by Radclyffe
them down over her hips, letting them fall to the floor. She sat
on the side of the bed and unbuttoned her shirt. Blair, in a
threadbare T- shirt, was already under the covers.
“If she does, youre not going, Blair said, lifting the sheets.
Cam slipped underneath with a sigh. Turning onto her uninjured
left side, she pil owed her head against her bent arm and
smiled tiredly at Blair. “Lets get some sleep, baby.
Blair caressed Cams cheek. “Yes. You need it. And youre still
not going out if she calls.
“I
love
you.
“I love you too. And youre still not
going.
“If I dont, Diane is either going to try to get to her herself,
or Valeries going to risk another rendezvous with Diane. Either
way, theyll both be vulnerable if Valerie is a target.
“I hate it when youre reasonable.
Cam smiled. “I know. I do it just to make you
crazy.
Blair kissed her. “Its working. She slid an arm beneath
Cams shoulder and drew her closer, pil owing Cams head
against her breast. “How are you feeling?
“Not that bad. The ibuprofen final y kicked
in. “Why cant Valerie come here?
“Because youre here, Cam mumbled. “Too hard to secure.
“Why cant she come to Whitley Point?
“What? Cam said, her mind fuzzy with near
sleep.
“You said yourself Whitley Point is going to be far easier
to
defend.
Blair waited in the silence, caressing Cams neck and
shoulders. Eventual y when she realized Cam was asleep, she
turned off the light and closed her eyes. She drifted on the
border between sleep and consciousness, some part of her
needing to feel Cam in her arms, to know that she was safe. A
knock sounded on the door, and she reluctantly slid from bed,
uncertain how long shed been asleep. When Cam did not
wake up, Blair knew just how much the accident had taken out
of her. She crossed the room stealthily and opened the door a
crack.
“Im sorry, Diane whispered from the hall. “Im sorry, but I need
to talk to Cam.
* * * * *
“Scotch, please, Cam said as she eased onto a stool at the far
end of the highly-polished mahogany bar in the nearly deserted
Four Seasons Hotel lounge, just before 1:00 a.m. She was as
certain as she could be that she hadnt been followed.
Assuming that someone was watching her building, she had
left by the rear service doors and walked to the nearest
Metro stop. En route, shed checked careful y for a tail and saw
no indication of one, but while she waited for her drink, she
scanned the room.
At first glance, the area appeared secure. Three business
types, two men and a woman, sat around a cocktail table
near the windows discussing market shares and margins just
loudly enough for her to catch snippets of their conversation. A
lone man in a rumpled suit talked on a cell phone while he
peered at a laptop computer and tapped frantical y on the
keyboard with his free
hand. A fortyish woman in jeans and a sweater sat hunched at
the opposite end of the bar, scribbling in a notebook and
sipping absently from a glass of white wine.
Cam, intending to appear like a late-night business traveler,
had dressed in a cotton shirt and lightweight wool trousers
beneath a casual leather jacket and had exchanged her usual
shoulder harness for a hip holster. She nursed her Scotch and
waited fifteen minutes before cal ing the bartender over.
“You know, I mustve gotten my signals crossed. I just got in
from the airport and I was supposed to meet a col eague here.
Weve got a big meeting in the morning
“A lot of people come through here, the stocky bartender said.
“Weve never actual y met in person. Only on the phone, Cam said, as
reluctant
to give a description as he was to disclose anything about patrons. She
patted
her pockets as if looking for something. “Hel , maybe I got the time
wrong. I
thought for sure Claire
said
“Claire. The bartender smiled. “Yeah, she was here for a couple of
minutes, but left when you didnt show. She said if anyone came looking,
to tel them room
418.
“Thanks. Cam dropped a ten dol ar bil on the bar as she rose. “You
saved me a lot of embarrassment in the morning.
She took her time walking to the elevators, once again covertly observing
those around her. Satisfied that no one was watching, she rode to the
conference level and stepped of . She couldnt access the room floors
without a keycard and hadnt planned to anyway. As expected, the foyer
was empty in the middle of the night. She picked up a house phone and
dialed 836.
“Im here. Third
floor.
“Il
come
down.
Two minutes later the elevator stopped and Valerie stepped of .
She immediately pushed the up but on, shaking her head in irritation
as if shed forgot en something. She did not look at Cam, who stood
nearby. An up- elevator stopped and they both stepped into the empty
car. Valerie, in narrow, low heeled black boots, a black boatneck
sweater with a wide band at the waist, and flaring black silk slacks,
looked very much as she had the first time Cam had seen her. Her hair
was shorter and, rather than platinum blond, was now shot through with
red highlights. Her elegant near-patrician features were strained.
The door opened on the eighth floor and Cam fol owed Valerie to room
836. Once inside, Cam removed her leather jacket and laid it over the
back of the antique desk chair. The room was typical for the Four
Seasons, with a king size bed and a formal sit ing area complete with
sofa, end tables, cof ee table, and a minibar.
“Scotch? Valerie asked, her voice as rich and mel ow as the
whiskey she of ered.
“A short one, Cam said as she walked into the sit ing
area.
Valerie poured an inch of the smoky liquor into two crystal rock
glasses and of ered one to Cam. “You didnt bring Diane.
Cam shook her head and drank of half the Scotch. “Did you think that I
would? Valerie smiled softly. “No. I knew that you wouldnt, especial y
after giving her
the message that you would meet me
here.
“Sorry.
“You shouldnt be. I didnt want her to come. I was cal ing her to tel
her that. Valerie sat on the sofa and sipped her Scotch, her expression
distant. “I couldnt walk out twice without saying goodbye.
“Going somewhere? Cam sat next to
Valerie.
“What happened to your
face?
“Someone tried to run me down not far from my apartment
tonight.
Valerie lightly touched one finger to Cams chin, tilting her face toward
the lamp. “Blair must be wild.
“Good
deduction.
“If your face looks like this, I ima
gine the rest of you is pret y
sore too.
“You would be right again, Cam said, aware that Valeries hand was
shaking. “How are you doing?
“Ive been more comfortable. Valerie dropped her hand into her
lap. “You know it wasnt me.
“In the vehicle that tried to turn me into roadkil ? I know. What I dont
know is what else is going on.
“Neither do I. Valerie shifted until her knee lightly touched Cams leg.
“You remembered our system. She smiled almost wistful y. “The first
time you cal ed the service and I met you downstairs in the bar, I was
surprised.
“About what, Cam asked gently. She was in no hurry. There was too
much between them not to let Valerie say what she needed to say.
“You were gorgeous. I couldnt imagine that a woman like you would
need to
“Pay for it? Cam said with a sardonic
shrug.
“Find comfort with strangers. Cam
smiled. “Were not strangers now.
Valerie rested her fingers lightly on Cams forearm. “No, were not. But
you dont altogether trust me, do you?
“I know youre a professional and I know that youl fol ow orders. Your
orders might be at odds with my mission.
“You want Matheson, Valerie said with certainty. “And so
do I.
“Someone warned him before we could get to
him.
“I know that. What I dont know is
who.
“The leak had to come from you, Cam said
mildly. Valerie sighed. “Yes. I know.
“Your
handler?
Valerie looked pained. “I dont know. I hope not. Ive known him fifteen
years. She met Cams gaze, an apology in her eyes. “Ive told him a lot in
those fifteen years.
Cam grimaced. “Ive already come to terms with the fact that my private
life isnt private and hasnt been for some time. Whats his name?
Valerie
hesitated.
“Jesus, Valerie, Cam snapped. “If hes not dirty it wont mat er. If he is,
we need to know because hes probably not the only one. Do you
seriously think that
Matheson could pul of something like the assault on Blair with only one
contact on the inside? For al we know, hes got a network . For al we
know, hes going to try again.
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. Youre in too much
pain to stand.
“Whats his name? Cam looked down at Valerie and at their hands, stil
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
shed been able to then.
“Henry, Valerie said softly. “Thats al I
know.
“Fifteen years and you never tried to find out
more?
Valerie shook her head. “Thats not the way things are
done.
Cam gently released Valeries hand and sat down again. “I know. Do you
think hes the link?
Pain flashed across Valeries face and was quickly erased. “I dont
know. And until I do, I cant contact him or anyone else on the inside.
“Where were you planning to
go?
“Just before 9/11 we began to see intel igence that there was an active
cel in France, possibly Paris, working with other cel s in Europe and the
Middle East. They were rumored to be planning a coordinated at ack
here.
Cam swore and struggled to keep her temper in check. “Why didnt
anyone else
know
this?
“Cameron, Valerie said with a resigned sigh. “You know how every
agency guards its intel igence. And certainly those of us in the field
were never told anything. I didnt learn this until after everything
happened.
“When they sent you to work with us, Cam said bit erly. Shed been
used, and although it hadnt been the first time and in al likelihood
wouldnt be the last, she resented it.
“Yes. They were hoping we might find a lead to the cel in Paris in the
course of investigating Foster.
“What do you think you can do there on your
own?
Valerie shrugged, clearly frustrated. “I dont know. Possibly nothing. But
if I dont find the link that ties Foster and Matheson and the Company
together, Im never going to be able to come in.
“Come in now, with
me.
“I trust you, but you cant protect me once Im visible. And we both know
the easiest way to make this al go away is to eliminate me. Valerie
drained her Scotch and set the glass careful y on the end table.
“Whoever tried to run you down tonight probably knows about our
relationship. Kil ing you would cut of one more avenue of escape for
me.
“I came to the same conclusion, Cam said, hoping Blair
hadnt.
“Im
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 lat er. Im coming to regret the first. Im already
responsible for
one at empt on your life. I dont want to be the cause of
another.
“Im your best shot, and you know it. Cam stood. “If you let me bring
you in, I give you my word no one wil know until weve identified
Mathesons source. Il personal y guarantee that you are protected.
“I dont 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. Im 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 Il get you out.
“Im not sure even you can do that, Cameron. Rising, Valerie slid her
hand to the back of Cams 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 shouldnt have contacted her today. It was selfish. Valerie hooked
her arm through Cams as they walked toward the door. “I wont try to
see her again.
Cam gave her a secure phone number as she shrugged into her jacket.
“No one wil know. You have my word.
“I wont be here in the morning, in case you were
wondering.
“I wont come after you, not unless I have
to.
“Thank you. Valerie smiled sadly. “Goodnight,
Cameron.
Cam drew her into a gentle embrace. “Cal me.
Soon.
Chapter Twelve
Wednesda
y
T homas Jef erson Matheson picked up the phone on the first ring. If he
hadnt been listening for it, he wouldnt have recognized th
e faint buzz
emanating from the electronic jammer. Hed put his own people on
surveil ance duty as soon as hed got en word of where the bait had
landed. Trusting an agent he couldnt directly control was not ideal, and
he wanted his own back-up plan in place if he needed to set le mat ers
himself. “Yes?
“Nothing to report,
sir.
“No activity during the
night?
“No sir. Everyone is stil in the
apartment.
“Real y. Matheson swal owed a generous mouthful of steaming cof ee,
ignoring the burn in the back of his throat. Hed slept wel , risen
before dawn, and worked out vigorously in the hotel health club for an
hour. And hed had a most satisfactory evening. “No one in or out?
“Wel his man said hesitantly.
Matheson heard the rustle of
papers.
“Routine movement reported ataharound 1900 yesterday. Roberts went
for a runseveral hours later security changed shift uh, todaythree
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
hed had the good fortune of passing by just as she exited
the building, his only intention had been to fol ow her. But the
longer hed 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 kil ed
some of his best boys, and now she stood in the way of him
completing his mission. She needed to be neutralized.
“Apparently your surveil ance team didnt think it necessary to
cover her.
To the mans credit, he defended his team. “Im sure they felt it
more important to watch for any contact between our critical
target and those on site, sir.
“Its just as strong a possibility that Lawrence will contact Roberts.
I expect Roberts will move her base today. Its 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, theyll break ranks.
“Yes sir. Ill relay your orders.
