly and expertly conditionedto
fol ow orders without question. How else do you think a woman like
Valerie could have done the things shes done in the name of her
country?
“She didnt make love to you for her
country.
Cam flinched but kept her eyes level on Dianes. “Maybe not after the
first time.
“Im sorry. Im just so worried about her. Diane pushed her hair back
from her face with an unsteady hand. “And I know that she needs your
help or something terrible is going to happen to her. Please, Cam. Dont
abandon her.
“I want to find her, Cam said vehemently. She leaned forward, her hand
flat on the bed next to Dianes ankle. “Until we get the real people behind
the at ack on Blair at the Aerie, Valerie is in danger. And if Valerie is in
danger, so are youand so is Blair.
“Blair isnt in danger if Im not with her. Diane swung her legs of the
bed and jumped to her feet. “Il leave now.
Cam rose and caught Dianes shoulders as she rushed toward the closet.
“No. Youre staying with us.
Diane spun around to face Cam and tried to push her away. “Let
me go.
“Diane. Cam ignored the screaming pain in her shoulder as Diane
fought her. “Youre not alone. And neither is she.
“Oh, Diane gasped, tears fil ing her eyes. “Im so
frightened.
Cam gathered her close, stroking Dianes hair as Diane buried her face
against her shoulder. “Its going to be okay.
After a moment of silent sobs, Diane leaned away from Cam and
brushed at her cheeks. Shakily, she said, “Ive always wondered what it
would feel like for you to hold me.
“Overrated,
probably.
Diane
smiled.
“No.
Cam eased her grip and stepped back. “If she cal s you, tell her
Ill bring you to her. Tell hertell her to go to the first place she
and I met.
“Why? Why would you do that? It has to be breaking some
kind of rule or other.
“There are no rules anymore,
Diane. “I trust you.
“Thank you.
Diane wrapped her arms around herself. “Oh God, what if
she doesnt call me? What if she doesnt trust me?
Cam paused at the door. “If she risked exposure today to see
you, shell cal , and soon. Give her my message. And then come
and get me.
* * * * *
“Do you really think Valeries going to call her? Blair asked
after
Cam described the conversation.
“I do. Probably tonight. Cam unzipped her jeans and pushed
them down over her hips, letting them fall to the floor. She sat
on the side of the bed and unbuttoned her shirt. Blair, in a
threadbare T- shirt, was already under the covers.
“If she does, youre not going, Blair said, lifting the sheets.
Cam slipped underneath with a sigh. Turning onto her uninjured
left side, she pil owed her head against her bent arm and
smiled tiredly at Blair. “Lets get some sleep, baby.
Blair caressed Cams cheek. “Yes. You need it. And youre still
not going out if she calls.
“I
love
you.
“I love you too. And youre still not
going.
“If I dont, Diane is either going to try to get to her herself,
or Valeries going to risk another rendezvous with Diane. Either
way, theyll both be vulnerable if Valerie is a target.
“I hate it when youre reasonable.
Cam smiled. “I know. I do it just to make you
crazy.
Blair kissed her. “Its working. She slid an arm beneath
Cams shoulder and drew her closer, pil owing Cams head
against her breast. “How are you feeling?
“Not that bad. The ibuprofen final y kicked
in. “Why cant Valerie come here?
“Because youre here, Cam mumbled. “Too hard to secure.
“Why cant she come to Whitley Point?
“What? Cam said, her mind fuzzy with near
sleep.
“You said yourself Whitley Point is going to be far easier
to
defend.
Blair waited in the silence, caressing Cams neck and
shoulders. Eventual y when she realized Cam was asleep, she
turned off the light and closed her eyes. She drifted on the
border between sleep and consciousness, some part of her
needing to feel Cam in her arms, to know that she was safe. A
knock sounded on the door, and she reluctantly slid from bed,
uncertain how long shed been asleep. When Cam did not
wake up, Blair knew just how much the accident had taken out
of her. She crossed the room stealthily and opened the door a
crack.
“Im sorry, Diane whispered from the hall. “Im sorry, but I need
to talk to Cam.
* * * * *
“Scotch, please, Cam said as she eased onto a stool at the far
end of the highly-polished mahogany bar in the nearly deserted
Four Seasons Hotel lounge, just before 1:00 a.m. She was as
certain as she could be that she hadnt been followed.
Assuming that someone was watching her building, she had
left by the rear service doors and walked to the nearest
Metro stop. En route, shed checked careful y for a tail and saw
no indication of one, but while she waited for her drink, she
scanned the room.
At first glance, the area appeared secure. Three business
types, two men and a woman, sat around a cocktail table
near the windows discussing market shares and margins just
loudly enough for her to catch snippets of their conversation. A
lone man in a rumpled suit talked on a cell phone while he
peered at a laptop computer and tapped frantical y on the
keyboard with his free
hand. A fortyish woman in jeans and a sweater sat hunched at
the opposite end of the bar, scribbling in a notebook and
sipping absently from a glass of white wine.
Cam, intending to appear like a late-night business traveler,
had dressed in a cotton shirt and lightweight wool trousers
beneath a casual leather jacket and had exchanged her usual
shoulder harness for a hip holster. She nursed her Scotch and
waited fifteen minutes before cal ing the bartender over.
“You know, I mustve gotten my signals crossed. I just got in
from the airport and I was supposed to meet a col eague here.
Weve got a big meeting in the morning
“A lot of people come through here, the stocky bartender said.
“Weve never actual y met in person. Only on the phone, Cam said, as
reluctant
to give a description as he was to disclose anything about patrons. She
patted
her pockets as if looking for something. “Hel , maybe I got the time
wrong. I
thought for sure Claire
said
“Claire. The bartender smiled. “Yeah, she was here for a couple of
minutes, but left when you didnt show. She said if anyone came looking,
to tel them room
418.
“Thanks. Cam dropped a ten dol ar bil on the bar as she rose. “You
saved me a lot of embarrassment in the morning.
She took her time walking to the elevators, once again covertly observing
those around her. Satisfied that no one was watching, she rode to the
conference level and stepped of . She couldnt access the room floors
without a keycard and hadnt planned to anyway. As expected, the foyer
was empty in the middle of the night. She picked up a house phone and
dialed 836.
“Im here. Third
floor.
“Il
come
down.
Two minutes later the elevator stopped and Valerie stepped of .
She immediately pushed the up but on, shaking her head in irritation
as if shed forgot en something. She did not look at Cam, who stood
nearby. An up- elevator stopped and they both stepped into the empty
car. Valerie, in narrow, low heeled black boots, a black boatneck
sweater with a wide band at the waist, and flaring black silk slacks,
looked very much as she had the first time Cam had seen her. Her hair
was shorter and, rather than platinum blond, was now shot through with
red highlights. Her elegant near-patrician features were strained.
The door opened on the eighth floor and Cam fol owed Valerie to room
836. Once inside, Cam removed her leather jacket and laid it over the
back of the antique desk chair. The room was typical for the Four
Seasons, with a king size bed and a formal sit ing area complete with
sofa, end tables, cof ee table, and a minibar.
“Scotch? Valerie asked, her voice as rich and mel ow as the
whiskey she of ered.
“A short one, Cam said as she walked into the sit ing
area.
Valerie poured an inch of the smoky liquor into two crystal rock
glasses and of ered one to Cam. “You didnt bring Diane.
Cam shook her head and drank of half the Scotch. “Did you think that I
would? Valerie smiled softly. “No. I knew that you wouldnt, especial y
after giving her
the message that you would meet me
here.
“Sorry.
“You shouldnt be. I didnt want her to come. I was cal ing her to tel
her that. Valerie sat on the sofa and sipped her Scotch, her expression
distant. “I couldnt walk out twice without saying goodbye.
“Going somewhere? Cam sat next to
Valerie.
“What happened to your
face?
“Someone tried to run me down not far from my apartment
tonight.
Valerie lightly touched one finger to Cams chin, tilting her face toward
the lamp. “Blair must be wild.
“Good
deduction.
“If your face looks like this, I imagine the rest of you is pret y
sore too.
“You would be right again, Cam said, aware that Valeries hand was
shaking. “How are you doing?
“Ive been more comfortable. Valerie dropped her hand into her
lap. “You know it wasnt me.
“In the vehicle that tried to turn me into roadkil ? I know. What I dont
know is what else is going on.
“Neither do I. Valerie shifted until her knee lightly touched Cams leg.
“You remembered our system. She smiled almost wistful y. “The first
time you cal ed the service and I met you downstairs in the bar, I was
surprised.
“About what, Cam asked gently. She was in no hurry. There was too
much between them not to let Valerie say what she needed to say.
“You were gorgeous. I couldnt imagine that a woman like you would
need to
“Pay for it? Cam said with a sardonic
shrug.
“Find comfort with strangers. Cam
smiled. “Were not strangers now.
Valerie rested her fingers lightly on Cams forearm. “No, were not. But
you dont altogether trust me, do you?
“I know youre a professional and I know that youl fol ow orders. Your
orders might be at odds with my mission.
“You want Matheson, Valerie said with certainty. “And so
do I.
“Someone warned him before we could get to
him.
“I know that. What I dont know is
who.
“The leak had to come from you, Cam said
mildly. Valerie sighed. “Yes. I know.
“Your
handler?
Valerie looked pained. “I dont know. I hope not. Ive known him fifteen
years. She met Cams gaze, an apology in her eyes. “Ive told him a lot in
those fifteen years.
