Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

He then opened another schematic of the bal room. “Exitshere, here,

here, and here. Also covered by Tanners people.

“Are we using the local field agents? Cam

asked.

“No, Stark said. “I decided that Tanners team has just as much

experience, maybe more. And were already used to working with them.

“Good cal , Cam murmured. She was as certain as she could be that the

local Secret Service agents were not compromised, but they also werent

as likely to fit seamlessly into their current team as Tanners security

personnel were. Under the circumstances, she would have made the

same decision.

“Savard wil be with Diane, Cam said. “We have to assume Diane is a

potential target as wel . She glanced at Stark. “But Savard stil has

mobility issues. Shel be fine at close range, but youre going to need

mobile backup for her.

Stark never changed expression. “Already taken

care of.

“Did anything turn up in the doctors background? Cam asked, referring

to the keynote speaker. “Threats, angry protesters, anything that

might spil over tonight?

Stark nodded to Mac, who opened a file folder. “Emory Constantine.

Shes thirty-one years old, has been at the Johnson Institute for five

years, and received a sizable federal grant matched by the Institute two

years ago. Has a bunch of recent publications and is considered one of

the front runners in stem cel research in the world.

“Young for that, Cam

observed.

“Apparently she was one of the few to see the writing on the wal before

anyone else. She did a lot of the preliminary work while she was stil an

undergraduate. A case of good timing and, from what Ive been able to

find out, a lot of brains.

“Personal

life?

“Not much there. Lives in Beacon Hil in the family residence with her

mother, divorced, no children.

“Threat

assessment?

Hara spoke up. “There have been right-to-life protesters at the last

three seminars where Constantine has been a headliner. This guy,

she passed out photographs, “was arrested at the last one for physical y

threatening her as she left the podium. Alexander Frenkel. Theres a

restraining order on him now. If he shows up within five hundred feet of

her, he goes to jail.

“Everyone has his picture, Stark said. “Hes not registered at the hotel,

at least not under that name.

“These four, Hara went on, fanning out another set of images like playing

cards, “have been observed at two out of the last three locations where

Constantine made a public appearance.

Cam

frowned.

“Af

iliations?

“Three belong to dif erent groups, but the fourth doesnt appear to

have any group connections at al , Hara replied. “Two are fetal rights

activists, one is a pro-lifer, and the loner is an unknown commodity.

“Whos providing this intel igence? Cam

asked.

“Local FBI, Mac said. “Theyve kept a file on the doctor since another

stem cel researcherJames Bennet was at acked in a car park a year

ago. The injuries kept him in the hospital for two months.

“Did the victim have any relationship to

Constantine?

“None other than the fact that they knew each other professional y, Mac

said. Stark said, “We anticipate the usual demonstrators tonight. Wel

bring Egret in

through the side entrance, because the protesters wil most likely be out

front

where theyl get more press coverage. The hotel can legal y bar

them from

entering, so once were inside, shel be in the clear from the majority

of the

organized

dissenters.

“What do you have on local anti-gay factions? Cam

asked.

“A few religious groups, but theyre mostly involved with debates

over the church recognizing gay priests and performing same-sex

marriages, Stark answered.

“None of them with a history of

violence? “No.

“The press will be all over her tonight, and were not going to

keep them out of the banquet. Its a fundraiser, and Im sure

the PR people from the institute will want reporters present.

Cam shook her head. “Its going to be a long night.

“Theres one other issue, Commander, Stark said.

Cam gave her a questioning look.

“You were targeted this week, so we have to assume youre at

risk. Wozinski will cover y

“No, Cam said flatly. “I appreciate it, Chief, but dont

pull someone off Blairs detail for me. I dont need it.

“With respect

Cam stood. “Im official y refusing, Stark. You already have two to

coverBlair as the primary and Diane as the secondary. You

dont have the people to cover anyone else. Are we clear?

“Yes maam, Stark said tightly.

“Thank you.

* * * * *

“You ready for this? Blair asked Diane, who sat across from her in

the rear of the limo. Renée Savard sat next to her and anyone

who didnt know better would think they made an amazing

looking couple. Diane, slightly tal er and more wil owy than Renée,

wore a fitted cobalt blue evening gown with a halter tie and

keyhole openings in the bodice. Renées jacket and pants

were equal y elegant. It was obvious to Blair that Renée

walked just slightly ahead of Diane and scanned the

surroundings with every step. Blair noticed the subtle

surveil ance because Cam always did the same thing.

Now Diane peered through the bul etproof, one-way glass as

the armored limo, courtesy of the Boston Secret Service

office, slowed at the side entrance of the Ritz-Carlton. “There

are fewer press here than for one of your gallery openings.

She smiled at Blair, but her eyes were sad. “I was hoping to get

a chance to plug your next show.

Blair laughed, appreciating Dianes fortitude. She hoped that

the evening would at least provide a diversion for her for a few

hours.

She settled her hand onto Cams thigh, absently running

her fingertips along the seam of the silk tuxedo pants. “Most of

them are probably out front, dont you think?

“Yes, Cam said. “But it wont take long for them to figure out where

we are.

“Wel , then, Blair pushed the door open as the limo stopped at the curb,

“lets make them run for it.

With a muf led oath, Cam jumped out and surreptitiously grasped Blairs

hand. “God damn it, Blair, wait.

Stark barreled out of the front and rushed to Blairs opposite side.

Renée and

Diane moved up behind them with Hara fol

owing.

“Sorry, darling, Blair said lightly, hooking her arm through Cams.

“Weve got cameras on the left and people waving signs of to the right.

“I see them, Cam mut ered, keeping her expression neutral as Blair

smiled briefly in the direction of the photographers.

When several cal ed out questions to Blair, she waved but didnt

answer, pretending she hadnt heard them. She pointedly ignored those

cal ing on God or whatever other powers they believed in to punish her

for her sinful ways.

“Lovely, Diane said from close

behind.

Cam reached for the hotel door and found Stark there before

her.

“Go ahead please, Stark said. “The escalators to the mezzanine are

directly to your right.

Cam hesitated for just a second, then moved through with Blair by

her side.

“Youre just my date, remember? Blair

murmured.

“Sorry,

Cam

mut ered.

“Dont

be.

Blair and Cam joined the crowd on the mezzanine and a moment later, a

smal , compact brunet e in a black evening dress approached. Even in

heels, she was of average height, but her dynamic expression and

confident carriage made her presence seem larger.

“Ms. Powel . She extended her hand. “Im so honored that you could

come this evening. Im Emory Constantine.

“Dr. Constantine, Blair said, taking the researchers hand. “Thank

you. My partner, Cameron Roberts, and my good friends Diane

Bleeker and Renée Savard.

“Agent Roberts, a pleasure. Emory Constantine shook hands with Cam,

then indicated the open doors to the banquet hal behind her. “Please,

wont al of you join me at my table.

“Thank you, Blair said. “Wed love

to.

“You should burn in hel , a male voice shouted from across the

foyer. “The

Bible says you are an

abomination.

Cam instinctively stepped between Blair and the direction of the voice

just as

Stark did the same. Stark slid a hand under her

jacket.

“Wozinski has him, she murmured just loud enough for Cam

to hear.

“Good. Keeping between Blair and that side of the hal way, Cam took

Blairs hand and said, “Were clear. Lets go inside.

Blair met Emory Constantines concerned gaze. “Im sorry for the

disruption.

Emory smiled faintly. “I was about to say the same thing to you, Ms.

Powel . I

have a number of fairly vocal

opponents.

“Then we have quite a bit in common, Blair

said.

Emorys gaze flickered briefly to Cam and then to Diane and Renée.

Then she grinned, her dark eyes sparkling. “It seems that we do.

Chapter Seventeen

I m sorry, Emory Constantine murmured, bending over Blair, who sat

at the head table with Cam, Diane, Renée, and a number of notables

from the scientific and financial world, “but would you mind posing for

one more round of photos? The president of the Institute

“No, I dont mind, Blair said with a smile, even though shed been

photographed with and without her permission more times than she

cared to count in the last three hours. She was used to the press and had

expected more than her usual share of at ention after al the events of

the last few months and the recent announcement of her personal

plans. Emory it seemed, also garnered a fair amount of media notice,

so with the two of them sit ing together, the questions and photos had

been non-stop al evening. “Il be right there.

As she rose, Cam did also. Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw

Paula wending her way through the tables toward her. When Blair fol

owed Emory onto the stage and joined the smal group waiting there,

Cam and Paula took up positions of to each side. Randolph Sumter,

the current president of the Johnson Institute, was middle-aged,

handsome, and wore his power with subtle arrogance. He didnt try to

hide his non-philanthropic interest as his gaze swept over Blair during

their introduction.

“Ms. Powel , he said in a smooth baritone, “wed love to have you

tour the

Institute. I think youl find we are doing some remarkable

work.

“Yes, Blair replied with polite reserve. “Ive fol owed Dr. Constantines

research with interest. You must be very pleased to have her and her

team on board.

To his credit, his smile never wavered. “Without a doubt. Please

remember me to your father. The board was a staunch supporter during

his last campaign.

“I certainly wil . Blair took Cams hand. “I dont believe youve met my

partner, Cameron Roberts.

Sumter acknowledged Cam perfunctorily, signaled to the

photographers, and positioned himself between Blair and Emory with a

hand on each of their backs. Once the obligatory photo shoot was over,

Blair drew Emory aside.