“Ms. Powell,” he said in a smooth baritone, “we’d love to have you tour the Institute. I think you’ll find we are doing some remarkable work.”

“Yes,” Blair replied with polite reserve. “I’ve followed Dr. Constantine’s 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 will.” Blair took Cam’s hand. “I don’t believe you’ve 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 don’t mind, but I’m going to slip out a little early.”

Emory shook her head. “Please, you don’t need to explain.” She glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “They’re hungry tonight, aren’t they?”

“Tonight?” Blair laughed. “I’m really glad we got to meet. I thought your speech was dynamite. If there’s ever anything I can do, just give me a call.”

“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. I’m serious.”

“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too,” Emory said, waiting until Cam was close enough to hear.

“Thank you,” Cam and Blair said together.

“I’ll 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. “I’ve still got another hour’s networking to go, and I could use a break.”

“Come on, then.” Blair grinned. “I’m an expert at sneaking out of things like this.”

Cam motioned to Stark. “Let the team know we’re ready to leave. I’ll get Diane and Savard. We’re still using the planned exit?”

“Yes. I’ll have the cars move around now.” Stark murmured instructions, then said to Blair, “Five minutes, Ms. Powell.”

At the appointed time, the small 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 staff. Blair couldn’t see anyone in the alcoves and smaller hallways branching off 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 really want to break ranks, you can come back to the hotel with us for a drink.”

Emory laughed. “God, don’t tempt me. Unfortunately, fundraising is a necessary evil and I’ve got enough to worry about without adding money problems to my list.”

“I can imagine,” Blair said. “Don’t worry too much about anti-stem cell research legislation. I can tell 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 hallway erupted in gunfire and she was knocked to the floor. As she fell 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. Cam’s hand. She screamed but couldn’t get enough air to emit more than a choked sob. Someone groaned.

Then Blair was yanked to her feet, then off her feet, and propelled down the hallway by someone she couldn’t see. Someone big. She finally twisted enough in the iron grip to make out the features. Wozinski.

“Cam,” Blair gasped. “Where is she?”

Wozinski didn’t answer as he shouldered his way out into a narrow service alley. 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 visually swept right and left. Blair jerked in Wozinski’s 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. Diane’s body blocked her way as she too was pushed inside. Savard followed, 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 pulled her back down.

“Please stay away from the windows.”

“Where’s Cam?” Blair took a shaky breath. “Where’s Paula?”

“Paula…is down. I’m not sure about the commander,” Renée said in a monotone.

For an instant, Blair couldn’t decipher the meaning of what she had just heard. Paula is down. Down. Shot? Her mind veered away from the thought. Cam. Cam wasn’t wearing a vest.

“Who’s behind us?” Blair carefully enunciated each word and forced herself to think calmly. Her only hope of getting to Cam was to maintain, or take, control. She wasn’t about to become an unwilling captive of her own security team ever again.

“Mac. I’m not sure who else.”

“Call them,” Blair demanded.

“Protocol is for radio silence,” Renée said.

“I don’t care. Call them now. Consider it an order, Agent Savard.”

Savard stared at Blair for a long moment, then punched two numbers on her handy talky. “Status?”

Blair couldn’t hear a response, but only a few seconds passed before Renée said, “We’re secure,” and slipped the radio back into an inside pocket of her jacket. At the sight of her hand trembling, Blair’s stomach clenched into a painful knot.

“Report?” Blair asked.

“All present and accounted for.”

“What…what does that mean?”

“It means no one was left at the scene. Stark and the commander are in the Suburban behind us.”

“Are they—”

“I don’t know,” Renée said.

The tight fist around Blair’s heart loosened enough for her to breathe without each movement feeling like a knife stabbing through her. “Diane, are you all right?”

Mutely, Diane nodded.

Blair concentrated on burying her panic. Cam was in the car behind her. That was all that mattered. “Where are we going?”

“If Paula…”

Renée shuddered and for just a second, Blair thought she was going to break down. Then she squared her shoulders and continued.

“Paula will let Mac know the exit route, and he’ll communicate with our driver.”

Blair looked out the window and saw that they were heading out of the city. The last thing she wanted was to end up in another safe house, but she realized that was one decision she couldn’t impact. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to go blank. It didn’t work, but it kept her from trying to break down the barrier between herself and whoever was driving and demanding to know where they were going. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, she felt the limo slow down. She jerked upright and saw a sign for Interstate 495 South flash by as the vehicle turned into a deserted truck weighing station by the side of the highway. “What’s happening?”

Renée shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Blair reached for the handle, but Renée stopped her. She was about to protest when the door opened and Cam slid in. The limo immediately accelerated back onto the highway.

“Are you all right?” Cam slid her arm around Blair’s shoulders and pulled her close.

“Am I?” Blair laughed shakily and pressed her palm to Cam’s chest. “I was afraid…” She lost the words and just kissed Cam instead. “Are you?”

“Other than a few sore ribs from ending up under one of Tanner’s security guards, I’m fine.” Cam stroked Blair’s hair and looked at Diane and Renée. “You both okay?”

“Yes,” Renée reported, sitting tensely on the edge of the seat.

“Stark took a round in the chest,” Cam said. “Her vest stopped it. She’s in pain, but she’s still in charge. She’ll be okay.”

Renée blinked and looked away. “Thank you.”

“Was anyone else hurt?” Blair asked.

“Another one of Tanner’s people took a shot to the vest in the process of shielding Emory Constantine.”

“Emory!” Blair said, momentarily stunned. “My God, is she hurt?”

“She sprained her wrist, but she’s tough and taking everything in stride.” Cam glanced at Savard. “We brought Emory with us. She’s in the Suburban.”

“Smart call,” Savard said. “What about the assailant?”

“He’s dead. Stark left Wozinski behind temporarily to coordinate with the FBI and police.” Cam coughed and winced.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Blair said immediately.

Cam shook her head. “Sore ribs. I got a quick look at the guy. He’s one of the four on Emory Constantine’s watch list.”

“You mean Emory was the target?” Blair exclaimed.

“We’re not sure, but it’s possible.” Cam shifted, obviously trying to get comfortable. “For now, we’re not making any assumptions.”

“How much of this can we keep out of the press?” Blair asked.