convenience.
Blair rol ed her eyes. At your earliest convenience was Lucinda-speak
for cal immediately. Lucinda Washburn was President Andrew Powel s
chief of staf , as wel as his lifelong friend and adviser. No one was
closer to him, not even Blair. Lucinda had helped him win the
governorship of Massachuset s, the vice presidency, and final y the
presidency. She was an astute politician and managed far more than
the day-to-day workings of the White House staf . If someone wanted
the ear of the president, they needed to court Lucinda Washburn first.
“Lucinda wants something. Blair glanced at Cam, who smiled rueful y.
Lucinda did not make social cal s. She also was not the presidents
secretary, which meant that she probably had an agenda of her own.
“Give me a few minutes to have a cup of cof ee, Paula, and then Il cal
her back.
“Il be in the command center. Paula kept her voice neutral and her
face expressionless. The makeshift command center was actual y part
of the first floor of the smal er guest house that sat partway between the
main house and the beach. Her scaled-down security team stayed there
when they were of shift. Right now there were only three other agents
with herGreg Wozinski, Patrice Hara, and Felicia Davis. There was
also one other inhabitant, her FBI agent lover Renée Savard, who was
recuperating from a bul et wound. She and Cam had sustained their
injuries during the same action. “Please cal me when youre ready, and
Il scramble a line for you.
Blair halted with her hand on the handle of the back door and regarded
Paula quizzical y. “Is something wrong?
“No
maam.
“Am I supposed to guess why you suddenly sound like an
android?
Paula smiled. “Sorry. I was asleep when the cal came in and I havent
had time to recharge my bat eries. Im running on auxiliary backup
packs.
“Ha ha. Come inside and have some cof ee,
then.
Paula checked in with a quick glance at Cam, who signaled for her to
fol ow them into the house.
“Im going to grab a quick shower, Cam said, heading in the direction
of the staircase leading to the second floor. “Be right down.
Blair led Paula through to the kitchen, while Patrice Hara took up a
position just inside the rear door and Greg Wozinski walked through
to the front of the house. “Hows Renée doing? she asked casual y as
she began to assemble the morning cof ee.
“Restless. Paula set led into a chair at the rectangular oak table in the
center of the room.
“Tel me about it. Blair turned on the automatic cof ee pot, put a ket le of
water on for tea, and sat down next to her. “Renée is just like
Camneither of them is happy unless theyre working. She touched
Paulas wrist lightly. “You should understand that. Youre al the same,
real y.
There had been a time when the slightest touch from Blair would have
made Paula blush. She could not believe that eight months had passed
since the few il -advised hours shed spent in the intimate company of
the first daughter. The lapse was one of a potential y career destroying
magnitude, and although she regret ed her irresponsible behavior, she
did not regret the private moments they had shared. Now, it seemed
like the interlude had taken place in another
lifetime, when she had been another woman. In the few scant months
since then, shed seen Cameron Roberts almost die, Blair narrowly
escape assassination, and the nation that the entire world had
considered unassailable become the victim of terrorism. She didnt
blush.
“I do understand. But the doctor said she needed another few days
before she could start walking, and the inactivity is wearing on her.
Blair knew the problem was more than just inactivity. Renée, along with
many of the New York based FBI and Secret Service field agents,
had been in the World Trade Center at the time the towers had
been hit. Shed seen the devastation and horror firsthand. “Its going to
take some time, Paula. Shel heal.
Paulas eyes revealed what she couldnt say. Wouldnt say, out of respect
for her lovers privacy. “I know.
“She has the one thing she needs most of al , Blair said
gently. “You.
“Oh, man, Paula said softly. “I hope thats enough. She wished she
could feel certain, but she feared that something in Renées soul had
been irreparably broken and neither time nor love would heal it.
Blair stood. “Trust me, it is. She set a mug of tea at an empty place for
Cam. “I
think right now the people we care about might be al that
matter.
“Iuhhow are you doing? Paula asked as Blair poured their cof
ees.
Everyone knew how private Blair was, and it wasnt real y her place
to ask personal questions. But since September 11, the world as they
knew it was gone and some of the old rules no longer seemed to apply.
Paula understood the necessity for viewing the subjects she protected as
critical y valuable individuals, while at the same time avoiding any
kind of personal involvement, even friendship. But theyd al been
through so much together that the usual professional detachment
seemed impossible, especial y when Blair had been the
object of a nearly successful assassination at empt in her own heavily-
fortified home. What was once considered inconceivable now fel within
the realm of the probable. It could happen again, and Paula had to see
that it didnt.
“Sometimes I stil cant believe that any of it real y happened, Blair said
quietly.
“I know. Paula took a deep breath. She was stil trying to understand her
new role as Blair s security chief and what the boundaries were. Most
of the time when she wasnt certain, she fol owed her heart. That
probably wasnt the way the commander did things, but she would never
be the commander. “We werent prepared for what happened in the
Aerie, but we wil be now. They failed, which just shows you how
good your security was, even against the unexpected. Now it wil be
even bet er because we know the game has changed.
The
game
has
changed.
Blair suppressed a shudder. Yes, the rules of engagement had
definitely changed, and she was an unwil ing player in a game
where the stakes were higher than shed ever imagined. She glanced
toward the door as Cam walked in. Her black hair was wet and slicked
back, making the sharp planes of her face stand out even more. Even
in a loose black T-shirt and blue jeans, her body looked taut and
fighting ready. Blair could tel from the set of her jaw that shed heard
the last part of the conversation; she had that intense, hard
expression she always got when the subject of Blairs vulnerability came
up.
“Im not worried. Blair said, “We have the winning
team.
Cam leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek, then regarded
the tea with a raised eyebrow. �
��Is that for me?
“Yes, Blair said with exaggerated seriousness. “And theres honey
on the counter. Put some in. It wil help your throat.
“I think cof ee wil do
fine.
“Cameron.
Blairs
eyes
glit ered
dangerously.
“But tea is probably bet er, Cam amended as she retrieved the jar of
honey. Paula watched the exchange with apparent interest, then looked
quickly away as
Cam gave her a pointed stare. She rose without finishing her cof ee. “Il
be in the
command
center.
“Wait, Paula. Blair kept her gaze on Cam, thinking how much she loved
going to sleep with her every night and waking up with her in the
morning and having her around during the day. Just being with her. Not
being guarded by her, not being worried over. Just being in her
company. But this week had been an anomaly, and they both knew it.
Softly, she said, “Ready?
Cam
nodded.
“Paula, Blair said. “I think we bet er make that
cal .
Chapter Two
I just sent a transport plane to Lexington for you. In her usual
rapid-fire fashion, Lucinda Washburn continued, “It should be there in
two hours. Come on over to the of ice when you get in.
“Hi, Luce, Blair said sarcastical y. “Hows your day
going?
“About the way theyve al been going for the last
month.
Blair was surprised by the weariness in Lucindas voice. She couldnt
remember ever seeing her tired. In fact, she wasnt certain shed ever
known Lucinda to actual y sleep. “Is everything al right?
“As al right as can be expected. A smal , impatient sigh filtered down
the phone line. “Come home. Wel talk.
Home. The White House would never feel like home to Blair, because it
wasnt, even though her father and Lucinda were there. True, she had
no other family home. Her father had sold the house she had grown up
in when her mother died. Blair was twelve at the time, and after
that she had lived in the governors mansion or whatever other
house came with her fathers political position. Lucinda had always
been like family. Shed been a close friend of both Blairs parents before
Blairs mother died, and shed been a constant figure in Blairs life ever
since. Not a mother figure, but strong and capable and comforting, for al
her demands. But Blairs home was her loft in Manhat an, and that
had been nearly destroyed in an at ack that had come at the same time as
the devastation at the World Trade Center. She didnt have a home now,
and the memories of terror and death chil ed her. She glanced at Cam,
who watched her pensively. Cam. Cam was home.
Blair pushed the images of loss away. “It wil take us a while to
arrange transportation to the airport.
“I can get State Troopers to escort
you.
“God, no, Blair said with barely suppressed horror. “Ive got al the
protection I
need. Just tel the pilot he may have to
wait.
“Al right then. Il see you this
afternoon.
Blair ended the cal and handed the phone back to Paula. “Were
leaving.
“Il let the teams know, Paula
said.
“Il cal Tanner and arrange for drivers. Cam hesitated, casting a
questioning look in Starks direction. “If thats al right with you.
“Its fine. Thanks, Stark answered on her way out the back door.
Cam set her tea aside and slid her arms around Blairs waist.
“Whats up?
“I dont know. Blair kissed the tip of Cams chin. “But Lucinda wants
to talk.
“Uh-
oh.
Blair sighed. “I know. She rocked her hips lightly against Cams.
“Have you heard anything from Stewart?
Cam shook her head. Assistant Director Stewart Carlisle was her
immediate superior in the Department of the Treasury, but since shed
most recently been on special assignment reporting directly to the
president, she hadnt been under Stewarts command for some time. “I
dont actual y know who Im reporting to anymore. She glanced through
the back door to the guest house visible partway down the slope to the
beach. Blairs security team was there. The nerve center of al that went
into protecting Blair was there. And she wasnt. “Especial y since Im not
on your security team anymore.
Blair leaned back, hooking her thumbs in the loops of Cams jeans. “It
bothers you, doesnt it. That Stark is in charge now.
“Starks a good
agent.
Blair laughed. “Cameron. Dont even
try.
Cam forced herself to unclench her jaw. “Yes, it bothers me.
I didnt want to be switched from investigation to protection
when they first assigned me to your team last year. But you
know what? She kissed Blair lightly. “Im good at it. And Im
motivated. I like She shrugged. “looking after you.
“Oh, darling, Blair murmured. “You do look after me. In all
the ways that mean the most to me. You love me, and thats
what I really need. I dont need you throwing yourself in front
of me if some crazy person decides they dont like the color of
my dress.
“I know thats not what you need. Cam ran a hand through her
hair. “But its kind of what I need.
“I know. Blair hugged her tightly. It was rare that she could
touch Cam without being aroused, for which she was
couldnt imagine not wanting her. Just at the moment, though,
she wanted to comfort her because it was so unusual for
Cam to be unsure about anything. And she could sense Cams
unease and uncertainty. “We all need time to get adjusted to the
changes, Cam. But Im always going to need you.
Cam smiled and rested her forehead against Blairs. “And
Im always going to need you.
* * * * *
Paula hurried down the twisting path to the guesthouse.
Under other circumstances she would have taken a second to
appreciate the unseasonably warm early October morning, but
her mind was totally consumed with the myriad details of her
job. She felt the full weight of her new responsibilities
intensely, but beneath the low-level hum of nerves, she was
also aware of the surge of excitement that always accompanied
any operation when Egret, as Blair was official y cal ed, was on
the move.
“Listen up, she said as she pushed through the front door into
the living room. “Egret is flying. She shed the windbreaker
shed grabbed earlier on her way down to the beach and rol ed
up the sleeves of her white button-down col ar shirt. She headed
straight for the dining room where theyd set up their
computers and communication equipment. “Im going to call DC
to arrange ground
transport.
Felicia Davis, a statuesque African-American with features
that suggested she might be descended from an ancient
Egyptian queen
, sat in a rattan chair sipping coffee. “Shall
I arrange accommodations?
“Yes. The usual hotel. At least for a night until the
commander until I determine Egrets immediate schedule.
Pushing numbers on her cell phone, Felicia rose and walked to
the
French doors leading to a wide deck with a view of the
beach.
“What about me? Renée Savard reclined on a sofa with her left
leg propped up on an overstuffed hassock. A blue fabric
knee immobilizer with wide white Velcro straps was wrapped
around her knee. “Can I tag along?
Paula held up one finger as she spoke into the phone and
simultaneously entered information into the computer. A
minute passed, then she disconnected and returned to the living
room to sit next to Renée. She skimmed her fingers through
her lovers shoulder length golden-brown hair. “Hows your leg?
“Other than the fact that it feels as heavy as a tree trunk, and
about as functional, its fine, Renée said edgily. Her blue eyes narrowed.
“It would feel a hel of a lot bet er without this immobilizer.
“Just for a few more
days.
Renée waved her away. “Go take care of what you have to take care of.
How soon are you leaving?
“ASAP.
“Wel then, dont waste time asking me about my
stupid leg.
Paula kept her expression neutral. She knew Renées leg hurt, and she
knew that her bad temper was more than pain. “Do you want to hang out
here while were gone? I can get Tanner to arrange a private car to take
you back to Manhat an if you dont.
Tanner Whitley, heir to the Whitley corporate dynasty and the owner of
Whitley Island, was one of Blairs oldest friends from prep school. She
also had one of the best private security forces in the country. Her
crew had been providing perimeter protection during Blairs stay,
ensuring that no one approached the house from the main road
that bisected the island. Stark trusted Tanner completely.
“I dont want to go back to Manhat an. Renée sounded
uncharacteristical y petulant. “Not when I cant work. Not when youre
not there. She leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Jesus, listen to me.
Im pathetic. Im sure you dont want me underfoot while youre working.
“I dont know how long wel be in DC, or where wel be going after that,
Paula said. “But
“Just go, Paula. Il cal Tanner later and arrange my
own
“But, Paula continued as if she hadnt been interrupted, “if it