Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

We agreed to a rendezvous at 2300 tomorrow.

“That doesnt leave us a lot of time, Cam

commented.

“I realize that, but he initial y wanted to schedule the meet for

tonight, and it would not have been unusual for us to rendezvous with

such lit le lead time. Twenty-four hours was as much delay as I

thought I could manage without rousing his suspicions.

“Wel work with it, Cam said.

“Location?

“The extraction point we used when I left the island the

last time.

“The beach here? Stark said sharply. “No way. Were not let ing hostiles

onto the island while Egret is on site.

“Im sorry, I wasnt clear, Valerie said quickly. “Not on the beach, but

where the extraction vessel was anchored.

“On the water, Savard said, making it a statement. “Youre going to meet

him at sea.

“Yes. Il take my boat and wel rendezvous approximately a

mile out.

“So he knows youre at Whitley Point, Felicia

said.

“He does. He asked if I had contacted Cameron. I said I had and

confirmed my location when he asked. She glanced briefly at Cam. “I

had to assume that he already knew. A lot of smal planes pass over

here every day, and he could easily have aerial surveil ance photos. If

he knows Im here, or that you are, I didnt want to be caught lying to

him.

“Whose idea was it to rendezvous at sea? Cam

asked.

“His.

“Its a trap, Felicia said. “He can sink you out there and make it

look like weather or a mechanical problem.

Valerie shook her head. “Not before he meets with me. I told him I didnt

trust Cameron. Hel want al the intel igence he can gather on

Camerons operation before he burns his connection with me.

“Smart, Cam observed. “Hel want to talk to you. Hel want to know

what we might suspect about him or Matheson.

“Thats what I think, yes, Valerie said. “That would be typical for this

kind of situation. A brief verbal information exchange.

“What about put ing me below deck on Valeries boat, Commander?

Savard asked.

Cam shook her head. “Hes going to

search.

“Can you at least get him onto your boat? Savard asked Valerie. “We

can rig cameras and microphones to monitor you there, but if you have

to board his, wel be lucky to get audio.

“Wil he search you for a mic? Felicia

asked.

Valerie shrugged. “I dont know. He never has before, but the

rules have

obviously

changed.

Cam held up her hand. “We cant depend on him coming aboard Valeries

vessel. Wel need long-range satel ite tracking. Mac can coordinate that

from here. She looked at Stark. “Youl need to pul people from Tanners

day crew to augment your night shift. We cant be certain they wont try

a dual assault, and you and Mac wil be tied up coordinating

communications.

Stark stif ened. “Mac doesnt need me to assist. I can go with the ground

detail, Commander.

Cam shook her head. “Not with Egret on site. You need to be

here. If something goes wrong, youl have to evac her quickly. Id

suggest you make contingency plans to get her back to the White House,

but thats your cal .

“Yes,

maam.

“Wel have to go without visual if Valerie boards Henrys vessel, Cam

said with a nod to Savard, “but I want audio surveil ance that Henry

wont catch even if he looks. Wires are too risky if he does a body

search.

“Hes not going to have the equipment to look for an implantable,

Valerie said. “If we get it in by tomorrow morning, the puncture site

should be very dif icult to spot as lit le as twelve hours later.

“A transdermal receiver? Savard said, her eyes brightening with

anticipation. “How are we going to get it? Thats the kind of stuf only

the DOD has, and even thats just a rumor.

“Its not a rumor, Valerie

said.

“Whats the range? Felicia

asked.

“1000 yards. Valerie glanced at Cam. “He may see you at that

range.

“Possibly, Cam said. “But were close enough to fishing and shipping

routes that there wil be plenty of water traf ic, even at night. Wel run

without lights as much as we can.

“Thats quite a distance if we have to extract quickly, Savard

said.

“Once Valerie and Henry rendezvous, hel be occupied and wel be able

to drift in closer. Cam cut her eyes to Valerie. “A minute. Thats likely to

be how much time wel need to get aboard if you signal. Two, tops.

“Understood, Valerie replied with a faint smile. “Thats a very

acceptable margin.

“With respect, Commander, Savard said, “thats a long

window.

Cam didnt disagree. Even sixty seconds could be a death sentence

if the operation went bad. “Weve got thirty-six hours to cut the

margin. Lets get working.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Frida

y

Y ou dont have to leave right away, do you? Diane sat on the bed

watching

Valerie dress. “Its not even nine

oclock.

Valerie hesitated, stil not used to disclosing the particulars of an

operation to anyone. Of course, before Diane, there had never been

anyone close enough other than Cam. Now, even though she would trust

Diane with her life, she felt uneasy discussing the work she did. She had

only just returned from spending the day finalizing the last details of the

plan with Cam and Savard, and her mind was completely engaged with

what was to come. It occurred to her then that there were reasons

intimate relationships were discouraged for agents such as

herself. The needs of others were a distraction. Life was a

distraction.

Forcing herself to focus on Diane, Valerie found her looking more

pale than usual. She knew Diane hadnt slept the night before, even

though she had tried to pretend she was sleeping. Eventual y theyd both

admit ed they were awake and had made desperate love until morning,

when Valerie had silently slipped away while Diane slept.

“I want to be at the rendezvous point wel before he arrives, Valerie

said.

“What about the others? Theyl be with you, wont

they?

“Theyl fol ow a short time later. Dont worry, theyl be there

long before anything happens.

“Can I come with you to the

marina?

Valerie shook her head as she tucked her long-sleeved T-shirt into her

jeans. “Im riding down with one of Tanners crew and they wont be

coming back here. She kissed Diane softly. “I dont want you get ing

marooned out there in the middle of the night.

“I dont mind waiting. Diane rose and clasped Valerie lightly

around the waist. “Im going to go slightly stir crazy waiting here.

“You need to stay here, Valerie said gently, pul ing Diane

close. She brushed her mouth over Dianes ear. “Its important

that you stay close to Blair in case you have to leave quickly.

Diane stiffened. “You mean if something goes wrong out there.

“There are any number of reasons why Stark might want to

move

you both, and it wont necessarily mean that anything has

gone wrong. Just promise me youll do whatever Stark says.

“Im not leaving here without

you.

“You may have to. Please, love, I need to know that you will do

what Stark says. Valerie cupped Dianes cheek. “I need to

know youre all right so I can concentrate on doing this thing.

Can you help me?

Diane took a deep breath. “Yes. But promise youll call me

or come find me as soon as you can?

Feeling Diane tremble, Valerie murmured softly and kissed her.