Honor Under Siege полностью

wasnt working, or that her silky, platinum hair was far shorter

than she had ever worn it. It would take more than jeans and a

short haircut to hide Valeries cool elegance. She wasnt just

thinner, she was leaner and tauter, and she moved with a

sense of suppressed anger and almost lethal purpose that

Cam associated with caged animals. Valerie might not be

caged, but she was being hunted.

“Just to be clear, I dont intend to turn you over to anyone,

Cam said.

Valerie held out the Scotch. “You dont know what I have to

say, yet.

“Whos

after

you?

“Several dif erent parties. Valerie sat down across the wide oak table

from

Cam and contemplated her Scotch. “The Company, for certain. My

handler has been leaving messages at drop points for me to come in.

“Henry

?

Valerie smiled bit erly. “Wel , thats what Ive always cal

ed him.

“You dont trust him

now?

Valerie turned the heavy crystal glass slowly between her hands. Her

fingers, much like the rest of her body, were long and thin, but not

delicate. “Its unusual for him to insist on a face-to-face. In fact, in al the

years Ive worked with him weve only met a handful of times. Now

hes making urgent requests for a rendezvous.

“A trap?

“Thats what it feels like, Valerie said with a shrug. “But a trap set by

whom? Matheson because hes working with Henry? Or the

Company, because they want me in for a debriefing? Because they think

I tipped of Matheson.

“They want you for some

reason.

“Yes, and if the Companys involved, I know what wil happen if I go in.

Believe me, I dont have any desire to disappear, even temporarily.

Cam saw no reason to protest what they both knew was possible.

Agents suspected of turning were forcibly detained, debriefed,

and sometimes, expunged. “Henry could want you to come in for

protection from Matheson.

“Id like to think that. Valerie took a slow swal ow of Scotch and

shook her head. “But Id be foolish to assume that just because weve

had a professional association for twenty years that were friends. If hes

Mathesons connection, Im a liability now.

“Thats why youre bet er of here. Cam finished her drink. “We had an

incident in Boston the other night. An armed assailant penetrated our

perimeter and got of a couple of shots before we contained him.

“Who was the

target?

“We dont know. Emory Constantine, a high profile and not so popular

stem cel researcher, was with us. It might have been her. It might

have Blair. It might even have been Diane.

“Diane? Valeries face became expressionless, as cool as carved marble.

“What would be the point? If someone took her out, theyd have

nothing to hold over my head.

“No one? Family? Old

lovers?

An old sorrow seemed to claim Valerie for a split second, softening her

features. “You of al people should know that other than you, theres no

one. Only Diane. You had someone guarding her?

“Savard. We were lucky, there. Cam grimaced. “Its possible Matheson

plans to clean house and take us al down.

“Then we need to get to him

first.

“We might not be able to unless we force Henry to rol over. Do you

have any idea how we can find him?

Valerie shook her head. “I never once met him in an of ice. He

could be stationed in California for al I know. God, Cameron, the

man has run my life since I was a teenager and I dont even know his ful

name. She laughed harshly, her eyes bleak. “What kind of fool does that

make me?

“We both know thats not what its about. Cam extended her hand across

the table and Valerie clasped her fingers fleetingly. “Youve done a job

most of us

couldnt do far longer than anyone should have to. That doesnt make you

a fool in my book, it makes you a hero.

“Thank

you,

Valerie

whispered.

“I take it youve tried to locate him some other way than through a

meet?

“I was hoping to discover his identity and Ive cal ed in every marker I

have. Or thought I had. Valeries disil usionment shone through

beneath the composed façade she wore so ef ortlessly. “Ive tried every

source I know, but in the last few weeks, those have mysteriously dried

up. Contact numbers are no longer in service, bank accounts are suddenly

closed, drop boxes have new locks.

“Youre being cut

of .

Valerie nodded. “It could stil just be to force me to make contact, or it

could be the first step in removing me.

“I dont suppose you have a

photograph?

“No, and its not like the Company keeps a roster of employees that I

could go through.

Cam laughed. “Now, that would defeat the purpose of being a spy,

wouldnt it?

“A spy, Valerie said wryly. “Operative sounds so much

better.

“Lets assume Matheson and Henry are working togetherits the most

probable scenario. So, if we find one, we find the other.

“Any progress on your

end?

Cam scowled. “Were accumulating a file on Mathesons associates as far