Oath of Honor

Doesn’t fit the scenario unless Jones handed off the stolen specimen to

an intermediary.”

“That would be a reasonable plan,” Evyn said. “That way, Jones

protects her identity and there’s no link between her and the person

releasing the virus.”

“Except in this case, there is. Which may be exactly why they’re

using an intermediary. Could be they’ve been seen together before or

fear that some other connection might come to light.”

“I’ll buy that. So who’s the intermediary?”

“No fix on that yet,” Cam said. “And we don’t know how many

other intermediaries might be involved. Whoever’s funding this is

probably many degrees removed.”

“Invisible,” Evyn muttered.

“Unfortunately, yes. For now, our job is intercepting the virus.”

“What about Wes—Captain Masters. If Pattee gets suspicious—”

“Doubtful she’d attempt anything tonight—if Pattee was involved

in O’Shaughnessy’s death, she had to have planned it in advance.

The captain ought to be safe tonight, but stick with her until she gets

home.”

“Looks like they’re staying in for the rest of the evening.”

“Good—that makes it less likely Pattee will pick up on our

surveillance. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Roger that.” Evyn couldn’t find anything very good about the

idea of Wes being alone with Jennifer Pattee for the rest of the evening.

Wes had proved she could handle herself in tight situations, only Evyn

wished she didn’t have to prove it in this one. She totally trusted Wes—

she just didn’t trust Jennifer Pattee.

“Got a car approaching…slowing…” Block sat forward and

adjusted the video monitor. “He’s parking right across the street from

Pattee’s town house.”

“Food delivery?”

“Looks that way.”

“Can you shoot a still remotely?”

Block fiddled with some buttons. “Ought to be able to.”

• 248 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Good. Get me a shot of him and let’s run it.” Evyn tossed her

cell back on the counter and silently sent a message to Wes, urging

her to leave as soon as she could. She’d done her job—more than her

job—and now it was time to let Evyn and the others shoulder the risk.

Somehow, she knew if Wes received her plea, she’d ignore it. Wes

didn’t run, ever.

v

Wes caught the Metro as she’d been instructed and got off at the

stop closest to her apartment. She let herself in and turned on the lamp

just inside the door. She was transported back to the last time she’d

walked in late at night. Evyn had been with her then—moving into her,

kissing her, taking her. Wes shuddered, her skin slick with nerves and

heat. She pulled off her coat and tossed it over the back of the sofa. Her

blazer followed, and she dropped that on the breakfast bar on her way

to get a beer from the fridge. She didn’t bother to turn on any more

lights. She just waited.

Ten minutes later a knock came on the door and she opened it

quickly.

Evyn strode in. “Are you okay?”

“Did you get everything?” Wes asked.

“They’re working on the audio now, but you did good. How do

you feel?”

Wes pointed to the beer she’d opened and left untouched on the

breakfast counter. “Like I can’t wait to get back to the clinic. How the

hell do you do this on a regular basis?”

Evyn laughed softly. “I don’t. I’m protection, remember?”

“Yes, but you’ve been in the field too.”

“I never did much undercover.” Evyn slid her hand around Wes’s

waist and tapped the transmitter. “Come on, let’s get this thing off you.

We need to debrief—get your impressions. We can only get so much

from the audio.”

“Why did Roberts want me to come back here instead of reporting

directly to her at the White House?” Wes unbuttoned her shirt and

pulled her tank up. “Do you really think someone might’ve followed

me from Jennifer’s?”

“No sense taking a chance. This way, to anyone watching, you

• 249 •

RADCLYfFE

finished your date and went home. Anyone following would assume

you were in for the night.”

“Hell of a date,” Wes muttered.

Evyn carefully loosened the adhesive and removed the transmitter.

“What’s your impression?”

Wes sat on one of the bar stools facing out into the living room

and propped her elbows on the counter behind her. “She sent a lot of

mixed signals. She might have been trying to seduce me, but she was

also trolling for information.”

“What kind of information?”

“Mostly about Len. She’s a medical person. Sudden death is

something we’re familiar with. But she pushed a little bit where he was

concerned—maybe trying to see if we suspected foul play.”

“That makes sense if she was party to his death.”

“But why would she have wanted to get rid of him? Someone

would take his place—if not someone from the outside like me, one of

the other docs from the inside.”

“My working theory,” Evyn said, securing the transmitter in her

jacket pocket, “is that Len started to suspect her. Maybe he overheard

something. We’ll probably never know, but for some reason, they

wanted him out of the way.”

“Then I’m no threat.”

“Not unless she thinks you suspect something too,” Evyn said