Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege
Cam
grinned.
“Guilty
as
charged.
“Excuse me, Paula Stark said as she made her way down
the center aisle. “Well be on the ground in a few minutes.
Ground transport will meet us on the tarmac. Youll exit once
weve cleared
the area, Ms. Powel .
“Thank you, Paula. I know the
drill. “Yes maam.
“Sorry. Blair sighed, already feeling the claustrophobic atmosphere
of priority one security. “Paula, Ill be staying at Cams after
we finish at the White House.
Paula nodded, her expression never changing. “Yes maam.
When Stark had moved back toward the front of the plane, stopping
partway to confer with her team, Cam whispered, “It would be easier if
we stayed at the White House.
“Easier
for
whom?
Cam laughed. “Your security
team.
“I dont like to make love in those antique
beds.
“Have plans, do
you?
“Oh yes, Blair whispered. “I most definitely have
plans.
Cam set led back for the landing, Blairs hand stil in hers. “Wel ,
then, the security team wil just have to make adjustments.
Chapter Three
P aula exited the plane first, fol owed by Hara and Wozinski. Felicia
Davis waited just inside the open door to accompany Blair. Two late-
model black Suburbans idled at the edge of the tarmac, each with a
driver behind the wheel
and an agent standing near the open rear door. The ground transport
teams were Washington-based Secret Service field agents who were
cal ed upon to provide backup support for the first family and
visiting dignitaries upon the protectees arrival in DC.
Hara and Wozinski stopped at the bot om of the flight stairs while Paula
crossed to the vehicles. She checked the IDs of every agent, scanned the
front and rear compartments of both vehicles, and then took a slow
visual survey of everything with a sight line to the path Blair
would take from the plane to the Suburbanother vehicles, rooftops,
communication towers. Everything she did was SOP, but it would
never be routine again. Blairs security had been breached. They
had al learned a lesson at a nearly inconceivable price.
“Ms. Powel wil ride with you, Paula said, leaning down to the open
drivers window of the first vehicle. “Il advise as to route once were in
motion.
“Yes maam, the driver, a fresh-faced blond with a military style
haircut, said sharply.
Paula walked back to the plane. When shed contacted the Washington
team, shed outlined three potential motorcade routes from the air force
base to the White House. Blair was vulnerable on the road in any type of
vehicle, even with bul etproof glass and armored plating. Something as
simple as a suicide driver in a tanker truck loaded with gasoline could
kil her.
Once again, this was standard operating procedure, but Paula
was uncomfortably aware of not total y trusting anyone outside of
her immediate team. She did not welcome the feeling that no one, even
those she should be able to trust implicitly, was above suspicion any
longer, and she feared the situation was the new status quo.
With a nod to Hara and Wozinski, she started up the stairs to the
plane. The pilots had not powered down the engines, remaining
prepared to take flight again on her word if anything appeared amiss.
“Clear to disembark, she reported to the marine who had accompanied
them in flight. He saluted and went forward to advise the pilot and
copilot while she waited on the narrow platform at the top of the stairs,
shielding the door and any view of Blair with her body.
Inside the cabin, Felicia stepped to one side so that Blair and Cam could
pass. She then moved up behind Blair.
“You should let Renée go down first, Paula, Blair said, halting at the top
of the stairs. “Shes going to have trouble on the stairs with those
crutches.
“Lets proceed to your vehicle, Ms. Powel , Paula said. “Hara can give
Agent
Savard a hand in a
moment.
Blair started to protest, then felt a gentle touch on the base of her spine
just as
Cam whispered, “Youre not secure here. Lets
go.
“God, now Ive got t wo of you ordering me around, Blair mut ered,
but she started down behind Paula. As soon as she reached the
ground, Hara and Wozinski closed in on either side, and with Felicia
behind, the agents formed a protective ring around Blair and Cam as
Paula led the way to the first vehicle. An agent Blair didnt recognize
opened the rear door and she and Cam climbed in.
“Were in the middle of a United States Air Force base, Blair griped.
“The marine unit that protects my father and the White House is
stationed here. What in Gods name could happen to me walking from
the plane?
“It doesnt mat er where we are, Cam said quietly. “Were at
priority one.
Blair sighed. “And Im sure Stark realizes youre watching her every
move. Il be lucky if she lets me take a breath without permission.
“Im not watching her every move, Cam said. “I already know that Stark
knows
what needs to be done. And she knows that
too.
“Sorry. Blair peered out through the smoked bul etproof
glass. Felicia had apparently returned to the plane after Blair was
secure in the vehicle, and she and Hara crossed the tarmac
toward the second car with Renée between them. Paula and
Wozinski headed toward their vehicle. “Im edgy.
Cam took her hand. “I know. Its okay.
Paula climbed into the rear, Wozinski into the
front.
“Would you still like to go directly to the White House,
Ms. Powel ? Paula asked.
“Yes, thank you.
Paula keyed her transmitter to contact the drivers of both
vehicles. “Destination Alpha, route Delta.
The Suburban accelerated smoothly and quickly away from
the runway, and Blair settled back for the familiar ride.
* * * * *
“Are you okay? Cam asked.
Across from them, Stark looked out the window, her
expression remote. Cam knew from experience that she
could hear their conversation, but by means of some
unconscious filter cultivated by most Secret Service agents for
their own comfort as well as that of their protectees, she would
not register the meaning of the words.
“I just want to find out what onerous chore Luce has planned
for me now. Its been a while since Ive had a command
performance, so I imagine she needs a visible White House
presence somewhere.
Cam wasnt happy with that thought. Ordinarily, Lucinda
tapped Blair when the White House wanted to make a statement,
the kind of declaration that the president couldnt make himself
for political reasonssuch as offering support for a pro-
choice charitable organization or attendance at a fundraiser for
a beleaguered political al y. Sometimes, the White House just
needed a presence at a media-worthy event, and Blair was
always popular. She was beautiful, wel -educated, and
personable. She was a great stand-in for her father. And her
status made her a great target.
“Now isnt exactly the time to be parading you out in public,
Cam observed.
“What? Blair focused on Cam, aware of the tight thread
of disapproval in her tone. “Do you want me to sit in a dark
room somewhere for the rest of my fathers presidency?
“That might not be a bad
idea.
In the past they would have fought about it. As it was,
Blair struggled with her temper and her overwhelming need
not to be control ed. Shed spent all her life resisting the efforts
of others to safeguard her at the cost of her independence. Shed
resisted Cam, too, for months, even as she tried to seduce her.
Shed wanted to prove that she didnt need to be protected, and
shed wanted to undercut Cams authority over her.
Unfortunately, her plan hadnt worked. Shed fal en in love, and
although she hadnt realized what that meant at first, she did
now. Loving, being loved, was a
responsibility. The decisions she made now didnt just affect
her, they affected Cams life, too. So she took a breath and
listened to what Cam hadnt said. Cam was worried for her.
“Remember you said yourself we couldnt stop living, Blair
said. “We cant let whoever tried to destroy us think theyve
frightened me into hiding.
A pulse pounded in Cams neck. “I wasnt talking about putting
you on display somewhere when I said that.
“You dont know thats what Lucinda wants.
“Shes gearing up for your fathers reelection campaign. Shes
not going to put that on hold no matter whats happening
on the international scene. Cam consciously relaxed her hands,
which had tightened into fists. “And youre going to be a great
campaign asset.
“Darling, Ive never been a great campaign asset. Im the wild child,
remember? Blair laughed, thinking of the international debacle that
would have resulted if her af air the year before with the French
ambassadors wife had come to light. “My security chiefs spent half their
time trying to keep me out of the press, not in it.
“Not anymore. Cam trailed her fingers down Blairs cheek. “Youre as
close to a first lady as this country has. And the public loves you.
“Lets just wait and see what she wants, Blair said, but she had an uneasy
feeling that Cam might be right. Shed taken a back seat during her
fathers run for the presidency, but she wouldnt be able to do that
again. She wanted him to be reelected. The country needed him. And if
he needed her , she might have to get used to campaigning. She found
Cams hand and squeezed it. “Im not the first lady. Im just your lady.
“When did you figure out just what I needed to hear?
Cam
murmured, kissing Blairs temple.
“Ive been practicing.
“Youre doing wel .
Blair smiled. “Yeah? How wel ?
“Want to keep Lucinda waiting for an hour or
two?
“Yes. Blair leaned closer to Cam. Dropping her voice,
she whispered, “Youre not the only one whos been suffering
while you recuperated.
“Then its probably going to take me more than two hours to
make it up to you. It might take me all night.
“Then I guess Ill just have to suffer a little while longer. With
a satisfied expression, Blair leaned back and closed her
eyes. “Because I dont intend to hurry.
* * * * *
When Emilio, assistant to the White House Chief of Staff, directed
Blair and Cam into Lucinda Washburns office, Lucinda was on
the phone. Blair waved to the commanding looking woman
with the stylishly coiffed, silver-streaked black hair. As usual,
Lucinda wore a conservatively styled jacket and skirt, plum
colored this time, offset by burnished gold jewelry at her ears
and throat. A single large, square cut emerald in a plain gold
setting adorned the ring finger of her right hand. That, Blair
noted, was new.
Lucinda paced in front of a wide walnut desk covered with
neat
stacks of folders and memoranda. When she caught Blairs
eye, she mouthed coffee and pointed to a credenza against one
wall .
Blair signed, you too? and at Lucindas nod, proceeded to
pour coffee into three China cups. She handed one to Lucinda
and then carried the others to the sofa across from Lucindas
desk, where Cam was waiting. They sipped in silence as
Lucinda expertly pressured whoever was on the phone.
Her tone was even and unmistakably edged with flint.
“Listen Tom, I real y dont care if Charlie has to walk all the
way from Chicago. He owes us that vote and I expect him
to be here tomorrow morning for roll call. With a faint smile,
she concluded, “Either that, or hell find himself pushing that
school tax referendum up a long steep hill all by himself.
Lucinda listened for another few seconds, said, “Wonderful,
and hung up. Then she crossed the room and settled into one
of the brocade Chippendale chairs facing Blair and Cam. “Good
flight?
“Military transport isnt known for luxury, Blair
said. “True, Lucinda conceded. “But theyre
reliable. “Wel , Im here now, so what do you
need?
“Id forgot en how much you enjoy smal talk. Lucinda turned to Cam.
“How are you feeling?
“Bet er
every
day.
“Judicious
answer.
“Luce, Blair said impatiently. “I was having a real y nice morning
when you
cal ed. A walk on the beach, and then I was planning on going back to
bed. Once there, I intended to sedu
“You can probably skip those details, Blair, Cam interjected, brushing
her hand down Blairs arm.
Lucinda laughed. “I wouldnt put it past you to tel me al the details, Blair,
just to make me suf er. Considering that I havent been out of this of ice
before 2 a.m. the last month, I havent exactly been getting
Blair held up her hands. “I dont want to know what you do in your
spare time.
“Truce then. Lucindas expression softened for an instant. “You look
rested, both of you, as much as can be expected. Doing al right?
Both Blair and Cam
nodded.
“Good. Lucinda drained her cof ee cup and set it careful y on a
low cherrywood Federal table. “We have a slight problem that I think
you can help us with.
Blair stif ened. Cam remained completely stil , but her eyes sharpened
as she studied Lucindas face.
