Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

while.

“Hey, Paula said, stopping Renée with a hand on her arm. “I know you

want this guy. We al do. Justjust dont take any chances, okay?

For the first time, Renée recognized that Paula was worried. Worried and

trying not to burden her by saying so. For the last two days, they had

both been so caught up in planning the operation that theyd barely

had a moment alone together. When they had taken a break, theyd had

lit le energy to do more than fal into bed to catch a few hours sleep

before get ing back to work. And, she had to admit, she was excited

about another operation and thinking about nothing else. She was

eager to get back into the field, and hungry, aching , for

payback. Ever since 9/11 shed felt impotent, and the thwarted

raid on Mathesons compound had only added to her sense of

helplessness. Now she had a chance to set le the score, and that was al

shed been thinking about.

“Hey, sweetie, Im sorry, Renée said. “Ive been running on autopilot

since yesterday morning. God, I want this guy so bad.

“Do you think youl be able to take Henry alive? Paula

asked.

“Thats going to be Valeries cal , I think, Renée said, sit ing down on the

edge of the bed and pat ing the space next to her. “Sit with me for a

minute.

Paula sat beside her and slipped an arm around her

waist.

“If Valerie reads Henry as still friendly, shes going to

recommend a meeting between the three of themher, Cam,

and Henrysomeplace on neutral territory. If she doesnt trust

Henry or if Matheson shows, I think Valerie is going to make

a different call.

“Thats got to be tough after all the time theyve worked

together, Paula said.

“Shes ice. Renée said it respectful y. “Shell do whatever needs

to be done.

“I know. We all wil . Paula kissed Renée and squeezed her

hand. “Try not to mess your leg up again tonight.

“I wont. Renée smiled, tightening her grip on Paulas hand. “By

the way, I love you like crazy.

“Same here, Paula whispered. “Same here.

* * * * *

“All set? Cam asked as Valerie joined her and Savard in

the kitchen.

“Yes. Where are the others?

Cam tilted her head toward the closed doors of the adjoining

room. “Operations center. Do you want to look at the setup?

“No, Valerie said. “Im sure Mac has everything under

control. Valerie stood next to the table where Savard was

drawing a clear solution from a 50cc glass vial into a 1cc syringe

and unzipped her jeans.

“How does your neck feel? Savard asked as she opened a

foil wrapper and extracted an alcohol swab.

“A tiny bit sore, Valerie said, rubbing a fingertip lightly over

the spot just below her ear where the transdermal microphone

had been inserted that morning. “How do you read it?

“Loud and clear, Savard said, pointing to the wireless receiver

that was barely visible in her ear. “Right leg or left?

“Left.

Savard pulled on gloves, swabbed Valeries upper thigh with

the alcohol, and palpated for the femoral pulse. When she

found it, she inserted the needle half an inch away, drew back

until she saw venous blood, and injected the Neosynephrine.

“Youre going to feel your heart race in a few minutes, but

the peripheral vasoconstriction wont be maximal for an hour

and a half to two

hours. She met Valeries eyes. “Once this starts working, your

skin is going to be damn cold and if he touches you, hell know.

“If he touches me it will only be for a second and I dont think

hell notice, Valerie said as she zipped her jeans.

Savard gathered her equipment. “Wear as lit le as you can on the boat

on the way out to drop your core temperature even more. I dont know

how wel this is going to work. Im just guessing on the dosage.

“I dressed light and Il take my jacket of . Id go in the water, but hel

notice if Im wet.

“We cant risk you get ing that cold, Cam said, shaking her head. “If you

have to go into the water for any reason later on, and you start

out with a core temperature that low, you wont last thirty seconds.

Valerie smiled. “Youl be there before

that. Cam said nothing.

“See you later, Savard said, touching Valerie lightly on the arm before

leaving.

“Theres a car outside to take you down to the marina, Cam said as

she and

Valerie walked toward the front door. “Il ride with

you.

Valerie stopped. “No. Stay here. I know how many last-minute details

there are to check. Im al right, Cameron.

The hal way was dimly lit, and Cam thought Valerie looked almost

ghostlike in the shadows, as if she were already gone. It made her

uneasy, and she unconsciously reached out and touched her cheek.

“Youre not going to be alone out there.

“I know. Im not worried. Valerie covered Cams hand for a brief second.

Then

she drew it away from her face, but kept Cams fingers in her grasp.

“There are many things unsaid between us. You should know that there

were times that your presence in my life was the only thing that

mat ered to me. There was never a single moment when I felt anything

but cared for by you.

“Valerie, Cam murmured.

“Youre

“Let me finish, because weve got work to do, Valerie said gently.

“Ive been happier these last few weeks, despite everything, than Ive

ever been in my life. Diane means everything to me, and if it werent for

having met you and realizing that I could love someone, I dont think I

would have been able to love her the way I do. Take care of her for me,

if anything happens to me tonight.

“Al right, Cam said roughly. “Il make you that promise because I dont

want you thinking about anything tonight except the operation.

Do your job, and Il do mine, and youl be back here before

sunrise.

“Thank you, Cameron. Valerie leaned close and kissed Cam lightly

on the mouth. “Happy hunting, Commander. Then she turned and

walked out the front door.

Cam listened to the engine start and the vehicle pul away before heading

back to the operations center. The ache in her chest eased as soon as she

walked in and saw Mac and Stark sit ing before computer consoles.

Felicia stood just behind Mac, her hand on his shoulder. These were her

people, the best at what they did of anyone in the world. She trusted

them to keep Blair safe. To keep Valerie safe.

“Hows the feed? Cam

asked.

Without turning around, Mac said, “Excel ent. Our friends in the

Pentagon have great toys.

Cam leaned down to look at the satel ite image of the sector of ocean

where

Valerie would rendezvous with Henry. It was so clear, she could feel the

spray. “Amazing. Why didnt we have this before we hit Mathesons

compound? We might not have dropped into a hot zone.

“Because it wasnt their action. Mac looked over his shoulder at

Cam and grinned. “And, you werent a deputy director of Homeland

Security. If you had been, who knows what kind of cool equipment they

would have pul ed out for you.

“Hopeful y Henry doesnt have the same toys. Cam glanced at Stark.

“Exit strategy in place?

“Yes. Weve got choppers standing by at

Bradley.

“Do they know

why?

Stark shook her head. “No, only that its priority

one.

Starks phone rang and she pul ed it of her belt. “Stark. Send him in. She

closed the connection. “Tanners man is here.

A moment later, Wozinski entered with a thin, sandy haired young man

dressed in black BDUs.

“This is Jef Donaldson, Wozinski

said. Cam held out her hand.

“Donaldson. “Maam.

“Tanner tel s me youre a good

shot.

“Sniper duty in Somalia,

maam.

“Good. Cam watched his eyes as she spoke. They were clear and calm

and

steady. “Comfortable with infrared

targets?

“Yes maam. If its hot, I can

hit it.

“Thats what were counting on. Cam thought of the injection shed just

given

Valerie. “And were hoping that one hot target is al youl

have.

Chapter Twenty-Six

T heyre leaving. Blair rose from the living room sofa where she

had been waiting with Diane.

“If you dont mind, Il stay here, Diane replied, her voice

subdued.

“Il be right

back.

Blair caught up to Cam just as the team reached the front door. She

smiled briefly at Savard and Felicia, then turned to her lover. She ran

the edges of Cams windbreaker through her fingers as she leaned close

and kissed her softly, far more quickly than she wanted. “See you soon.

“Il cal you, Cam murmured. “I love

you.

Blair stepped away and in the next instant, Cam and the others were

gone. When she turned, she saw Diane halfway down the hal , standing

in the doorway of the living room. She forced a smile and went to join

her.

“What now? Diane

asked.

“Its going to be quite a while before we hear anything, Blair said.

“Im too restless to sit, and if youl be al right, Id like to check in with

Mac and Paula. Il feel bet er if I know whats going on.

“I dont know what I want to do. Diane made an angry sound. “But I dont

need

to tel you, sit ing around and waiting is not my style. Can I come

with you?

Blair hesitated, remembering the horror of seeing Cam on the video

monitor after shed been shotlying on the ground, bleeding and literal y

watching her die. She doubted that they would have that kind of

communication link tonight, but even if they couldnt see or hear exactly

what was happening, she stil wasnt certain that let ing Diane listen to

Paula and Mac monitoring the events was such a great idea. If

something went wrong, Diane would never be able to forget it. Blair

didnt want that kind of nightmare for her.

“I may be new at this, Diane said as if reading her mind, “and Im hoping

this is the last time I have to wait while shes out doing something like

this, but if shes wil ing to go out there and do it, I can at least be a part

of it here. Then Il feel like shes not alone.

“Okay, Blair said, shaking her head rueful y. “I dont know why I

even questioned it. You wouldnt have fal en in love with her if you

couldnt handle who she is.

Diane

smiled.

“Thanks.

Blair knocked on the closed door to the dining room before opening it

a few inches and sticking her head in. “Can Diane and I come in?

Paula swiveled in her chair, her expression distracted but her tone

polite. “Of course. Were not going to be able to explain much once

things get going, but youre welcome to stay.

“Thanks, Blair said. “You dont need to worry about us,

Chief. Blair and Diane moved up behind Mac and

Stark.

“Can you tel us what were looking at? Blair

asked.

“This is a satel ite relay of ten square miles surrounding the meet point,

Paula

said, turning back to the computer monitor, which showed a smat ering

of smal blips on a grid surrounding a dark circle in the center. “The

majority of the vessels in the area are fishing boats, commercial

ships, and the occasional recreational vehicle. She pointed to a

glowing dot in the middle of the circle. “Thats Valerie.