Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

" Toss me your tie line, Valerie said, "and come aboard. "Here

you go. Catch, a deep male voice responded. "Drop your ladder.

Savard glanced at Cam in surprise. Cam shook her head,

thinking it wasnt necessarily a good sign that Henry was so

wil ing to board Valeries boat. It meant they had an open channel

to Valerie if they needed one, but if Henrys plan was to

eliminate Valerie, he wouldnt want to do it on his own vessel.

Hed want to do it on hers.

“ Are you armed? Henry

said.

“ Of

course.

“ What

about

the

others?

“ What

others?

“ Dont tell me you came without

backup.

“ Do you see anyone? Valerie

asked.

Henry laughed. “Only about two dozen boats out

there.

“ I told you I dont trust them. No one knows Im out here. Search the

boat if you want.

“ Not necessary. I agreed to this meet under these less than

optimal circumstances, Henry said, “so youll believe me when I tell

you that you need to come in. Youre in danger.

“ From whom?

“ From Roberts. The White House sent her after

you.

“ Why?

“ They need a scapegoat. How long do you think theyll be able to keep

the

attack on the presidents daughter quiet? Add to that they botched

the assault on Mathesons compound and let him escape.

“ He

had

help.

“ The country needs accountability, especial y after 9/11. Someone needs

to pay for that, Henry said. “Washburn and the security adviser and

a fair number of other people have decided it will be you, for starters.

Its out of our hands.

“ And if I come

in?

“ Well help you get lost for a year or two. Theres work to be

done elsewhere.

“Convincing, isnt he, Felicia mut ered. “Bastard. “Whats the

temperature register look like? Cam asked. “Theres a three degree dif

erence between them. Felicia keyed Donaldson. “Can you distinguish

the primary from the friendly? “Yes maam, as long as they dont move

around too much. “On my mark, Cam ordered on the same channel.

“Yes maam. Locked and loaded.

“ Who tipped Matheson? Valerie asked. “We think he has friends in

the

Special Forces. “Do we have a

name?

“ Several possibles. Ill brief you as soon as you are secure. “Where do

you want me to go? “I want you to come with me now. “Tonight?

“ If you go back, Roberts may lock you down and we wont be able

to extract.

“ What about my boat? “Well sink it. Its a good

cover.

“He came prepared. Cam checked the digital readout on the electronic

timer running in one corner of Felicias monitor. Henry had been on

board almost five

minutes. That was a long time for this kind of

rendezvous.

“If she goes with him, he sinks the boat and shel disappear, Savard said.

“If she doesnt agree to go, and hes bad, hel sink the boat and shel

disappear. Either way, he wins.

“ I need at least 24 hours to create a plausible cover with Roberts,

Valerie said. “I didnt spend all that time getting close to her to lose my

connection to her now. Even if I have to go deep undercover, Ill still

have a link to her.

“ Shell never give you

anything.

“ She

already

has.

“ What? Henrys voice

rose.

Listening, Cam tensed. Valerie was playing a dangerous game.

If Henry thought she already had important information, he

might not let her go even if he wasnt working with Matheson. If

he was Mathesons front man, all the more reason to take her

now, or eliminate her.

“ Theyre close to identifying

Two miles away, Starks satel ite image showed a new blip at

the same time as Mac picked up a thermal flair five miles

from Valeries boat.

“Christ, Mac blurted. “Its an SSM!

Stark jumped to her feet.

“Target? “Tracking!

Stark grabbed her radio. “Hara, this is command one. Stand by

to evacuate.

“No! Blair exclaimed, grabbing Starks arm. “What is

it?

“Missile. Stark turned sharply to Mac. “Target. I need it

now, Mac!

Mac was already opening the comm channel. “Savard! Ship

to ship missile, targeting Valeries boat. Forty seconds to impact!

* * * *

* “Donaldson, mark, Cam snapped.

“Roger.

Cam switched to the open microphone on Valeries boat. “This

is Cameron Roberts. You are targeted for a direct hit by an

SSM. You have thirty-seven seconds. Evacuate your vessel.

“ She s lying, Henry shouted. “Stay right there! “No,

Valerie said, “shesHenry, we have towhy are you drawing your

weapon? There s no one

* * * * *

“Thirty-two seconds, Savard called. “Shell never disengage

from

Henrys vessel in time, Commander.

“Fire! Cam ordered and Donaldsons rifle cracked from just outside

the cabin. Cam spun toward Savard. “Get us in there now.

“Its going to get hot, Savard noted even as she powered up the

engine

and shoved the throttle to maximum.

Cam didnt answer, stripping off her windbreaker and vest as

she ran from the cabin. Shed been wrong. They didnt have

thirty seconds.

* * * * *

Blair pressed close to Paulas back, unconsciously gripping

her shoulders. “Whats happening?

“Time? Paula shouted to

Mac. “Five four three two

one

For a mil isecond, the blip in the center of Paulas screen

doubled in size. Then it winked out.

After a minute of silence, Diane asked unsteadily,

“Wheres

Valerie?

“Weve lost the signal, Paula said tightly.

“What about Cams? Blairs fingers dug into Paulas shoulders.

Paula shook her head.

* * * * *

“Fine shooting, Colonel. Matheson leaned against the rail of

the boat, feeling a swell of satisfaction as a tower of flame

climbed into the sky on the horizon.

“Thank you, General.

“Weve eliminated both problems at once, Matheson said. “Its

time to rejoin our men and re-dedicate ourselves to our true

mission. We have a war to win.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I s she are they Oh, God, Diane whispered. “Get me a narrow-

field, real-time image! Paula ordered. She keyed her radio.

“Hara, standby. Close the roads. No one in or out. Call in the

backup units and position them on the shore and the perimeter.

Blair realized she was still gripping Paulas shoulders and

forced herself to let go. She couldnt move her eyes from the

screen in front of her. She stared at the dark circle, wil ing

an image to appear.

“Cams boat, Blair asked hoarsely. “Cams boat should still

be there, shouldnt it? Paula?

For the first time in her life, Paula ignored the first

daughter. Renée was on the boat that had suddenly

disappeared. The thought sent a momentary surge of panic

through her and she went completely blank. Then, as if

changing a channel in her mind, picture after picture snapped