Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

knock sounded on the door, and she reluctantly slid from bed,

uncertain how long shed been asleep. When Cam did not

wake up, Blair knew just how much the accident had taken out

of her. She crossed the room stealthily and opened the door a

crack.

“Im sorry, Diane whispered from the hall. “Im sorry, but I need

to talk to Cam.

* * * * *

“Scotch, please, Cam said as she eased onto a stool at the far

end of the highly-polished mahogany bar in the nearly deserted

Four Seasons Hotel lounge, just before 1:00 a.m. She was as

certain as she could be that she hadnt been followed.

Assuming that someone was watching her building, she had

left by the rear service doors and walked to the nearest

Metro stop. En route, shed checked careful y for a tail and saw

no indication of one, but while she waited for her drink, she

scanned the room.

At first glance, the area appeared secure. Three business

types, two men and a woman, sat around a cocktail table

near the windows discussing market shares and margins just

loudly enough for her to catch snippets of their conversation. A

lone man in a rumpled suit talked on a cell phone while he

peered at a laptop computer and tapped frantical y on the

keyboard with his free

hand. A fortyish woman in jeans and a sweater sat hunched at

the opposite end of the bar, scribbling in a notebook and

sipping absently from a glass of white wine.

Cam, intending to appear like a late-night business traveler,

had dressed in a cotton shirt and lightweight wool trousers

beneath a casual leather jacket and had exchanged her usual

shoulder harness for a hip holster. She nursed her Scotch and

waited fifteen minutes before cal ing the bartender over.

“You know, I mustve gotten my signals crossed. I just got in

from the airport and I was supposed to meet a col eague here.

Weve got a big meeting in the morning

“A lot of people come through here, the stocky bartender said.

“Weve never actual y met in person. Only on the phone, Cam said, as

reluctant

to give a description as he was to disclose anything about patrons. She

patted

her pockets as if looking for something. “Hel , maybe I got the time

wrong. I

thought for sure Claire

said

“Claire. The bartender smiled. “Yeah, she was here for a couple of

minutes, but left when you didnt show. She said if anyone came looking,

to tel them room

418.

“Thanks. Cam dropped a ten dol ar bil on the bar as she rose. “You

saved me a lot of embarrassment in the morning.

She took her time walking to the elevators, once again covertly observing

those around her. Satisfied that no one was watching, she rode to the

conference level and stepped of . She couldnt access the room floors

without a keycard and hadnt planned to anyway. As expected, the foyer

was empty in the middle of the night. She picked up a house phone and

dialed 836.

“Im here. Third

floor.

“Il

come

down.

Two minutes later the elevator stopped and Valerie stepped of .

She immediately pushed the up but on, shaking her head in irritation

as if shed forgot en something. She did not look at Cam, who stood

nearby. An up- elevator stopped and they both stepped into the empty

car. Valerie, in narrow, low heeled black boots, a black boatneck

sweater with a wide band at the waist, and flaring black silk slacks,

looked very much as she had the first time Cam had seen her. Her hair

was shorter and, rather than platinum blond, was now shot through with

red highlights. Her elegant near-patrician features were strained.

The door opened on the eighth floor and Cam fol owed Valerie to room

836. Once inside, Cam removed her leather jacket and laid it over the

back of the antique desk chair. The room was typical for the Four

Seasons, with a king size bed and a formal sit ing area complete with

sofa, end tables, cof ee table, and a minibar.

“Scotch? Valerie asked, her voice as rich and mel ow as the

whiskey she of ered.

“A short one, Cam said as she walked into the sit ing

area.

Valerie poured an inch of the smoky liquor into two crystal rock

glasses and of ered one to Cam. “You didnt bring Diane.

Cam shook her head and drank of half the Scotch. “Did you think that I

would? Valerie smiled softly. “No. I knew that you wouldnt, especial y

after giving her

the message that you would meet me

here.

“Sorry.

“You shouldnt be. I didnt want her to come. I was cal ing her to tel

her that. Valerie sat on the sofa and sipped her Scotch, her expression

distant. “I couldnt walk out twice without saying goodbye.

“Going somewhere? Cam sat next to

Valerie.

“What happened to your

face?

“Someone tried to run me down not far from my apartment

tonight.

Valerie lightly touched one finger to Cams chin, tilting her face toward

the lamp. “Blair must be wild.

“Good

deduction.

“If your face looks like this, I imagine the rest of you is pret y

sore too.

“You would be right again, Cam said, aware that Valeries hand was

shaking. “How are you doing?

“Ive been more comfortable. Valerie dropped her hand into her

lap. “You know it wasnt me.

“In the vehicle that tried to turn me into roadkil ? I know. What I dont

know is what else is going on.

“Neither do I. Valerie shifted until her knee lightly touched Cams leg.

“You remembered our system. She smiled almost wistful y. “The first

time you cal ed the service and I met you downstairs in the bar, I was

surprised.

“About what, Cam asked gently. She was in no hurry. There was too

much between them not to let Valerie say what she needed to say.

“You were gorgeous. I couldnt imagine that a woman like you would

need to

“Pay for it? Cam said with a sardonic

shrug.

“Find comfort with strangers. Cam

smiled. “Were not strangers now.

Valerie rested her fingers lightly on Cams forearm. “No, were not. But

you dont altogether trust me, do you?

“I know youre a professional and I know that youl fol ow orders. Your

orders might be at odds with my mission.

“You want Matheson, Valerie said with certainty. “And so

do I.

“Someone warned him before we could get to

him.

“I know that. What I dont know is

who.

“The leak had to come from you, Cam said

mildly. Valerie sighed. “Yes. I know.

“Your

handler?

Valerie looked pained. “I dont know. I hope not. Ive known him fifteen

years. She met Cams gaze, an apology in her eyes. “Ive told him a lot in

those fifteen years.

Cam grimaced. “Ive already come to terms with the fact that my private

life isnt private and hasnt been for some time. Whats his name?

Valerie

hesitated.

“Jesus, Valerie, Cam snapped. “If hes not dirty it wont mat er. If he is,

we need to know because hes probably not the only one. Do you

seriously think that

Matheson could pul of something like the assault on Blair with only one

contact on the inside? For al we know, hes got a network . For al we

know, hes going to try again.

Cam jumped to her feet, too wired to sit, and winced at the sudden

surge of pain that sliced down her back and into her right leg. She

barely bit back a groan.

Valerie grasped her hand. “Sit down, Cameron. Youre in too much

pain to stand.

“Whats his name? Cam looked down at Valerie and at their hands, stil