control what she felt, which verged very close on panic. She just
wanted to see Cam, and waiting was agony. She alternated between
stalking out to the rear deck and pacing in the kitchen. Diane waited at
the window, watching the activity on shore in pale silence.
“Here they come, final y, Blair said when she was able to make out a
clutch of figures transporting a stil form on a stretcher toward the
house. Only a single stretcher. Her chest tightened. What did that
mean? Where was the second casualty? Where was Cam ?
“Im sure theyl take them right upstairs, Blair said, concentrating on
what she could do rather than let ing the terror swal ow her. “Lets go up
so we can help.
Within minutes, Felicia and Wozinski half-carried Cam into the
bedroom. She was wrapped in an emergency thermal blanket and,
other than her shoes, appeared to be naked. Her face was gray and her
skin looked rubbery from the
cold, but Blair was nevertheless enormously relieved to see that
she was conscious and making some ef ort to walk. Blair pushed back
the covers on the bed. “Over here.
“Il get the IV set up, Wozinski said, as Felicia and Blair helped Cam
into bed.
“No, Cam rasped. “You and Felicia give Savard a hand with
Valerie.
“Stark had supplies brought over from the emergency aid center at the
marina, Blair said, replacing Cams damp blanket with several layers
of dry ones. “I heated four liters of saline in the microwave. Greg, I can
help you get Cams line started while Felicia assists in the other room.
“Yes maam, Greg
said.
Cam shook her head weakly. “I can
wait
“No, you cant, Blair said firmly. “Go ahead,
Greg. Felicia said, “Il be next door with
Valerie.
When Greg left to get supplies, Blair sat on the edge of the bed next to
Cam. She cupped her cheek, shuddering inwardly at the icy touch. “Are
you injured anywhere?
“Bumps and bruises. Cams teeth chat ered. “Fire feels good. Maybe I
can sit closer.
“As soon as you get some warm fluids into you. Blair stroked her face.
“You know that rapid external rewarming can cause problems. Blair
had skied in enough remote areas to know the protocol for exposure
and hypothermia. So did al of her security staf , and every shift
contained at least one agent who was an EMT like Savard and Wozinski.
Many hypothermia victims died during the initial resuscitation at empts
because warming the outside of the body without raising the internal
temperature led to cardiac col apse. “Wel get you warmed
up as fast as we can, but were not taking any
risks.
“Right now Id take my chances, Cam said, shivering violently. “Christ,
Im cold.
“Il get some more
blankets.
“No, Cam said, grasping Blairs hand. “It wont help. Juststay
close.
“I can do bet er than that. Blair kicked of her shoes, shed her jeans,
and got under the covers. She cradled Cams head against her shoulder
and wrapped her arms and legs around her. “Im not going anywhere.
Cam had drifted of by the time Wozinski returned. He silently and ef
iciently started an IV in Cams right arm and hung a liter of warm saline.
“That wil run for about ten minutes. Il be back to hang the second liter
then.
“Thanks, Greg. Blair said, stroking Cams hair. “For
everything. “Its an honor, maam.
Alone, Blair closed her eyes, even though she wasnt tired.
She wasnt planning on sleeping. All she wanted was to listen to
Cam breathe.
* * * * *
“Glad youre here Greg, Renée Savard said, applying EKG pads
to Valeries chest. “Start another IV in her left arm, would you.
We need to get another bag of the hot stuff into her. Her temps
ninety- two.
“Got it.
“Tell me what I can do, Diane urged, pressing close to the side
of
the bed near Valeries head, trying not to interfere but
wanting desperately to do something. Valerie looked so white,
so stillso lifeless. “Please.
“Here. Felicia tossed Diane a thermal towel from the emergency
kit brought over from the marina. “Dry her hair and when
that towel gets cool, Ill get you another hot one.
Valerie moaned, her body twitching reflexively when
Diane touched her. Diane blocked out the sound and
concentrated on doing anything she could to get her warm and
dry. “Is she going to be all right?
“Yes. Renée placed an oxygen mask over Valeries face.
“Here, hold this on. Its real y important. The warm air will heat
the blood in her lungs and help raise her core temperature.
“Ive got it, Diane said, taking the mask from Savard.
When Valerie moaned again and jerked her head away,
threatening to dislodge the mask, Diane leaned down and
whispered in her ear. “Valerie, darling, its Diane. Youre all right.
Youre safe. Let us help you.
Valeries eyelids, so bloodless that the blue of her irises
shone through the skin, flickered and opened. Wordlessly, she
stared into Dianes eyes.
Diane smiled and caressed her forehead above the re-
breathing mask. “Youre going to be all right. I love you.
Valerie nodded almost imperceptibly and closed her eyes
again. Diane shivered, not from cold, but from the pain of
losing that brief connection. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how
to help her,
she said desperately.
Renée slid an arm around Dianes shoulders and hugged her briefly.
“Youre here, and she knows it. Thats exactly what she needs.
* * * * *
“Do we know yet what happened out there? Renée said,
slumping into a chair in the command center. Mac and Paula
hunched over the monitors. Printouts spewed from several nearby
machines.
“Theoriesno confirmation. Mac said, looking over his
shoulder. “How are they doing upstairs?
“Both stable. Valeries in for a rough ride for a
while.
“Mac, Paula said, pushing away from the computer console,
“take over here for a second.
“Sure thing, Chief, Mac said.
Paula grasped Renées hand and gently guided her to her
feet. Then she wrapped an arm around her waist and led her
toward the hal . “You need to change your clothes. Theyre wet.
Renée looked down as if realizing for the first time that her
shoes and jeans and shirt were dripping. She shivered. “Yeah.
Good idea.
Once upstairs in their bedroom, Paula took Renée into
the bathroom. “Are you okay?
“Yeah. Renée kissed Paula and brushed her fingers through
her hair. “Im fine, sweetie.
“Okay, Paula said shakily, wondering why she always seemed
to lose it after she knew Renée was safe. “Stand there. She pul ed
off Renées T-shirt and unzipped her jeans. “Take your shoes off
and get out of these pants.
Renée steadied herself with a hand on Paul
as shoulder. “What a
cluster fuck. Who targeted Valeries boat, do you know?
“No, Paula said with disgust. “Weve got satel ite images of close
to a dozen boats, not counting Tanners, that were in missile range.
It will take a while to sort through them, but at first glance, they
all look civilian or commercial.
“Its got to be Matheson. Renée leaned against the vanity
and closed her eyes, moaning with gratitude as Paula wrapped
her in a huge towel. She burrowed her face in the curve of
Paulas neck. “You feel so good I never want to move.
“Works for me. Paula held her tightly and kissed the top of Renées
head. “Scared me there for a while.
“I thought we were going to lose both of them out
there.
I thought I might have lost you , Paula thought, and tightened her
grip.
“I was pret y scared for a few minutes, Renée
whispered.
Paula finger-combed Renées tangled golden-brown hair.
“Me too. Renée raised her head. “Im sorry, sweetie.
“Not your fault. You were doing your job, and Im glad you were. Paula
kissed her. “I love you.
“Yeah, me too. Renée stroked Paulas face. “Big-
time.
“And yeah, Paula said grimly. “I think it was Matheson or one of his
people. Who else could it have been? Henry must have told Matheson
about the meet and Matheson decided to eliminate both of them at
once.
“Makes sense. Who would have figured hed have that kind of
firepower? Renée shook her head. “Were playing in a whole new league,
now, arent we? Domestic terrorism is just another name for war.
“We thought we had everything covered, Paula said. “We were
monitoring for air and water assaults, except we were looking for aircraft
or boats. Who would have expected a missile launch of the New
England coast?
“I dont suppose theres any chance of intercepting
him?
Paula snorted. “Zero. I cal ed Tanners people back in. Besides the
fact that theyre civilians, he could have fired that missile from fifty
miles away and been gone before it even hit.
Renée stepped away, toweled of , and pul ed the robe from the back
of the door. Shrugging into it, she grasped Paulas hand and walked
back into the bedroom. As she opened the dresser and extracted clean
clothes, she said, “Did someone contact the Coast Guard about Valeries
boat?
“Mac is doing
that.
“Whats our cover
story?
“Were tel ing them it was a DEA surveil ance operation and
the engine on one of the boats caught fire. All personnel
evacuated to another vessel, and there were no casualties.
Because of the sensitive nature of the operation, we cant
provide any further details.
Renée grinned and pul ed on dry jeans. “Nice. Your
idea? Paula flushed. “Yeah.
“I never knew you were so sneaky. Renée found a dark
green cable-knit sweater and pul ed it over her head. Then she
wrapped her arms around Paulas shoulders and kissed her.
“Ill have to remember that in the future.
“I didnt want you to discover all my tricks before you were in
too deep to escape me.
“Oh, you neednt worry, Renée murmured. “Theres no chance of
me going anywhere.
* * * * *
Blair jerked awake and bolted upright. Cam was no longer
lying next to her but sat with her legs dangling over the side of
the bed.
“Where do you think youre going? Blair asked
sharply. “I want to check on Valerie.
“Get back in bed, Cameron. They were alone. A fire
burned vigorously in the fireplace, throwing a hot red glow
throughout the room. Blair gripped Cams wrist. “I mean itand Im
not in the mood to argue.
Cam, nude except for the sheet bunched at her waist, shifted
to look down at Blair. “Just for a second. I only need
“You need some decent rest and to recover from nearly
drowning out there. Blair grasped her shoulders. “You dont get
it, do you?
Youre not indestructible. And you wont be any good to them,
any of them, if youre too weak or injured to function. If you
dont care about me, think about them.
Cam blinked, her face registering her shock. “You think I
dont care about you? Is that what you think? Gently, she
tangled her fingers in Blairs hair and kissed her, softly, first
her mouth, then the angle of her jaw, then her eyes. “I thought
Valerie was dead. I thought I was dying, too. But I knew I
couldnt, because of you. Youre all I thought about. Youre
everything I live for.
“Dont. Blair pul ed Cam down on top of her and drew the
covers over them. She caressed Cams back with both hands,
slowly stroking the sleek skin and elegant curve of muscle
and bone. “Dont try to melt my heart. Its not going to work this
time.
“All right, Cam said softly. “Im sorry. Im sorry for
frightening you. She kissed Blairs neck and settled her head
on Blairs shoulder. “I couldnt let her die, Blair.
“No, Blair whispered. “Of course you couldnt. She sighed.
“What happened to Henry?
“Hes dead. I ordered Donaldson to take him
out. Blair stiffened. “Are you all right?
“It had to be done. The boat was about to go up and he was in
danger of shooting
“Darling, you dont have to explain that to me. If you gave the order, it
was the right thing to do.
“You believe in me that
much?
“More. Blair cupped Cams jaw. “I trust your judgment, just like al of
decisions and give those orders, and maybe everyone else needs to
believe that its easy for you to do, but I know dif erently. She cupped
Cams chin, tilted her head up, and kissed her firmly but gently on the
mouth. “If you hurt, I want to know. If you need a shoulder, I have one
for you. I cant be on the front line the way you are, but Im part of this
fight just the same.
“Thank you, Cam whispered. “Ive never understood more clearly than
I did tonight that you are my strength.
Silence ensued, then Blair said with a sigh, “Five minutes,
Cameron.
“What?
Cam
said.
“You can see Valerie for five
minutes.
Cam stirred, raising herself on her elbow to study Blairs face.
“Why?
“Because you wont rest until you do, and because the others need to see
that youre al right. As wonderful as each of them may be, you are the
force that holds them together. Blair pushed the covers aside. “Lets
get up. Il help you dress.
* * * * *
Diane finished set ling a log on the fire and turned at the sound of
the door slowly opening. Absently she cinched the sash on her robe.
“We didnt knock because we didnt want to wake her, Blair whispered
as she and Cam stepped inside.
“Tha
ts al right. Its good to see you. Diane touched Cams arm. “Are
you al right?
“Fine. Hows she doing? Cam asked quietly. She wore old khakis
and a sweatshirt, and loosely clasped Blairs hand.
“Im not sure, Diane admit ed, pushing her hair away from her face.
“Shes stil asleep.
“Diane? Valerie mut ered, twisting from side to side and dislodging the
blankets that covered her. “Diane?
“Im here, darling, Diane said and hurried to the bed. She leaned
down and stroked Valeries face. “Everything is al right. Youre safe
now.
Valerie opened her eyes and after a few seconds appeared to focus.
“Am I
real y in bed?
Diane smiled. “You most definitely are.
“Im almost warm.
“Yes, Diane whispered, her voice breaking as the tears she hadnt had the
time or luxury of shedding final y fil ed her eyes. “Youre going to be
fine.
“Is everyone al right?
Diane glanced over her shoulder. “Cam? Maybe you should talk to
her for a second.
Cam joined Diane by the bed. “Hi. Bit of a rough ride out there.
Everyones fine, but you had quite a swim.
A smile flickered across Valeries face. “I remember some of it. Thanks.
“Dont mention it.
“Henry Valerie frowned. “Henry. She closed her eyes briefly, and
when she
opened them, they were clearer. “I dont think he knew what was coming.
“No, Cam agreed.
“He didnt set me up tonight at least, Valerie said faintly. She held
Cams gaze. “Thanks for get ing me out of there.
“Im sorry about Hen
“No, it was a good cal on your part. Justnot on mine.
“You dont know that, Cam said gently. “People change.
“I wonder. Valerie shivered violently and Diane quickly took her hand.
“You need to get some sleep, darling. No more talking right now.
Diane glanced at Cam. “Thank you for everything.
Cam nodded and backed away from the bed. “Let me know if theres
any problem.
“I wil , Diane said.
Blair slid her arm around Cams waist. “Lets go. Youre shaking.
“I want to check downstairs with Stark and
“Nice try, Blair said, laughing gently. “Youre al out of options tonight.
Might as wel surrender.
Giving in to the fatigue, Cam leaned on Blair. “Terms accepted.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Saturday
J ust before noon, Cam tapped on Valerie and Dianes door.
When Diane answered, looking as if she hadnt slept all