by Radclyffe
Emory laughed. “I didn’t pack enough for next week. I’ll have to go back to Boston first.”
“What could you possibly need at a ski resort that we can’t lend you?” Diane said.
“There’s a slight matter of you being five or six inches taller,” Emory pointed out.
Diane waved her hand in dismissal. “We’ll manage. Now that we’ve finally pried you out of your lab, we’re not letting you go back.”
“When’s the last time you had a vacation?” Blair asked.
“I travel a lot,” Emory said defensively.
Blair shook her head. “I’ve spent my life with politicians. It’s impossible to snow me with a diversionary answer like that. Vacation. Not business trip.”
“Uh…sometime last year.”
“There, see,” Diane said triumphantly. “You’re not going back to Boston. The second you do, you’ll start in on whatever it is you do and forget about coming with us.”
“I’m not going to forget that Blair is getting married,” Emory protested. She glanced at Dana with a friendly smile. “Are they this relentless with you too?”
“My situation is a little different,” Dana said, realizing that Emory didn’t know why she was there.
“Dana is a reporter, Emory,” Blair said, the slightest note of apology in her voice. “She’s covering the wedding for a Washington paper.”
“Oh.” Emory’s smile disappeared and her voice became distinctly cooler. She shifted slightly away and regarded Dana with thinly veiled suspicion. “I see.”
“Allergic to the press?” Dana asked sharply, bothered by the wall Emory had thrown up so quickly.
“Let’s just say my experiences haven’t been exactly positive,” Emory said, obviously trying to be polite. She set her wineglass down with exaggerated care, then looked regretfully at Blair. “I think I’ll have to pass on your offer to join your group this weekend.”
Blair didn’t look at Dana. “I’m sorry, Emory. I wasn’t thinking.”
“That’s quite all right. There’s no reason you should be.” Emory pushed her hair back from her face with a gesture of weariness. “Would you mind if I caught up with you later? I think I need a little time alone to unwind.”
“Of course not,” Blair said. “Promise you’ll call us later. Diane will be at my place for a while, and we were hoping you could come to dinner.”
“I’ll call.” Emory stood and gave Blair and Diane a quick hug. She nodded to Dana. “Good afternoon, Dana.”
“Well, hell,” Diane muttered as Emory hurried away. “That puts a crimp in our plans.”
Dana put her beer bottle down and stood. “I think I can take care of this for you.”
Without waiting for a reply, Dana sprinted after Emory Constantine.
“We’re turning off the interstate,” Savard reported, checking the highway signs as the SUV slowed at the bottom of the exit ramp and turned west. “Looks like a pretty small road.”
Cam stretched her legs and shook some of the tension out of her shoulders. “I imagine this caravan was attracting a bit of attention on the highway. Easier to track by air out there too.”
“Air like helicopter or air like satellite?” Savard asked.
“Satellite for sure, possibly both.” Cam checked her watch. It got dark early in the mountains, but it was still later than she had hoped. “We’re not going to make it home tonight. We’ll be lucky if we make it home tomorrow.”
“You think we’re going to Illinois?”
Cam nodded. “My guess is they’re transferring Early and whoever else is in that van to the supermax facility at Marion. The Navy base at Guantanamo isn’t ready to hold detainees yet.”
“Hell,” Savard muttered, “if we don’t talk to this guy before he goes down there, we’ll never talk to him.”
“That’s why we’re on this road trip.”
“You want me to put in a call to base about our change in plans?”
Cam did, because she wanted to get a message to Blair that she wouldn’t be home when she had planned to be. On the other hand, even though she thought Early’s transfer just when she wanted to interrogate him might be a coincidence, she wasn’t convinced of it. She also believed their communications with base were as secure as they could make them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t being monitored. For the moment, she preferred not to broadcast her plans. “Let’s wait on that for a bit.”
A few minutes later Savard looked out the window again. “Foggy out there.”
“We’re climbing through the mountains. I don’t think I’ve ever crossed them when it wasn’t.”
A beep sounded from the console built into the side panel announcing that an occupant in the front compartment wished to speak to them. Cam pushed a button. “Yes?”
“The vehicle just ahead of us is signaling they’re going to pull over.”
Cam frowned. “Can you see any sign of mechanical problem? A flat tire or engine overheating?”
“No ma’am.”
“There’s not much of a shoulder on these twisty roads. Be careful we don’t hit them.”
“Do you want us to stop, Deputy Director?”
Cam considered her options. The prisoner transport van was sandwiched between the two other SUVs. Her vehicle was fourth in line. If the agents in the vehicle behind the van were having mechanical problems, they weren’t in any danger. They had phones and were undoubtedly in contact with their superiors. On the other hand, if she stopped, she’d lose the prisoner van and the lead SUV along with her opportunity to interrogate Early. “No, go around them and pull in line behind the van.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“What do you think that’s about?” Savard asked edgily.
“I don’t know.” Cam had a prickly sensation on the back of her neck and the uncomfortable feeling that she had missed something. She pushed the button on the intercom again. “Let me know if they speed up. And be prepared, they may try to lose us.”
“Don’t worry, they won’t.”
Cam tightened her seat belt. She could tell Savard felt uneasy too. At Savard’s unspoken request, Cam nodded. “Open the floor compartment.”
Savard leaned over while Cam punched in the code to unlock the storage bin beneath Savard’s feet. At the click of the lock disengaging, Savard opened it and extracted the shotgun from the clamps that held the weapon in place. She dropped the lid back on the compartment and rested the shotgun across her knees.
“If for any reason we need to leave the—” Cam’s words were obliterated by an explosion that rocked the vehicle. The SUV swerved abruptly and Cam catapulted forward. Her seat belt abruptly stopped her motion, and she vaguely registered a bruising pain across her chest. Then she was thrown violently back against the seat as the world dissolved in a dizzying, bone-jarring revolution of screeching metal.
“Emory, wait,” Dana called. For a second, she thought Emory would ignore her, but finally Emory stopped in front of the elevators.
Dana couldn’t read her expression so she went by instinct. Emory hadn’t seemed angry a few minutes earlier, more…sad. “It usually takes longer than five minutes for someone to decide they don’t like me.”
“It’s nothing personal.” Emory shrugged and pushed the up button. “It’s occupational.”
“I figured that out.”
“I’m sorry if I appear rude,” Emory said, her attention fixed on the elevator doors. “But I’m too tired to watch what I say, especially when I’m relaxing with my friends.”
The resentment in her voice was hard to miss. “How about if I tell you everything is off the record unless we agree otherwise.”
Emory gave Dana a curious look. “I’m afraid I’ll have to insult you again, but I don’t believe you.”
“Let me guess,” Dana said, taking a chance. “You told someone something in an intimate situation and it ended up in print.”
“Close enough.”
“Then she didn’t have any scruples. I do.”
Dana touched Emory lightly on the shoulder to be sure Emery was listening. “Off the record means off the record.”
Emory smiled sadly. “That’s what he said too.”
He. The disappointment hit Dana like a fist in the solar plexus, but she managed to hide her shock. “Sorry, I just assumed—”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“Well, since we don’t have to worry about pillow talk, you should feel even safer.”
“For some reason, I don’t,” Emory said, although her expression softened. “You’re a lot smoother than he was.”
“Glad to hear it.” Dana grinned and cupped Emory’s elbow, tugging gently. “Come back and finish your wine.”
“I’m not usually this easy to persuade,” Emory said with a small frown, falling into step beside Dana.
“It’s my natural charm,” Dana joked, wondering if she imagined the slight tremor beneath her fingertips. Emory’s arm brushed hers and she knew she wasn’t imagining the pulse of arousal that settled in the pit of her stomach. A news story, even one her boss had sent her out to get, was the furthest thing from her mind. All she wanted was to get to know Emory Constantine better. A lot better.
Cam registered two things at once. Heat and the smell of something burning. The vehicle had come to rest on its side, and she was dangling in her seat belt, her weight supported by the straps across her hips and chest. Breathing in that position was difficult. “Renee! Renee, are you all right?”
“Banged up,” Savard gasped. “Nothing serious.” “Stay there until I can check you out.” Cam fumbled with the latch on her seat belt and finally opened it. She tumbled the few feet onto the door, which was now really the floor, and landed on her left shoulder. She grunted at the pain, then pushed herself to her knees just as Savard dropped next to her with a bone-crunching thud. The interior lights were out, and as she tried to see Savard, she realized that the air was a hazy red. Panic hit her hard, and for an instant, she saw her father’s limo explode in a fountain of fire. Mentally pushing the image away, she grasped Savard’s shoulder. “We have to get out of here. How’s your leg?”
“Leg’s fine.” Renee’s voice was clear and calm. “I’m okay, Commander. You think anyone’s out there?”
“We’ll have to climb out to see.” Cam pushed upright and fumbled with the door handle on what was now the roof. The first person out would be a sitting duck. “Still have the shotgun?”
In response, Renee chambered a cartridge.
“Once I’m out I’ll cover you,” Cam said. “Wait here.”
“Commander, let me go out first!”
“No.” Cam pushed up on the door with all her strength and it banged open. Cautiously she peered out, but all she could see were fingers of fire leaping into the air. A sniper could have her in his crosshairs and she’d never know. Her vehicle wasn’t on fire—at least not yet. Something else was burning close by. Although her arms were shaking, she braced herself on the open hatch, pulled herself up, and rolled over the side onto the ground. As soon as she hit, ignoring the rocks digging into her body, she pulled her pistol and put her back to the vehicle. From that position she could see a hundred and eighty degrees. All she saw was smoke. If there was anyone out there, they were well hidden. “Savard. Now. Quickly.”
A few seconds later, Savard plummeted next to Cam. “What about the guys up front?”
“Still inside.” Cam’s eyes finally adjusted to the eerie light. “Our vehicle went over the side. We’re down about fifty yards.” On her knees, she worked her way slowly toward the front of the vehicle. Another fifty yards down the slope, the van, or what she assumed had been the van, was completely engulfed in flames. “You check our escort. I’ll check the van.”
“Commander,” Savard protested, “let me go down.”
“Just watch my back, Savard.” Cam edged into the roiling clouds of black smoke. She doubted anyone was still alive in that inferno, but she had to find out. She couldn’t just stand by and watch them burn.
Chapter Eleven
“So are you going to take us up on the dinner offer?” Blair asked Emory. After Emory had returned with Dana, they’d all shared another drink, and as far as Blair could tell, Dana and Emory had made some kind of peace. Emory seemed more relaxed, and Dana couldn’t seem to look anywhere but at Emory.
“Before I say yes,” Emory said, “who’s cooking?”
“We are,” Diane said, sliding her arm around Blair’s waist. “One of our many talents.”
“Then I accept.” Emory glanced at Dana. “Are you coming?”
“Well,” Dana said hesitantly, “I’m not really sure—”
“Join us,” Blair said. Even though she wasn’t crazy about Dana’s assignment, she liked her. And Emory’s question had sounded a lot like an invitation. If Emory wanted Dana to be there, Blair wasn’t going to object. She’d felt an immediate affinity for Emory the night they’d shared the stage together at a fund-raiser that turned deadly. Even though she, Diane, and Emory had gotten close, she didn’t know a lot about her, except that she was brilliant, kind, and single. There was an ex-husband in her past, but from the way Emory had been studying Dana all night, Blair wondered what had led to the ex part.
Dana smiled at Emory. “Looks like I’ll be there.”
Emory smiled back. “Good.”
Blair stood. “Then I vote we move the party to my place.” The SUV was waiting in front of the hotel entrance, and just as Blair and the others reached the vehicle, the world took a jump into fast-forward. Wozinski grabbed the rear door and yanked it open at the same time that Hara and Stark closed in on Blair and propelled her into the vehicle.
“The rest of you, get in, now,” Stark shouted as Wozinski threw himself into the front seat and Stark started to swing the rear door closed. Diane had already followed Blair inside, and Dana grabbed Emory and pulled her in just as the door swung shut.
“What is it?” Blair exclaimed as the SUV roared away from the curb. “Paula? What is it?”
Paula shook her head, her fingers against her earpiece as if urging a message to come through. At the same time, she lifted her communicator. “Delta one, priority red. Delta one, priority red.”
The second Stark stopped speaking, Blair demanded, “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.” Stark’s body was rigid, her expression stony.
Blair willed herself to think clearly. This wasn’t the first time she’d been in this situation. A rapid evacuation could mean almost anything—another terrorist attack anywhere in the country, a biohazard threat in the subway system, an assassination attempt on her father. Someone in a security division somewhere might simply have overreacted to an intercepted radio transmission and called for extreme protective measures without true justification. She wouldn’t know until Stark had more information, or until she could speak to Cam. Suddenly, she felt icy cold. She gripped the edges of the seat to keep her hands from shaking. “Get in touch with Cam. I want to talk to her.”
“As soon as I can,” Stark replied, still apparently screening transmissions.
Within moments, they careened into the service way behind Blair’s building. Stark unholstered her weapon. So did Hara, and both agents positioned themselves to shield the occupants when the rear door opened.
Blair glanced at her friends. Diane and Emory both appeared stunned but calm. Dana looked fiercely focused and, Blair noticed, she had angled her body so she was between Emory and Hara. If there were armed assailants waiting for them on the street, the gunmen would have to go through two people to get to Emory. Blair took in all of this almost unconsciously, the foremost thought in her mind being Cam.
Where was she? Did she know this was happening? And beneath it all, the one fear she could not allow to surface. The one impossible, unacceptable possibility that all of this was because something had happened to Cam.
“Clear,” Stark said to Hara, and opened the door. Both agents immediately jumped out, and Blair could see othe
r members of the team fanning out around the SUV. Stark leaned in. “Ms. Powell, you first, please.”
“Come with me,” Blair said, taking Diane’s hand.
As soon as they stepped out, half a dozen agents surrounded them and in the next second, Dana and Emory followed with several more agents falling in behind. Blair didn’t bother with conversation, but half ran as the mass of bodies encircling her surged toward the building. Inside, the elevator to the penthouse was standing open and Stark directed Blair, Diane, Emory, and Dana inside. Hara and Wozinski squeezed in last. Once they were moving up, Blair let go of Diane’s hand.
“Do you know anything more?”
Grimly, Stark shook her head. “Not yet.”
The elevator doors slid open, and Blair’s heart sank. Valerie waited in the foyer, her expression grave.
“Is it Cam?” Blair asked woodenly.
“There’s been an incident. I don’t have the details.” Valerie’s gaze never wavered from Blair’s face. “Cameron signaled to secure you. You need to move inside your apartment. Now.”
Cameron signaled. Blair swayed slightly. Alive, then. She’s alive.
“How are they?” Savard croaked, choking as smoke engulfed the vehicles and completely obscured the road above them.
Cam shook her head, wiping sweat and ashes from her face. “Anyone in that van is gone. How about our people?”
“I deflated the airbags to get a look at them. The driver is unconscious, the other has at least an open fracture of his femur, maybe his pelvis.” Savard struggled to open the rear compartment of the SUV, the lower edge of which was partially buried in rocks and earth. “I need to get to the medical equipment.”
Every transport vehicle had at least rudimentary first aid supplies, although not the full complement carried when the first daughter was on board. “Leave it. We need to get these guys out of this thing before it burns.”
“All this smoke has got to be attracting attention,” Savard shouted as they made their way back to the front of the overturned SUV. “Some kind of rescue team should be here soon.”
