Her father had taught her how to hide in plain sight, and no one gave her a second look when she walked to the diner down the road or stopped at a nearby gas station to fill her Jeep and the extra gas cans she kept in the back. Her father had planned well in case they’d need to disappear, and after she’d hiked down the mountain carrying her weapons and the money, she’d collected the vehicle and the IDs from the cache he’d left behind. She had his IDs with her, even though he wouldn’t need them. She had ones for Robbie and Jennifer too, and when the time came for them to disappear again, she’d take care of it. It wouldn’t be long now.

When the news ended, she called Robbie.

“Everything all right?” he said instantly.

“Yes. With you?”

“No change. We’re set to leave here at four tomorrow, arriving in Chicago around six thirty. He’s got a breakfast conference downtown and then a big ceremony to launch the train.”

“You have the route?”

“Yes. I’ll scan it and send it to your phone.”

“I’ll be heading out in the morning,” Jane said. “Just one matter of business to finish up here.”

“Don’t take any chances. I don’t want to lose you too.”

“You won’t lose anyone, I promise.”

“I know, I know.”

His anxiety was palpable. He wasn’t a warrior, not like her and Jennifer. He’d always been the one who’d rather stay inside with a book than crawl through the obstacle course her father set up in the woods behind the house, carrying a .22 and shooting at human-shaped targets. He could handle a weapon adequately, but he’d been the obvious choice to infiltrate the communications network. His natural talent for journalism had been a bonus. She trusted him, but he’d never been in the midst of an action before.

“I’ll text twice a day, twelve-hour intervals. Don’t worry,” Jane said. “You’ll do fine.”

“You’ve always been most like him, you know.” Robbie sounded both wistful and apologetic.

Jane blinked at the unexpected moisture blurring her vision for an instant. “Then trust me. We’ll all be fine.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m not. Keep me updated on any changes in the itinerary.”

“See you soon,” Robbie said.

Jane disconnected and two minutes later the phone buzzed. An instant message appeared with a map showing a blue line connecting Chicago to Flagstaff. Red dots along the way denoted towns where the president would stop. She calculated three days driving eighteen hours a day, and she’d intercept at just the right place. All she needed now was the right weapon.

Chapter Eight

Blair said good-bye to her father at the elevator to the second floor of the residence and walked out the west entrance toward the street to catch a cab.

“Blair!” Cam caught up with her on the sidewalk. “Want some company?”

“Your kind.” Blair kissed Cam quickly on the cheek, slipped her arm through Cam’s, and snuggled close, looking for warmth in the biting wind but mostly just wanting the pleasure of her hard body up close. “Is this a happy accident?”

“Ah…not exactly.”

“Stark called you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I suppose Dad is in trouble now too?”

Cam laughed. “You do know it stresses the shift when Eagle goes off the record, right? And both of you…”

Blair chuckled. “It was only a burger.”

“Right. A burger that required a motorcade, half a dozen agents tear-assing across town to clear the place before he got there, press corps piling into SUVs and creating havoc in the streets, and probably a dozen more gray hairs on Tom Turner’s head.”

“Tom doesn’t have any gray.”

“He will if you keep encouraging your father to go AWOL.”

“You know he loves it.”

“I know,” Cam said. “Just promise you won’t do a burger run when we’re out on the campaign trail.”

“You always said that impromptu public appearances are the safest because no one expects him. It’s not like anyone was waiting at Five Guys for the president to walk in.”

“That’s true, but you can never be sure that somebody who just happens to be there won’t take it upon themselves to make a move. The only way to be safe is to predict and plan for—”

“Any contingency.” Blair sighed. “I know. I know you’re right. But I know what it’s like to be caged in. And it’s got to be a lot worse for him.”

“His choice,” Cam pointed out, not unkindly. “And it’s not about just him. It’s about the office and the—”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Cam slid her arm around Blair’s waist and pulled her under her arm. “I know it wasn’t your doing. Besides, Andrew knows better. But it would be good sometimes if you could talk him out of it. He’s too much of a public president as it is.”

“It’s important to him, to his image. And it’s really important now. I hate to say it, but I agree with Adam. Part of Dad’s problem has always been his background. He’s an intellectual, he comes from money, he’s seen as part of the elite. He’s not like that at all, but he has to work to appeal to a certain spectrum of the population. A big spectrum.”

“Agreed. But nothing is worth risking his safety.” Cam kissed Blair’s temple. “Or yours.”

“All right. I’ll be the grown-up this trip.”

“Thank you. And I know Tom won’t say anything, but he’ll secretly thank you too.”

“Are you done for the night, then?”

“Yes. Wheels up at five. We’ll have to leave for Andrews around four.”

“Did you eat?”

“A sandwich in the canteen.”

“Cam, that’s not food. What about takeout?”

“I’m okay. You?”

“Guilty. Two burgers and fries.”

“I think I might hate you.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“Really?” Cam stepped off the curb and flagged a cab. As it careened across the lane of traffic toward them she stepped back onto the curb, putting herself between Blair and the road. “How?”

“I’ll leave that for you to think about.”

Cam opened the cab door as two black SUVs pulled into line behind the cab. She couldn’t see through the smoked glass but she knew the position of the occupants. Stark rode on the passenger side. Mac Phillips drove. The shift was in the follow car. She’d been aware of them following her and Blair as they’d walked from the White House. Giving in to Blair’s need for a little bit of freedom had meant putting up with cab rides. The shifts didn’t like it, but they liked Blair evading them even less. This way at least they knew where she was, and cabs were another unlikely source of problems. When Stark had called her to tell her Blair insisted on walking partway and catching a cab, Cam had waited for her at the White House so she could walk with her. Stark felt better about that. So did she.

They settled into the backseat and Cam gave the driver their condo address. Blair curled against her, slid a hand inside her topcoat, and rested it on her abdomen. Cam looped an arm around Blair’s shoulders. Being close to her was the most comforting experience she’d ever known. “I love you.”

Blair stroked Cam’s middle. “I love you too. Are you all right?”

“Yes. Just…happy.”

Blair rubbed her cheek against Cam’s shoulder. “Me too.”

The cab pulled over, Cam paid the driver, and before they could step out, the SUVs moved in quickly behind them. Three agents jumped out, bracketed the two of them as they got out of the cab, and walked them toward their building. Cam nodded to the agent nearest her. “We’ll be in for the rest of the night.”

Brock nodded. He’d stand post in the lobby until the next shift arrived. The others would be with the cars until they were ready to leave for Andrews and the trip to Chicago aboard Air Force One. Until then, she and Blair would be alone.

Once inside the apartment, Cam shed her topcoat and took Blair’s. She hung them both in the closet by the door and took off her blazer. Blair kicked off her shoes and leaned against the back of the sofa that separated the kitchen-dining area from the living area. She braced her arms on either side of her hips and gave Cam an appraising look. Cam unbuckled her belt. Blair’s gaze dropped to her hips as she slid the leather slowly through the loops and draped it over the back of the sofa. Watching Blair watch her, she unbuttoned her shirt, pulled it from her pants, and left it hanging open.

“Want me to keep going?” Cam said.

“Oh yes.”

“Then you have to follow me into the bedroom.”

“At the moment, I’d follow you just about anywhere.”

Cam laughed and held out her hand. Blair took it and Cam led her down the hall to the master bedroom at the far end. She motioned for Blair to sit on the edge of the bed, and once Blair was settled, watching her again, she slowly undressed, removing each article of clothing and draping it over the clothes stand in the corner.

“Now you.” Cam pulled Blair to her feet and swept down the covers. Blair wrapped both arms around her neck, her sweater pleasantly rough against her bare nipples.

“You undress me,” Blair murmured.

Cam slid her hand under the waistband of Blair’s pants, slowly caressing the firm curve of her ass. Blair moaned softly and kissed her throat. Cam eased the cashmere up Blair’s abdomen, over her breasts, and, backing away a step, slipped the sweater over her head. She draped it at the foot of the bed and released the clasp on Blair’s bra, drawing the straps down her arms and off. She kissed Blair again, then made her way down her throat, kissing her way to the hollow between her collarbones. She cupped her breasts, massaging both nipples with her thumbs.

Blair arched her back and groaned. “God, I love your hands.”

“I love the way you feel.” Cam lifted her breasts and kissed each one before kneeling and pressing her face to Blair’s abdomen. She wrapped her arms around Blair’s hips and tugged her close, kissing the curve of her abdomen and the tight line of her hipbone where it disappeared beneath her pants. She kept kissing her as she worked the zipper down and, with her thumbs hooked over the waistband, pulled her pants and underwear down her thighs.