Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

“How do you know that? Diane

asked.

“We have GPS transponders in al of the vessels, including

Valeries, the command ship with Renée and the commander and

Felicia, and Tanners surveil ance boats. Paula skimmed her finger in a

semi circle along the border of the screen. “These are Tanners people

here.

“When wil we be able to see Cam? Blair

asked.

“Theyre just leaving the marina now. Mac adjusted the wireless receiver

in his ear and spoke using a throat mic, keeping both hands on the

keyboard of his computer. “Commander? How do you read?

A few seconds passed, then Mac spoke again. “Loud and clear,

Commander. Paula said without looking at him, “Can you put that on

audio, please, Mac.

“Yes maam. Mac keyed a series of commands into his computer

and then spoke again. “Ready for camera scan.

“Sending imagenow, Felicias voice announced from the

speakers.

Yel ow, red, and blue images vaguely resembling human forms

flickered on

Macs screen and then

stabilized.

“How do you read? Felicia

asked.

“Four hots. Mac opened a smal window within the larger screen

and a fluctuating bar-graph appeared. “Temperature variation less than

two degrees.

Give me a coordinates check.

Savard rat led of a list of

figures.

“What are they doing? Blair asked, not real y expecting an

answer.

“Checking the variance on the infrared thermal detector camera, Paula

said. “The lower levels of thermal radiance are due primarily to two

thingseither larger body mass and high body fat, which blunts the

reading, or a true depression in body temperature.

“Youre the warm one, Renée, Mac

said. Savard laughed. “Thats what

they tel me.

“Mac, can you correct for body mass using the limited readings we

have? Felicia asked. “Valerie is thin and her core temperature is

going to skew the thermal readings. Can you factor for that?

“Working on it, Mac said, input ing figures as he

spoke.

“Youre in visual range, Commander. Paula straightened and her voice

took on an edge. “We have an approach vessel closing on ground zero,

bearing

Blair sensed Diane trembling beside her and slid an arm around her

waist. She kept her voice low so as not to disturb Mac and Paula.

“Just remember that were only get ing part of the picture here, so dont

worry, no mat er what seems to be happening.

“I know. Il remember. Its justshe feels so far away, Diane

whispered. “She isnt. And Cam and Renée and the others are

right there. “Savard, hold us here, Cams voice said.

The words were so clear that Blair almost looked over

her shoulder to see if Cam had miraculously returned. Even

miles away over radio, the sound of Cams voice eased the

tension that had been slowly clenching her muscles and

squeezing around her heart until she felt as if she were a

piano wire tightened to the point of snapping. She forced herself

to take a breath and let it out slowly.

The red numerals in the lower left-hand corner of Paula

Starks monitor read 2258.

* * * * *

Cam opened the priority one channel to Valerie.

“Lawrence? “Im here, Commander, Valerie said.

“Approach vessel on its way.

“Roger that.

“If youre forced to board his ship and we lose our audio link

to you, I want you to bail at the first sign of trouble. Are we

clear?

“Clear, Commander, Valerie replied.

“Confirming scan now, Cam said. “Switching to open channel.

“Roger that. Greetings, team, Valerie said. “Glad to see you.

“Were right behind you, Valerie, Savard said.

“Do we have her? Cam asked Felicia, bending down beside

Felicias computer array against one wall of the ships cabin.

Behind

them, Savard eased the engine down to idle and the ship rocked

in the swells.

“Ive got her, Felicia said. “Im just adjusting the feed

to Donaldsons video goggles. She opened up the com link in her

head set. “Donaldson? Target on screen?

“Sweet and hot, maam, he radioed from his position outside on

the bow.

“Not too hot, I hope, Cam murmured. “Where does she fall on

the thermal range?

“Five percent below mean.

Cam frowned. “Thats not much to distinguish her from Henry.

“Shes cold, I can guarantee you that, Savard said. “Much

colder

and her reaction time will be so slow she wont be able to

protect

herself.

“Here he comes. Valeries voice filled the cabin. “Switching

to transdermal mic.

Savard linked to Mac. “Anyone else out here with us?

“Lots of someones, Mac radioed, “but no one in critical

range. “Okay, let me know if anyone moves within the strike

radius. “Roger.

A minute of silence passed until broken by Valeries voice,

muted by the shielded microphone.

" Toss me your tie line, Valerie said, "and come aboard. "Here

you go. Catch, a deep male voice responded. "Drop your ladder.

Savard glanced at Cam in surprise. Cam shook her head,

thinking it wasnt necessarily a good sign that Henry was so

wil ing to board Valeries boat. It meant they had an open channel

to Valerie if they needed one, but if Henrys plan was to

eliminate Valerie, he wouldnt want to do it on his own vessel.

Hed want to do it on hers.

“ Are you armed? Henry

said.

“ Of

course.

“ What

about

the

others?

“ What

others?

“ Dont tell me you came without

backup.

“ Do you see anyone? Valerie

asked.

Henry laughed. “Only about two dozen boats out

there.

“ I told you I dont trust them. No one knows Im out here. Search the

boat if you want.

“ Not necessary. I agreed to this meet under these less than

optimal circumstances, Henry said, “so youll believe me when I tell

you that you need to come in. Youre in danger.

“ From whom?

“ From Roberts. The White House sent her after

you.

“ Why?

“ They need a scapegoat. How long do you think theyll be able to keep

the

attack on the presidents daughter quiet? Add to that they botched

the assault on Mathesons compound and let him escape.

“ He

had

help.

“ The country needs accountability, especial y after 9/11. Someone needs

to pay for that, Henry said. “Washburn and the security adviser and

a fair number of other people have decided it will be you, for starters.

Its out of our hands.

“ And if I come

in?

“ Well help you get lost for a year or two. Theres work to be

done elsewhere.

“Convincing, isnt he, Felicia mut ered. “Bastard. “Whats the

temperature register look like? Cam asked. “Theres a three degree dif

erence between them. Felicia keyed Donaldson. “Can you distinguish

the primary from the friendly? “Yes maam, as long as they dont move

around too much. “On my mark, Cam ordered on the same channel.

“Yes maam. Locked and loaded.

“ Who tipped Matheson? Valerie asked. “We think he has friends in

the

Special Forces. “Do we have a

name?

“ Several possibles. Ill brief you as soon as you are secure. “Where do

you want me to go? “I want you to come with me now. “Tonight?

“ If you go back, Roberts may lock you down and we wont be able

to extract.

“ What about my boat? “Well sink it. Its a good

cover.

“He came prepared. Cam checked the digital readout on the electronic

timer running in one corner of Felicias monitor. Henry had been on

board almost five

minutes. That was a long time for this kind of

rendezvous.

“If she goes with him, he sinks the boat and shel disappear, Savard said.

“If she doesnt agree to go, and hes bad, hel sink the boat and shel

disappear. Either way, he wins.

“ I need at least 24 hours to create a plausible cover with Roberts,

Valerie said. “I didnt spend all that time getting close to her to lose my

connection to her now. Even if I have to go deep undercover, Ill still

have a link to her.

“ Shell never give you

anything.

“ She

already

has.

“ What? Henrys voice

rose.

Listening, Cam tensed. Valerie was playing a dangerous game.

If Henry thought she already had important information, he

might not let her go even if he wasnt working with Matheson. If

he was Mathesons front man, all the more reason to take her

now, or eliminate her.

“ Theyre close to identifying

Two miles away, Starks satel ite image showed a new blip at

the same time as Mac picked up a thermal flair five miles

from Valeries boat.

“Christ, Mac blurted. “Its an SSM!

Stark jumped to her feet.

“Target? “Tracking!

Stark grabbed her radio. “Hara, this is command one. Stand by

to evacuate.

“No! Blair exclaimed, grabbing Starks arm. “What is

it?

“Missile. Stark turned sharply to Mac. “Target. I need it

now, Mac!

Mac was already opening the comm channel. “Savard! Ship

to ship missile, targeting Valeries boat. Forty seconds to impact!

* * * *

* “Donaldson, mark, Cam snapped.

“Roger.

Cam switched to the open microphone on Valeries boat. “This

is Cameron Roberts. You are targeted for a direct hit by an

SSM. You have thirty-seven seconds. Evacuate your vessel.

“ She s lying, Henry shouted. “Stay right there! “No,

Valerie said, “shesHenry, we have towhy are you drawing your

weapon? There s no one

* * * * *

“Thirty-two seconds, Savard called. “Shell never disengage

from

Henrys vessel in time, Commander.

“Fire! Cam ordered and Donaldsons rifle cracked from just outside

the cabin. Cam spun toward Savard. “Get us in there now.

“Its going to get hot, Savard noted even as she powered up the

engine

and shoved the throttle to maximum.

Cam didnt answer, stripping off her windbreaker and vest as

she ran from the cabin. Shed been wrong. They didnt have

thirty seconds.

* * * * *

Blair pressed close to Paulas back, unconsciously gripping

her shoulders. “Whats happening?

“Time? Paula shouted to

Mac. “Five four three two

one

For a mil isecond, the blip in the center of Paulas screen

doubled in size. Then it winked out.

After a minute of silence, Diane asked unsteadily,

“Wheres

Valerie?

“Weve lost the signal, Paula said tightly.

“What about Cams? Blairs fingers dug into Paulas shoulders.

Paula shook her head.

* * * * *

“Fine shooting, Colonel. Matheson leaned against the rail of

the boat, feeling a swell of satisfaction as a tower of flame