Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

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

guards to cal

Stark when they intercepted me, she said. “Are you running Blairs

detail again?

Cam shook her head. “No, but this entire operation is an OHS mat er,

and that puts me in charge.

“And youre going to take on the

Company?

“If

need

be.

“The Companys been around a long time, Valerie said. “Homeland

Security is so fresh most people dont even know what it is.

“Theyl find out soon

enough.

“I guess we al wil . Valerie pushed her hands into the pocket of her

jacket and hunched her shoulders against the wind. “God, this is going

to be a mess until people sort out their turf.

“Probably for a lot longer than that. Cam realized Valerie was shivering.

“How far did you walk?

“Four or five milesI wanted to be sure to flank your guards so theyd

have a good look at me as I came up the beach. I didnt want to come out

of nowhere right on top of them and have them shooting at shadows.

“You said you thought they were too wel -trained

for that.

“Lets just say I prefer the odds to be solidly stacked in my favor

when Im unarmed in hostile territory.

“Sound procedure, Cam agreed. Shed find out soon enough just how

Valerie had penetrated far enough into the island to get around the

guards. She sensed movement in the shadows of to her right and slid her

hand over her weapon just as Felicia stepped out of the cover of the

dunes. Beside her, Valerie tensed.

“Al clear, Commander? Felicia

asked.

“Yes. You can let Savard and Stark know to stand

down.

“Yes maam. Felicia relayed the orders by radio, then regarded Valerie

as the trio climbed the path toward the compound. “Good to see you.

“Thanks, Valerie replied. “I feel the

same.

“You and Savard should take some down time while you can, Davis,

Cam said. “Wel brief again at 0600.

“Yes maam. Felicia veered of the path toward the guesthouse.

“Goodnight, Commander.

Cam stopped midway between the guesthouse and the main house at a