Radclyffe - Word of Honor

“Go ahead,” Blair said, staring at an untouched cup of coffee on the counter in front of her.

“Can I warm that up for you?”

“No thanks,” Blair said, finally angling her head to look at Dana.

Blair’s eyes were darker than Dana remembered, and she thought that was probably from the pain she felt coming off her in waves. Dana was no stranger to other people’s tragedies, and she was used to interviewing people in the midst of the agony of loss. Tonight, though, it affected her more than usual, because she already felt an affinity for the first daughter. Despite her sympathy, she still needed to know. “What’s it like? Being here, waiting, not being able to do anything?”

“You know,” Blair said contemplatively, “I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that before.” She glanced across the room at Diane and Valerie with a fond, sad smile. “Diane wants to protect me. The others do too, even when they hurt so badly themselves they’re almost dying.” She looked into Dana’s eyes. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”

“I imagine when you’re not grateful for them caring, you hate it.”

Blair laughed bitterly. “That’s about right. And it doesn’t make me very happy to admit it. Especially to you.”

“I’m not writing this down.” Dana displayed her empty hands. “No tape recorder. But, for the record, tell me why you support your lover doing what she does.”

“That’s easy,” Blair said quietly. “The job she does is essential, and as my father says, only the best should do it.”

Dana’s heart surged, because the simple truth was always the most powerful. “Have you ever asked her to stop?”

“Yes.” Blair’s expression became distant, and Dana had a feeling she was recalling a conversation. Her smile flickered, and then settled into one of tender resignation. “I tried to make her choose between me and her duty, but she wouldn’t.”

“And you gave up trying to change her mind?”

“I love her. I think I mentioned that.”

“Yes.”

“I wouldn’t change anything about her.”

“But…”

“But I’ll never stop asking her to be careful. I’ll never stop telling her I want her to be safe. And I won’t give her up, no matter what it might cost.”

“May I quote you?” Dana asked gently.

“Ask me again when she’s home safe.”

“Commander!”

“I hear it.” Cam strained to home in on the distant but unmistakable rumble that seemed to be getting closer. With each passing second, the repetitive thump thump thump became louder. Rotors. “I think that’s our ride.”

“I sure as hell hope so, and not Tomlinson deciding to come back and check that van.”

“I doubt it. If he was part of that scene up on the highway, he’s long gone.”

A shaft of light pierced the greasy smoke overhead and swept back and forth over the ground around them. Cam shielded her eyes and tried to make out the markings on the side of the helicopter. Nothing. It least it wasn’t a TV news chopper or a local medical helicopter responding to some driver’s 911. As she suspected, cars passing along the road above probably had no idea there had even been an accident. That was just as well, because she wanted to avoid publicity. Now all she could hope was that the helicopter had been sent by Lucinda Washburn and not by whoever had decided to eliminate a potentially dangerous witness who knew way too much.

“I think they’re landing up on the road,” Savard yelled above the noise.

“Keep your weapon trained up the hill until I tell you otherwise,” Cam said, getting stiffly to her knees. Finally she pushed herself upright and started up the slope.

Within seconds, she was gone.

Chapter Thirteen

Around ten p.m., Dana finally saw her chance to talk to the enigmatic, decidedly aloof agent named Valerie. Blair, Diane, and Emory had closed ranks and were giving off we don’t want company vibes in the sitting area. Stark remained at the door, although she had moved to a chair someone had dragged over for her. Wozinski had delivered food and drinks an hour or so before, and an untouched half sandwich sat on a paper plate on the floor next to Stark. Valerie stood looking out the window through a narrow opening in the blinds. She didn’t acknowledge Dana’s presence when Dana stepped up beside her.

“We haven’t been introduced, but I imagine you know who I am,” Dana said.

“Yes,” Valerie said.

“Do you have an update on the incident that has detained the deputy director?”

“No comment.”

“How long do you think it will be before this country reorganizes its security structure enough to effectively combat terrorism?”

“No comment.”

“Creating the Office of Homeland Security looks a lot like a political maneuver to assuage public fears while justifying the surveillance of U.S. citizens on domestic territory.”

Valerie continued to watch the street as if Dana weren’t even there.

“How long have you been intimately involved with Blair Powell’s best friend?” Dana tried another tack.

Valerie turned her icy gaze on Dana. “I can have you removed from this room and permanently denied access to Blair Powell in less than a second. How much do you want to complete your assignment?”

“All right,” Dana said slowly, holding Valerie’s gaze. “I’ve been saying this a lot tonight, but off the record, how long do you think it will be before we hear anything?”

“I don’t know.” Valerie turned her attention back to the street. “The White House has a press department that handles the kinds of questions you’re asking.”

Dana laughed. “And I believe in the tooth fairy too.”

A smile flickered at the corner of Valerie’s mouth. “I’ve only allowed you to stay this long because this morning the deputy director cleared you to have unrestricted access. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be here.”

“So you’re in charge when she’s unavailable?”

“No comment.”

“Can you give me your official title?”

Silence.

“How about a last name.”

Silence.

“All right, no questions. I’ll talk.” Dana rubbed the back of her neck, calculating how many shots she might have in getting anything out of the Sphinx. “This is how I see things. There’s two teams working out of a base somewhere in this building—one is the first daughter’s Secret Service detail and the other is some kind of special OHS detachment. The deputy director heads the team of OHS people here— you’re one of them, probably second in command. There’s some kind of crossover between the two teams, because Stark is following your lead now, which is really unusual for someone in her position.” Dana thought about that for a minute. The Secret Service was notorious for not sharing responsibility for their protectees. They usually liaised with the White House press staff during advance planning for public events, but the Secret Service made all the calls on security. And yet Stark readily deferred to Valerie. Why? “Stark knows you. She trusts you. If she didn’t, she’d be fighting you every step of the way. How am I doing so far?”

“No comment.”

“I’m going to print what I see if I don’t have anything else.”

Valerie ignored her, still looking unfazed.

Dana worked her hands into her pockets and rocked back and forth, figuring the angles. “There’s only one reason for the OHS and Blair’s security team to be so entwined. I’m betting some of the OHS detachment here used to be Secret Service.” Her heart rate shot up as the pieces fell together in her mind. When that happened, it was always a rush, nearly as invigorating as the adrenaline high of danger or the orgasmic satisfaction of great sex. “Jesus Christ. Blair Powell is the focus of both teams because someone thinks the terrorists are after her. ”