Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

route, wel know more.

“He didnt say anything, did he? I didnt hear anything before the shots.

Blair knew how to fire a gun. Shed had a license since her late teens and

had been to the firing range fairly regularly since then. But the muf

led pops of control ed gunfire in a firing booth bore no resemblance to

the terrifying reverberation of gunshots echoing down a hotel corridor.

She could stil hear the shots, and the shouts, and her own silent

screams. She found Cams hand and held it. “I was wondering about

the guy earlierthe one outside the banquet hal who was quoting

scripture, or his version of it anyway.

“The gunman didnt say anything, Cam said. “His message was in his

gun hand.

“Where are we going? Blair

asked.

Cam smiled for a second. “Home to Whitley Point. Lucinda wil have

someone take care of the hotel room and pick up our luggage.

“If its al right with you, Id rather not leave the island again for six

months or so.

“Il see what I can do, Cam

said.

“Thank you. Blair knew it wasnt possible, but for just a lit le while, it

felt good to dream.

Chapter Eighteen

Sunday

T anners here, Blair said as the limo pul ed up behind the SUV parked

in the circular drive in front of the beach house. She stif ened when

three figures materialized out of the dark and approached the vehicle.

Even in the middle of the night, with only streaks of moonlight to cut

the inky blackness, she could make out the automatic rifles.

“Theyre Tanners people, Cam said. “Stark probably cal ed ahead

once we were out of range of the city and fil ed Tanner in on what

happened.

Despite Cams assurances that the figures posed no threat, Cam and

Savard got out of the limo first and closed the door, leaving Blair and

Diane shielded inside.

“I dont know how you stand it, Diane said. “Its al so

horrible.

Blair slid across the space between the facing seats and put an arm around

her. “Try not to think about it right now, honey. Wel get you inside

and once were safe, youl feel better.

Diane laughed harshly. “Safe? Thats just an il usion, and I bet youve

known that al along, havent you? She touched Blairs face as if seeing

her for the very first time. “Youve known you could never be safe, so

there was no reason to let them pretend to protect you.

When the door opened and Cam leaned in, Blair didnt move but smiled

over at her. “Il be right out, darling.

“Go with her, Diane said. “Im al

right.

“No youre not. None of us are. Blair rubbed Dianes arm and rocked her

gently as Cam moved away. “Youre partly right, you knowabout my

being guarded. I used to think there was no real need for protection

and I resented them for trying, especial y when it meant having them in

my life twenty-four hours a day. I stil hate iteverything about itbut

mostly I hate that one of them could be hurt trying to protect me. But

theyre very good and theyve saved my life and I trust them with it,

now. Al of them. She took a deep breath. “And I know that I need

them.

Diane shivered. “I saw Paula jump in front of you and I saw her get shot.

Thank God, it was just a mil isecond, but I saw her body jerk, and Il

never forget the shock on her face. She looked down at her hands which

were clasped tightly in her lap. “Al the way back here, I kept

wondering if Valeries already dead. If someone

“Shes not, and you cant think that way. Blair took Dianes face

between her hands. “You never give up. Okay? Its not al owed. We will

win.

“God, Diane laughed unsteadily. “Youre turning into one of

them.

“Bite your tongue. Blair released Diane and opened the door. “Come

on, lets go inside.

Tanner stood waiting with Cam next to the vehicle. As Blair and Diane

slid out,

she wrapped her arms around both of them. “Hey, you two

okay?

“Just shaky, Diane

said.

“Weve got a fire going and a nice bot le of wine waiting for you,

Tanner said.

“I dont even want to think about why you need your security people,

Blair whispered against Tanners ear, “but I owe you for the rest of my

life for them. She closed her eyes, trying to banish the sight of Cam

lying on the floor. “Thank you so much.

“Dont even go there, Tanner said grimly. “Im just sorry I wasnt there

myself.

“You did exactly what we needed. Blair eased away from Tanner. “Is

Emory inside already?

“Yes, she volunteered to check out Stark and Tanners security guard.

Cam wrapped her arm around Blairs waist as they walked to the house.

“Stark took a hard hit and I ordered her to stand down. Im sorry, but

I need to contact Wozinski to find out whats going on back there.

“I understand. Just promise me youll try to get some sleep tonight,

too. Blair held the door open and waited until everyone

else disappeared inside before asking, “Do you need

something for your ribs?

“No, its tolerable. Ill wrap this up just as soon as I can.

Cam cupped the back of Blairs neck and kissed her gently. “I love

you.

Blair kissed her back, far less gently. “I love you

too.

“If thats a come on, I might be too tired to deliver tonight,

Cam said.

“It is, but I think Im too tired to accept delivery. Blair gave her

a gentle push. “Go do what you have to do. Theres always a

shower to look forward to in a few hours.

* * * * *

“Wheres Diane? Blair asked when she looked in on Adrienne

and

Felicia in the living

room.

“She wanted to be alone, Adrienne said. “Do you think shes

all right?

“She will be, Blair said. “Its the first time shes ever been shot

at.

“If she needs a little escape from all of this, she can stay

with Tanner and me, Adrienne said. “The atmosphere around

here might be a little intense for her the next few days.

“Tanner never mentioned you had such a knack for

understatement.

“Speaking of my spouse, Adrienne said, rising, “I should find

her and get her home before she decides to stand guard herself.

She glanced at Blair. “Shes more than wil ing, if you need her

Blair shook her head. “No. And youve both done enough.

Were fine.

“Weve got plenty of people to secure this location, Felicia

added, setting her coffee aside and standing as wel . “Im going to

check in with the commander.

“And I want to see Emory, Blair

said.

She bade the others goodnight and walked down the hall to

the bedroom the agents used when they were off-shift. As

she knocked on the partially open door, it swung open

before she could catch it, affording her a glimpse of Emory

Constantine leaning over a semi-nude young woman stretched out

on the bed. Steph Fletcher, one of Tanners security guards.

“Sorry. Blair started to close the

door.

“Thats al right, Emory cal ed. “Were

done.

Blair stepped inside as Emory drew a sheet up to the shoulders of the

wiry, short haired redhead. “Im going to leave my cel number right

here on the bedside table. Emory crossed to a smal desk and

scribbled something on a piece of paper that she then placed next to the

redheads holstered weapon. “Six hours of bed rest, minimum. If your

chest pain gets worse, you develop a cough, or you feel lightheaded, cal

me immediately. Otherwise, Il see you first thing in the morning.

“Look, thanks. Steph was already pushing herself up, clearly intent on

returning to duty. “I real y appreciate everything, but

“You know, Steph, Blair said conversational y. “I bet Tanner would

put you right on the inactive list if she thought you werent a hundred

percent. Not that anyone would tel her

Steph groaned and flopped back down. “Okay. Okay, I got it. Roger on

the six hours bed rest.

“Thank you. Emory fol owed Blair into the hal . “Is there someone who

can give me a ride to a hotel?

“We have plenty of room right here, Blair said as they returned to the

living room. “You can stay here until Cam is sure that its safe for you to

go home.

"I don! know precisely what went on in that hallway, but I heard smre of the

conversation rumng the agents on the way here. That nnnthat mm might have

been trying to kil11re. I certainly cant endanger you or

“No one is going to let you leave, Emory, and no one wants you to. Blair

found a half-empty bot le of wine, refil ed her glass, and poured

another for Emory. “Id be very grateful if youd look at Cam later. Shes

been through a lot this past week and She realized her hand was

trembling and put the glass down abruptly.

“Of course Il look at her, Emory

said.

“Thank you. Is there anyone you need to cal ? The White House wil

take care of devising some story for the press, but if theres someone

whos going to be worried about where you are tonight

“No, there isnt. Emory reached for her wine. “Since my divorce

last year, Ive been living in the family home with my mother.

She travels a lot, as do I, so it works out very well for both of us.

Right now shes in Milan.

Blair curled up on the sofa and regarded Emory

thoughtful y. “Well then, consider yourself our guest.

“All right. Of course. Emory gestured to her evening dress.

“Do you have clothes I can borrow? One of the security guards

gave me his jacket in the car, but I gave that back to him when

we got here.

“Between Diane and me, Im sure we can outfit you.

“In that case, I grateful y accept. I can e-mail my chief

technician with instructions for the lab in the morning. This

will give me a chance to check on Steph again, too.

“Is she badly

hurt?

Emory shook her head. “I dont think so, but blunt trauma to

the chest can be tricky. Id feel better if I could x-ray her and

get a

cardiogram, but thats out of the

question.

“If you think its necessary, Tanner is very good at making

arrangements for that sort of thing without a lot of fuss.

“You mean no records?

“Pretty much.

“Somehow I get the feeling none of this is new to

you.

Blair sighed, kicked off her shoes, and propped her feet on a

leather hassock. Sometime in the last year shed gotten used

to living with danger. Not just the vague and barely

countenanced possibility of harassment or kidnapping that shed

grown up with, but the life and death reality of bombs and

bul ets. Her lover had almost died, her friends had been shot,

and she had been exposed to a potential y lethal bioweapon.

“No, its not new. She smiled wearily at Emory. “And I dont

think its going to go awayever.

* * * * *

“What the hell went wrong? Matheson barked into the cell

phone as he paced in his motel room. The need to change

locations frequently and the inability to easily access his funds

were wearing on him.

“He wasnt a professional, sir, and the targets were very

well covered, the colonel said. “We knew using a civilian

might be a problem.

Matheson sighed. “It was still a good plan to use someone

who would be seen as targeting Constantine, but relying on