Honor Under Siege

what was happening, she stil wasnt certain that let ing Diane listen to

Paula and Mac monitoring the events was such a great idea. If

something went wrong, Diane would never be able to forget it. Blair

didnt want that kind of nightmare for her.

“I may be new at this, Diane said as if reading her mind, “and Im hoping

this is the last time I have to wait while shes out doing something like

this, but if shes wil ing to go out there and do it, I can at least be a part

of it here. Then Il feel like shes not alone.

“Okay, Blair said, shaking her head rueful y. “I dont know why I

even questioned it. You wouldnt have fal en in love with her if you

couldnt handle who she is.

Diane

smiled.

“Thanks.

Blair knocked on the closed door to the dining room before opening it

a few inches and sticking her head in. “Can Diane and I come in?

Paula swiveled in her chair, her expression distracted but her tone

polite. “Of course. Were not going to be able to explain much once

things get going, but youre welcome to stay.

“Thanks, Blair said. “You dont need to worry about us,

Chief. Blair and Diane moved up behind Mac and

Stark.

“Can you tel us what were looking at? Blair

asked.

“This is a satel ite relay of ten square miles surrounding the meet point,

Paula

said, turning back to the computer monitor, which showed a smat ering

of smal blips on a grid surrounding a dark circle in the center. “The

majority of the vessels in the area are fishing boats, commercial

ships, and the occasional recreational vehicle. She pointed to a

glowing dot in the middle of the circle. “Thats Valerie.

“How do you know that? Diane

asked.

“We have GPS transponders in al of the vessels, including

Valeries, the command ship with Renée and the commander and

Felicia, and Tanners surveil ance boats. Paula skimmed her finger in a

semi circle along the border of the screen. “These are Tanners people

here.

“When wil we be able to see Cam? Blair

asked.

“Theyre just leaving the marina now. Mac adjusted the wireless receiver

in his ear and spoke using a throat mic, keeping both hands on the

keyboard of his computer. “Commander? How do you read?

A few seconds passed, then Mac spoke again. “Loud and clear,

Commander. Paula said without looking at him, “Can you put that on

audio, please, Mac.

“Yes maam. Mac keyed a series of commands into his computer

and then spoke again. “Ready for camera scan.

“Sending imagenow, Felicias voice announced from the

speakers.

Yel ow, red, and blue images vaguely resembling human forms

flickered on

Macs screen and then

stabilized.

“How do you read? Felicia

asked.

“Four hots. Mac opened a smal window within the larger screen

and a fluctuating bar-graph appeared. “Temperature variation less than

two degrees.

Give me a coordinates check.

Savard rat led of a list of

figures.

“What are they doing? Blair asked, not real y expecting an

answer.

“Checking the variance on the infrared thermal detector camera, Paula

said. “The lower levels of thermal radiance are due primarily to two

thingseither larger body mass and high body fat, which blunts the

reading, or a true depression in body temperature.

“Youre the warm one, Renée, Mac

said. Savard laughed. “Thats what

they tel me.

“Mac, can you correct for body mass using the limited readings we

have? Felicia asked. “Valerie is thin and her core temperature is

going to skew the thermal readings. Can you factor for that?

“Working on it, Mac said, input ing figures as he

spoke.

“Youre in visual range, Commander. Paula straightened and her voice

took on an edge. “We have an approach vessel closing on ground zero,

bearing

Blair sensed Diane trembling beside her and slid an arm around her

waist. She kept her voice low so as not to disturb Mac and Paula.

“Just remember that were only get ing part of the picture here, so dont

worry, no mat er what seems to be happening.

“I know. Il remember. Its justshe feels so far away, Diane

whispered. “She isnt. And Cam and Renée and the others are

right there. “Savard, hold us here, Cams voice said.

The words were so clear that Blair almost looked over

her shoulder to see if Cam had miraculously returned. Even

miles away over radio, the sound of Cams voice eased the

tension that had been slowly clenching her muscles and

squeezing around her heart until she felt as if she were a

piano wire tightened to the point of snapping. She forced herself

to take a breath and let it out slowly.

The red numerals in the lower left-hand corner of Paula

Starks monitor read 2258.

* * * * *

Cam opened the priority one channel to Valerie.

“Lawrence? “Im here, Commander, Valerie said.

“Approach vessel on its way.

“Roger that.

“If youre forced to board his ship and we lose our audio link

to you, I want you to bail at the first sign of trouble. Are we

clear?