Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

9/11.

Savard averted her gaze again and slumped back in her chair. “I

fucked up.

“ You did? You personal y? Cam had seen Savard close to coming apart

when Stark had been hospitalized fol owing exposure to a possibly

lethal biological agent. Even as bad as it was then, Savard hadnt looked

or sounded like this. As if shed somehow already given up on

everything. “How do you fi gure that?

“I was there, Commander. Not just in New York City, but right in the

goddamn building that they hit. What kind of an agent sits in the target

zone and doesnt even have a clue about whats coming?

“I was in the Aerie, Cam said, “and my only job my number one priority

was to see that no one got close to Egret. I failed.

“Thats not true, Renée said sharply. “Blairs alive because of you and

your team. No one could have anticipated that kind of assault in the

middle of Manhat an. Jesus, Foster was one of us.

“Thats real y the point, isnt it? No one anticipated either of those events,

which makes us al equal y responsible. Cam didnt point out the very

real dif erences between her degree of culpability and Savards. It had

not been Renée Savards responsibility to anticipate disaster

scenarios on a worldwide scale, but safeguarding the fi rst daughter

against any conceivable at ack had been Cams. No amount of

rationalization would change that.

“I know in my head what youre saying is true, Savard whispered. “But I

stil feel guilty.

“Are things bet er or worse than a month

ago?

“Its dif erent. Then, I was just so angry. Now I

feelhelpless.

“Are you seeing anyone about

it?

Savard fl ushed. “Yes. Couple times a week, were talking on the

phone.

“Good, Cam said briskly. “Then the only thing left to do is get you

back to work.

“Im due for my fi nal med check in a couple of days. Once I get

cleared, Im going to cal the SAC where I was last assigned and try to fi

nd out if Ive stil got

a

job

there.

“Ive got another suggestion.

Savards eyes brightened.

“What?

“How would you like to work with me in homeland

security?

“Youre

moving

over?

Cam nodded. “Of i cial y as of

today.

“In

what

capacity?

With a sigh, Cam confessed to the title shed rather not use, but

understood was part of the package. “Deputy director of

counterterrorism.

“Oh man, Savard whispered. “And you can take me with

you?

“Ive got the green light to handpick my core agents. Cam grinned. “Kind

of a special ops thing.

“Yes. Im

in.

Cam laughed. “I havent outlined what youl be

doing.

“I dont care. When can I

start?

“How does tomorrow sound? Cam stood. “0700, room B-12 in the

West Wing. At Savards look of surprise, she said, “Temporary quarters,

just until we get organized.

“Looks like I need to get some clothes. Savard glanced down at her

sweats. “I just brought hanging-around stuf . I guess Paula wil have to

take me shopping tonight.

“Since thats what shes been doing al afternoon with Blair and Diane,

Cam said with a straight face, “Im sure shel be eager to do a lit le more.

Savard smiled, some of the pain lifting from her eyes. “Shel probably

hate it, but she wont complain.

“Bet er woman than me, Cam mut ered as she started toward the

door. Turning, before she exited, she said, “See you in the morning,

Agent Savard. And welcome aboard.

“Thank

you,

Director

Roberts.

“Make

it

Cam.

“Yes

maam.

Commander.

With a shake of her head, Cam walked out into the hal . She had a

few more people to talk to, a few calls to make, and then

she could go home. Home to Blair. She smiled, liking the sound

of it.

* * * * *

The phone rang in a room two fl oors below Stark and Savards. A

broad-chested, trim-waisted man with an upright, military bearing

strode across the room and picked up the receiver. His

dark button-down collar shirt and black pants were

pressed and wrinkle-free. On some men the clothes would

have appeared casual. On him, they were a uniform.

“Youre right on time. I hope you have something useful to report.

“Nothing yet, Im afraid.

The general smiled thinly. “How is it that one of your own

people,

someone you presumably control, can evade you so successful y?

“Lawrence is a chameleon. She was trained to be elusive and

is very good at it. But well fi nd her. For now, I have

someone watching the girlfriend.

“We dont even know that Lawrence is trying to make contact

with her.

“We have reasonable intel that theyre lovers. Thats not her pattern

with women, so I suspect shell try to contact her.

His smile disappeared. “Its a long shot, but I suppose its the

best we have at the moment. Its your job to improve those

odds. I want her silenced before the rest of our operation is

compromised.

“Yes, sir. Im tracking her through every known alias

and attempting to set up a meet, but I obviously cant go

through channels. Its slowing me down.

The generals jaw tightened. He hadnt been prepared for the

attack on his compound because he hadnt expected anyone

on the governments payroll to uncover his connection to Foster

and the assault teamcertainly not as quickly as Roberts had

managed. The warning from his contact within the CIA that his

mountain camp was about to be raided had barely come in time

for him to escape. Hed slipped their net but at the cost of

revealing that he had sources within the Company. He

preferred not to sacrifi ce those sources, but if he couldnt fi nd

the one person who might expose the link, then he might

be forced to take other action. “Im not interested in excuses.

You have someone on Bleeker?

“Yes sir, but close surveil ance is out of the question. Shes

with... her friend, sir, and security there is very tight, especial y

afterNew York.

“Yes, your percentages have been poor lately. The general

rolled the hotel pen idly between his fi ngers. His mission had

come so close to succeeding. His men, his handpicked boys,

had nearly succeeded in eliminating their prime target. “Im not

impressed.

“Were confi dent Lawrence will attempt contact eventual y,

and then we can eliminate any chance of compromise.

“Lets hope the bait is sweet enough. Matheson drew a circle on

a notepad next to the phone and then placed a precise X through

the center. When he turned the pad, the X looked like the

crosshairs of a gun sight. “Perhaps this time we can sweep

the board. In memory of our fal en friends.

There was a moment of silence, then, “Yes, sir. And may

God bless America.

“May He indeed. You know where to reach me if anything

changes before our next scheduled communication. Lets take

care of these loose ends quickly, agent.

The general broke the connection, then pushed the extension

for valet parking and requested that his vehicle be brought to the

front of the hotel. He clipped a holster with his Glock to his

belt and selected a dark overcoat. It was time to take another

drive through the city, past the White House and Cameron

Robertss apartment building.

The time was rapidly approaching when he would have to

take

care of unfi nished business personal y.