For a moment, Cam was silent. Mac would have no reason to know the circumstances under which the image had been captured, and she could keep her part in it under wraps-at least for now. As a Secret Service agent, she was indoctrinated in the policy of silence. One did not discuss a protectee; one did not discuss Agency business with other departments; one did not discuss procedure. Solitary since childhood, circumspect with her own emotional pain-unable and unwilling to add to her mother's agony with her own seemingly inconsequential anguish after the death of her father, she had learned to keep her own counsel. The habits of a lifetime compounded by the requirements of her profession made it difficult for her to disclose anything to anyone, no matter how much she trustedor loved-them. The silence in the room grew, a silence during which Mac sat quietly, simply waiting.
'The photograph was taken at approximately 0130 three nights ago on the waterfront in San Francisco.'
One blond eyebrow raised, his only sign of surprise, whether at the information or the fact that she knew it, Cam couldn't tell.
'I never got a report that we'd lost her at anytime in San Francisco,' he said.
'We didn't.'
'Then how did she manage to get away from us long enough for anyone to get that shot?'
His confusion was evident, and she made a decision that in all probability would alter the course of her career forever.
'She didn't leave our sight. The person in the photograph with her is me.'
His reaction was not precisely what she had expected.
'Well then, where the fuck were the rest of our people? How in thehell did they let anyone get that close to her. Jesus, talk about a security failure.'
Cam shrugged, a rueful grin on her face. 'She and I were not directly in their sight line, although they should have had an excellent perimeter view. One thought I hadafter the fact unfortunately-is that he was on one of the nearby piers with a night scope. He could have gotten fairly close to us but probably wouldn't have raised any particular suspicion from the team. They were most likely focusing on foot traffic on the beach.'
'Commander, may I speak freely?' Mac asked softly.
'Go ahead, Mac.'
He held her eyes as he said firmly, 'I consider it my responsibility-the responsibility of the entire team-to protect her not just physically, but from this kind of invasion as well. I know it's not completely possible to deny the press access to her, but dammit, this is something personal. The public has no right to know this. I don't want it to happen again.'
'I don't know that we can stop it, Mac,' Cam replied. Frustrated, she strafed her hair with a hand. 'I'm not even sure I knowhow to stop it. But someone released this photograph, and I want to know who they are and how they got it. I want to know-' she hesitated, because the next words came hard. Harder than almost anything she had ever said. 'I need to know if it came from one of us.'
His blue eyes grew dark with pain, but he answered crisply. 'Yes, ma'am. If I may, I'd like to look into this personally.'
'That might not be looked upon favorably by DC,' she warned.
'So noted.'
'It's possible I may go down for this, Mac. If I do, I want you in the clear. I need you to take my place. Blair needs you.'
'I would not want to be in Egret's path if anyone tries that, Commander.'
She smiled. 'No, it wouldn't be pretty. Just the same, if it comes to that, I want you to disavow any prior knowledge. We never had this conversation.'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Thank you, Mac.'
Chapter Eighteen
As Cam stood in the small carpeted foyer between the elevator and the broad oak door to Blair's apartment, she thought of the first time she had come there and how much had changed. She hadnt wanted the job, hadnt wanted a woman in her life, hadnt wanted to feel anything at all. Now all she cared about was on the other side of that door. She raised her hand to knock, but the door opened before her fist met wood.
'Good morning,' Blair said.
She wore loose, white cotton drawstring pants and a matching ribbed tank top. Her hair was down and there was a dab of brilliant blue pigment just above her left breast.
'You've been working?' Cam asked. There were circles under her normally vibrant blue eyes, and Cam caught sight of something moving in their depths, something dark and wounded.
'Yes. What else? The antidote for every problem.'
Cam stayed on the threshold, waiting to be invited in. 'Did you sleep?'
'Some. Did you?'
'Some.'
Blair pulled the door open wide and gesture with a sweep of her hand. 'Come in. This shouldn't take too long, because I don't have much in the way of plans for the rest of the week. Especially not now.'
'Fine.' Cam followed her in and trailed behind her to the breakfast bar, puzzling over Blair's odd detachment. It was rare for them to be anywhere alone that Blair did not touch her, however fleetingly. The absence of that small gesture echoed hollowly in her chest.
Blair set out two mugs and poured coffee. She passed one to Cam and leaned her elbows on the counter, one hip edged up on a stool. 'Have you heard anything from Washington?'
Cam shook her head, settling on the neighboring stool to face her. 'I plan to call Carlisle when we're done here. What about you?'
'Lucinda called just after nine. She was in a rush, because my father was on his way to an economic summit meeting and she was briefing him in the car at the same time as she was talking to me. I believe her precise words were, 'Tell me it's someone you can bring home to dinner.'
'Huh,' Cam snorted, wondering if she were. What would the President think? 'Anything else?'
'Nope. She said she'd get back to me later. That could mean midnight.'
'What are you going to tell her?'
'At the moment, I'm going to tell her it's nobody's business. Not even hers.'
For the first time, Blair looked and sounded like herself. When she was angry, Cam was certain she was fine.
'I suppose at the moment, that makes sense,' Cam said, nodding. She pushed the mug away and reached for Blair's hand, then stiffened when Blair eased back from the counter, just out of touching distance.
Silence fell and finally Cam asked quietly, 'What's wrong?'
'Nothing.'
'Something's happened.'
'Are we done here? I'm in the middle of something.'
'No, we'renot done. Not until you tell me what's happened between now and when we said goodnight eight hours ago.' Cam slid off her seat and moved to Blairs side, lightly touching her bare arm with her fingertips. 'Is it because I didn't come up with you last night?'
'No,' Blair said abruptly, but she didn't move her arm away.
'I couldn't think what to do,' Cam said as if she hadnt heard. 'Sometimes, I can't seem to figure out who I am-whether I'm your lover or your security chief. When push comes to shove, I guess I'm more used to being your security chief. I'm sorry.'
'Damn it, Cameron, that's not the problem.' It almost hurt to hear Cam apologize for something Blair knew she couldn't help. 'Can't you just finished this goddamned briefing and go do whatever the security chief part of you needs to do?'
Cam shook her head, smiling softly. 'No. The security chief is finished. It's just your lover here now.'
Blair drew a manila envelope from beneath the counter and handed it to Cam. 'Then maybe you should tell me which one of you I ought to ask about this.'
Perplexed, Cam studied the envelope which had Blair's name printed on it in black magic marker and no
