Неизвестный - 06. Honor Under Siege

Cam jumped to her feet, too wired to sit, and winced at the sudden surge of pain that sliced down her back and into her right leg. She barely bit back a groan.

Valerie grasped her hand. “Sit down, Cameron. You’re in too much pain to stand.”

“What’s his name?” Cam looked down at Valerie and at their hands, still joined, remembering. She had held this woman in the night. She had come in her arms. She had found some semblance of peace in her touch during the darkest hours of her life. And she had loved her as much as she’d been able to then.

“Henry,” Valerie said softly. “That’s all I know.”

“Fifteen years and you never tried to find out more?”

Valerie shook her head. “That’s not the way things are done.”

Cam gently released Valerie’s hand and sat down again. “I know. Do you think he’s the link?”

Pain flashed across Valerie’s face and was quickly erased. “I don’t know. And until I do, I can’t contact him or anyone else on the inside.”

“Where were you planning to go?”

“Just before 9/11 we began to see intelligence that there was an active cell in France, possibly Paris, working with other cells in Europe and the Middle East. They were rumored to be planning a coordinated attack here.”

Cam swore and struggled to keep her temper in check. “Why didn’t anyone else know this?”

“Cameron,” Valerie said with a resigned sigh. “You know how every agency guards its intelligence. And certainly those of us in the field were never told anything. I didn’t learn this until after everything happened.”

“When they sent you to work with us,” Cam said bitterly. She’d been used, and although it hadn’t been the first time and in all likelihood wouldn’t be the last, she resented it.

“Yes. They were hoping we might find a lead to the cell in Paris in the course of investigating Foster.”

“What do you think you can do there on your own?”

Valerie shrugged, clearly frustrated. “I don’t know. Possibly nothing. But if I don’t find the link that ties Foster and Matheson and the Company together, I’m never going to be able to come in.”

“Come in now, with me.”

“I trust you, but you can’t protect me once I’m visible. And we both know the easiest way to make this all go away is to eliminate me.” Valerie drained her Scotch and set the glass carefully on the end table. “Whoever tried to run you down tonight probably knows about our relationship. Killing you would cut off one more avenue of escape for me.”

“I came to the same conclusion,” Cam said, hoping Blair hadn’t.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Cam laughed wearily. “For believing in the Company line, or for meeting me in the bar that first night?”

“Certainly not the latter. I’m coming to regret the first. I’m already responsible for one attempt on your life. I don’t want to be the cause of another.”

“I’m your best shot, and you know it.” Cam stood. “If you let me bring you in, I give you my word no one will know until we’ve identified Matheson’s source. I’ll personally guarantee that you are protected.”

“I don’t want to spend months, possibly years, in a safe house, Cam.” Valerie laughed. “God knows, if I wanted to disappear and start over as someone else, I could. I’m tired of being someone else. I want out.”

Cam made a decision based on everything she knew, and more importantly, on everything she believed. “Work with me and my team to find Matheson, and I’ll get you out.”

“I’m not sure even you can do that, Cameron.” Rising, Valerie slid her hand to the back of Cam’s neck and kissed her on the cheek. “I need to think about it.”

“The longer you stay under, the worse it looks.”

“I know.”

“What about Diane?”

“I shouldn’t have contacted her today. It was selfish.” Valerie hooked her arm through Cam’s as they walked toward the door. “I won’t try to see her again.”

Cam gave her a secure phone number as she shrugged into her jacket. “No one will know. You have my word.”

“I won’t be here in the morning, in case you were wondering.”

“I won’t come after you, not unless I have to.”

“Thank you.” Valerie smiled sadly. “Goodnight, Cameron.”

Cam drew her into a gentle embrace. “Call me. Soon.”

Chapter Twelve

Wednesday

Thomas Jefferson Matheson picked up the phone on the first ring. If he hadn’t been listening for it, he wouldn’t have recognized the faint buzz emanating from the electronic jammer. He’d put his own people on surveillance duty as soon as he’d gotten word of where the bait had landed. Trusting an agent he couldn’t directly control was not ideal, and he wanted his own back-up plan in place if he needed to settle matters himself. “Yes?”

“Nothing to report, sir.”

“No activity during the night?”

“No sir. Everyone is still in the apartment.”

“Really.” Matheson swallowed a generous mouthful of steaming coffee, ignoring the burn in the back of his throat. He’d slept well, risen before dawn, and worked out vigorously in the hotel health club for an hour. And he’d had a most satisfactory evening. “No one in or out?”

“Well…” his man said hesitantly.

Matheson heard the rustle of papers.

“Routine movement reported at…ah…around 1900 yesterday. Roberts went for a run…several hours later security changed shift… uh, today…three subjects arrived at 0800, most likely for start of shift briefing. Nothing beyond that.”

“You seem to be missing a few details in your report.”

“Yes sir. What would that be, sir?”

Matheson smiled, picturing the man squirming. He was new. “At 1932 last night, Roberts was struck by a passing motorist and may have sustained substantial injuries.” He still felt a surge of pleasure thinking about the flicker of shock on her face as he bore down on her. When

he’d had the good fortune of passing by just as she exited the building, his only intention had been to follow her. But the longer he’d watched her pound through the streets as if she owned them while he hid like impotent prey, the more his anger had grown. She had destroyed his compound and killed some of his best boys, and now she stood in the way of him completing his mission. She needed to be neutralized. “Apparently your surveillance team didn’t think it necessary to cover her.”

To the man’s credit, he defended his team. “I’m sure they felt it more important to watch for any contact between our critical target and those on site, sir.”

“It’s just as strong a possibility that Lawrence will contact Roberts. I expect Roberts will move her base today. It’s what I would do after a pre-emptive strike. As soon as you have a new location, contact me. Bleeker is the bait, but Roberts is in command. Without her, they’ll break ranks.”

“Yes sir. I’ll relay your orders.”

“Be prepared to take action soon.” Matheson felt his groin tingling as he considered a plan to turn the hunters into quarry. “I’m growing tired of this waiting game.”

“Are you sure you want me to come with you?” Diane asked as she packed her suitcase. “I know what Cam said, but—”

“If you weren’t already here, we’d come and get you.” Blair sat cross-legged on the bed in blue jeans and a long-sleeved navy T-shirt. Her hair was loose and she was barefoot. “I can’t believe I let you go back to Manhattan alone in the first place.”

“Who knew that these people… these maniacs… who tried to hurt you would keep coming? How can they possibly think they can gain power in this country? We aren’t some third world dictatorship that’s likely to topple at the slightest show of violence.”