Radclyffe - Honor Reclaimed

Cam nodded as she and Blair turned to leave. "You'll have it."

Once they were beyond the hearing of Lucinda's deputy chief of staff, Blair asked, "What are you waiting for?"

"You and I need to talk, and I need to go to New York tonight."

Chapter Six

B lair and Cam walked in silence through the warren of offices that was the nerve center of the nation. The West Wing at almost any hour of any day was alive with activity, but now the very air was charged with a sense of urgency. Aides, deputy chiefs, military advisers, and security personnel hurried through the halls, all looking as if they were on a mission of vital importance and already behind schedule.

They nodded to the Secret Service agents stationed at the elevator to the residential floors, and once inside, Blair asked, "Why New York and why tonight?"

Can looked as though she was about to answer, but when the elevator doors slid open and they stepped out, she nodded in the direction of Blair's suite. "Your security chief is here."

Paula Stark stood just outside Blair's door, her gaze fixed on some point on the opposite wall that appeared to hold great interest. She wore a dark suit, and her face was nearly the same shade as her white shirt. Blair's new chief did not look toward them as they approached,

"Paula?" Blair queried as she stopped in front of the Secret Service agent.

"Ma'am," Stark responded stiffly. "In case the commander hasn't yet informed you, I've been assigned as your new security chief."

"Yes, I know."

"I'd like to review your plans for the next few days."

"I don't know that I have any." Blair's voice held just the slightest edge of irritation. "And now isn't a very good time."

"I understand. I'll be happy to wait."

Blair stopped with her hand on the doorknob. "For how long?"

"Until it's convenient for you to meet with me."

"This is a new tactic," Blair said with the barest hint of appreciation in her tone. She glanced at Cam, whose eyes held a glint of humor. "If I don't decide to come out for forty-eight hours, you'll get awfully hungry out here, Paula."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you already look done in."

Stark shifted and met Blair's gaze, "I'm fine, Ms. Powell. And I appreciate that you weren't given any notice of these changes, so I don't wish to disrupt your schedule."

"Your presence is a disruption. But you've always known that."

"Yes, ma'am. I should have said any more of a disruption than necessary."

"Fair enough." Blair smiled with a mixture of humor and bitterness. "So, can I expect you to talk like you have a stick up your ass from now on, then?"

"I'm not sure," Stark replied seriously. "I really haven't had time to work on a command voice."

Blair sighed and pushed the door open. "Come on in. Your approach is unique, and there's no way you could match Cam's command voice anyhow. But for God's sake, relax."

Just inside the door, Stark stopped and looked toward Cam, who had walked to the far side of the room, and gave her a brief shrug of apology. Then she returned her attention to Blair. "I'd like to say right now that I have no intention of replacing the commander. However, I've been given a job to do. A job which I consider vital, and I intend to do it in the best way possible. My way."

"Well. That sounds a lot like the previous security chiefs I've dealt with." Blair flopped down on one of the sofas and indicated a nearby chair. "Sit." She trained her head in Cam's direction. "Are you going to join us?"

"I've got some calls to make. And I think this ought to be between the two of you." She smiled at Blair and nodded to Stark as she headed for the adjoining room. "I'm glad to see you're on the job, Agent."

"Thank you, Commander."

"Let's get this over with, Stark," Blair said testily. "You'll find that the daily briefings are not one of my favorite exercises."

Stark took a breath and launched into her prepared speech. "The first team, at least temporarily, will consist of myself and two to three other agents, depending upon the circumstances. Right now, I don't have the duty assignments because I've just been given the names of your new team members."

Blair's eyes narrowed. "I'm not happy about working with strangers, especially if we're at Priority One."

"That's why I'll be on the first team. Outside the perimeter of the White House, I'll be your primary agent."

"It'll be tough, doing double duty as both the crew chief and my primary."

Stark's expression didn't change. "In my opinion, that's the appropriate action."

"All right. Thank you, that will make it easier for me."

"As to the commander—"

"There's nothing about Cam's presence in my life that's open for discussion." The faint warmth that had seeped its way into Blair's voice since they had begun talking quickly disappeared. "You and I are friends, Paula." In fact, for a few brief hours in what now felt like the distant past, they'd been more than that. "I hope you're not going to suddenly pretend that you don't know what she means to me."

"I was going to suggest that the commander attend daily briefings, since I'm sure you would both prefer that."

Blair tilted her head and studied Stark appraisingly. "And you don't mind that? My lover and your former boss observing your new command?"

Stark released a long, pent-up breath and leaned forward, her hands clasped loosely between her knees, her eyes holding Blair's unflinchingly. "It doesn't matter whether I mind or not. What matters is that your security team functions effectively, and I believe it will run more smoothly if the commander is aware of the daily plan." She separated her hands and curled her fingers over her knees, her voice softening for an instant. "But just so you know, I won't forget anything."

"They should have assigned more agents like you in the past, Paula," Blair said quietly.. "I might not have found it necessary to disappear quite so often."

"I'd like it if you could promise not to do that in the future, Ms. Powell," Stark said, all business again. "Because the danger is far more than theoretical now."

"I can't." There was no aggression in Blair's voice, only an undercurrent of regret. "But I'll do the best I can."

Stark nodded. "Then we have a plan." She leaned back and unbuttoned her jacket, the first break in her formal posture. "We need to talk about the next few days."

"I'm flying with my father to Manhattan tomorrow to view.. .the scene."

"I'll discuss the itinerary with Agent Turner," Stark said, referring to the president's security chief. "And you'll be staying here tonight?"

"You're blushing."

"I've been working on that," Stark acknowledged conversationally. She grinned for a fleeting second. "No luck so far."

"I don't know where I'll be tonight."

"Ms. Powell—"

Blair interrupted. "It depends on Cam's plans. If she doesn't stay here, then I'll stay with her in her apartment."

Stark winced. "Security would be far easier to accomplish here."

"That's not my concern." Blair rose abruptly. "I have your number. I'll call you about my plans."

"Yes, ma'am." Stark stood. "Thank you."

Stark had nearly reached the door when Blair stopped her with a question.

"Have you heard from Renee?"

"Yes. She's.. .uninjured." Somehow all right didn't feel quite like the truth. Stark looked over her shoulder. "It sounds.. .bad.. .up there."

"I can't even imagine," Blair murmured. Her expression softened. "Get some sleep, Paula. I won't be going anywhere for a while. And I promise, I'll call."

"Will do," Stark lied, knowing that before she could sleep, she needed to review the dossiers on the seven new agents she'd been assigned and try to choose three whom Blair would be able to tolerate having in close proximity during her waking hours for the foreseeable future. "I appreciate the time, Ms. Powell."