by Radclyffe
Cam and grinned. “And, you werent a deputy director of Homeland
Security. If you had been, who knows what kind of cool equipment they
would have pul ed out for you.
“Hopeful y Henry doesnt have the same toys. Cam glanced at Stark.
“Exit strategy in place?
“Yes. Weve got choppers standing by at
Bradley.
“Do they know
why?
Stark shook her head. “No, only that its priority
one.
Starks phone rang and she pul ed it of her belt. “Stark. Send him in. She
closed the connection. “Tanners man is here.
A moment later, Wozinski entered with a thin, sandy haired young man
dressed in black BDUs.
“This is Jef Donaldson, Wozinski
said. Cam held out her hand.
“Donaldson. “Maam.
“Tanner tel s me youre a good
shot.
“Sniper duty in Somalia,
maam.
“Good. Cam watched his eyes as she spoke. They were clear and calm
and
steady. “Comfortable with infrared
targets?
“Yes maam. If its hot, I can
hit it.
“Thats what were counting on. Cam thought of the injection shed just
given
Valerie. “And were hoping that one hot target is al youl
have.
Chapter Twenty-Six
T heyre leaving. Blair rose from the living room sofa where she
had been waiting with Diane.
“If you dont mind, Il stay here, Diane replied, her voice
subdued.
“Il be right
back.
Blair caught up to Cam just as the team reached the front door. She
smiled briefly at Savard and Felicia, then turned to her lover. She ran
the edges of Cams windbreaker through her fingers as she leaned close
and kissed her softly, far more quickly than she wanted. “See you soon.
“Il cal you, Cam murmured. “I love
you.
Blair stepped away and in the next instant, Cam and the others were
gone. When she turned, she saw Diane halfway down the hal , standing
in the doorway of the living room. She forced a smile and went to join
her.
“What now? Diane
asked.
“Its going to be quite a while before we hear anything, Blair said.
“Im too restless to sit, and if youl be al right, Id like to check in with
Mac and Paula. Il feel bet er if I know whats going on.
“I dont know what I want to do. Diane made an angry sound. “But I dont
need
to tel you, sit ing around and waiting is not my style. Can I come
with you?
Blair hesitated, remembering the horror of seeing Cam on the video
monitor after shed been shotlying on the ground, bleeding and literal y
watching her die. She doubted that they would have that kind of
communication link tonight, but even if they couldnt see or hear exactly
what was happening, she stil wasnt certain that let ing Diane listen to
Paula and Mac monitoring the events was such a great idea. If
something went wrong, Diane would never be able to forget it. Blair
didnt want that kind of nightmare for her.
“I may be new at this, Diane said as if reading her mind, “and Im hoping
this is the last time I have to wait while shes out doing something like
this, but if shes wil ing to go out there and do it, I can at least be a part
of it here. Then Il feel like shes not alone.
“Okay, Blair said, shaking her head rueful y. “I dont know why I
even questioned it. You wouldnt have fal en in love with her if you
couldnt handle who she is.
Diane
smiled.
“Thanks.
Blair knocked on the closed door to the dining room before opening it
a few inches and sticking her head in. “Can Diane and I come in?
Paula swiveled in her chair, her expression distracted but her tone
polite. “Of course. Were not going to be able to explain much once
things get going, but youre welcome to stay.
“Thanks, Blair said. “You dont need to worry about us,
Chief. Blair and Diane moved up behind Mac and
Stark.
“Can you tel us what were looking at? Blair
asked.
“This is a satel ite relay of ten square miles surrounding the meet point,
Paula
said, turning back to the computer monitor, which showed a smat ering
of smal blips on a grid surrounding a dark circle in the center. “The
majority of the vessels in the area are fishing boats, commercial
ships, and the occasional recreational vehicle. She pointed to a
glowing dot in the middle of the circle. “Thats Valerie.
“How do you know that? Diane
asked.
“We have GPS transponders in al of the vessels, including
Valeries, the command ship with Renée and the commander and
Felicia, and Tanners surveil ance boats. Paula skimmed her finger in a
semi circle along the border of the screen. “These are Tanners people
here.
“When wil we be able to see Cam? Blair
asked.
“Theyre just leaving the marina now. Mac adjusted the wireless receiver
in his ear and spoke using a throat mic, keeping both hands on the
keyboard of his computer. “Commander? How do you read?
A few seconds passed, then Mac spoke again. “Loud and clear,
Commander. Paula said without looking at him, “Can you put that on
audio, please, Mac.
“Yes maam. Mac keyed a series of commands into his computer
and then spoke again. “Ready for camera scan.
“Sending imagenow, Felicias voice announced from the
speakers.
Yel ow, red, and blue images vaguely resembling human forms
flickered on
Macs screen and then
stabilized.
“How do you read? Felicia
asked.
“Four hots. Mac opened a smal window within the larger screen
and a fluctuating bar-graph appeared. “Temperature variation less than
two degrees.
Give me a coordinates check.
Savard rat led of a list of
figures.
“What are they doing? Blair asked, not real y expecting an
answer.
“Checking the variance on the infrared thermal detector camera, Paula
said. “The lower levels of thermal radiance are due primarily to two
thingseither larger body mass and high body fat, which blunts the
reading, or a true depression in body temperature.
“Youre the warm one, Renée, Mac
said. Savard laughed. “Thats what
they tel me.
“Mac, can you correct for body mass using the limited readings we
have? Felicia asked. “Valerie is thin and her core temperature is
going to skew the thermal readings. Can you factor for that?
“Working on it, Mac said, input ing figures as he
spoke.
“Youre in visual range, Commander. Paula straightened and her voice
took on an edge. “We have an approach vessel closing on ground zero,
bearing
Blair sensed Diane trembling beside her and slid an arm around her
waist. She kept her voice low so as not to disturb Mac and Paula.
; “Just remember that were only get ing part of the picture here, so dont
worry, no mat er what seems to be happening.
“I know. Il remember. Its justshe feels so far away, Diane
whispered. “She isnt. And Cam and Renée and the others are
right there. “Savard, hold us here, Cams voice said.
The words were so clear that Blair almost looked over
her shoulder to see if Cam had miraculously returned. Even
miles away over radio, the sound of Cams voice eased the
tension that had been slowly clenching her muscles and
squeezing around her heart until she felt as if she were a
piano wire tightened to the point of snapping. She forced herself
to take a breath and let it out slowly.
The red numerals in the lower left-hand corner of Paula
Starks monitor read 2258.
* * * * *
Cam opened the priority one channel to Valerie.
“Lawrence? “Im here, Commander, Valerie said.
“Approach vessel on its way.
“Roger that.
“If youre forced to board his ship and we lose our audio link
to you, I want you to bail at the first sign of trouble. Are we
clear?
“Clear, Commander, Valerie replied.
“Confirming scan now, Cam said. “Switching to open channel.
“Roger that. Greetings, team, Valerie said. “Glad to see you.
“Were right behind you, Valerie, Savard said.
“Do we have her? Cam asked Felicia, bending down beside
Felicias computer array against one wall of the ships cabin.
Behind
them, Savard eased the engine down to idle and the ship rocked
in the swells.
“Ive got her, Felicia said. “Im just adjusting the feed
to Donaldsons video goggles. She opened up the com link in her
head set. “Donaldson? Target on screen?
“Sweet and hot, maam, he radioed from his position outside on
the bow.
“Not too hot, I hope, Cam murmured. “Where does she fall on
the thermal range?
“Five percent below mean.
Cam frowned. “Thats not much to distinguish her from Henry.
“Shes cold, I can guarantee you that, Savard said. “Much
colder
and her reaction time will be so slow she wont be able to
protect
herself.
“Here he comes. Valeries voice filled the cabin. “Switching
to transdermal mic.
Savard linked to Mac. “Anyone else out here with us?
“Lots of someones, Mac radioed, “but no one in critical
range. “Okay, let me know if anyone moves within the strike
radius. “Roger.
A minute of silence passed until broken by Valeries voice,
muted by the shielded microphone.
" Toss me your tie line, Valerie said, "and come aboard. "Here
you go. Catch, a deep male voice responded. "Drop your ladder.
Savard glanced at Cam in surprise. Cam shook her head,
thinking it wasnt necessarily a good sign that Henry was so
wil ing to board Valeries boat. It meant they had an open channel
to Valerie if they needed one, but if Henrys plan was to
eliminate Valerie, he wouldnt want to do it on his own vessel.
Hed want to do it on hers.
“Are you armed? Henry
said.
“Of
course.
“What
about
the
others?
“What
others?
“Dont tell me you came without
backup.
“Do you see anyone? Valerie
asked.
Henry laughed. “Only about two dozen boats out
there.
“I told you I dont trust them. No one knows Im out here. Search the
boat if you want.
“Not necessary. I agreed to this meet under these less than
optimal circumstances, Henry said, “so youll believe me when I tell
you that you need to come in. Youre in danger.
“From whom?
“From Roberts. The White House sent her after
you.
“Why?
“They need a scapegoat. How long do you think theyll be able to keep
the
attack on the presidents daughter quiet? Add to that they botched
the assault on Mathesons compound and let him escape.
“He
had
help.
“The country needs accountability, especial y after 9/11. Someone needs
to pay for that, Henry said. “Washburn and the security adviser and
a fair number of other people have decided it will be you, for starters.
Its out of our hands.
“And if I come
in?
“Well help you get lost for a year or two. Theres work to be
done elsewhere.
“Convincing, isnt he, Felicia mut ered. “Bastard. “Whats the
temperature register look like? Cam asked. “Theres a three degree dif
erence between them. Felicia keyed Donaldson. “Can you distinguish
the primary from the friendly? “Yes maam, as long as they dont move
around too much. “On my mark, Cam ordered on the same channel.
“Yes maam. Locked and loaded.
“Who tipped Matheson? Valerie asked. “We think he has friends in
the
Special Forces. “Do we have a
name?
“Several possibles. Ill brief you as soon as you are secure. “Where do
you want me to go? “I want you to come with me now. “Tonight?
“If you go back, Roberts may lock you down and we wont be able
to extract.
“What about my boat? “Well sink it. Its a good
cover.
“He came prepared. Cam checked the digital readout on the electronic
timer running in one corner of Felicias monitor. Henry had been on
board almost five
minutes. That was a long time for this kind of
rendezvous.
“If she goes with him, he sinks the boat and shel disappear, Savard said.
“If she doesnt agree to go, and hes bad, hel sink the boat and shel
disappear. Either way, he wins.
“I need at least 24 hours to create a plausible cover with Roberts,
Valerie said. “I didnt spend all that time getting close to her to lose my
connection to her now. Even if I have to go deep undercover, Ill still
have a link to her.
“Shell never give you
anything.
“She
already
has.
“What? Henrys voice
rose.
Listening, Cam tensed. Valerie was playing a dangerous game.
If Henry thought she already had important information, he
might not let her go even if he wasnt working with Matheson. If
he was Mathesons front man, all the more reason to take her
now, or eliminate her.
“ Theyre close to identifying
Two miles away, Starks satel ite image showed a new blip at
the same time as Mac picked up a thermal flair five miles
from Valeries boat.
“Christ, Mac blurted. “Its an SSM!
Stark jumped to her feet.
“Target? “Tracking!
Stark grabbed her radio. “Hara, this is command one. Stand by
to evacuate.
“No! Blair exclaimed, grabbing Starks arm. “What is
it?
�
�Missile. Stark turned sharply to Mac. “Target. I need it
now, Mac!
Mac was already opening the comm channel. “Savard! Ship
to ship missile, targeting Valeries boat. Forty seconds to impact!
* * * *
* “Donaldson, mark, Cam snapped.
“Roger.
Cam switched to the open microphone on Valeries boat. “This
is Cameron Roberts. You are targeted for a direct hit by an
SSM. You have thirty-seven seconds. Evacuate your vessel.
“ She s lying, Henry shouted. “Stay right there! “No,
Valerie said, “shesHenry, we have towhy are you drawing your
weapon? There s no one
* * * * *
“Thirty-two seconds, Savard called. “Shell never disengage
from
Henrys vessel in time, Commander.
“Fire! Cam ordered and Donaldsons rifle cracked from just outside
the cabin. Cam spun toward Savard. “Get us in there now.
“Its going to get hot, Savard noted even as she powered up the
engine
and shoved the throttle to maximum.
Cam didnt answer, stripping off her windbreaker and vest as
she ran from the cabin. Shed been wrong. They didnt have
thirty seconds.
* * * * *
Blair pressed close to Paulas back, unconsciously gripping
her shoulders. “Whats happening?
“Time? Paula shouted to
Mac. “Five four three two
one
For a mil isecond, the blip in the center of Paulas screen
doubled in size. Then it winked out.
After a minute of silence, Diane asked unsteadily,
“Wheres
Valerie?
“Weve lost the signal, Paula said tightly.
“What about Cams? Blairs fingers dug into Paulas shoulders.
Paula shook her head.
* * * * *
“Fine shooting, Colonel. Matheson leaned against the rail of
the boat, feeling a swell of satisfaction as a tower of flame
climbed into the sky on the horizon.
“Thank you, General.
“Weve eliminated both problems at once, Matheson said. “Its
time to rejoin our men and re-dedicate ourselves to our true
mission. We have a war to win.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I s she are they Oh, God, Diane whispered. “Get me a narrow-
field, real-time image! Paula ordered. She keyed her radio.
“Hara, standby. Close the roads. No one in or out. Call in the
backup units and position them on the shore and the perimeter.
Blair realized she was still gripping Paulas shoulders and
forced herself to let go. She couldnt move her eyes from the
screen in front of her. She stared at the dark circle, wil ing
