Honor Under Siege

“Yes. Blair leaned closer to Cam. Dropping her voice,

she whispered, “Youre not the only one whos been suffering

while you recuperated.

“Then its probably going to take me more than two hours to

make it up to you. It might take me all night.

“Then I guess Ill just have to suffer a little while longer. With

a satisfied expression, Blair leaned back and closed her

eyes. “Because I dont intend to hurry.

* * * * *

When Emilio, assistant to the White House Chief of Staff, directed

Blair and Cam into Lucinda Washburns office, Lucinda was on

the phone. Blair waved to the commanding looking woman

with the stylishly coiffed, silver-streaked black hair. As usual,

Lucinda wore a conservatively styled jacket and skirt, plum

colored this time, offset by burnished gold jewelry at her ears

and throat. A single large, square cut emerald in a plain gold

setting adorned the ring finger of her right hand. That, Blair

noted, was new.

Lucinda paced in front of a wide walnut desk covered with

neat

stacks of folders and memoranda. When she caught Blairs

eye, she mouthed coffee and pointed to a credenza against one

wall .

Blair signed, you too? and at Lucindas nod, proceeded to

pour coffee into three China cups. She handed one to Lucinda

and then carried the others to the sofa across from Lucindas

desk, where Cam was waiting. They sipped in silence as

Lucinda expertly pressured whoever was on the phone.

Her tone was even and unmistakably edged with flint.

“Listen Tom, I real y dont care if Charlie has to walk all the

way from Chicago. He owes us that vote and I expect him

to be here tomorrow morning for roll call. With a faint smile,

she concluded, “Either that, or hell find himself pushing that

school tax referendum up a long steep hill all by himself.

Lucinda listened for another few seconds, said, “Wonderful,

and hung up. Then she crossed the room and settled into one

of the brocade Chippendale chairs facing Blair and Cam. “Good

flight?

“Military transport isnt known for luxury, Blair

said. “True, Lucinda conceded. “But theyre

reliable. “Wel , Im here now, so what do you

need?

“Id forgot en how much you enjoy smal talk. Lucinda turned to Cam.

“How are you feeling?

“Bet er

every

day.

“Judicious

answer.

“Luce, Blair said impatiently. “I was having a real y nice morning

when you

cal ed. A walk on the beach, and then I was planning on going back to

bed. Once there, I intended to sedu

“You can probably skip those details, Blair, Cam interjected, brushing

her hand down Blairs arm.

Lucinda laughed. “I wouldnt put it past you to tel me al the details, Blair,

just to make me suf er. Considering that I havent been out of this of ice

before 2 a.m. the last month, I havent exactly been getting

Blair held up her hands. “I dont want to know what you do in your

spare time.

“Truce then. Lucindas expression softened for an instant. “You look

rested, both of you, as much as can be expected. Doing al right?

Both Blair and Cam

nodded.

“Good. Lucinda drained her cof ee cup and set it careful y on a

low cherrywood Federal table. “We have a slight problem that I think

you can help us with.

Blair stif ened. Cam remained completely stil , but her eyes sharpened

as she studied Lucindas face.

“The Company has lost an important asset, and theyd rather not

inform their counterparts in the other divisions. Such a lapse is

embarrassing, especial y these days when everyone is a lit le unsure of

who wil remain top dog in the security world.

“Is this conversation being taped? Blair asked

casual y.

“Of

course

not.

“No video cameras in

here?

“No.

“Then do you think it would be possible, Blair said, emphasizing each

word, “for us to speak English, Lucinda?

“The CIA has lost a deep cover operative and they dont want the FBI

or the

Department of Defense to know

about it.

“Valerie Lawrence, Cam

said.

Lucinda regarded her steadily. “Yes, and I dont think wed even know

about it except someone at Langley let a bit of a memo regarding the

lost contact slip into the daily security briefing report. Averil Jensen

picked it up.

Blair knew Jensen wel . He was her fathers hand-picked security

adviser, and before her fathers presidency, Averil had been at orney

general. Hed also been her fathers col ege roommate. She said,

“Averil would. He never misses anything.

“Yes, and when he fol owed up, the lid slammed shut. Lucinda

lifted her shoulder. “I suspect the operative responsible for the

information leak has been transferred someplace where the nights are

long and dark.

“So Valerie is out in the cold somewhere, Cam said. “Are they trying to

bring her in?

“We dont know. But wed like to find her ourselves. Lucinda crossed