could use a break.
“Come on, then. Blair grinned. “Im an expert at sneaking out of things
like this.
Cam motioned to Stark. “Let the team know were ready to leave. Il get
Diane and Savard. Were stil using the planned exit?
“Yes. Il have the cars move around now. Stark murmured
instructions, then said to Blair, “Five minutes, Ms. Powel .
At the appointed time, the smal group took the elevator at the rear
of the building to the ground floor and headed briskly down the
service corridor toward an exit used by the hotel staf . Blair couldnt
see anyone in the alcoves and smal er hal ways branching of the main
corridor, but she was certain that members of the security team were
stationed along the way. She leaned close to Emory.
“If you real y want to break ranks, you can come back to the hotel with
us for a drink.
Emory laughed. “God, dont tempt me. Unfortunately, fundraising is a
necessary evil and Ive got enough to worry about without adding money
problems to my list.
“I can imagine, Blair said. “Dont worry too much about anti-stem cel
research legislation. I can tel you my father does not support measures
to restrict your work.
“Thank you.
I
“Stark, Cam said sharply as a man in a three-piece suit rounded a
corner twenty feet in front of them and strode rapidly toward them.
Even as she spoke, she started to step toward Blair. He raised his arm.
“Gun!
someone
shouted.
Blair barely heard the warning before the hal way erupted in gunfire and
she was
knocked to the floor. As she fel she grabbed for Cam but could not reach
her. Then she was on the floor with a tremendous weight pinning her
down. She pushed and struggled to get free but was only able to turn
her head. She saw a hand and part of a sleeve stretched out on the floor
a few yards away. Cams hand. She screamed but couldnt get enough air
to emit more than a choked sob. Someone groaned.
Then Blair was yanked to her feet, then
down the hal way by someone she couldnt see. Someone big. She final
y twisted enough in the iron grip to make out the features. Wozinski.
“Cam, Blair gasped. “Where is
she?
Wozinski didnt answer as he shouldered his way out into a narrow
service al ey. The metal service door banged against the stone building
façade with a sharp clang.
The limo idled directly in front of the exit with the back door
open. Hara crouched beside it, her gun extended in both hands as she
visual y swept right and left. Blair jerked in Wozinskis grasp and
almost wrenched free, but he dragged her across the sidewalk, pushed
her head down, and shoved her into the backseat.
“Cam, Blair shouted, immediately trying to climb out of the vehicle.
Dianes body blocked her way as she too was pushed inside. Savard
fol owed, the door slammed, and the vehicle careened away.
Blair stared at Savard, whose face was bone white. Her own heart was
racing so quickly her chest ached. She took a breath and then another
and dug her fingers into the leather seat. “What do we know?
“Nothing, Savard said
tightly.
Beside her, Diane sat rigidly upright, her arms wrapped around her
torso, her
pupils dilated so much her blue eyes looked black. She said
over and over in a hushed
voice.
Blair heard sirens, and then tires squealed behind them and she hastily
knelt on the seat to stare out the rear window. Renée leaned across the
space between the seats, grasped her shoulder, and gently pul ed her
back down.
“Please stay away from the
windows.
“Wheres Cam? Blair took a shaky breath. “Wheres
Paula?
“Paulais down. Im not sure about the commander, Renée said in a
monotone. For an instant, Blair couldnt decipher the meaning of what
she had just heard.
Paula is down. Down.
Cam.
Cam wasnt wearing a
vest.
“Whos behind us? Blair careful y enunciated each word and forced
herself to think calmly. Her only hope of get ing to Cam was to maintain,
or take, control. She wasnt about to become an unwil ing captive of her
own security team ever again.
“Mac. Im not sure who
else.
“Cal
them,
Blair
demanded.
“Protocol is for radio silence, Renée
said.
“I dont care. Cal them now. Consider it an order, Agent
Savard.
Savard stared at Blair for a long moment, then punched two numbers
on her handy talky. “Status?
Blair couldnt hear a response, but only a few seconds passed before
Renée said, “Were secure, and slipped the radio back into an inside
pocket of her
jacket. At the sight of her hand trembling, Blairs stomach clenched into a
painful knot.
“Report?
Blair
asked.
“Al present and accounted
for.
“Whatwhat does that
mean?
“It means no one was left at the scene. Stark and the commander are
in the
Suburban behind
us.
“Are
they
“I dont know, Renée
said.
The tight fist around Blairs heart loosened enough for her to breathe
