Honor Under Siege

Valerie stopped. “No. Stay here. I know how many last-minute details

there are to check. Im al right, Cameron.

The hal way was dimly lit, and Cam thought Valerie looked almost

ghostlike in the shadows, as if she were already gone. It made her

uneasy, and she unconsciously reached out and touched her cheek.

“Youre not going to be alone out there.

“I know. Im not worried. Valerie covered Cams hand for a brief second.

Then

she drew it away from her face, but kept Cams fingers in her grasp.

“There are many things unsaid between us. You should know that there

were times that your presence in my life was the only thing that

mat ered to me. There was never a single moment when I felt anything

but cared for by you.

“Valerie, Cam murmured.

“Youre

“Let me finish, because weve got work to do, Valerie said gently.

“Ive been happier these last few weeks, despite everything, than Ive

ever been in my life. Diane means everything to me, and if it werent for

having met you and realizing that I could love someone, I dont think I

would have been able to love her the way I do. Take care of her for me,

if anything happens to me tonight.

“Al right, Cam said roughly. “Il make you that promise because I dont

want you thinking about anything tonight except the operation.

Do your job, and Il do mine, and youl be back here before

sunrise.

“Thank you, Cameron. Valerie leaned close and kissed Cam lightly

on the mouth. “Happy hunting, Commander. Then she turned and

walked out the front door.

Cam listened to the engine start and the vehicle pul away before heading

back to the operations center. The ache in her chest eased as soon as she

walked in and saw Mac and Stark sit ing before computer consoles.

Felicia stood just behind Mac, her hand on his shoulder. These were her

people, the best at what they did of anyone in the world. She trusted

them to keep Blair safe. To keep Valerie safe.

“Hows the feed? Cam

asked.

Without turning around, Mac said, “Excel ent. Our friends in the

Pentagon have great toys.

Cam leaned down to look at the satel ite image of the sector of ocean

where

Valerie would rendezvous with Henry. It was so clear, she could feel the

spray. “Amazing. Why didnt we have this before we hit Mathesons

compound? We might not have dropped into a hot zone.

“Because it wasnt their action. Mac looked over his shoulder at

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