06. Honor Under Siege - Неизвестный

“I didn’t want you to discover all my tricks before you were in too deep to escape me.”

“Oh, you needn’t worry,” Renée murmured. “There’s no chance of me going anywhere.”

Blair jerked awake and bolted upright. Cam was no longer lying next to her but sat with her legs dangling over the side of the bed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Blair asked sharply.

“I want to check on Valerie.”

“Get back in bed, Cameron.” They were alone. A fire burned vigorously in the fireplace, throwing a hot red glow throughout the room. Blair gripped Cam’s wrist. “I mean it—and I’m not in the mood to argue.”

Cam, nude except for the sheet bunched at her waist, shifted to look down at Blair. “Just for a second. I only need—”

“You need some decent rest and to recover from nearly drowning out there.” Blair grasped her shoulders. “You don’t get it, do you? You’re not indestructible. And you won’t be any good to them, any of them, if you’re too weak or injured to function. If you don’t care about me, think about them.”

Cam blinked, her face registering her shock. “You think I don’t care about you? Is that what you think?” Gently, she tangled her fingers in Blair’s hair and kissed her, softly, first her mouth, then the angle of her jaw, then her eyes. “I thought Valerie was dead. I thought I was dying, too. But I knew I couldn’t, because of you. You’re all I thought about. You’re everything I live for.”

“Don’t.” Blair pulled Cam down on top of her and drew the covers over them. She caressed Cam’s back with both hands, slowly stroking the sleek skin and elegant curve of muscle and bone. “Don’t try to melt my heart. It’s not going to work this time.”

“All right,” Cam said softly. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for frightening you.” She kissed Blair’s neck and settled her head on Blair’s shoulder. “I couldn’t let her die, Blair.”

“No,” Blair whispered. “Of course you couldn’t.” She sighed. “What happened to Henry?”

“He’s dead. I ordered Donaldson to take him out.”

Blair stiffened. “Are you all right?”

“It had to be done. The boat was about to go up and he was in danger of shooting—”

“Darling, you don’t have to explain that to me. If you gave the order, it was the right thing to do.”

“You believe in me that much?”

“More.” Blair cupped Cam’s jaw. “I trust your judgment, just like all of them do. I can only imagine what it takes for you to make those decisions and give those orders, and maybe everyone else needs to believe that it’s easy for you to do, but I know differently.” She cupped Cam’s chin, tilted her head up, and kissed her firmly but gently on the mouth. “If you hurt, I want to know. If you need a shoulder, I have one for you. I can’t be on the front line the way you are, but I’m part of this fight just the same.”

“Thank you,” Cam whispered. “I’ve never understood more clearly than I did tonight that you are my strength.”

Silence ensued, then Blair said with a sigh, “Five minutes, Cameron.”

“What?” Cam said.

“You can see Valerie for five minutes.”

Cam stirred, raising herself on her elbow to study Blair’s face. “Why?”

“Because you won’t rest until you do, and because the others need to see that you’re all right. As wonderful as each of them may be, you are the force that holds them together.” Blair pushed the covers aside. “Let’s get up. I’ll help you dress.”

Diane finished settling a log on the fire and turned at the sound of the door slowly opening. Absently she cinched the sash on her robe.

“We didn’t knock because we didn’t want to wake her,” Blair whispered as she and Cam stepped inside.

“That’s all right. It’s good to see you.” Diane touched Cam’s arm. “Are you all right?”

“Fine. How’s she doing?” Cam asked quietly. She wore old khakis and a sweatshirt, and loosely clasped Blair’s hand.

“I’m not sure,” Diane admitted, pushing her hair away from her face. “She’s still asleep.”

“Diane?” Valerie muttered, twisting from side to side and dislodging the blankets that covered her. “Diane?”

“I’m here, darling,” Diane said and hurried to the bed. She leaned down and stroked Valerie’s face. “Everything is all right. You’re safe now.”

Valerie opened her eyes and after a few seconds appeared to focus. “Am I really in bed?”

Diane smiled. “You most definitely are.”

“I’m almost warm.”

“Yes,” Diane whispered, her voice breaking as the tears she hadn’t had the time or luxury of shedding finally filled her eyes. “You’re going to be fine.”

“Is everyone all right?”

Diane glanced over her shoulder. “Cam? Maybe you should talk to her for a second.”

Cam joined Diane by the bed. “Hi. Bit of a rough ride out there. Everyone’s fine, but you had quite a swim.”

A smile flickered across Valerie’s face. “I remember some of it. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Henry…” Valerie frowned. “Henry.” She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, they were clearer. “I don’t think he knew what was coming.”

“No,” Cam agreed.

“He didn’t set me up tonight at least,” Valerie said faintly. She held Cam’s gaze. “Thanks for getting me out of there.”

“I’m sorry about Hen—”

“No, it was a good call on your part. Just…not on mine.”

“You don’t know that,” Cam said gently. “People change.”

“I wonder.” Valerie shivered violently and Diane quickly took her hand.

“You need to get some sleep, darling. No more talking right now.” Diane glanced at Cam. “Thank you for everything.”

Cam nodded and backed away from the bed. “Let me know if there’s any problem.”

“I will,” Diane said.

Blair slid her arm around Cam’s waist. “Let’s go. You’re shaking.”

“I want to check downstairs with Stark and—”

“Nice try,” Blair said, laughing gently. “You’re all out of options tonight. Might as well surrender.”

Giving in to the fatigue, Cam leaned on Blair. “Terms accepted.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Saturday

Just before noon, Cam tapped on Valerie and Diane’s door. When Diane answered, looking as if she hadn’t slept all night, Cam whispered, “Sorry. Is she awake?”

“On and off, yes.” Diane grimaced. “She woke up a few hours ago and wanted to get dressed for the morning briefing. Fortunately, she can’t get out of bed by herself, and I won’t help her.”

Cam smiled, but at the flash of fire in Diane’s eyes, she quickly smothered it. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Do you want to speak to her alone?”

“If you don’t mind.”

Diane gestured to her robe. “Give me a second to throw on some clothes. I need coffee, anyhow.”

“Thanks.”

“Cam,” Diane said, partially closing the door, “I want to apologize for some of the things I said to you before. I know Valerie went out there because she wanted to, and you risked—”

“Diane,” Cam murmured, shaking her head. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. We’ve all been under a lot of strain.”

“You saved her life.”

Cam glanced across the dimly lit room to the quiet figure in the bed, thinking of where they had begun. “Then we’re even.”

“What happens now?” Diane asked.

“We take back control of our lives.”

Five hours later, Blair and Cam walked into Lucinda Washburn’s office. Lucinda’s only concession to the fact that it was a weekend was that she wore a gray sweater, casual black trousers, and low heels instead of a suit.

“I’d like to hear your preliminary report before I send it on to Averill,” Lucinda said, referring to the security adviser.

In other words, Lucinda would put in writing whatever she wanted the official story to be after she’d heard the facts. Cam sat on the sofa with Blair beside her and waited while Lucinda gave someone instructions to hold her calls before taking her customary seat across from them.

“I take it this unscheduled visit means something important broke?” Lucinda said.

“We’ve located Valerie Lawrence,” Cam replied. “Her Company handler, known to us at the moment only as Henry, is dead. I’m confident that he was the source of the security breach and not Valerie.”

“Excellent,” Lucinda said. “When will we be able to debrief Lawrence?”

“You won’t,” Cam answered.

Lucinda showed no change in expression when she shifted her gaze to Blair. “Would you mind excusing us for a few moments?”

“You know,” Blair said, leaning back and crossing her legs, “I really would.”

“Blair,” Lucinda said with the merest bit of heat.

“Luce,” Blair snapped, “you were the one who suggested using my best friend to lure Valerie out into the open. You wanted me involved then, and now I am. So I’m not leaving.”

Cam decided it might be wise to forestall the fireworks that were sure to come. “Valerie Lawrence is a member of my homeland security team, and any information she may have will be relayed by me if I feel it necessary. My agents will not be debriefed by anyone else.”

“Since when is Ms. Lawrence part of your team?” Lucinda asked.

“Since noon today.”

Lucinda folded her hands in her lap and appeared to be lost in thought. “How secure is her identity?”

“I’m not certain,” Cam said, “and neither is she. Henry has always been her only personal contact, but undoubtedly there are records of her somewhere in the Company system. However, the right word in the right place can take care of that.”

“What do you propose?” Lucinda asked.

“I propose that Valerie Lawrence died at sea in the same unfortunate boating accident that killed her handler.”

“I think you’d better fill me in on the details.”

Cam gave her a rundown of the events, and as she spoke, Blair shifted closer and took Cam’s hand.

“You executed a CIA handler?” Lucinda said incredulously.

“Jesus, Luce,” Blair said.

“I did, yes,” Cam said evenly.

“And you’re certain it was warranted?”

“Yes,” Cam said. “He was a traitor and he was about to kill Valerie Lawrence, or cause her to be killed.”

“What about this missile you described?” Lucinda’s eyes narrowed as she visibly assessed, ordered, and prioritized information. “Can we trace it back to Matheson somehow?”

“Doubtful. The boats and whatever might remain of the SSM are in several hundred feet of heavily trafficked waters. Salvage would draw unwanted attention. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.”

“All right.” Lucinda tapped her fingers soundlessly on the arm of the chair, an action that nevertheless had the impact of a gavel falling. “The official line is that Agent Lawrence died at sea during a meeting with her handler. And now what?”

“We’ll arrange for her to have a new identity,” Cam said, “and she’ll join my team as the counterintelligence chief.”

“I know we told you to pick your own people,” Lucinda said, “but—”

“You did.” Cam leaned forward, tucking Blair’s hand against her middle. “If you’ve changed your mind, then I resign.”

“Not many people try playing hardball with me, Deputy Director Roberts.”

“I can appreciate why. But I’m not playing. I didn’t ask for this job, and if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it the way I see fit.”

“You’ll continue to report to me and, through me, to the security adviser.”

Cam nodded. “Agreed.”

“How do you assess the danger to Blair?”

“Currently, I don’t see her as a target. Matheson needed to eliminate his contact in the Company because he knew we would be searching for it. Who knows how much Henry knew about Matheson and his operation? Matheson risked exposure and possible capture to deal with Henry, but it was a calculated risk and for the time being, it’s paid off for him. Now, I think he’ll go underground and consolidate his power base.”

“Makes sense. What about the long term?” Lucinda asked.

Cam grimaced. “Eventually, once Matheson has rebuilt his forces, I think…” she hesitated and glanced at Blair. “I think he’ll make another attempt on Blair.”

“To what end?” Lucinda said.

“Blair is as much a figurehead as her father, and striking at her would not only privately undermine the president, but also publicly demonstrate that he is incapable of protecting the American people, even his own daughter.”

“Interesting theory,” Lucinda said, rising and beginning to pace. “That makes Blair as important to national security as—”

“Blair’s sitting here,” Blair said, giving a little wave with her free hand.

“Sorry,” Cam said.

Lucinda laughed and regarded Blair with her hands on her hips. “You wanted to stay, Blair. I never said we weren’t going to talk about you.”

“Including me usually works better.” Blair shifted her focus from Lucinda to Cam. “Just how long have you been working on this hypothesis?”

“Since the attack at the Aerie. There had to be some compelling reason to risk something like that—for Matheson to send his best men on a suicide mission. Why you? Why not the president?”

“Because,” Blair said slowly, “if my father were killed, he would become a martyr. The people would demand an explanation, if not retribution. Congress would rush to allocate money and personnel to find out what happened. But if he remains in office while his ability to lead is called into question and his authority is eroded, just the opposite happens. The political and economic ramifications would be devastating.”

“Yes.” Cam brushed her thumb over the top of Blair’s hand, which she cradled between both of hers. “All this means is that you have to be careful and we’ll all have to be vigilant. That’s nothing new.”

Blair smiled and skimmed her fingers over the edge of Cam’s jaw. “Thank you. I know what it means.”

“How close are you to getting Matheson?” Lucinda asked impatiently.

“Not close enough.” Cam frowned. “We won’t find him through any direct channels. He’s not going to return to his home base, or call upon men he served with, or contact remaining family members. He’s going underground. And the only way to find someone who has done that is to uncover a link to potential associates.”

“And that is the slowest route,” Lucinda said with a sigh. “Just ask the FBI. How many people have been on their Ten Most Wanted list for a decade or more?”

“Exactly. We’re compiling extensive profiles of known or possible contacts, but we need to expand our investigation to include paramilitary organizations. We might just stumble over him or someone who can lead us to him.”

“You’ll need more people for that.”

“We’ll need information analysts and data collectors based here in DC, but none of them will require critical security clearance. I want to keep the core investigation with my personal team working out of New York City.”