Honor Under Siege

a notepad next to the phone and then placed a precise X through

the center. When he turned the pad, the X looked like the

crosshairs of a gun sight. “Perhaps this time we can sweep

the board. In memory of our fal en friends.

There was a moment of silence, then, “Yes, sir. And may

God bless America.

“May He indeed. You know where to reach me if anything

changes before our next scheduled communication. Lets take

care of these loose ends quickly, agent.

The general broke the connection, then pushed the extension

for valet parking and requested that his vehicle be brought to the

front of the hotel. He clipped a holster with his Glock to his

belt and selected a dark overcoat. It was time to take another

drive through the city, past the White House and Cameron

Robertss apartment building.

The time was rapidly approaching when he would have to

take

care of unfi nished business personal y.

* * * * *

Cam stepped off the elevator and, with a quick rush of

relief, nodded to Greg Wozinski, who stood just outside her

apartment door. For the fi rst time in almost a year, she hadnt

sat in on the morning briefi ng with Blairs security team.

She hadnt been advised of the shift schedule or known from

one minute to the next where Blair was. She had been uneasy all

day.

“You can spell Hara in the lobby now that Im here, Cam said,

appreciating the close surveillance but knowing that it

spread

Starks team thin. “I may not be offi cial, but I still know the

ropes.

Wozinski grinned. “Ill check with the

chief.

“Absolutely. Whatever Stark says. Cam let herself into

the apartment and closed the door behind her. The fi rst thing

she noticed was that the living room was empty, and the

second was an amazingly good smell coming from the direction

of the kitchen. She fol owed it, to discover Blair and Diane

cooking together.

Cam eyed the stir-fry concoction that Diane tossed in a

large skil et. “Chinese?

“Thai, Blair said. She slipped both arms around Cams neck

and kissed her hel o. “Wine?

Cam encircled Blairs waist. “Sounds great. Let me change, and Il give

you two a hand.

“Il help, Blair said, grinning at Dianes snort. “Il be right

back, Di.

“Sure, Diane said good-naturedly. “I wont time you, but dont be

too long because this wil be done soon.

“Promise, Blair said, tugging Cam by the hand across the living room

and into the hal way to the bedroom.

“How was your day? Cam asked as she fol owed Blair into the bedroom.

She hung up her blazer and removed her weapon and holster. She

secured them on the top shelf in the closet and unbuckled her belt.

“It was fun, Blair said, sliding Cams belt through the belt loops and

draping it over the rack on the back of the closet door. “Id forgot en what

it felt like to just have fun, even though Stark seemed to be in serious

pain.

Cam laughed. “Shes in for some more, Im afraid. I saw Savard this

afternoon, and she said something about Stark taking her shopping for

work clothes.

“You saw Renée? Blair asked as she unzipped Cams trousers and pul

ed her shirt free, then began working on the but ons. “How come?

“I recruited her for my

team.

“Oh.

Cam covered Blairs hands with one of hers and tilted Blairs chin up

with the other. “And Felicia.

“Thats good. Theyre good

people.

“But?

Blair shook her head. “Nothing. Its just She smiled a lit le crookedly.

“Goddamn it! Id got en used to you and the rest of them being on my

detail. Now Im not going to know what youre doing, and they wil .

Cam sensed Blairs real concern that in this new position there were things

they would not be able to discuss. Theyd worked hard to

overcome the twin obstacles to communication between themCams

natural reluctance to share professional and personal information, even

when it wouldnt violate procedure or protocol, and Blairs deep-seated

need to safeguard her privacy, even from those she loved. Now, Cams

job was reconstructing those barricades, and this time she would be

taking some of the important people in Blairs life behind those wal s

with her.

Cam eased away and shed her trousers, exchanging them for a

pair of sweatpants. She fi nished unbut oning her shirt, placed it on the

pile to go to the dry cleaners, and pul ed on a T-shirt. Then she drew

Blair with her to the side of the bed, sat down, and guided Blair onto

her lap. She clasped her loosely around the waist and kissed her

throat.

“Its going to take some get ing used to, but wel manage. She rubbed her

cheek over the val ey between Blairs breasts, inhaling the lingering scent

of her perfume on the silk T. “I promise to tel you as much as I can,

but right now there real y isnt much to tel .