Honor Under Siege

Renée waved her away. “Go take care of what you have to take care of.

How soon are you leaving?

“ASAP.

“Wel then, dont waste time asking me about my

stupid leg.

Paula kept her expression neutral. She knew Renées leg hurt, and she

knew that her bad temper was more than pain. “Do you want to hang out

here while were gone? I can get Tanner to arrange a private car to take

you back to Manhat an if you dont.

Tanner Whitley, heir to the Whitley corporate dynasty and the owner of

Whitley Island, was one of Blairs oldest friends from prep school. She

also had one of the best private security forces in the country. Her

crew had been providing perimeter protection during Blairs stay,

ensuring that no one approached the house from the main road

that bisected the island. Stark trusted Tanner completely.

“I dont want to go back to Manhat an. Renée sounded

uncharacteristical y petulant. “Not when I cant work. Not when youre

not there. She leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Jesus, listen to me.

Im pathetic. Im sure you dont want me underfoot while youre working.

“I dont know how long wel be in DC, or where wel be going after that,

Paula said. “But

“Just go, Paula. Il cal Tanner later and arrange my

own

“But, Paula continued as if she hadnt been interrupted, “if it

turns out were not staying in DC, its just as easy for you to head

back to Manhattan from there as from here. Come with us.

A crooked smile broke the smooth caramel plains of

Renées cheeks. “Sometimes I wish you werent so sweet when

Im being cranky. It makes me feel guilty, which just makes me

crankier.

“Id be cranky too, Paula whispered. “Im sorry its so hard for

you right now.

Renées eyes fil ed with tears and she looked away. “Jesus. I

need to do something. If I sit around much longer, Im going to

real y be crazy.

“Official y youre still part of the commanders team, even

though youre on sick leave, Paula said with conviction. “So, youre

coming with us. You need help packing?

Renée grabbed the crutches that leaned against the sofa next

to her. “No. I can manage. You go take care of things, Chief.

“Yeah, okay, Paula said, unable to keep her face from

flushing. Chief. It sounded good.

* * * * *

Blair left her suitcases by the front door and walked outside

to take a last look at the ocean. She wasnt sure when shed be able

to come back to the island and she already missed it. The

solitude was good for her art. Shed been able to paint here,

despite everything that had happened to her and the rest of the

world. She had asked Tanner to investigate the possibility of

her purchasing the house; the current owners only used it as a

rental property. The location was perfect isolated, easy to

defend, and close to Tanner, whom she missed and never

managed to visit enough. It was also near enough to Manhattan

that Diane Bleeker, her art agent and best friend, could easily

visit.

She sat down on the top step of the rear deck and punched in

a number on the disposable cell phone Cam insisted she use.

She was half surprised when the call was answered.

“Hi, where are you?

“Still in Manhattan, Diane replied. “How about

you?

“About to head south. There was no reason to think that her

calls were being monitored, but after the constant

admonishments of her various security teams, Blair had

reluctantly accepted the necessity of caution. She avoided

mentioning the specifics of her travel plans in phone

conversations. Diane was used to fil ing in the blanks.

“Ah, Diane said, “back to the real world.

“Yes. Do you have the gal ery open?

“Ive postponed the next show at the artists request. He didnt

think it was the best time, and I tend to agree with him. It

will take a while until its business as usual back here.

“So are you going to take a trip? Blair asked lightly, although

she waited for the answer with a sense of misgiving. Diane

had recently become romantical y involved with a CIA agent who

had disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and Blair

worried that Diane was somehow going to try to find her. In all

the years theyd known one another, Blair had never seen Diane

truly in love before. Now that Diane had fal en hard, only to

be left just as abruptly, she was suffering. It pained Blair to

know that her friend was hurting.

“I havent

decided

yet.

Im waiting

forinspiration.

Shes waiting for Valerie to contact her , Blair mental y translated. “Wel

if that occurs, youl be sure to let me know.

A beat of silence ensued. “Of

course.

“I mean

it.

“How about that other mat er we were discussing? Diane said, overtly

changing the subject. “The celebration Im going to be planning.

Blair smiled, thinking about the wedding. Her wedding. Hers and

Cams. Something shed never anticipated wanting. A commitment to

one woman for life. A formal commitment, a statement to the world.

The idea had once seemed intimidating. But now, when the world had

proved itself to be untrustworthy, capable of shifting dangerously at any

moment, now more than ever she wanted that commitment. “Im going