Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

for valet parking and requested that his vehicle be brought to the

front of the hotel. He clipped a holster with his Glock to his

belt and selected a dark overcoat. It was time to take another

drive through the city, past the White House and Cameron

Robertss apartment building.

The time was rapidly approaching when he would have to

take

care of unfi nished business personal y.

* * * * *

Cam stepped off the elevator and, with a quick rush of

relief, nodded to Greg Wozinski, who stood just outside her

apartment door. For the fi rst time in almost a year, she hadnt

sat in on the morning briefi ng with Blairs security team.

She hadnt been advised of the shift schedule or known from

one minute to the next where Blair was. She had been uneasy all

day.

“You can spell Hara in the lobby now that Im here, Cam said,

appreciating the close surveillance but knowing that it

spread

Starks team thin. “I may not be offi cial, but I still know the

ropes.

Wozinski grinned. “Ill check with the

chief.

“Absolutely. Whatever Stark says. Cam let herself into

the apartment and closed the door behind her. The fi rst thing

she noticed was that the living room was empty, and the

second was an amazingly good smell coming from the direction

of the kitchen. She fol owed it, to discover Blair and Diane

cooking together.

Cam eyed the stir-fry concoction that Diane tossed in a

large skil et. “Chinese?

“Thai, Blair said. She slipped both arms around Cams neck

and kissed her hel o. “Wine?

Cam encircled Blairs waist. “Sounds great. Let me change, and Il give

you two a hand.

“Il help, Blair said, grinning at Dianes snort. “Il be right

back, Di.

“Sure, Diane said good-naturedly. “I wont time you, but dont be

too long because this wil be done soon.

“Promise, Blair said, tugging Cam by the hand across the living room

and into the hal way to the bedroom.

“How was your day? Cam asked as she fol owed Blair into the bedroom.

She hung up her blazer and removed her weapon and holster. She

secured them on the top shelf in the closet and unbuckled her belt.

“It was fun, Blair said, sliding Cams belt through the belt loops and

draping it over the rack on the back of the closet door. “Id forgot en what

it felt like to just have fun, even though Stark seemed to be in serious

pain.

Cam laughed. “Shes in for some more, Im afraid. I saw Savard this

afternoon, and she said something about Stark taking her shopping for

work clothes.

“You saw Renée? Blair asked as she unzipped Cams trousers and pul

ed her shirt free, then began working on the but ons. “How come?

“I recruited her for my

team.

“Oh.

Cam covered Blairs hands with one of hers and tilted Blairs chin up

with the other. “And Felicia.

“Thats good. Theyre good

people.

“But?

Blair shook her head. “Nothing. Its just She smiled a lit le crookedly.

“Goddamn it! Id got en used to you and the rest of them being on my

detail. Now Im not going to know what youre doing, and they wil .

Cam sensed Blairs real concern that in this new position there were things

they would not be able to discuss. Theyd worked hard to

overcome the twin obstacles to communication between themCams

natural reluctance to share professional and personal information, even

when it wouldnt violate procedure or protocol, and Blairs deep-seated

need to safeguard her privacy, even from those she loved. Now, Cams

job was reconstructing those barricades, and this time she would be

taking some of the important people in Blairs life behind those wal s

with her.

Cam eased away and shed her trousers, exchanging them for a

pair of sweatpants. She fi nished unbut oning her shirt, placed it on the

pile to go to the dry cleaners, and pul ed on a T-shirt. Then she drew

Blair with her to the side of the bed, sat down, and guided Blair onto

her lap. She clasped her loosely around the waist and kissed her

throat.

“Its going to take some get ing used to, but wel manage. She rubbed her

cheek over the val ey between Blairs breasts, inhaling the lingering scent

of her perfume on the silk T. “I promise to tel you as much as I can,

but right now there real y isnt much to tel .

Blair combed her fi ngers through Cams hair, then tilted Cams head

back and kissed her. “Did you meet with my father today?

“No, just with his security adviser. The president doesnt real y get

involved with the specifi cs of these things.

“Thats a very subtle way of saying he needs to disavow al

knowledge. Cam lifted her shoulder. “Its important to insulate

him.

“Insulate, Blair mused, remembering how it always seemed as if her

father had a shield between him and everyone else, even her. “Yes, thats

a civilized word for it, I guess.

“Baby, Cam heard the unspoken fear, “I wont let that happen

to us.

“When did you learn to read my mind so wel ? Blair lifted Cams T-

shirt and stroked her abdomen.

“Stil learning, Cam said, her voice thickening as Blair untied the string

to her sweatpants and slid her hand lower. “Blair. Dont go there.

Laughing softly, Blair caught Cams earlobe between her teeth and

nipped it gently. “Since when?

“Since Dianes in the kitchen, and if you make me come, shel know just

from looking at me.

“So? She can always tel when you make m e come, and you dont

seem to mind. Blair cupped her hand between Cams legs and teased

her with one fi nger.

“Shes your friend. Cam gasped, and yanked Blairs hand out of her

sweatpants.

“Okay, Blair murmured, sucking lightly on Cams neck. “But only

because dinners almost ready, and I think Diane could use the

company.

“How is she doing? Cam noted the fact that Blair had not asked if the

issue of Valeries disappearance had come up during her discussions with

the presidents security adviser.

“As wel as can be expected, I suppose. Ive never seen her hurting so

much and so much in love at the same time. Blair sighed. “I dont want

her to feel like shes alone in this.

“Shes

not.

“I know, but shes afraid to talk to anyone about Blair hesitated,

realizing they were venturing onto dangerous ground. She wished

desperately that Diane

would talk to

Cam.

Cam felt Blair stif en and leaned back to study her face. “Did something

happen today that she needs to talk about?

Blair stroked Cams shoulder and kissed her quickly. “Lets

go eat.

“Blair, Cam caught Blairs hand as she rose and tried to move away.

“What happened today?

“We agreed we wouldnt talk

about

“What we agreed, Cam said dangerously, “is that what went on between

Diane and Valerie was Dianes business unless she got into trouble.

“Right. Blair centered herself, dropped one leg back and rotated her arm

in a quick, tight circle, breaking Cams grip. It was a standard self-

defense move, and if Cam had been expecting it, Blair wouldnt have

been able to break her hold.

Cams face darkened, but she didnt try to stop Blair as Blair

started toward the bedroom door. “What we di dnt agree on,

she said to Blairs back, “and something I didnt think wed have

to discuss, is what would happen if Valerie involved you in

any way. I didnt think Id have to ask you to tell me.

“Im not involved.

“Then tell me nothing happened today when you were

anywhere around.

Blair hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. “Dont,

Cam. Please.

Cam let her go, because she was so angry that anything else

she said would likely drive Blair into the streets, which is

where she usual y went when she felt threatened or cornered.

Better she left than Blair. Cam laced her running shoes,

grabbed a windbreaker, and stalked through the living room and

out the door. She didnt bother with the elevator, but descended

the stairs two at a time. When she shouldered through the door

into the lobby, she didnt even slow down as she passed

Wozinski, who stared at her in surprise. “If Egret goes out,

dont lose her. If you do, youll answer to me.

“Yes maam, Wozinski said smartly.

* * * * *

Diane turned to Blair at the sound of the door slamming.

“What happened?

Blair drained her wine glass and refi l ed it.

“Nothing.

“It didnt sound like nothing. Diane turned off the burner

and picked up her own glass. “Are you fi ghting about me?

“No, Blair snapped. “Were fi ghting about what weve

always fought about.

“And whats that?

“Cams goddamn job and the fact that she still wants to keep

me tucked away somewhere. Safe and sound like some exotic

animal in a fucking gilded cage.

“She loves you.

“Thats not the point.

“Of course it is.

“I thought we were past this, Blair said

sadly.

Diane picked up the bottle and her wine glass and gestured toward

the living room. “Lets talk.

“I dont want to talk. Lets drink wine

instead.

“Lets do both. Diane tucked the bot le under one arm and wrapped the

other around Blairs waist. “Were too old to drown our sorrows. I

always feel like crap the next morning.

“Are we too old to pick up strange girls in bars, too? Blair said as she

walked with Diane to the sofa.

“Sadly, I think we might be. Diane stood the bot le on the end table next

to the sofa and set led into the corner. The drapes were open, the room

lights of , the city aglow outside. “Is that what you want to do?

Blair curled up next to Diane, their shoulders lightly touching. “When

Im this angry, fucking someone keeps me from punching wal s.

“Not always. I seem to remember a couple of dents in our dorm room

door, way back when.

Blair smiled thinly. “I wasnt as accomplished at picking up girls

back then.

“If you want to go out, Diane said calmly, “Il go with you. If you want

to fi nd a stranger to fuck your anger away on, Il watch your back.

“I cant, Blair said softly. “Goddamn her. I

cant.

Diane eased an arm around Blairs shoulders, drew her close, and

kissed her cheek. “Then lets have some wine.

Blair closed her eyes and tried not to think about how desolate she felt

when

Cam walked out the

door.

Chapter Ten

C am ran, barely registering the driving rain as she pounded south

toward the lights of Union Station. Her windbreaker had no hood, but

she didnt mind the cold water whipping her face and barely registered

the steady trickle down her col ar, soaking her T-shirt. For the first few

blocks, she ran through the nearly deserted streets without thinking, her

mind hazy with anger and an undercurrent of sick fear. She hadnt been

an investigator for more than a dozen years without learning how to

ask questions that left no room for evasion.

Tell me that whatever went on between Diane and Valerie didnt

happen anywhere near you.

Blair hadnt answered, because Blair wouldnt lie to her. And that was

answer enough. It angered her that Blair would keep something like this