Cam didnt let her surprise show. Shed thought it might have been Doyle. Now she didnt know what to think.
'Someone you knew?'
'A new client. Apparently referred by an impeccable source, but I dont know who. I wouldnt.'
'And she asked about me?'
'Not directly. Just vague questions about how many people from the Hill used the service. Wondering what kind of company she was innothing very specific, and if I hadnt known about the others being questioned, I might not have noticed'. She drew a breath, as if steeling herself to continue. 'Then a man asked about you.'
'What exactly did he ask?' Cam inquired quietly.
'He didn't actually use your name. He showed me a photograph and asked me if I knew you.'
'Was he a client, too?'
'He posed as one,' Claire said with just a hint of distaste. 'I could tell immediately that something was wrong, because he was uncomfortable.'
Cam raised an eyebrow in question.
'The type of people I'm used to dealing with are not uncomfortable by our transactions.'
'Of course.' They were all civilized and business-like and emotionally remote. Like she had been-at first.When did that change? When we exchanged names?
'At any rate, he wasn't interested in anything physical. He was clearly stalling-trying to get me to talk about the business. When I didn't, he resorted to strong-arm tactics.'
'Did he touch you?' Cam stiffened and loosely clasped her fingers over Claire's forearm.
'No, not like that,' Claire quickly replied, covering Cam's hand with hers. 'He mostly blustered and threatened and suggested that I could go to jail.'
'For what?'
'That's what I asked him,' Claire said with a dismissive shrug. 'This is not some backroom operation with a shady client list. In every sense of the word, this is a high-powered business with even higher-powered clientele. Anyone who tried to expose some of our clients would probably end up in jail themselves.'
'That's when he showed you the picture?'
She nodded. 'Yes. I think at that point he realized he wasn't going to get anything from me and just decided to see how I would react.'
'Claire,' Cam said gently, placing her hands back on her own thighs. 'I don't want you to protect me. You need to protect yourself, even if that means revealing your association with me.'
Claire turned on the sofa until her knees were touching Cam's. She rested her hand on Cam's blue jean clad leg. The touch was intimate but not seductive. 'I wouldn't do that.'
'No matter what happens in the future-if for some reason you have to testify to anything, don't perjure yourself on my account. There's nothing illegal about what we've done. No one can prove the financial transaction, and even if they could, its debatable whether any crime was involved.'
'You're right about that. It would be virtually impossible to trace the business' income to any particular person.'
'What are you going to do?'
Claire smiled sadly. 'I'm going to retire.'
They were both silent, because they both knew what that meant. In all likelihood, they would never see one another again.
'Are you leaving DC?' Cam asked softly.
'I don't know yet. Probably.'
'This whole thing may blow over. I have a feeling it's just a fishing expedition-probably a small group of people trying to dig up any kind of inflammatory information on anyone they possibly can. There may be no point or direction to this investigation at all.' She rubbed her eyes and grimaced. 'Still, I think it's best if you get out since they've clearly identified you as part of the organization.'
'I have a feeling there's going to be an imminent restructuring of the business. Probably a complete turnover of the escorts, too. At this point, everyone is suspect.'
'If you need anything,' Cam said, 'anytime-you know how to find me.'
'Thank you. Part of the reason I was in this business is that it's been very lucrative. You needn't worry about anything like that.'
'I just meant-'
Claire placed her fingers gently against Cam's mouth. 'I know what you meant.'
They were both very still, Claire's fingers motionless against Cam's face. Finally she moved her hand to Cam's neck and held her gaze steadily. In a low voice, her body trembling, she asked, 'Is there someone?'
Cam raised her hand and drew Claire's fingers to her lips again, then kissed them softly before letting them go. 'Yes.'
'I thought there must be. These last few months-you've been gone.'
'I-'
The sound of the doorbell interrupted her sentence and Cam murmured, 'I'm sorry. Excuse me.'
Surprised that the doorman had not phoned to announce a visitor, she quickly crossed to the door and glanced through the peephole. Too stunned even to curse, she opened the door to Blair Powell.
Chapter Twenty-Three
'What are you doing in DC?' Cam asked incredulously.
'Sorry to show up unannounced,' Blair replied lightly. Hands in the pockets of her jeans, her face was alight with a smile of pleasure she couldnt hide. When Cam didnt answer, her smile faded. Then, aware of the consternation on Cam's face she asked, 'What's wrong?'
Cam stepped into the hall and glanced up and down, pulling the door nearly closed behind her. 'Where's the team?'
'My primary detail is at a hotel. The White House detail thinks I'm asleep.'
'Goddamnit, Blair, I thought we were passed this by now.'
'Listen, Cameron,' Blair said sharply, confused by Cam's anger even though she had expected her to be annoyed. 'I wanted to see you. No, Ineeded to see you.'
Cam closed her eyes and sighed. When she spoke, her voice was soft, the edge gone. 'I'm sorry. I just can't seem to impress upon you that you can't be running around the city by yourself.'
'I wasn't running around. I took a cab.' She brushed her hand over Cam's chest and bumped Cams leg playfully with her hip. 'So can I come in?'
'Im sorry. No.'
Blair stared at her, bewildered. 'Why not? Don't tell me that you're going to get all huffy about the fact that the team doesn't know where I am. If it will make you happier, I'll use my cell phone to call the White House detail commander. I've done it before.'
'It's not that.' She hesitated, searching for the right words, and then realized that there weren't any. 'There's someone here.'
'Someone-' Blair stared at her, searching Cam's eyes and finding nothing but sorrow. 'Are you finished or is she staying the night for round two?'
'Of course not. Damn it, Blair-'
'My mistake-I should have called.'
Before Cam could protest, Blair turned on her heel, rapidly crossed the hallway, and pushed through the fire door to the stairwell. The last thing Cam heard were her boot heels echoing hollowly on the stairs.
*****
Blair was leaning against a lamp post in a faint circle of light on the corner in front of Cam's apartment building when a woman came through the front door ten minutes later. She didn't need to be told who the blond was-she just knew. As if by design, the woman turned in her direction and their eyes met. Blair pushed away from the pole and started up the sidewalk as the other woman walked towards her. They met on the edge of the flickering shadows cast by the streetlight.
