Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

“No problem, Tanner said, grinning. “Ive already pissed off

your lover once today. Im not about to push my luck.

* * * * *

“So, Cam said, taking a chair across from Davis and Savard at

the sleek glass and wood table that now served as their

conference table. They had turned the first floor of the

guesthouse into their base of operations. Davis had the

computers up and running and networked. The dining room did

duty as their file room. All things considered, it was a better

working area than the converted storage closet they would have

worked out of in the West Wing. “Lets prioritize.

No one took notes. Everyone understood that there would be

no reports generated by their work, and the only files would

be the ones they appropriated from other security agencies.

“First order of business is to find Matheson, because we have

to assume that there will be another attack on Egret. He and

his organization will lose credibility if a failed attempt is

allowed to stand. Cam careful y kept her voice and face from

showing her rage. “We can assume he will either establish a

new paramilitary base of his own or join forces with another

one. Hell need a network in order to reestablish himself.

“A guy like that wont give up control easily, Savard said. She

wore

jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. Shed pul ed her hair back into

a loose ponytail, and she looked more rested than Cam had seen

her in weeks.

Cam nodded and pointed the pen shed been rol ing between

her fingers at Davis. “He didnt do much to hide the

compound in Tennessee because he didnt expect us to come

after him. This time hell take more precautions. Background

himhis family by blood and marriage, the military academy and

its faculty, donors to the school, previous graduatesanyone who

might have purchased or inherited land. For now, Id prefer a

covert examination of the academy files, because anything else

is going to tip him off. She shrugged. “But the academy is the

logical place to start. We know he recruits there. If I have to, Ill

confiscate every scrap of paper in the entire place.

“The FBI should have files on the other patriot organizations, Savard

said, “and if hes ever so much as made a phone cal to one of their

leaders, there should be a record of it somewhere. She grimaced. “The

biggest problem is the files are so decentralized its practical y impossible

to search them.

“Try.

“Yes maam, Savard said smartly. “We might get something

from the interrogations of his captured personnel too, if the Company

hasnt buried the intel by now.

“See what you can find there, Cam said, pleased with Savards natural

instincts for counterintel igence. Shed need that kind of backup

from her second-in- command. “And that brings us to the problem of

Valerie Lawrence. We need to know who her Company handler is and

determine if theres a link to Matheson.

Davis took a breath. “Due respect, Commander, but there wont be any

records

of Lawrences handler. Its not like they keep employment

files.

“I know, Cam said, “and thats just one reason why we need to bring

Valerie in.

“We dont know if Matheson only uses men he recruited from his

military academy. She could be his mole, Davis said. “Just like Foster.

“She could be. I dont think she is. Cam expected her people to examine

every option, and Daviss comment didnt bother her. “But until weve

proven it one way or the other, she has to be considered potential y

hostile.

“How do we find her? Savard

asked.

Cam sighed. “Our only link is Diane. We have to hope Valerie tries to

meet with her again and that Diane trusts me enough to tel me. In the

meantime, weve got Foster and the four dead commandos from the

assault on the Aerie. We know they were al at Mathesons military

academy. Maybe thats not their only connection.

“We real y need someone whos an expert on these paramilitary

organizations, Savard said. “I bet al of these guys know each other.

“Il work on that. Absently, Cam rubbed her sore shoulder. “Blair is

scheduled to make a public appearance Saturday night at a fundraiser

in Boston. Id like you two to assist with the security detail. I know its

not in your job description any longer, and Starks doing a great job

integrating Tanners people, but Il feel bet er if we had seasoned agents

for this. Its her first solo appearance since

9/11.

“Of course, Savard said, joining Davis in accepting the assignment.

“Do you think theyl try again so soon?

“I dont know. Cam tried not to let her fury, or her seething sense of

frustration, show. “But we cant af ord to think they wont.

Chapter Fifteen

S o, what do you think of the place? With a sweep of her arm

Tanner indicated the world-class yachting marina tucked into a deep,

narrow inlet on the ocean side of the island. Wrapping one arm around

Blairs shoulders and the other around Dianes waist, she led the two

women to the end of the longest pier. Sailboats and cruisers were

moored in the slips along either side. The charterhouse and a luxury

hotel completed the accommodations. “You like it?

“Its amazing, Blair said. “Somehow youve managed to do al this and stil

keep the untamed feel of the rest of the island.

“Its great, Diane said, echoing Blairs sentiment. She hugged Tanner. “I

admit, I never thought youd set le down enough to run the family

business, let alone do something like this. I figured youd be lying out on

some beach with a string of bored, horny cover girls breaking their

heartsuntil you were fifty or so.

“I might have been. Tanner grinned, then her expression sobered.

“Except I

dont know that I wouldve made it to fifty. I was a lit le crazy before

Adrienne.

Blair shook her head fondly. “God, she certainly has

tamed you.

“Ah, look whos talking. Tanner hip-bumped Blair playful y. “Who

would have guessed youd pick a spooky to marry!

“Yeah yeah, Blair said. “Come on, lets get of the pier. Its freezing in

this wind.

“I have to run up to the charterhouse for a second to check something,

Tanner said, “then Il meet you at the car. She tossed Blair her keys.

“Turn the heater on and warm her up for me. Kind of like old times.

“Your charm doesnt work on me, Whitley. So Id watch your step. As

Tanner laughed and hurried away, Blair grasped Dianes hand and studied

her worriedly.

“You okay? Tanner and I rhapsodizing about the joys of set ling down

must be tough for you to hear right now.

Diane nodded. “Im happy for you. Both of

you.

“I know that. But these tears arent from the wind. Blair gently brushed

at the moisture on Dianes cheeks. “You look worn out.

“Im okay. Im just not sleeping very

wel .

“Or eating very wel . Blair loosed an exasperated sigh as she keyed the

remote to Tanners SUV. She pointed for Diane to get into the front

passenger seat as she got behind the wheel and started the engine. “Its not

going to do anyone any good if you make yourself sick.

“Its hard not to think about it al the time, Diane whispered. “Its hard

not to wonder where she is. Not to wonder if someones hurt she

looked away, her voice breaking.

“You dont have as much experience with this kind of waiting, of not

knowing or understanding whats going on, as I have, Blair said