06. Honor Under Siege - Неизвестный

Gently, she brushed her fingertips over the discolored, swollen areas on Cam’s shoulder and hip. “You didn’t fall.”

“Somebody tried to run me down,” Cam said, slowly making her way to the bathroom. “I need to get a fast shower. Stark and Savard should be here in a minute.”

Blair turned on the water, her motions sharp and angry. She needed the anger, because the thought of how much worse it might have been made her want to scream. “Who was it? Did you see?”

“No.” Cam groaned softly as the hot water hit her rapidly stiffening back and hips. “Couldn’t see a thing except headlights.”

“It was deliberate?” Blair ran the towel through her hands over and over, wanting more than ever to hit something. To hurt—no, annihilate—whoever had attempted to kill her lover, to take someone precious from her. The pain of just thinking of it was so huge she shook.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Oh sweetheart, I’m sorry,” Blair whispered. “If you hadn’t been angry with me, you wouldn’t have gone—”

“Bullshit, Blair,” Cam said mildly, stepping out of the shower and accepting the towel Blair held out for her. “Baby, if it was anyone’s fault, it was mine. I wasn’t paying attention, and whoever it was probably followed me from here. I didn’t have my weapon or my phone. Fucking idiot.” Roughly, she toweled her hair until it was dry enough for her to finger comb it back out of her face. “Would you mind grabbing me some jeans and a shirt.”

“Here,” Blair said a moment later. She helped Cam with the buttons and zipper even though Cam didn’t need her to, because she had to do something, other than slam doors and swear. “I’ll get you some ibuprofen too. From the looks of those bruises, you’re going to be sore.”

When Blair started to turn away, Cam gently caught her by the shoulders and stopped her. “I’m okay. You’ve given me a worse thumping in the training ring.”

Blair turned in the circle of Cam’s arms. “I might have bloodied you, but I’ve never tried to hurt you.” She rested her cheek against Cam’s shoulder. “God, I can’t believe someone tried to run you down. I shouldn’t have let you go.”

“I shouldn’t have gone. I’m sorry.”

“I was so pissed off at you for leaving.” Blair was starting to shake as her anger dissipated. “You beat me to it.”

“I’ll make a deal with you. The next time we’re pissed at each other, I won’t walk if you won’t.”

Blair sighed and kissed Cam’s throat. “I guess I have to agree, because I can’t stand it when you’re angry, and it’s even worse when you’re gone.”

“We’re going to have to talk about this with Stark and Savard. Diane too, a little later.”

Blair met Cam’s eyes. “Is this about Valerie?”

“I don’t know, baby. But we have to find out.” She kissed Blair carefully, slowly and tenderly. “Tonight was either a warning or they were just sloppy. Either way, they made a mistake. We’re not waiting for whoever’s out there to try again.” Cam’s eyes hardened. “We’re going after them now.”

Diane placed a cup of coffee on the end table next to Cam and handed another cup to Blair. “There’s more in the kitchen for when the others get here. I’ll be in my room.” Her eyes held an apology as they met Blair’s. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Wait!” Blair caught up to Diane on the way to the guest room. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” Diane shook her head. “Forget about me. Is Cam okay? Are you?”

“She’s banged up, but she’ll be fine.” Blair’s voice trembled and she forced back a surge of anxiety. She squeezed Diane’s hand. “I just wasn’t expecting this here. It shook me for a minute.”

“A minute!” Diane laughed shakily. “I thought I understood what your life was like all these years, but I was wrong. I’ve always loved you for your spirit and courage. Now even more.” She lightly stroked Blair’s cheek. “If I am the cause of any of this because of my relationship with Valerie, I’m leaving. You don’t deserve to have more pain in your life because of your friends.”

“Diane,” Blair said gently. “Shut up.”

Diane paused. “I’m serious.”

“I know, and I love you for it. But you’re not going anywhere right now. I’ll talk to you as soon as I can.”

When she returned to the living room, Cam was just opening the door to Paula and Renée. Blair guessed they had come directly from their shopping trip, because Renée’s dark slacks, pale yellow blouse, and dark green blazer were clearly just out of the package. Paula, in jeans and a navy crewneck sweater, looked worried even before she zeroed in on Cam, and then her eyes widened in alarm and she immediately pivoted toward Blair. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just Cam was hurt.” Blair stroked Cam’s arm, needing the contact. “Someone tried to run her down.”

“Do you have anything on the vehicle or driver?” Renée asked briskly.

“Nothing on either one,” Cam said in disgust. “I was too busy kissing the pavement.” She sat on the sofa and gestured toward the matching leather chairs opposite her. Blair settled beside her, and Cam briefly squeezed her hand before filling Stark and Savard in on the details of what had happened.

“Is there any chance you might’ve been mistaken for someone else?” Savard asked.

Cam shook her head. “Doubtful. The streets were pretty empty because of the weather, so I expect the vehicle followed me from here. I’m taller than Blair and I wasn’t wearing a hat, so my face and hair were visible. It’s unlikely anyone would mistake me for her.”

“Even so, is there any specific reason that you think Ms. Powell might have been a possible target?” Stark asked carefully.

“None, other than all the usual reasons,” Cam said grimly, pleased that Stark’s focus was on Blair.

“What about yourself?” Savard interjected.

“Ordinarily,” Cam said, “I’d say no. But there are other factors at play that you both need to be aware of.” She shifted slightly and focused on Stark. “I assume you know that Savard is on my OHS team now.”

“Yes.” Stark smiled fleetingly. “I think it’s terrific.”

“So do I.” She shot a quick glance at Savard before turning again to Stark. “I intended to brief Savard and Davis tomorrow on our prime mission, and you too, Chief, to the extent that circumstances involve Blair. What happened tonight has pushed up my timetable.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Stark said. “I appreciate you including me tonight.”

“You have to be included.” Cam could sense Blair’s tension but she continued without hesitation. “As you know, Valerie Lawrence is missing and quite a number of people would like to find her. Not all of those people are friendly. We’re not even completely certain that Valerie is still on our side.”

“Cam.” Blair abruptly withdrew her hand, which had been lightly clasping Cam’s thigh.

Savard didn’t seem to notice the whispered protest. “What do we know about her location since the raid on Matheson’s compound?”

“Nothing. She’s been completely out of contact.” Cam placed her hand on Blair’s knee, hoping to reassure her. “I’m not asking you to break any confidences, Blair, or to confirm anything, but Stark needs to know this. I strongly suspect that Valerie made contact with Diane Bleeker sometime during the shopping trip today.”

Stark paled but kept her gaze on Cam’s face. “I didn’t see anyone who fits Valerie’s description. No one reported anything unusual to me. If she was there…we missed her.”

“There’s no reason you should have been looking for Valerie, Paula.” Abruptly, Blair stood and directed her next comment to Cam. “You don’t seriously think Valerie tried to run you down tonight.”

“No,” Cam said, “I don’t. I can’t think of anything Valerie might gain by having me out of the way, especially since she doesn’t know I plan on finding her.”

“Even if she did,” Blair said, “I can’t believe she’d try to hurt you.”

“I don’t think so either,” Cam said, “but we can’t make assumptions. Until we have more information, all we know is that Valerie is missing, Matheson is missing, and someone tipped him off to the raid on his compound.”

“If Valerie made contact today,” Stark said, her voice low and tight, “then we had a serious breach in security. I’ll need to report it.”

Cam shook her head. “No, for two reasons. Number one, I don’t want anything about Valerie reported to anyone except me. We don’t know who’s reading those reports. Number two, your priority and that of your team today was Blair. Valerie is an experienced operative, and I’m sure she simply waited until Diane was out of your surveillance zone before approaching her.” At the set look on Stark’s face, Cam leaned forward. “Now you know, Chief. Now you widen your perimeter. There was no breach today.”

“What about my chain of command?” Stark asked stiffly. “A.D. Carlisle should probably be informed.”

“I don’t want to pull rank,” Cam said, “but Homeland Security takes precedence.”

“Yes ma’am.” Stark said.

Cam looked at Blair. “After what happened tonight, I think you and Diane should head for Whitley Point tomorrow. I’ll bring the rest of the team in a day or two.”

“I’m not sure Diane will go,” Blair said. “Not if Valerie is here somewhere.”

“If Diane has contact with Valerie, she needs to get Valerie to come in. If Valerie’s not responsible for the leak, she’s in big trouble. Matheson is going to try to eliminate her.”

“Commander,” Savard said. “Someone helped Valerie disappear from Whitley Point. It’s not a secure location anymore.”

Cam nodded. “I agree that the site is no longer a secret. Despite that, Whitley Point is easy to secure, and with Tanner’s private forces, we’ll have plenty of personnel. It’s the best place for Blair—”

“I’m not going without Diane,” Blair said. “I understand what you’re saying, and I’ll go, but not without her. She’ll be defenseless if we leave her.”

“I’ll put people on her,” Cam said.

Blair shook her head. “I want my people.” She glanced at Stark. “They’re the best and you know it.”

Cam sighed. “I’ll talk to Diane. It’s time that I did.” She grasped Blair’s hand and drew her back down to the sofa. “Okay?”

“Yes. I know it’s time.” Blair leaned gently against Cam’s uninjured shoulder.

“Chief,” Cam said to Stark, “you’ll have complete control of Blair’s security, but you’ll report to me and not Carlisle until further notice.”

“Understood,” Stark responded smartly.

“Savard, you’re secondin-command of my OHS team. Our first priority is to find Valerie Lawrence. And after that, we’re going to find Matheson.”

Savard’s eyes sparkled and her fatigue seemed to drop away like a distant memory. “Yes ma’am, Commander. Will there be anyone else besides Felicia?”

“For now, no. Once we get a lead, we’ll need someone in the field.”

Savard looked as if she was about to say something, and then stopped herself. Nevertheless, Cam heard the message. “If and when you’re ready for the field, I’ll decide where I need you most. Can you work with that?”

“Absolutely,” Savard said. “I serve at your command, with pleasure.”

Cam stood, careful not to favor her aching hip. She didn’t want Stark or Savard, and especially not Blair, to know how much it hurt. “Contact Felicia tonight and tell her we’ll meet here at 0700, not in the West Wing. It’s time to close our doors to any eyes and ears except our own.”

Blair walked Stark and Savard to the door, then returned to Cam. “I know there wasn’t much time before the briefing, but I wish you’d told me about leaving for Whitley Point earlier.”

“I know. My timing has been off with everything tonight.” Cam cupped Blair’s cheek. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to blindside you.”

Blair sighed. “You’re forgiven.”

“Thanks,” Cam said, meaning it. She was in pain, she was facing enemies she couldn’t identify, and she needed Blair now more than ever.

“Your hip hurts, doesn’t it?” Blair said, resting her hands gently on Cam’s waist.

“I thought I was doing a good job of hiding it.” Cam laughed softly at Blair’s expression. “It’s getting stiff pretty fast.”

“Let’s get you to bed.”

“In a minute. I need to talk to Diane.”

“She’s hurting, too, Cam,” Blair said softly.

“I know. I’ll do my best not to make it worse.”

“Your best,” Blair whispered, kissing her. “Yes, that will do.”

“I know how much she means to you, and I’m very fond of her. I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”

“Do you ever get tired, taking care of others?”

Cam frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Blair smiled and kissed Cam again. “I know you don’t, and that’s another reason that I love you. I’ll be waiting.”

“And that,” Cam whispered, “is just what I need.”

Blair watched her walk away, knowing she was hiding her pain. She wanted to shield Cam and keep her safe, and knew Cam wanted the same for her. She feared it was a wish neither of them could fulfill.

Chapter Eleven

Diane, in royal blue silk pajamas, sat propped against the pillows, an open book in her lap. She smiled wanly at Cam. “I’ve been trying to read, but I can’t remember a single sentence.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you.”

“Don’t be silly. How do you feel?”

“I’m fine.” Cam left the door open an inch and leaned against the wall, her arms loosely at her sides. “In light of what’s happened, I’d like you and Blair to leave for Whitley Point tomorrow morning.”

“I hadn’t planned on leaving so soon.”

Cam followed Diane’s gaze as she glanced unconsciously at her cell phone on the table next to the bed. “If Valerie calls, she can reach you there as well as anywhere else.”

“I know.”

“But you’re hoping to see her here, aren’t you?” Cam asked gently.

Diane sighed. “Am I that transparent?”

“No. I’d feel the same way if I were you.” Cam’s chest tightened just thinking about Blair suddenly disappearing with no word. Perhaps forever. But she couldn’t make command decisions based on what she felt, or how deeply she ached for Diane’s pain. No one would be safe then.

“Sit down,” Diane said, indicating the bed. “You’ve had a difficult night.”

Cam grinned as she sat on the foot of the bed. “You saw her today, didn’t you?”

“Is that why you and Blair were fighting?”

“Nice evasive maneuver,” Cam murmured. Assuming that Blair wouldn’t mind Diane knowing what had gone on between them, she answered honestly. “We were fighting because I thought she should have told me about Valerie showing up today and she didn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be. Blair and I don’t always see things the same way, but I understand why she made the decision she did.”

Diane studied Cam curiously. “And that makes it all right?”