out of the public eye. Lucinda is arranging for a suite of rooms at the
Copley for us and the rest of the team for the weekend. Il be your
escort, and Savard wil accompany Diane.
“Oh, Starks going to love that.
Cam grinned. “Its al in the line of
duty.
Blair leaned back, a glint in her eyes. “Is it, now? Then youd
bet er pack
something besides work clothes. Like a
tux.
“Thats what rental places are
for.
“And you bet er make sure you sleep in the car, Blair murmured,
running her fingers along Cams col arbone and down over her chest.
“I missed you last night.
“Me
too.
“What about your hip and
shoulder?
“Im stif and sore, but functional. Cam kissed Blair, taking her time,
because it would be hours before they saw each other again and
despite her words of confidence to Blair, she knew that anything
could happen in the interim. “Besides, massage therapy wil be good
for them.
“Then Il put you on my schedule for the
morning.
“Il
be
there.
Blair held her tightly, unable to imagine any other
possibility.
Chapter Thirteen
P aula, Blair said with quiet intensity, just the slightest bit of edge in
her voice.
“Yes?
Stark
said
solemnly.
“If you had a round robin, why didnt you bid
more?
Diane snorted and, despite the fact that it had been dark for over three
hours and it was impossible to see the beach, Wozinski seemed to
find something fascinating happening out the window. Stark hastily
squinted at her cheat sheet,
obviously at a
loss.
“A king and queen in every suit. I wouldve taken the bid if Id known
you had that much meld, Blair said.
“I didnt see it, Stark said bleakly. “I was so excited about the
pinochle
“Never mind. It doesnt mat er. Blair abruptly pushed back her chair,
strode across the kitchen, and slammed out the door.
The room was silent for a moment and then Diane rose. “Its freezing out
there. She doesnt have a jacket.
Wozinski glanced at Stark. “Should I go with her, Chief? I can take her
jacket. Stark shook her head. “Hara is out back and Tanner stationed
a team in a
vehicle on the street. Shes
covered.
“Il take her jacket, Diane said, pat ing Wozinskis shoulder as she
passed behind his chair. “But thank you.
“Yes maam. Wozinski flushed.
“Pleasure.
It took less than thirty seconds for Diane to reach the back deck after
grabbing Blairs jacket, but she saw only a single figure standing at
the railing, facing toward the oceanshorter than either herself or Blair by
several inches and more slender than Stark. Hara. Not Blair. For an
instant, her heart twisted with an overriding sense of dread, as if Blair
too had walked out the door and simply vanished. Just like the
morning she had awakened in the guesthouse in a stil room beneath a
silent dawn and realized that Valerie had disappeared while shed slept.
“Wheres Blair?
Hara did not turn, and even in the darkness, Diane knew that she was
watching Blair. The cloud cover was so dense even the light from the
ful moon barely penetrated the inky sky.
“Sit ing on top of a dune, fifteen yards down the path and ten feet of
to the right.
“It feels like thirty degrees out here, and you just let her go? Diane
snapped.
“Thirty-eight
degrees.
“Never mind, Diane mut ered, hurrying down the stairs to the path. A
minute later she knelt beside Blair. “Put your jacket on.
“Thanks, Blair said, shrugging into it. “You dont need
to stay.
With a sigh, Diane shifted around to sit facing the same direction as
Blair and leaned against her. When Blair wrapped an arm around her,
she snuggled closer and lightly rested her head on Blairs shoulder.
“Couldnt you brood inside where we can have a fire?
“Its a lot harder to do if youre comfortable. Blair pressed her cheek to
Dianes hair. “Do you have any idea how much I hate waiting here, safe
and sound and protected by armed guards, while Cam is out there
somewhere with people who want to kil her?
“I think I know, Diane
whispered.
“Oh, honey, Im sorry, Blair said. “Of course
you do.
“Renée cal ed Paula with an update, Diane pointed out gently.
“She said everything was fine and that Cam was resting.
“I know. Blair sighed. “But that was three hours ago and theyre not due
here for another four at least. Anything can happen. She reached beside
her and dug her fingers into the cold sand. “I just want to be able to
protect her the way she protects me.
“I bet you already
do.
Blair laughed harshly. “Hardly. Since everyone thinks Im so important, I
seem to be the one destined to wait, just like tonight.
“You
are
important
“Im no more important than Cam or you or Stark or any of the
others.
Diane wrapped both arms around Blairs waist and hugged her. “You,
I happen to think youre pret y special and Im sure Cam does too, but
