“A briefing with Cameron.
Diane held her tightly, running her hands over Valeries back.
She wore only a snug tank top and panties. “Youre cold. Go
finish dressing.
Valerie pulled the covers back and slid underneath. “I
frightened you. Im sorry.
Diane shook her head. “Just for a second. I wish you didnt have
to go.
“Ill be back. Valerie stretched out above Diane and kissed
her throat. “I wouldnt leave now except I might be able to help.
“You wont do anything foolish, will you?
Valerie laughed softly. “There are times I think my whole
life might have been foolish.
“No, Diane said with certainty. She feathered her fingers
through the short hair at the base of Valeries neck. “Youre
the most remarkable woman Ive ever met.
“Diane, Valerie murmured, kissing her deeply. When
Diane tightened her hold and strained beneath her, wrapping
both legs
around the back of Valeries thighs, Valerie immersed herself in
the heat pouring off Dianes body. Dianes passion was like
nothing shed ever felt. The fire burned effortlessly, searing into
those dark, barren places where shed learned to hide her feelings,
not realizing that eventual y that which was buried, died.
Desperate not to lose the connection, Valerie tightened her grip
on Dianes upper arms, digging her fingers into the firm,
pliable flesh. When Diane moaned, she instantly pul ed away.
“Im sorry. I didnt mean
“No. More. Diane dragged Valeries head back down, her fingers
twisting through Valeries hair. She pressed her mouth to Valeries ear.
“You cant hurt me. Not by touching me. Im dying to have you inside
me.
Valerie sobbed out a cry of need and wonder. She pushed herself down
until her face was pressed to Dianes stomach, then she cupped Dianes
breast with one hand and fil ed her with the other. She squeezed and rol
ed Dianes nipple as she pushed into her, higher and deeper, thrust after
thrust.
“God, Diane gasped, arching frantical y to meet each stroke. “I dont
want to come but youre going to make me.
“Yes, Valerie whispered urgently. She kissed her way lower, gliding her
tongue over soft skin and trembling muscles and into the fragrant heat.
She hummed as her lips found Dianes clitoris and she licked lightly.
“Oh no, Diane pleaded. “Dont make me come so soon.
“I want you, Valerie whispered, before sucking her even more firmly.
Diane gripped the sheets and pushed down hard around Valeries fingers
as her clitoris swel ed to fil Valeries mouth. “So good, so wonderful, so
oh, oh Im
Valerie watched Dianes face reflect the pleasure that rippled around her
fingers and pulsed between her lips, and thought shed never seen anyone
as beautiful.
She didnt stop caressing her, inside and out, until Diane murmured a
weak protest and twisted away.
“Love, Diane whispered. “I wont be able to walk today if you
dont stop.
Tenderly, Valerie placed a delicate kiss at the apex of Dianes
sex, then rested her cheek in the hol ow adjacent to her
hipbone. She continued to fondle her breast, smiling as Dianes
mouth curved in obvious enjoyment. “Thats what you say , but
thats not what your body is tel ing me.
“My body is greedy. Diane gazed down through heavy
lidded eyes. “Insatiable, in fact, for you.
“Real y? Valerie kissed low on Dianes bel y, then nuzzled her
face a little lower. “I can handle that.
“Oh, I know you can. Take your clothes off and come up
here first, Diane murmured. “I want you, too.
Valerie shed her tank and panties and slid into Dianes
embrace, easing her swollen center against Dianes leg. She
kissed her lingeringly, slowly rocking against her. “I only have a
minute.
“Can you come this way?
“I think so, if you help
me. “Anything.
“Play with my breasts, Valerie said thickly, already sliding
faster up and down Dianes thigh.
“Youre so wet. So beautiful. Diane pulled on Valeries
nipples.
“Does it feel good, darling? Rubbing against me like that?
Getting me all wet? Will you come for me?
“Oh, yes. Im almostalmost, Valerie gasped. “Kiss me. Kiss
meoh god, Im so close.
“Soon, Diane breathed, capturing Valeries mouth and
squeezing her breasts rhythmical y. As Valeries motions grew
more frantic, Diane plunged her tongue deeper, matching
Valeries frenzied thrusts. Sensing Valerie struggling to orgasm,
against Valeries clitoris. “Harder, darling. Press yourself har
“Im going to come. Valeries head fell back, her eyes wide
and fixed on Dianes. “God, I love you.
“I love you, Diane cried.
Shuddering, Valerie spilled onto Dianes welcoming body
and col apsed into her arms.
* * * * *
With several minutes to spare before the briefing, Valerie
knocked on the door to the guesthouse. Savard answered.
“Hey, Savard said, holding the door wide. “You missed a
good show at Mathesons compound a couple of weeks ago.
“So I hear. Valerie stepped inside but hesitated before going
any further. “Im sorry I didnt make it.
“Yeah, me too. Savard glanced toward the adjoining room
where
Cam and Felicia waited. “It could have been any of us in
your spot. Im glad it wasnt me.
“I appreciate that. Valerie grasped Savards arm. “Listen. Cam
told me about what happened in Boston. I owe you for taking
care of Diane.
“No you dont, Savard said dismissively. “But if you real y feel
like you do, you can plan on sticking around here where your
friends are for a while.
“Thank you, Valerie softly. “Ill do
that.
“Good. Savard turned and started toward the command center. “Then
lets go to work.
“Good morning, Cam said as Valerie came in. Felicia nodded to her.
“Our priority for the day, and every day until its accomplished, is to
identify your handler. Wel work from the assumption that hes an
associate of Mathesons, because otherwise we dont even have a
starting place.
“Al
right.
“I want you to scan the files Davis has compiled of known
Matheson associates, including the academy students. We might get
lucky.
Valerie smiled rueful y. “We could use some
luck.
“Before we get to that, Cam said, “I want Stark to join us so she can hear
how you got behind our lines. She opened her phone and pushed
several buttons. “Chief, can you come down for a minute? Thanks.
While they waited, Valerie and Felicia got cof ee and opened several
boxes of doughnuts that Tanners day crew had delivered.
“Its good to have the team back together, Felicia
said.
“It is. Valerie opened the refrigerator for milk. “Hows
Mac?
“Hes back on the team, too. Hes up at the main house seconding for
Stark. Im sure youl see him later. Felicia smiled and stirred her cof
ee. “Hesmaking a remarkable recovery.
Valerie studied her with interest.
“Real y. Felicia met her gaze.
“Quite.
“Wel , good for
you.
“Yes, it is. She sipped her cof ee. “Ah,
Diane?
“Luckily, shes forgiven
me.
Felicia shook her head. “I dont believe she ever thought there was
anything to forgive.
“I hope youre
right.
At the sound of the front door closing sharply, Felicia said, “Time for
round two. Starks not going to be happy.
“I dont blame her. Valerie fol owed Felicia back into the other room and
sat at the table next to Cam. Stark sat stif ly across from her.
“Good morning, Chief, Valerie said
formal y.
“Agent
Lawrence.
“Valerie wil do, Valerie said
softly.
Stark seemed to relax by degrees. “Sorry. That was quite a stunt you pul
ed last night. We could have kil ed you.
“I wanted to talk to
Cameron. “Did you ever
hear of a phone? “I dont like
phones.
“How about a car? You could have driven right up to the foot of this
road and our people would have stopped you, checked your ID, and cal
“Assuming they were al your people, and
trustworthy.
“You dont trust us? Paula flicked her gaze to Cam, who said
nothing.
“I trust you and the other people in this room. And Mac, and
Hara, and Wozinski. I dont trust people I dont know. Valeries face
was hard to read. “Besides, I might have been fol owed.
“How do you know you werent? Paula couldnt keep the anger from her
voice. “You know youre a target, and you could have led whoever
might be fol owing you right here. And showed them a back door in.
“Number one, Valerie said, “anyone who might want me dead already
knows where you are. I was extracted from here a few weeks ago,
remember?
Paula said nothing, but the muscles along her jaw
tightened.
“Number two, no one fol owed me last
night.
“How do you know that? Paula
demanded.
“Because Ive been on the island since late last week. No one has
been fol owing me.
“The marina, Cam said, annoyed with herself for not having
anticipating that.
Felicia laughed. Stark merely stared. Savard made a point of not looking
at her lover.
Valerie
smiled.
“Yes.
“You came in by
boat?
“I rented a slip at the marina for my cabin cruiser a
while ago.
Cam glanced out the window, realizing how far ahead Valerie had
planned her moves. On some level, she must have been uneasy with her
assignment from the beginning. “You set up an alternate identity when
you were here working with us last month. So when we did a sweep for
any newly registered guests last week, you didnt turn up. You were
already there.
“I worried when the Company sent me in to infiltrate your team that it
wasnt going to turn out wel . Its always prudent to establish a new
identity when you cant be certain that any of your old ones wil be safe.
Valerie spoke directly to Cam. “And I knew if you wanted to get Blair
to someplace inaccessible, youd come back here.
“Your handler doesnt know about any of
this?
“No.
Stark made an exasperated sound. “So last night you just circled around
the tip of the island on foot and walked down the beach.
“Yes. Not exactly the route Id use for a surprise at ack, but it got me
where I
wanted
to
go.
“So we can assume, Cam said, “that Matheson and your handler suspect
were here. They know the general area since they were able to
extract you
undetected, but we hadnt established a perimeter that far from the houses
at the time.
“Tanner has had reconnaissance boats on the water twenty-four hours
a day since weve been here. Stark looked pointedly at Valerie. “Other
than normal marina traf ic, every vessel is monitored to ensure they
arent at empting a beach landing.
Valerie felt a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and relief at the
disclosure. Stark trusted her or she would not be discussing
their security measures. Valerie could tell her col eague was still
angry with her for ignoring procedure the night before, but at
least she was talking as if they were still on the same side.
“Im sorry I put your team in an awkward position, Chief, she
said. “To tell you the truth, I just wanted to get here.
“Wel , we didnt shoot you, which is the main thing. It would
have caused all kinds of hassles trying to come up with a cover
story for that.
Cam gave Stark a nod, part affirmation, part prompt.
Stark rose. “If you dont need me any longer, Commander, Ill
go back to the marina and look at everyone who has a slip or
rents a room there.
“I think were done, Chief. You intend to advise Tanner of
the situation? Cam struggled not to issue orders to secure the
marina.
“Immediately, and Ill inform Egret and Ms. Bleeker that
the marina is off-limits for the time being until weve secured it.
“Thank you.
Stark nodded to the group and left.
“What name have you been using here? Felicia asked Valerie.
“Ingrid Klein.
“You realize youve just burned that identity if you want
to disappear again, Savard pointed out.
“I seem to be limiting my options, dont I? Valerie met Cams
eyes. Savard smiled. “Looks like youll just have to stay.
“Well then, put me to work.
Felicia turned a laptop in her direction. An array of photos
filled the screen. “Start looking.
* * * * *
Six hours later Valerie pushed away from the table in disgust.
“If hes in here, she said, gesturing toward the computer, “I
dont recognize him.
“When you met, did you ever get the feeling that he
was disguised? Felicia asked.
Valerie shook her head. “No. He always looked like a
nondescript guy in an off the rack business suit.
“Which Im sure is exactly how he wanted to
look.
Valerie rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Maybe we should
try military archives.
“And start where? What branch, what years?
“Matheson served. Lets look at everyone he might have met
from boot camp until the day he was mustered out.
Felicia nodded. “Im working on it, but accessing those kinds
of military files I have to use a little finesse.
“Cant Cameron use her Homeland Security go-anywhere-free pass
to access those records?
“She could, Savard said from across the room where s
he
worked at her own computer station. “But it would alert any
number of individuals, and thats exactly what we dont want.
Valerie nodded. “I guess until we find out how deep this goes,
its safer to trust no one. She looked from one to the other. “So,
when will I have more photographs to look at?
“Later today,
Felicia
said.
“All right. Until then, if you give me a secure line, Ill try
contacting some of my previous sources. I might be able to pick
up a hint of whats happening out there.
“We should be able to arrange Savard tensed and swiveled
toward the front door at the sound of it opening. She relaxed
when Cam walked in.
“Stark says theres no one suspicious at the
marina. “Excel ent, Savard said.
“Where are we?
“I didnt get anywhere with the photographs. Im sorry, Valerie
said.
“It was a long shot with no reference point. Are you at a
place where you can take a break? Cam asked.
Valerie stood. “Yes, of course. Whatever you need.
“I thought wed try to work up a sketch of your
handler. “We dont have a sketch artist here, do we?
“No. Cam smiled. “Weve got something even better.
* * * * *
Blair closed the French doors to the living room and carried
her supplies to the sofa. She pushed back the sleeves of her
long- sleeved T-shirt, kicked off her ankle high boots, and sat
cross- legged on the sofa with her sketch pad propped on her
knees. “Have you ever done anything like this before?
“No. Valerie settled into an adjacent chair and crossing her
legs. After waking with Diane and working with the team all
morning, she felt almost normal again. “Have you?
“No. It should be a
chal enge.
Valerie smiled thinly. “Wel , what else is
new?
Blair glanced up. “I guess its new ground for all of
us.
“I thought I had learned to expect the unexpected a long time
ago, Valerie said, draping her hands over the ends of the arm
rests. “Apparently, I was wrong.
“Because of 9/11? Blair asked, sketching Valeries profile. It
wasnt why they were there, but she couldnt help but be
captivated by the classic lines of her face.
“That, and being asked to usurp information from an
ongoing investigation and, Valerie said as Blair drew rapidly,
“fal ing in love with Diane.
Blairs hand stil ed. “Is that what happened?
“Yes.
“Good.