Honor Under Siege

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.