Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege Страница 22

her, he goes to jail.

“Everyone has his picture, Stark said. “Hes not registered at the hotel,

at least not under that name.

“These four, Hara went on, fanning out another set of images like playing

cards, “have been observed at two out of the last three locations where

Constantine made a public appearance.

Cam

frowned.

“Af

iliations?

“Three belong to dif erent groups, but the fourth doesnt appear to

have any group connections at al , Hara replied. “Two are fetal rights

activists, one is a pro-lifer, and the loner is an unknown commodity.

“Whos providing this intel igence? Cam

asked.

“Local FBI, Mac said. “Theyve kept a file on the doctor since another

stem cel researcherJames Bennet was at acked in a car park a year

ago. The injuries kept him in the hospital for two months.

“Did the victim have any relationship to

Constantine?

“None other than the fact that they knew each other professional y, Mac

said. Stark said, “We anticipate the usual demonstrators tonight. Wel

bring Egret in

through the side entrance, because the protesters wil most likely be out

front

where theyl get more press coverage. The hotel can legal y bar

them from

entering, so once were inside, shel be in the clear from the majority

of the

organized

dissenters.

“What do you have on local anti-gay factions? Cam

asked.

“A few religious groups, but theyre mostly involved with debates

over the church recognizing gay priests and performing same-sex

marriages, Stark answered.

“None of them with a history of

violence? “No.

“The press will be all over her tonight, and were not going to

keep them out of the banquet. Its a fundraiser, and Im sure

the PR people from the institute will want reporters present.

Cam shook her head. “Its going to be a long night.

“Theres one other issue, Commander, Stark said.

Cam gave her a questioning look.

“You were targeted this week, so we have to assume youre at

risk. Wozinski will cover y

“No, Cam said flatly. “I appreciate it, Chief, but dont

pull someone off Blairs detail for me. I dont need it.

“With respect

Cam stood. “Im official y refusing, Stark. You already have two to

coverBlair as the primary and Diane as the secondary. You

dont have the people to cover anyone else. Are we clear?

“Yes maam, Stark said tightly.

“Thank you.

* * * * *

“You ready for this? Blair asked Diane, who sat across from her in

the rear of the limo. Renée Savard sat next to her and anyone

who didnt know better would think they made an amazing

looking couple. Diane, slightly tal er and more wil owy than Renée,

wore a fitted cobalt blue evening gown with a halter tie and

keyhole openings in the bodice. Renées jacket and pants

were equal y elegant. It was obvious to Blair that Renée

walked just slightly ahead of Diane and scanned the

surroundings with every step. Blair noticed the subtle

surveil ance because Cam always did the same thing.

Now Diane peered through the bul etproof, one-way glass as

the armored limo, courtesy of the Boston Secret Service

office, slowed at the side entrance of the Ritz-Carlton. “There

are fewer press here than for one of your gallery openings.

She smiled at Blair, but her eyes were sad. “I was hoping to get

a chance to plug your next show.

Blair laughed, appreciating Dianes fortitude. She hoped that

the evening would at least provide a diversion for her for a few

hours.

She settled her hand onto Cams thigh, absently running

her fingertips along the seam of the silk tuxedo pants. “Most of

them are probably out front, dont you think?

“Yes, Cam said. “But it wont take long for them to figure out where

we are.

“Wel , then, Blair pushed the door open as the limo stopped at the curb,

“lets make them run for it.

With a muf led oath, Cam jumped out and surreptitiously grasped Blairs

hand. “God damn it, Blair, wait.

Stark barreled out of the front and rushed to Blairs opposite side.

Renée and

Diane moved up behind them with Hara fol

owing.

“Sorry, darling, Blair said lightly, hooking her arm through Cams.

“Weve got cameras on the left and people waving signs of to the right.

“I see them, Cam mut ered, keeping her expression neutral as Blair

smiled briefly in the direction of the photographers.

When several cal ed out questions to Blair, she waved but didnt

answer, pretending she hadnt heard them. She pointedly ignored those

cal ing on God or whatever other powers they believed in to punish her

for her sinful ways.

“Lovely, Diane said from close

behind.

Cam reached for the hotel door and found Stark there before

her.

“Go ahead please, Stark said. “The escalators to the mezzanine are

directly to your right.

Cam hesitated for just a second, then moved through with Blair by

her side.

“Youre just my date, remember? Blair

murmured.

“Sorry,

Cam

mut ered.

“Dont

be.

Blair and Cam joined the crowd on the mezzanine and a moment later, a

smal , compact brunet e in a black evening dress approached. Even in

heels, she was of average height, but her dynamic expression and

confident carriage made her presence seem larger.

“Ms. Powel . She extended her hand. “Im so honored that you could

come this evening. Im Emory Constantine.

“Dr. Constantine, Blair said, taking the researchers hand. “Thank

you. My partner, Cameron Roberts, and my good friends Diane

Bleeker and Renée Savard.

“Agent Roberts, a pleasure. Emory Constantine shook hands with Cam,

then indicated the open doors to the banquet hal behind her. “Please,

wont al of you join me at my table.

“Thank you, Blair said. “Wed love

to.

“You should burn in hel , a male voice shouted from across the

foyer. “The

Bible says you are an

abomination.

Cam instinctively stepped between Blair and the direction of the voice

just as

Stark did the same. Stark slid a hand under her

jacket.

“Wozinski has him, she murmured just loud enough for Cam

to hear.

“Good. Keeping between Blair and that side of the hal way, Cam took

Blairs hand and said, “Were clear. Lets go inside.

Blair met Emory Constantines concerned gaze. “Im sorry for the

disruption.

Emory smiled faintly. “I was about to say the same thing to you, Ms.

Powel . I

have a number of fairly vocal

opponents.

“Then we have quite a bit in common, Blair

said.

Emorys gaze flickered briefly to Cam and then to Diane and Renée.

Then she grinned, her dark eyes sparkling. “It seems that we do.

Chapter Seventeen

I m sorry, Emory Constantine murmured, bending over Blair, who sat

at the head table with Cam, Diane, Renée, and a number of notables

from the scientific and financial world, “but would you mind posing for

one more round of photos? The president of the Institute

“No, I dont mind, Blair said with a smile, even though shed been

photographed with and without her permission more times than she

cared to count in the last three hours. She was used to the press and had

expected more than her usual share of at ention after al the events of

the last few months and the recent announcement of her personal

plans. Emory it seemed, also garnered a fair amount of media notice,

so with the two of them sit ing together, the questions and photos had

been non-stop al evening. “Il be right there.

As she rose, Cam did also. Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw

Paula wending her way through the tables toward her. When Blair fol

owed Emory onto the stage and joined the smal group waiting there,

Cam and Paula took up positions of to each side. Randolph Sumter,

the current president of the Johnson Institute, was middle-aged,

handsome, and wore his power with subtle arrogance. He didnt try to

hide his non-philanthropic interest as his gaze swept over Blair during

their introduction.

“Ms. Powel , he said in a smooth baritone, “wed love to have you

tour the

Institute. I think youl find we are doing some remarkable

work.

“Yes, Blair replied with polite reserve. “Ive fol owed Dr. Constantines

research with interest. You must be very pleased to have her and her

team on board.

To his credit, his smile never wavered. “Without a doubt. Please

remember me to your father. The board was a staunch supporter during

his last campaign.

“I certainly wil . Blair took Cams hand. “I dont believe youve met my

partner, Cameron Roberts.

Sumter acknowledged Cam perfunctorily, signaled to the

photographers, and positioned himself between Blair and Emory with a

hand on each of their backs. Once the obligatory photo shoot was over,

Blair drew Emory aside.

“I hope you dont mind, but Im going to slip out a lit le

early.

Emory shook her head. “Please, you dont need to explain. She

glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “Theyre

hungry tonight, arent they?

“Tonight? Blair laughed. “Im real y glad we got to meet. I thought your

speech was dynamite. If theres ever anything I can do, just give me a cal

.

“Thank you. Emory walked Blair to the far side of the stage where the

crowd on the floor was thinner. “I might just take you up on that

someday.

Blair smiled. “Good. Im

serious.

“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too, Emory said,

waiting until

Cam was close enough to

hear.

“Thank you, Cam and Blair said

together.

“Il walk out with you, Emory said, “and we can trade phone

numbers. She looked over the several hundred people in the banquet

room and sighed. “Ive stil got another hours networking to go, and I

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 off her feet, and propel ed

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 my God, my

God

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.