Honor Under Siege - Radclyffe

to her handler and Matheson was tipped off. A plus B equals C.

“Matheson has had a lifetime to build up a network inside

the system, Felicia said. “Were looking for a needle in a

haystack.

“Maybe. But men like Matheson know that the most

secure network is one thats small and built on personal

loyalty. She turned away from the window and the reminder of

the rest of her life to face her agents. “What creates the greatest

loyalty?

“Chain of command, Savard said

immediately. “Family, Felicia replied.

“Start with Foster and the other four men from the assault on

Blair, and find their brothers, cousins, uncles, fathers,

grandfathers every male relative who might have been

associated with

Matheson or Mathesons brothers, uncles, father, whatever.

Savard frowned. “What about the women?

Cam shook her head. “Not likely. Matheson runs a military

academy for boys. All of the assailants were men. All of the

paramilitary personnel at his compound were men. He

doesnt entrust women with authority.

Felicias eyes flashed. “One of his many

mistakes.

“Agreed, Cam said with quiet satisfaction. “Hes going to

regret underestimating us.

* * * * *

“I was wondering when you were going to surface, Blair

said when Cam walked into the kitchen a little after 10 p.m. She

pulled the red sweatband from her forehead and let her hair fall

free on her shoulders. Shed just come from a run on the beach

and still wore sweatpants and a cutoff T-shirt. “Theres

chicken in the oven.

“Thanks, but Im good. Tanner had sandwiches sent in for us.

Cam opened the refrigerator and extracted a beer. “Want one?

“Ive got wine. Blair waited until Cam sat down at the table

and took several swallows of beer before moving behind

her to massage her shoulders. “Long day.

Cam leaned her head back against Blairs body, briefly closed

her eyes, and sighed. “Yeah. How was yours?

“About the same. I painted a little this

afternoon. “Anything I can see yet?

Blair smiled. “Soon. Maybe

tomorrow.

“I wont forget. What else is

new?

“Tanners people took Emory back to the city. Steph is going to stay

with her for a day or so just to be sure shes okay.

“Good. Hows Diane?

Blairs hand stil ed.

“Upset.

“Il talk to her as soon as I check in with Mac and Stark. Hopeful y

they had bet er luck sorting out what happened at the hotel last night

than we had today.

“No

progress?

Cam sighed. “Some. I have no doubt that given enough time we could

track the various threads back to the hub, but I dont think we have that

much time. Not when Matheson can put together assault squads like he

did at the Aerie, people who dont care if they die.

Blair went back to working on the muscles in Cams neck. “You think it

was a suicide mission?

“I doubt they framed it that way, but the probability was

overwhelming that none of the assailants would survive.

“You think hel try

again.

Cam fel silent, wondering if spel ing out her concerns to Blair

was fair.

“Dont try to decide whats good for me or not, just tel me what you think,

Blair said.

Cam looked up into Blairs face. “Yes, I

do.

“Wel . Hes not so smart, then, is he? I just hope he does it soon

so we can get this over with. Blair kissed the top of Cams

head. “Why dont you take a shower and change into

something more comfortable. Your back is one big knot.

“Are you going to come with

me?

Blair laughed. “No, not unless you intend on spending the rest

of the night in the bedroom.

“Sounds good to me. Cam grinned, tilting her head further

back against Blairs stomach. “I missed you today.

Blair traced Cams eyebrows with a fingertip, then leaned over

and kissed her mouth upside down. “Ive been thinking of this

morning all day. I love that position, but next time I want it

to be your mouth under me.

Cam groaned and nosed Blairs T-shirt aside so she could kiss

her bare middle. “Let me finish up a few more things, and Ill

take care of that wish. I can shower later.

“Ill be waiting.

* * * * *

“Anything? Cam asked as she strode into the operations

center. Stark, Mac, andto her surpriseWozinski were reviewing

printouts. “Hi Greg. Things finished up in Boston?

Wozinski shrugged. “The feebies are handling it. Need I say

more?

“Other than things are moving slowly? Cam grinned. “What

do you have?

“Shooters name was Allen Strassmann, and as we already

knew, he was on Constantines watch list. Hes also on half a

dozen other lists under watchall right-wing, pro-Christian,

pro-life, ultraconservative groups.

“On the surface, Stark said, “it looks like Dr. Constantine was

the target.

Cam leaned against the door jamb and folded her arms.

“You disagree?

“If the doctor was the target, it seems pretty stupid to try to

take her out when shes with Egret, who everyone knows

would be heavily guarded.

“Maybe it was simply a matter of opportunity, Cam

said.

“Possible. But how did they know that Constantine was in the

hall with us? It was a spur of the moment decision to leave then.

“Maybe Strassmann was in the banquet hall or had someone

watching Emorys movements who could alert him, the same as

we postulated might be the case if Blair were the target.

Stark nodded, but she didnt look convinced. “If I were going

to take a shot at Emory Constantine, I would plan to do it when

she was leaving the hotel after the eventin the parking garage,

maybe, or even in the crowd coming out of the banquet hall.

Thered be a much better chance of getting away with itand

getting away,

period.

“Do we have any indication that this guy Strassmann might

have targeted Blair? Cam joined the others around the table.

“We dont have anything in the files about this guyor

any organization hes involved withcontacting her, issuing

statements, or posting inflammatory messages on any of their

message boards regarding her. Nothing ties him to her.

“Im not surprised. If I were going to choose an assassin, Id

want him, or her, to be someone anonymous. Cam shrugged.

“That assumes there was someone behind this other than

Strassmann himself.

“It would be a damn big coincidence, Mac said as he sat

down with coffee, “if someone just happened to take a shot at

Emory Constantine when she just happened to be with Egret.

Despite the evidence, or lack of it, its too big a coincidence for

me.

Stark nodded. “I agree.

“So do I. Cam stood. “Keep working the Strassmann angle

and assume his target was Blair. See if you can find a

relationship between him and any known Matheson

connectionsmaybe hes related to one of Mathesons men captured

at the compound.

“Will do, Commander. Stark hesitated, as if she were about to

say more, then fell silent.

“Chief? Cam asked.

“Nothing, Commander.

“No, Cam said as if the question had been asked. “We didnt

make a whole hell of a lot of progress, but were still digging.

“We real y need Valerie Lawrence to come in if were going to

find the link to Matheson, Stark said.

“Im working on it. Cam surveyed the group. “Until then we

carry on.

* * * * *

Cam leaned into the living room and tapped on the partial y

open French door that divided it from the hallway and the

first floor bedrooms. Diane was curled up on one end of the

dark brown leather sofa in front of the fireplace. A half empty

glass of wine sat on the end table beside her. Shed changed

from the jeans shed been wearing earlier into black slacks

and a fitted, white scoop neck top with three-quarter length

sleeves. She looked remote and very much alone.

“Can I talk to you?

Diane glanced over her shoulder. “Of

course.

Diane turned back to the fire as Cam sat down next to

her.

“Im sorry I didnt get a chance to warn you about the newspaper article

before you saw it, Cam said.

“Would you stil have released it if I had

objected?

“Yes.

“Thank you for let ing me make the phone cal s this afternoon. My sister

and my

of ice manager were very relieved to hear that I wasnt seriously injured.

Diane added sharply, “Of course, I stuck to the script Stark provided

me. The one you approved, I assume.

Cam winced. “I didnt mean to make you feel like a

conspirator.

“Then why did you do

it?

“Its

complicated

“That means its about

Valerie.

“Yes, Cam admit ed. “She wont come in to protect herself, but she

wil to protect you. And we need her.

Diane shifted, studying Cam with no apparent trace of her previous

anger. “Thats emotional blackmail, dont you think?

“Yes, it

is.

“How do you make that al

right?

“Its bet er for Valerie, its bet er for you. And its bet er for

Blair.

“Thats the bot om line, isnt it?

Blair. Cam regarded her

steadily. “Yes.

“No apologies? No elaborate rationalizations or

arguments?

“No.

“Clear and simple, Diane whispered to

herself.

“Not clear and not simple, Cam said. “Necessary. Valerie wil

understand.

“And youre sure that this is the best thing for

Valerie?

“As sure as I can be, Cam said. “You have to trust me on

that one. Diane laughed harshly. “It seems that we al have to

trust you for quite a bit, Cam. Thats asking a lot, dont you

think?

“Diane, Blair said from the doorway. “Cam knows what shes doing.

Theres no one bet er to make these decisions.

“I hope youre right. Diane rose and strode abruptly toward the

door, then paused to look back at Cam. “Because if something happens

to Valerie because of this, Il never forgive you for using me against

her.

As Diane hurried from the room, Blair said, “Shes just upset. Il go talk

to her.

“Its okay. She deserves to be angry. I didnt handle it

wel .

“Oh, dont be ridiculous, Cameron. Youre not responsible for everyone,

and she happens to be wrong.

Cams lips twitched. “Thank you for coming to my defense. I

think.

Blair grasped Cams chin in her hand, and kissed her, a deep probing

kiss. “I know how you get. Im not let ing you beat yourself up about

this. You did the right thing even if your timing sucked.

“You dont usual y complain about my ti Cam broke of as her cel phone

rang. “Roberts. She held Blairs gaze as she spoke. “Where?. .Tel them

to intercept, but do notI repeatdo not use deadly force. Alert Stark to

secure the house. Il be right there.

“What is it? Blair asked

anxiously.

“Intruder on the beach. I have to

go.

“Let Tanners people handle it.

Cam

“Stay here, Blair. Il be fine. Il be back as soon as I

can.

“Damn

it,

Cam

Cam ran toward the back of the house, punching in Felicias number on

her cel . “I need back up. Il be on the path to the dunes.

“Roger,

Commander.

Savard?

Cam pushed through the back door. It was dark with only moonlight to

guide her, but she knew the route by heart. She issued orders as she ran,

phone in one hand and weapon in the other. “No. Savards not mobile

enough. Tel her to take a position behind the guest house. No one

approaches the rear of the compound except on my orders. Cal Starkred

alert.

“Copy that.

Cam hit the beach running and saw a flurry of activity,

dark shapes converging from multiple directions, a quarter of a

mile up the strand.

Hearing muffled shouts, she closed the phone and shoved it

into the pocket of her pants. As she drew closer, she saw

three of Tanners agents pointing assault rifles at a figure

kneeling in the sand, arms outstretched. A slender figure with

short blond hair in a dark jacket and pants. Cam skidded to a stop

a few feet away and holstered her weapon.

Valerie looked up at her. “Hel o,

Cameron.

“Are you okay?

“Perfectly, thank you.

Cam motioned the others away. “Ive got this. Thank you.

You can return to your posts.

Valerie rose and brushed sand from her

pants.

“That was risky, Cam said. “They might have shot

you. “I knew your people would be bet er trained

than that. “Pret y trusting.

Valerie smiled softly. “Ive always trusted

you.

Cam wondered how long the trust would last. “Come up to the house,

she said. “Weve been expecting you.

Chapter Twenty-One

I take it the newspaper item was fabricated? Valerie asked as soon as

they were out of earshot of the guards.

Cam grinned briefly, not surprised that Valerie had been suspicious of the

cover story. Agents indoctrinated to clandestine work understood how

often and to what extent the media was used to subvert the truth.

Cam had hoped that Valerie would not take a chance on ignoring the

report, even though she might not completely believe it. “Most of it was

an embel ishment.

“Is Diane al

right?

“Yes, shes completely

fine.

“But there was some kind of an

incident.

“Yes, Cam said, unwil ing to discuss any further details until she had a

better sense of Valeries agenda.

As if understanding, Valerie didnt pursue it further. “I expected the