Final Target

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Take the handcuffs off her, Danley," Andreas said. "And I want her in the limo with me."

"I wouldn't advise you to-"

"I think I can protect myself from her." His arms tightened around Cassie. "And I doubt she's any danger to my daughter. You told me yourself that her first move was to try to save Cassie."

"That might have been a clever act on her part to-"

"Put her in the car, Danley."

"Yes, sir." He reluctantly unlocked the cuffs and opened the door.

Melissa got into the limousine.

"Your neck is scratched," Andreas told her. "It's bleeding a little. There's a tissue in the holder." He wrapped Cassie more tightly in the blanket. "Sorry, told them not to hurt you."

"Why?"

"It was part of the deal." He took out his phone, if you'll excuse me, I have to call my wife." He dialed the number. "Cassie's safe. Perfectly safe. Yes, I'm sure. She's not been hurt. I love you too. I'll call you later."

"What deal?" Melissa asked when he hung up.

"Michael Travis. He called and told me where you and Cassie were."

Betrayal. She shouldn't be this shocked. She should have known when she'd seen no sign of Travis or Galen while she'd been dragged from the house.

"And the deal?"

"Amnesty for you. You're not to be prosecuted for kidnapping or any other crime. You're to be kept in custody for forty-eight hours and then released."

"And for Travis?"

"He's an intelligent man. He knows I'm ready to cut his throat. The deal was entirely for you. He was very persuasive, and I had little choice when he told me this Deschamps knew where you all were and could come after Cassie at any minute. He said he would phone me right before he left with the Wind Dancer and we had to charge in before Deschamps."

Who had followed her and Travis to the cottage, she realized in disgust. My God, why hadn't she put two and two together? If she'd been leading with her head instead of her emotions, she'd have figured out what had been evident to Travis. All that time he and Galen had spent on the beach…"Did you search the area?"

"Of course. I'd have been delighted to find either Travis or Deschamps."

"It's Deschamps you want. He's the one who staged the Vasaro attack."

"I want them both. But I've had a report on Deschamps since Travis called me, and that bastard may be marginally worse."

"He's a monster. Ask Cassie."

"Unfortunately, she won't answer." He looked down at his daughter." Is it true Cassie's not having the nightmares any longer?"

She nodded. "It's early days, but I think they may be gone."

"I'll pray you're right." He looked down at his daughter. "I wanted to kill your sister that day Cassie was taken."

She flinched. "Someone else did it for you."

"I know." He paused. "I sent her body back to Virginia. It was difficult for me to believe that she was an accomplice."

"She wasn't. Leaving Juniper just seemed better for Cassie at the time." Her chin lifted. "And she was right. Cassie is much better now. If she'd stayed at the house, she might have been lost forever, or one of those bouts of hysteria could have killed her."

"I'm supposed to be grateful?"

"Hell, yes."

"She put Cassie in jeopardy."

"And she gave her life for your daughter."

He was silent. "Just as you were prepared to die for her in the cottage today."

"My reaction was pure instinct. If Jessica had known she was going to die, I believe she would have gone to the museum to see the Wind Dancer anyway. She thought she had a chance of bringing Cassie back. She almost pulled it off."

"So Travis told me." He looked down again at Cassie. "How close was she?"

"Very close."

"She asked me to take Cassie back to Vasaro. I refused."

"You should have done it."

"Hindsight. But you'll be glad to know your sister is getting her way."

"What?"

"That's where we're going. We'll stay for two days and you're going to be my guest."

"Why?"

"Didn't you just tell me that it's best for Cassie?"

She studied him. "But why now? I'd think you'd want to rush her back to the States to her mother."

"I have to stay here for another couple of days, and I don't want to let her out of my sight. I'm not about to rely on anyone else to make sure she's safe. You can understand that."

"Yes." But Andreas wasn't telling her everything. "You evidently had this arrangement in place before-"

"No statue, Mr. President." Danley had opened the door. "We tore the place apart."

"I didn't think it would be there. I just had to make sure Travis really had it with him. Tell the driver to go on."

"You were looking for the Wind Dancer/' Melissa said as the car started. "I should tell you Travis didn't want to take it from the museum. He said you'd raise all kinds of hell to get it back. I made him do it."

"Why?"

"Deschamps had just killed my sister and he wanted the statue. I wanted to use it as bait."

"Then Travis definitely must have come around to your way of thinking," he said grimly. "Please stop trying to defend him. Stealing the Wind Dancer is the least of his crimes."

"He didn't hurt Cassie."

"He put her in jeopardy." He added coldly, "And I intend to see him punished."

She wearily leaned back in the seat. Why was she trying to save Travis when she was so angry with him? He had tricked her and was now trying to tie her hands. "Okay, do what you like. But it's best if you don't talk about it in front of Cassie. He's still her hero."

He frowned. "Do you think she's awake now?"

"I know she is. She's listening to everything we say."

"How do you know?"

Evidently, Travis had not told Andreas of the link between Melissa and Cassie, and she wasn't about to do it. Credibility was of the essence. All she needed was for him to think she had a screw loose. " I've been with her almost constantly since we left Juniper. I can tell."

He stroked Cassie's cheek and his voice softened to velvet. "I love you, baby. I'm going to take you home soon. Will you like that? Won't you speak to me? No? That's okay. Maybe later." He cleared his throat as he looked up at Melissa. "But you've succeeded in getting her to talk?"

She frowned. "Where did you get that idea? No, we haven't gotten that far."

"Danley said she screamed your name."

Her eyes widened. "She did? She actually said my name?"

"Screamed it."

"Thank God." She could feel the tears stinging her eyes. "Then maybe I shouldn't be so mad at Travis after all. It might have taken weeks to get to that point if Cassie hadn't been frightened." She added deliberately, "And maybe you shouldn't be either."

"I'll think about it…later."

Now that she'd warned him, he was not about to upset his Cassie. But that didn't mean he was softening. Andreas was difficult to read, and she was aware of a multitude of undercurrents both in him and the situation. Well, if she had to work her way through them, she'd better begin. There was more going on than Andreas had said. One thing he had thrown out had set off a small flare. Concentrate on that first.

Why were they going to Vasaro?

From Travis's helicopter the limousine and official cars looked like a giant snake as they wound their way to the highway that led to Vasaro.

Galen gave a low whistle. "Andreas brought enough firepower for a battalion."

"He's not about to let Cassie be taken from him again." Travis's gaze shifted to the boat in the harbor that had pulled up anchor and was starting to move. "There goes Deschamps. He's probably gnashing his teeth right now because he didn't go into the cottage and grab the statue when he had a chance." He flipped him the finger. "Screw you, bastard."

"Ready?"

Travis nodded. The Wind Dancer sat on the floor at his feet. He had deliberately not put it in a box. When they'd run down the beach to board the helicopter, the sun had shimmered on the golden statue like the lamp in a lighthouse. There was no question Deschamps had seen it. "Let's get out of here."

Melissa's first glimpse of Vasaro took her breath away. Rolling hills covered with flowers and, dear Lord, the scents…

Now she knew why Andreas had rolled down the window. The delicious fragrance of lavender blossoms was enough to make you dizzy.

"Wonderful," she murmured.

Andreas nodded. "Cassie always loved it. I was hoping it might ignite some response."

"She's stubborn." The limousine was going up the road to a big stone house that had nothing grand about it. It looked like what it was, a lovely, spacious farmhouse surrounded by well-kept outbuildings. It was obviously a working farm, but Melissa didn't see any workers. "Did Mr. Danley toss all the employees off the property?"

"Caitlin Vasaro would have been outraged if we had. Her workers are like family. We found them temporary accommodations in the area." The limousine had drawn up at the front door. "The security of this house is going to be tighter than Fort Knox. Nothing is going to happen to Cassie again."

"Deschamps is still out there. Wouldn't it be better to send her to Washington?"

"There's no reason for Deschamps to target my daughter. I no longer have the Wind Dancer." He got out of the limousine and Melissa followed him. "I'm going to take her up to her room. It's the second one at the top of the stairs. Pick any other room you like." He glanced back at her. "You're free to go anywhere in the house. The grounds are off limits. Don't go past the veranda or you'll be stopped."

She nodded, her gaze going to the foothills. She could already see dozens of men spreading out, ringing the farmhouse and the outbuildings. "If you need me, call me. Cassie's used to me now."

"She won't need you. I've arranged to have a nurse and doctor in residence. And I'm going to stay with her as much as possible." He made a face. "Who knows? Maybe she'll talk to me."

"I hope she will."

He studied her expression. "You really do."

"I know you won't believe me, but I love her." She paused. "I'm going to make something to eat and bring it up. Neither Cassie nor I have had anything to eat today. So if you want one of your CIA people to watch what I'm putting in your food, you'd better send him to me. Where's the kitchen?"

"Down the hall to the left." He started up the stairs. "And I believe I'll trust you. You haven't hurt her yet."

The huge country kitchen was fully stocked, and Melissa found canned soup and vegetables for a salad. She grabbed a bite for herself, then took a tray up to Cassie and Andreas.

An hour later she was standing at the sink, washing the dishes and looking out the window at the hills. It must be wonderful to live here and be able to look out at all these flowers. Such a beautiful place…

A sudden chill went through her.

Such a deadly place.

Melissa stood in the doorway of Cassie's room. "May I speak to you in the hall?"

"Not now," Andreas said.

"Now. I don't want to talk in front of her, but I will."

He looked at her face and then glanced at Cassie. "Five minutes." He stood up and followed her from the room. "You're pale as a ghost. What's the problem?"

"You tell me. Something's going to happen here. What is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The hell you don't." Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Something's going to happen and you're part of it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's true, isn't it?"

"You're imagining things. You and Cassie are perfectly safe."

She knew that was true. "It's Travis."

He turned to go back in the room.

She grabbed his arm. "What's going to happen to Travis?"

"What he deserves." He went into Cassie's room and shut the door.

Damn him. She collapsed back against the wall. God, he was hard and totally unforgiving. He wasn't going to tell her anything. He'd let it happen…

Well, she wasn't going to let it happen, but she couldn't prevent it by standing there feeling sorry for herself.

She straightened and crossed the hall to the bedroom she'd chosen. She snatched a crocheted throw and wrapped it around her shoulders. Christ, she was cold. She curled up on the window seat and stared out at the hills.

Such a deadly place.

The thought had come out of nowhere and with it a vision of Travis falling, blood pouring from his chest. His eyes had glazed over as life had fled.

He was going to die.

Just as Jessica had died and that nice old man at the university. She had failed to stop both. She wouldn't be able to stop Travis from dying either.

You didn't give it a chance, Travis had said. It's easier to just call it fate.

Travis falling, dying.

"No!" She blocked the image.

Coward. Maybe something there could help her put the pieces together. She forced herself to close her eyes and brought the picture back. Travis falling…

Where was he?

Travis falling…

He was inside a building or shed, and there was an old lantern with a copper hood on the post beside him. She saw a table behind him with strange containers and on one corner a gleam of gold.

The Wind Dancer.

Terror iced through her.

A pool of blood and emerald eyes staring down…

No, that was Jessica. It didn't have to happen like that again. She could stop it.

How could she do it if she couldn't even smother the panic freezing her mind? She wanted to scream with frustration. It's not fair. If you're going to let me see anything, let me see enough to stop it.

Travis falling, dying.

Okay, damn you, don't give me any more. I'll figure it out anyway.

4:30 P.M.

"You can't go in there." Danley blocked the way when Melissa tried to enter the study. "The President is busy."

"I'm going to see him. And unless he's ordering another attack on Iraq, it's going to be now."

"He said he didn't want to be disturbed."

"Now."

"I can have you removed by-"

"It's all right, Danley."The door had opened and Andreas stood there. "Evidently, the lady doesn't know the meaning of the word no." He stepped aside. "Come in, Ms. Riley. I can give you a few minutes."

He added sarcastically, "Iraq isn't causing me any immediate trouble. But you might remember that I do have other problems."

"How can I forget?" She whirled to face him. "Where are you supposed to meet Travis tonight?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Don't play games with me. You would have taken Cassie home right away if you didn't have a damn good reason to stay. So I asked myself, what would that reason be?"

His gaze narrowed on her face. "And what did you answer?"

"The Wind Dancer or Deschamps." She paused. "Or both."

"It could be something other than personal business."

"But it's personal business that brought you here."

"And I got what I came for."

"Not entirely. You'll never feel Cassie is safe until Deschamps is taken out." She drew a deep breath. "And that's what Travis promised you, isn't it? When he called you before he got on the helicopter, he told you to go to Vasaro and he'd meet you there and turn the statue over to you in exchange for amnesty. But that call was all a sham for Deschamps's benefit. Travis had called you before, hadn't he? He asked you to go along with what he said and he'd take Deschamps out for you. Then you'd have everything you wanted."

"Would I? This is all supposition."

"But it's true, isn't it? He chose Vasaro because he and Deschamps would feel more comfortable going after the Wind Dancer here. Deschamps had scoped it out before the kidnapping attempt. What harm can it do you to tell me?"

He was silent a moment and then slowly nodded. "Travis called me after your meeting with Deschamps at St. Ives and told me to come to Cannes to be in position and he'd contact me later by E-mail."

"Where is Travis supposed to meet you?" He shook his head. "No interference." "You're not going to meet him, are you?" "I wasn't supposed to. It was always a trap for Deschamps. Travis promised he'd leave the Wind Dancer after he got rid of Deschamps for me." "Leave it where?"

Andreas smiled. "You are persistent." "Are you going to let Travis escape after he kills Deschamps?"

"We didn't discuss it. I believe he knows he's on his own after I get what's mine. He's a clever man. He might be able to get away."

"But you'll pounce after he leaves Vasaro." "Naturally, I have to have sufficient security to make sure Deschamps doesn't escape if he kills Travis."

Travis falling, dying…

The vision filled her with panic. Keep calm. "But you don't intend to be around if Travis needs any help." She moistened her lips. "For God's sake, you have an army here at the house. You could send someone to see that Deschamps doesn't hurt Travis."

"But that might tip off Deschamps. He might get away."

"You'd still have your statue."

He smiled. "I want it all."

It was what she had been afraid of. "You want Travis to be killed. You regard this as personal business and you don't want to order Danley or one of his men to do it. Because that would compromise your ethics as president. But you're hoping he'll die."

His smile faded. "He took my daughter. He risked her life. For days she was exposed not only to Deschamps but also to any other nut who has a grudge against me. He put my wife through hell. She could have lost the child she's carrying. I believe justice would be served if Deschamps and Travis killed each other. Now, is that all? I have to get back to work."

It was hopeless but she had to try. "Please. Send Danley or someone to save him."

" Let him save himself. He may get lucky."

"He'll die."

"Good day Ms. Riley."

She drew a deep breath. "Okay, just tell me where he is so I can go help him myself."

"No interference."

"Don't tell me that. I'm not asking much." She rubbed her forehead. "It's got to happen tonight because you told me you were going to hold me for only forty-eight hours. You wouldn't have him anywhere close to Cassie, so he has to be far out on the grounds. He's in some kind of house, isn't he?"

He lifted a brow. "Good guess. Would you care to go for animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

"I'll find him myself."

"You're in my custody. You leave this area and you'll be shot."

"I don't think so. You're an honorable man and you know I helped Cassie. The only way you'll stop me is if you kill me." Her lips twisted. "Though maybe you'll get a bonus and Deschamps will take care of me too."

"Vasaro is a large property. You'll never find Travis."

"I'll find him. You just tell Danley not to use me as target practice. Will you have him give me a gun?"

"You're really pushing the envelope."

"I have to." She tried to keep the desperation from her voice but didn't succeed. "Travis doesn't deserve this. Yes, he did something he shouldn't have done, but he's a good man. You're making a mistake."

He shook his head.

"And you'll regret it."

"In my position I have to make many decisions I regret."

"But this doesn't have to be one of them. He saved Cassie once. Doesn't that have any weight at all?" She wasn't getting through to him, she realized in despair. "Cassie thinks of Travis as her friend. Are you going to be able to tell her later what you did to him?"

He didn't answer directly. "It's clear you have an attachment to Travis, but you'd be wise to have second thoughts. I've no desire for you to be hurt. Stay out of it, Ms. Riley."

"The hell I will." She turned and strode past Danley down the hall. She had to stop shaking. After all, she hadn't had much hope that she could persuade Andreas to help. If it had been her child in jeopardy, she would probably have been just as bitter.

She was lying to herself. She had hoped for a miracle. Well, the miracle hadn't happened and she was on her own. She threw open the door of the library. She couldn't run around Vasaro searching blindly. There must be a map of the property somewhere that showed where all the outbuildings were located.

She only had to find it.

Dear God, help me find it.

It took Melissa three hours to find a map. It wasn't on any of the shelves but tucked in a ledger in one of the bottom drawers of the desk.

She quickly spread it out on the desk. It seemed fairly new, so it should have all the current outbuildings on the property.

Shit.

There were seven other outbuildings besides the ones surrounding the farmhouse, and they were scattered all over the property. They had to be miles apart. The chances of her being able to find the right place were practically nil.

She glanced at the window. Sweet Jesus, the sun was going down. It would be dark soon, and that's when it would happen. Dammit, she didn't even know how much time she had left.

She sank down in the desk chair and covered her eyes.