Honor Under Siege

by Radclyffe

  talk. They resumed walking.

  “Il do whatever you

  want.

  “For the record, Cam said, “Im glad you final y got your

  ass here.

  Valerie sighed. “Ive done things I regret, Cameron, but I would never

  wil ingly have betrayed you. I didnt know how the intel igence I passed

  on was going to be used. I know its not an excuse

  “I know how the game is played. I know you didnt have any choice.

  Were okay on that.

  Valerie briefly squeezed Cams hand. “Im

  glad.

  “Lets get inside so you can warm

  up.

  They climbed the stairs to the rear deck, and Cam nodded to Stark, who

  stood with her back against the kitchen door, an assault rifle held loosely

  in her arms. “Al clear, Chief.

  “Do you need me inside, Commander? Stark

  asked.

  “Not at the moment. Standard shifts tonight should be fine.

  Wel brief tomorrow.

  Stark glanced at Valerie and stepped away from the door. “Yes

  maam.

  Cam led Valerie inside. The kitchen was empty, as she knew it would be.

  Stark would have moved Diane and Blair to the center of the house as

  soon as she realized security had been breached. “Diane is probably in

  the living room with Blair. Il wait for you here, if you want to tel Blair

  where I am.

  “Thank you. Valerie met Cams eyes. “I know you dont have to do this,

  any of this. Im sure you were told to just turn me over to whoevers

  on top of the security heap at the moment.

  Cam smiled grimly. “That would be

  me.

  “I hope it stays that way. Valeries tone was wistful. “Thank you,

  Cameron. Il be right back.

  * * * * *

  “Oh God, Diane whispered, rising slowly to her feet as Valerie stepped

  into the room.

  Blair hesitated for a second, then rose and gave Diane a quick hug. “Il

  see you later. She left Valerie and Diane alone in the dimly lit room.

  Neither moved at first.

  “Were you ever coming back? Diane asked.

  “I wanted to.

  “Why didnt you?

  Valerie shivered. “I was afraid youd get

  hurt.

  Diane lifted a log and laid it on the ones already burning. “Come over

  here by the fire. Youre cold. When she felt Valerie beside her, she

  turned to touch her face. “Are you al right?

  “A lit le tired. Valerie caught Dianes hand and brushed her lips across the

  palm. “I missed you so much.

  “I dont know what to do first, Diane confessed. “I want to feed you. You

  look too thin. I want to hold you. Your hands are so cold. I want you to

  hold me. I feelso empty.

  “First things first. Valerie pul ed Diane firmly into her

  arms.

  Diane gave a smal cry and slid both hands under the back of Valeries

  jacket, then buried her face in Valeries neck. “I dont care what happens

  after this, but you are not disappearing again.

  Valerie caressed Dianes hair, sifting the sleek blond strands through her

  fingers. “Id promise you that, if I could.

  A tremulous smile countered the sadness in Dianes eyes. “Blair says

  you and Cam are the best at what you do. So the two of you should be

  able to figure something out.

  “Cams waiting to talk to me. Valerie couldnt bear the thought of leaving

  Diane again, especial y knowing that it could be hours before she

  could return. And hours was the best she could hope for. Agents whose

  loyalties were in question had been known to be sequestered for weeks.

  Sometimes months. She had to believe that Cam would not do that to

  her, and she wagered everything that mat ered to her on that belief. “I

  dont know how long Il be.

  “Shes not going to take you away, is

  she?

  “I

  dont

  know.

  “Why did you come? Was it because of the newspaper article?

  Ididnt know

  “When I first read it, Valerie said, instinctively pulling

  Diane closer, “I thought you were hurt and I nearly went

  crazy. I spent half a day frantically making calls and

  tapping into some old sources, but no one could find an

  accident or police report involving you. So I realized the

  article was phony, but I was still worried in case it was a half

  truth. I had to know you were okay.

  “Im so sorry, Diane said. “Cam didnt tell me what shed done, or

  Iwould have found a way to call

  you.

  Valerie smiled. “Thats why she didnt tell you.

  Dianes eyes darkened. “Youre not angry at

  her?

  “I figured she had probably planted the article. Either that,

  or someone else trying to flush me out had. Valerie sighed and

  leaned in to Diane, more tired than shed realized. “I was

  running out of options. It seemed like the time to come in.

  Besides, I missed you.

  “Cam said you would understand what shed done and why,

  and even though I dont approve of being used to trick you, Im so

  very glad youre here. Diane brushed her fingers through

  Valeries hair. “And Im not letting Cam or anyone else take you

  away from me again.

  “I need to go talk to

  her.

  “Ill be upstairs. The last door on the right. Come to

  me.

  “Are you sure?

  Diane put her arms around Valeries shoulders and kissed her,

  a soft lingering kiss. “Never, ever more certain.

  * * * * *

  “Scotch? Cam closed the kitchen door after Valerie. “Theres

  a good bottle in the cupboard over there.

  “Now that I could use. Join

  me?

  Cam nodded. She watched Valerie take glasses down from

  the cupboard, add ice cubes, and pour the smoky liquor. Shed

  seen her do exactly the same thing dozens of times before, but

  more than just the circumstances had changed. Valerie looked

  different, too. It wasnt simply that her clothes were far more

  casual than anything Cam had seen her wear even when she

  wasnt working, or that her silky, platinum hair was far shorter

  than she had ever worn it. It would take more than jeans and a

  short haircut to hide Valeries cool elegance. She wasnt just

  thinner, she was leaner and tauter, and she moved with a

  sense of suppressed anger and almost lethal purpose that

  Cam associated with caged animals. Valerie might not be

  caged, but she was being hunted.

  “Just to be clear, I dont intend to turn you over to anyone,

  Cam said.

  Valerie held out the Scotch. “You dont know what I have to

  say, yet.

  “Whos

  after

  you?

  “Several dif erent parties. Valerie sat down across the wide oak table

  from

  Cam and contemplated her Scotch. “The Company, for certain. My

  handler has been leaving messages at drop points for me to come in.

  “Henry

  ?

  Valerie smiled bit erly. “Wel , thats what Ive always cal

  ed him.

  “You dont trust him

  now?

  Valerie turned the heavy crystal glass slow
ly between her hands. Her

  fingers, much like the rest of her body, were long and thin, but not

  delicate. “Its unusual for him to insist on a face-to-face. In fact, in al the

  years Ive worked with him weve only met a handful of times. Now

  hes making urgent requests for a rendezvous.

  “A trap?

  “Thats what it feels like, Valerie said with a shrug. “But a trap set by

  whom? Matheson because hes working with Henry? Or the

  Company, because they want me in for a debriefing? Because they think

  I tipped of Matheson.

  “They want you for some

  reason.

  “Yes, and if the Companys involved, I know what wil happen if I go in.

  Believe me, I dont have any desire to disappear, even temporarily.

  Cam saw no reason to protest what they both knew was possible.

  Agents suspected of turning were forcibly detained, debriefed,

  and sometimes, expunged. “Henry could want you to come in for

  protection from Matheson.

  “Id like to think that. Valerie took a slow swal ow of Scotch and

  shook her head. “But Id be foolish to assume that just because weve

  had a professional association for twenty years that were friends. If hes

  Mathesons connection, Im a liability now.

  “Thats why youre bet er of here. Cam finished her drink. “We had an

  incident in Boston the other night. An armed assailant penetrated our

  perimeter and got of a couple of shots before we contained him.

  “Who was the

  target?

  “We dont know. Emory Constantine, a high profile and not so popular

  stem cel researcher, was with us. It might have been her. It might

  have Blair. It might even have been Diane.

  “Diane? Valeries face became expressionless, as cool as carved marble.

  “What would be the point? If someone took her out, theyd have

  nothing to hold over my head.

  “No one? Family? Old

  lovers?

  An old sorrow seemed to claim Valerie for a split second, softening her

  features. “You of al people should know that other than you, theres no

  one. Only Diane. You had someone guarding her?

  “Savard. We were lucky, there. Cam grimaced. “Its possible Matheson

  plans to clean house and take us al down.

  “Then we need to get to him

  first.

  “We might not be able to unless we force Henry to rol over. Do you

  have any idea how we can find him?

  Valerie shook her head. “I never once met him in an of ice. He

  could be stationed in California for al I know. God, Cameron, the

  man has run my life since I was a teenager and I dont even know his ful

  name. She laughed harshly, her eyes bleak. “What kind of fool does that

  make me?

  “We both know thats not what its about. Cam extended her hand across

  the table and Valerie clasped her fingers fleetingly. “Youve done a job

  most of us

  couldnt do far longer than anyone should have to. That doesnt make you

  a fool in my book, it makes you a hero.

  “Thank

  you,

  Valerie

  whispered.

  “I take it youve tried to locate him some other way than through a

  meet?

  “I was hoping to discover his identity and Ive cal ed in every marker I

  have. Or thought I had. Valeries disil usionment shone through

  beneath the composed façade she wore so ef ortlessly. “Ive tried every

  source I know, but in the last few weeks, those have mysteriously dried

  up. Contact numbers are no longer in service, bank accounts are suddenly

  closed, drop boxes have new locks.

  “Youre being cut

  of .

  Valerie nodded. “It could stil just be to force me to make contact, or it

  could be the first step in removing me.

  “I dont suppose you have a

  photograph?

  “No, and its not like the Company keeps a roster of employees that I

  could go through.

  Cam laughed. “Now, that would defeat the purpose of being a spy,

  wouldnt it?

  “A spy, Valerie said wryly. “Operative sounds so much

  better.

  “Lets assume Matheson and Henry are working togetherits the most

  probable scenario. So, if we find one, we find the other.

  “Any progress on your

  end?

  Cam scowled. “Were accumulating a file on Mathesons associates as far

  back as twenty-five years. Its slow going, but Il want you to look

  through everything Felicia and Savard have put together so far.

  Unfortunately, some of the

  photographs are going to be of boys or much younger men than theyre

  likely to be now.

  “Perhaps Felicia can use age simulator software to project present

  appearances for any possibles.

  “We might be able to do something even bet er, Cam said slowly as she

  stood. “Its almost midnight. Id like you to brief with us in the morning.

  0600 in the guest house.

  “Are you sure? Savard and Felicia might not be quite as trusting as

  you are, Valerie pointed out.

  “I disagree, but either way, its not their

  choice.

  Valerie rose. “Youre taking a chance, Cameron, and I know that. I want

  you to know I appreciate

  “Dont insult me, Valerie. Cam lightly touched her fingertips to Valeries

  cheek. “Get some sleep. Then she dropped her hand and walked away.

  Valerie waited until she heard Cams footsteps disappear before fol owing

  down the hal way and up the stairs. As she passed the room that she

  knew was Blairs, she recognized Blairs sensuous alto and then Cams

  slightly deeper tones. The sound of Cams voice in a phone message

  had once stirred her heart and her blood. Now, it fil ed her with a

  sense of comfort and safety. Wondering if that was fair, but being glad

  for it nonetheless, she continued to the last door on the right and

  knocked quietly before let ing herself in.

  The room was lit by a bedside lamp. Diane was in bed, a sheet pul ed

  to her waist. Her breasts formed soft curves beneath a pale peach

  camisole. Valerie sat on the side of the bed and took her hand. “Theres

  part of me that thinks I shouldnt be here.

  “What does the other part

  think?

  “That its the only place in the world I want

  to be.

  Diane drew back the covers. “Thats the part Id listen to, if I

  were you.

  “Al right, Valerie whispered

  softly.

  She stood and unbut oned her blouse, unhooked her bra, and let them fal

  to the floor behind her. She unzipped her jeans, pushed them down

  along with her panties, and stepped out of them. Watching Diane watch

  her, she was surprised to feel her body quicken when for so long the

  only sensations shed been aware of were fatigue and desperate sadness.

  She turned of the light and slipped into bed. Then she did something

  shed never done before. She pul ed Diane on top of her and guided

  Dianes hand between her thighs.

  “Please make love to me. I need

  you. Chapter Twenty-

  Two Monday

  A ny response from Lawrence on your request for a meeting?

  Matheson inquired via his dispo
sable cel phone.

  “Not

  yet.

  Matheson sipped his cof ee and watched the traf ic on Main Street

  through the diner window in the smal seaside town. A waitress slid a

  plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him. He made eye contact

  when he thanked her.

  “Youre very welcome. The brunet e of ered him a sultry smile as she

  lingered by the red leather booth made shiny by years of bodies slipping

  in and out.

  He held her gaze for a few seconds, noting the invitation in her

  eyes while surveying her ful breasts and curvaceous hips. His penis

  lengthened, reminding him that it had been some time since hed

  satisfied his needs. He made a mental note to take care of that, then

  looked away, dismissing her from his thoughts. “Why do you think

  your operative is ignoring your direct order?

  “Because shes one of our best, the man snapped. Then, as if

  regret ing his outburst, he added in a conciliatory tone, “The leak came

  too soon after her report to me for her not to be suspicious, but I didnt

  have a choice. If Special Forces hadnt moved on the compound so

  quickly, I might have been able to find another way to warn you, but

  Robertss team was far more ef ective than we anticipated. I didnt have

  time for a cover story, and I didnt think youd enjoy captivity.

  “Its never wise to underestimate the enemy, Matheson said mildly,

  spearing a fluf y mound of egg. “Its unfortunate that eliminating her wil

  cost us an inside link to several of our primary targets, but the longer

  she stays alive, the greater the likelihood youl be compromised.

  “Ive warned her shes in danger, but she wont agree to a

  meet. “Youre not using the right enticement. “What do you

  suggest?

  Matheson told him, disconnected, and punched in another number.

  “He has forty-eight hours to take care of his mess, then well

  clean house ourselves, starting with him.

  “Yes sir. Its a pleasure to serve you,

  sir.

  * * * * *

  “Valerie? Diane called urgently in the dark. The bed beside

  her was warm, but empty. The nightmare of the past few

  weeks instantly closed in around her, and she felt as if

  she were

  smothering. Bolting upright, she gasped, “Oh

  God.

  “Im here. Valerie hurried to the side of the bed and pul ed

  Diane into her arms. “I found some clothes Id left here last

  month, and I was trying not to wake you while I dressed.

  “Where

  are

  you

  going?