by Radclyffe
Chapter Seventeen
I m sorry, Emory Constantine murmured, bending over Blair, who sat
at the head table with Cam, Diane, Renée, and a number of notables
from the scientific and financial world, “but would you mind posing for
one more round of photos? The president of the Institute
“No, I dont mind, Blair said with a smile, even though shed been
photographed with and without her permission more times than she
cared to count in the last three hours. She was used to the press and had
expected more than her usual share of at ention after al the events of
the last few months and the recent announcement of her personal
plans. Emory it seemed, also garnered a fair amount of media notice,
so with the two of them sit ing together, the questions and photos had
been non-stop al evening. “Il be right there.
As she rose, Cam did also. Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw
Paula wending her way through the tables toward her. When Blair fol
owed Emory onto the stage and joined the smal group waiting there,
Cam and Paula took up positions of to each side. Randolph Sumter,
the current president of the Johnson Institute, was middle-aged,
handsome, and wore his power with subtle arrogance. He didnt try to
hide his non-philanthropic interest as his gaze swept over Blair during
their introduction.
“Ms. Powel , he said in a smooth baritone, “wed love to have you
tour the
Institute. I think youl find we are doing some remarkable
work.
“Yes, Blair replied with polite reserve. “Ive fol owed Dr. Constantines
research with interest. You must be very pleased to have her and her
team on board.
To his credit, his smile never wavered. “Without a doubt. Please
remember me to your father. The board was a staunch supporter during
his last campaign.
“I certainly wil . Blair took Cams hand. “I dont believe youve met my
partner, Cameron Roberts.
Sumter acknowledged Cam perfunctorily, signaled to the
photographers, and positioned himself between Blair and Emory with a
hand on each of their backs. Once the obligatory photo shoot was over,
Blair drew Emory aside.
“I hope you dont mind, but Im going to slip out a lit le
early.
Emory shook her head. “Please, you dont need to explain. She
glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “Theyre
hungry tonight, arent they?
“Tonight? Blair laughed. “Im real y glad we got to meet. I thought your
speech was dynamite. If theres ever anything I can do, just give me a cal
.
“Thank you. Emory walked Blair to the far side of the stage where the
crowd on the floor was thinner. “I might just take you up on that
someday.
Blair smiled. “Good. Im
serious.
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too, Emory said,
waiting until
Cam was close enough to
hear.
“Thank you, Cam and Blair said
together.
“Il walk out with you, Emory said, “and we can trade phone
numbers. She looked over the several hundred people in the banquet
room and sighed. “Ive stil got another hours networking to go, and I
could use a break.
“Come on, then. Blair grinned. “Im an expert at sneaking out of things
like this.
Cam motioned to Stark. “Let the team know were ready to leave. Il get
Diane and Savard. Were stil using the planned exit?
“Yes. Il have the cars move around now. Stark murmured
instructions, then said to Blair, “Five minutes, Ms. Powel .
At the appointed time, the smal group took the elevator at the rear
of the building to the ground floor and headed briskly down the
service corridor toward an exit used by the hotel staf . Blair couldnt
see anyone in the alcoves and smal er hal ways branching of the main
corridor, but she was certain that members of the security team were
stationed along the way. She leaned close to Emory.
“If you real y want to break ranks, you can come back to the hotel with
us for a drink.
Emory laughed. “God, dont tempt me. Unfortunately, fundraising is a
necessary evil and Ive got enough to worry about without adding money
problems to my list.
“I can imagine, Blair said. “Dont worry too much about anti-stem cel
research legislation. I can tel you my father does not support measures
to restrict your work.
“Thank you.
I
“Stark, Cam said sharply as a man in a three-piece suit rounded a
corner twenty feet in front of them and strode rapidly toward them.
Even as she spoke, she started to step toward Blair. He raised his arm.
“Gun!
someone
shouted.
Blair barely heard the warning before the hal way erupted in gunfire and
she was
knocked to the floor. As she fel she grabbed for Cam but could not reach
her. Then she was on the floor with a tremendous weight pinning her
down. She pushed and struggled to get free but was only able to turn
her head. She saw a hand and part of a sleeve stretched out on the floor
a few yards away. Cams hand. She screamed but couldnt get enough air
to emit more than a choked sob. Someone groaned.
Then Blair was yanked to her feet, then off her feet, and propel ed
down the hal way by someone she couldnt see. Someone big. She final
y twisted enough in the iron grip to make out the features. Wozinski.
“Cam, Blair gasped. “Where is
she?
Wozinski didnt answer as he shouldered his way out into a narrow
service al ey. The metal service door banged against the stone building
façade with a sharp clang.
The limo idled directly in front of the exit with the back door
open. Hara crouched beside it, her gun extended in both hands as she
visual y swept right and left. Blair jerked in Wozinskis grasp and
almost wrenched free, but he dragged her across the sidewalk, pushed
her head down, and shoved her into the backseat.
“Cam, Blair shouted, immediately trying to climb out of the vehicle.
Dianes body blocked her way as she too was pushed inside. Savard
fol owed, the door slammed, and the vehicle careened away.
Blair stared at Savard, whose face was bone white. Her own heart was
racing so quickly her chest ached. She took a breath and then another
and dug her fingers into the leather seat. “What do we know?
“Nothing, Savard said
tightly.
Beside her, Diane sat rigidly upright, her arms wrapped around her
torso, her
pupils dilated so much her blue eyes looked black. She said my God, my
God
over and over in a hushed
voice.
Blair heard sirens, and then tires squealed behind them and she hastily
knelt on the seat to stare out the rear window. Renée leaned across the
space between the seats, grasped her shoulder, and gently pul ed her
back down.
“Please stay away from the
windows.
“Wheres Cam? Blair took a shaky b
reath. “Wheres
Paula?
“Paulais down. Im not sure about the commander, Renée said in a
monotone. For an instant, Blair couldnt decipher the meaning of what
she had just heard.
Paula is down. Down. Shot? Her mind veered away from the thought.
Cam.
Cam wasnt wearing a
vest.
“Whos behind us? Blair careful y enunciated each word and forced
herself to think calmly. Her only hope of get ing to Cam was to maintain,
or take, control. She wasnt about to become an unwil ing captive of her
own security team ever again.
“Mac. Im not sure who
else.
“Cal
them,
Blair
demanded.
“Protocol is for radio silence, Renée
said.
“I dont care. Cal them now. Consider it an order, Agent
Savard.
Savard stared at Blair for a long moment, then punched two numbers
on her handy talky. “Status?
Blair couldnt hear a response, but only a few seconds passed before
Renée said, “Were secure, and slipped the radio back into an inside
pocket of her
jacket. At the sight of her hand trembling, Blairs stomach clenched into a
painful knot.
“Report?
Blair
asked.
“Al present and accounted
for.
“Whatwhat does that
mean?
“It means no one was left at the scene. Stark and the commander are
in the
Suburban behind
us.
“Are
they
“I dont know, Renée
said.
The tight fist around Blairs heart loosened enough for her to breathe
without each movement feeling like a knife stabbing through her.
“Diane, are you al right?
Mutely,
Diane
nodded.
Blair concentrated on burying her panic. Cam was in the car behind her.
That was al that mat ered. “Where are we going?
“If
Paula
Renée shuddered and for just a second, Blair thought she was going to
break down. Then she squared her shoulders and continued.
“Paula wil let Mac know the exit route, and hel communicate with our
driver. Blair looked out the window and saw that they were heading out
of the city. The
last thing she wanted was to end up in another safe house, but she
realized that
was one decision she couldnt impact. She closed her eyes and wil ed her
mind
to go blank. It didnt work, but it kept her from trying to break down the
barrier between herself and whoever was driving and demanding to
know where they were going. Just when she thought she couldnt stand it
anymore, she felt the limo slow down. She jerked upright and saw a sign
for Interstate 495 South flash by as the vehicle turned into a deserted
truck weighing station by the side of the highway. “Whats happening?
Renée shook her head. “I dont
know.
Blair reached for the handle, but Renée stopped her. She was about to
protest when the door opened and Cam slid in. The limo immediately
accelerated back onto the highway.
“Are you al right? Cam slid her arm around Blairs shoulders and pul
ed her close.
“Am I? Blair laughed shakily and pressed her palm to Cams chest. “I was
afraid
She lost the words and just kissed Cam instead. “Are
you?
“Other than a few sore ribs from ending up under one of Tanners
security guards, Im fine. Cam stroked Blairs hair and looked at Diane
and Renée. “You both okay?
“Yes, Renée reported, sit ing tensely on the edge of the
seat.
“Stark took a round in the chest, Cam said. “Her vest stopped it. Shes in
pain, but shes stil in charge. Shel be okay.
Renée blinked and looked away. “Thank
you.
“Was anyone else hurt? Blair
asked.
“Another one of Tanners people took a shot to the vest in the
process of shielding Emory Constantine.
“Emory! Blair said, momentarily stunned. “My God, is she
hurt?
“She sprained her wrist, but shes tough and taking everything in
stride. Cam glanced at Savard. “We brought Emory with us. Shes in the
Suburban.
“Smart cal , Savard said. “What about the
assailant?
“Hes dead. Stark left Wozinski behind temporarily to coordinate with
the FBI
and police. Cam coughed and
winced.
“Are you sure youre not hurt? Blair said
immediately.
Cam shook her head. “Sore ribs. I got a quick look at the guy. Hes one
of the four on Emory Constantines watch list.
“You mean Emory was the target? Blair
exclaimed.
“Were not sure, but its possible. Cam shifted, obviously trying
to get comfortable. “For now, were not making any assumptions.
“How much of this can we keep out of the press? Blair
asked.
“Starks already been on the line to Lucinda, whos spinning some story
right now about Emory suddenly being taken il to cover her leaving
the banquet. Fortunately, the scene was contained immediately so we
may be able to keep the real details out of the press.
“Good, Blair breathed. “The last thing I want is another story circulating
about me being a target. She took Cams hand. “Youre sure youre okay?
“Yes. Now she was, now that shed seen Blair. Now that some of the
helpless fury at not being able to reach her when shed been in danger
was dissipating. Despite the pain in her ribs, she held Blair more tightly.
“What? Blair murmured, sliding her hand to the back of Cams neck.
“Darling?
“Nothing, Cam whispered. The instant shed seen the assailant, shed
tried to shield Blair, but Tanners man had grabbed her from behind
and thrown her down. If Stark hadnt been there, hadnt moved without
the slightest hesitation, Blair could be dead. Cam closed her eyes, as if
that could obliterate the image in her mind, and buried her face in Blairs
hair.
Blair moved her mouth close to Cams ear. “Im al right. Im
right here.
Cam took a long breath, straightened, and directed her next
comments to Savard again. “Theres been no evidence of pursuit, and
this has the feel of a lone gunman.
“I agree, Savard said. Her color was bet er and her eyes focused and
intent. Beside her, Diane looked exhausted, but calm. “He was probably
staying at the hotel or knew someone who was.
“But how did he know where we were? Blair said. “Or that we were
leaving?
“He could have paid one or even several of the hotel employees to keep
him informed, Cam said. “Its possible he had an accomplice who was a
legitimate guest at the fundraiser. He might have been watching
the limo from some vantage point within the hotel, but I think thats
less likely. Once Wozinski and the rest of the on-site team backtrack his
route, wel know more.
“He didn
t say anything, did he? I didnt hear anything before the shots.
Blair knew how to fire a gun. Shed had a license since her late teens and
had been to the firing range fairly regularly since then. But the muf
led pops of control ed gunfire in a firing booth bore no resemblance to
the terrifying reverberation of gunshots echoing down a hotel corridor.
She could stil hear the shots, and the shouts, and her own silent
screams. She found Cams hand and held it. “I was wondering about
the guy earlierthe one outside the banquet hal who was quoting
scripture, or his version of it anyway.
“The gunman didnt say anything, Cam said. “His message was in his
gun hand.
“Where are we going? Blair
asked.
Cam smiled for a second. “Home to Whitley Point. Lucinda wil have
someone take care of the hotel room and pick up our luggage.
“If its al right with you, Id rather not leave the island again for six
months or so.
“Il see what I can do, Cam
said.
“Thank you. Blair knew it wasnt possible, but for just a lit le while, it
felt good to dream.
Chapter Eighteen
Sunday
T anners here, Blair said as the limo pul ed up behind the SUV parked
in the circular drive in front of the beach house. She stif ened when
three figures materialized out of the dark and approached the vehicle.
Even in the middle of the night, with only streaks of moonlight to cut
the inky blackness, she could make out the automatic rifles.
“Theyre Tanners people, Cam said. “Stark probably cal ed ahead
once we were out of range of the city and fil ed Tanner in on what
happened.
Despite Cams assurances that the figures posed no threat, Cam and
Savard got out of the limo first and closed the door, leaving Blair and
Diane shielded inside.
“I dont know how you stand it, Diane said. “Its al so
horrible.
Blair slid across the space between the facing seats and put an arm around
her. “Try not to think about it right now, honey. Wel get you inside
and once were safe, youl feel better.
Diane laughed harshly. “Safe? Thats just an il usion, and I bet youve
known that al along, havent you? She touched Blairs face as if seeing
her for the very first time. “Youve known you could never be safe, so
there was no reason to let them pretend to protect you.
When the door opened and Cam leaned in, Blair didnt move but smiled
over at her. “Il be right out, darling.
“Go with her, Diane said. “Im al
right.
“No youre not. None of us are. Blair rubbed Dianes arm and rocked her
