immaterial. Our job is to see that she is able to carry on her life with the maximum degree of security possible. No matter where she is, or what shes doing. She has decided to make this a game. We have to play, and we have to win. We dont get to throw up our hands and call foul if she changes the rules. There are no rain outs. We cant expect her to help us win; we have to do that for ourselves.'
She smiled faintly as she took her seat again. Now she understood at least one of the reasons she had been given this assignment. 'Remember she is an uncooperative subject. Dont expect her to smile and say good morning; dont expect her to make your job easy. She has made it clear she does not want us around. She is not going to invite us along. We will switch from protective surveillance methods to investigative tactics. If she cant see you, it will be harder for her to lose you. If you need to follow her to protect her, then youve got to fit in where she travels. You have to function essentially undercover.'
She looked pointedly at each of her operatives, seeing them as Blair Powell must see them. Ivy league starched, polished and presentable. About as obvious as the proverbial bulls in the china shop.
'Except at scheduled public functions where Ms. Powell is acting in some official capacity, no suits, no ties, no skirts. Street clothes, preferably something appropriate for the type of locales she is known to frequent.'
She saw the slight stiffening of a few shoulders, and continued unperturbed. It was time to stop circling the primary problem. 'For you men, I think a slightly longer hair length would be helpful for starters. It's time for you to stop looking like tourists, or cops.' She sipped the last of her coffee, gathering her papers with one hand. 'A little research might also be in order. I want a summary of every gay bar and restaurant in New York City. Hours of operation, type of clientele, traffic patterns in the area, etc. Start with the ones you know shes been to. Have it on my desk before the day is out. Know your subject, ladies and gentlemen, and you have won the first point.'
Everyone relaxed slightly as she pulled open the door to the conference room. She paused at the sill, turning back casually.
'By the way Mac, does she know about the video equipment inside her apartment?'
He looked at her in surprise.How had she noticed thaton a quick walk through the monitoring section?
'I doubt it,' he said quietly.If she were aware of the micro-cameras mounted in the ceiling of her loft, she would hardly be walking around nude the way she did.
'Turn them off,' Cam said flatly. 'Video the elevator, the building exits, fire escapes, and garage only. On my responsibility.'
With that she was gone, leaving them to wonder where one got the balls to countermand a direct order from the White House Chief of Staff.
**********
At precisely eleven am, Cam keyed the elevator to the penthouse, exiting in a small foyer opposite a carved oak door set into the rich wood panels. The wallpaper on the other two walls adjoining the lift was a cream fabric, intricately patterned and luxuriously textured. The effect was warm and sensual. Cam rang the bell beside the door.
Blair Powell opened the door a moment later. Her hair was wet from the shower, casually finger-combed and falling freely around her face. She wore a loosely belted blue silk robe that came to just above her knees. Her legs were bare, and Cam knew she was naked beneath the thin material. The front gaped enough to reveal the soft inner curves of both breasts. There was a trace of jasmine floating in the air. Cam was assaulted with the seething sensuality she had sensed in the photograph earlier. She kept her gaze carefully at eye level.
'Im Agent Roberts, Ms. Powell. Ill come back when youre ready, ' she said neutrally. 'If you would just call the command room-'
'I wont be available later,' Blair interrupted, appraising the current commander assigned with her care. This one was somewhat of a surprise. She wore the requisite suit, a little better cut than most. You couldnt see a hint of a bulge from the shoulder holster. Her hair was short, and fashionably styled in a roguishly faux-masculine cut. The double-breasted jacket was open to expose a fine white linen shirt that hugged a well developed chest and trim waist. The belted trousers were streamlined to the tightly muscled thighs. Blair found her startlingly attractive in an understated butch fashion. The Commander was either unimpeachably heterosexual or exactly what she appeared to be - a lesbian who didnt care who knew it. Blair was intrigued.
'Its now or next week,' she continued, enjoying her control. There was no way the new commander could wait even a few hours to discuss her schedule.
'Now would be fine,' Cam acquiesced graciously. She didnt want a power struggle over trivial issues. She had no need to prove herself that way.
Blair stepped slightly aside, motioning Cam into the high-ceilinged open loft space. She smiled as Cam carefully avoided brushing against her.All business , she thought to herself.
'Do you have a first name, Agent Roberts?' Blair asked as she crossed to the kitchen area. A breakfast bar flanked by tall stools separated the cooking space from the large living room. She leaned down to pull two cups from the shelves under the island, quite aware that the movement afforded a clear view into her dressing gown.
'Cameron,' Cam replied, keeping her face and voice expressionless. Her mind registered the striking perfection of the young womans body, an image of her soft, pink-nippled breasts indelibly implanted in her memory. She was being taunted, that much was clear. What she didnt know was why.
Blair straightened slowly, searching for a reaction in the handsome agent's face. She was curious to find none.
'Cameron,' she breathed huskily, 'thats nice. You can call me Blair.'
Cameron continued unperturbed, 'Ill try not to take too much of your time, Ms. Powell. If we could just review your plans for the week, I can leave you to your day.'
Blair stared at her, anger seething in her blue eyes. 'Dont patronize me, Agent Roberts. We both know you wont beleaving me to anything at all.'
Cam nodded assent. 'Forgive me, I didnt mean it that way. Of course, I cant. But I can make my presence and that of my people as unintrusive as possible.'
Blair was surprised by her conciliatory approach. That was a new tactic. Usually they tried to bully her with threats of unfavorable reports to her father, as if she were an unruly child in school. Either that or they promised
