Final Target

Chapter Twenty-Five

"That…hurts." Travis opened his eyes as Melissa pressed a strip of shirt to the wound in his lower shoulder.

"Shut up. You're lucky to be alive. Where's Galen?"

"I…didn't need him."

"You ran out on him."

"No one knew he was mixed up in this. Andreas…he won't be satisfied with…statue."

"You gave him Deschamps."

"He's dead?"

"Yes, and you did it. Do you hear me?"

He tried to smile. "Strange, I don't remember that. Are you trying to make me a hero?"

"I'm trying to save your neck." She moistened her lips. "I never thought I'd get the chance. I saw you dying, Travis. I saw the wounds in your chest and your face…You were dying."

"But you'd tackled me and pulled me down. The bullet didn't hit my chest."

"You might not have been shot at all if I hadn't been here."

"Or I could have been shot and killed. Who the hell knows?" He closed his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll go to sleep. I'm very tired."

"Just so you don't die on me." Her voice was shaking. "I went to a lot of trouble to keep you alive."

"Wouldn't…think of it."

He was unconscious. Keep the pressure on the wound. She'd put a makeshift bandage on her own leg wound before she'd crawled over to Travis. How to get them both help? Andreas probably wouldn't come near this place. He wanted Travis and Deschamps to both die.

Galen.

She fumbled in Travis's pocket, pulled out his phone, and began to dial.

The door was flung open. "Hands in the air!” A half-dozen men streamed into the room.

Suits. Indisputably CIA. For God's sake, it was like that break-in yesterday morning at the cottage.

" I'm not putting my hands in the air. If I take my hand off this compress, he's going to bleed to death. Where the hell is Danley? Let me talk to Danley."

"I'll have to do. Danley's busy securing the area." Andreas walked into the room. He looked down at Deschamps. "Is this our man?"

"Yes, I'm sure Danley's shown you pictures of him."

"But it's difficult to tell with half his head blown off"

"It's Deschamps. Travis got rid of him for you." She added fiercely, "So you get him some help."

"I have every intention of doing that. How is he?"

"The bullets went through his shoulder. He's lost some blood, but he'll live…if you don't screw up."

"I don't dare screw up. You l ook like you could use some help yourself." He motioned to one of the men. "Paulding, you get a medical team out here." Then he knelt beside her.

"Leave me alone. I'm okay."

" Let Travis go. We're not going to hurt him."

"How do I know that?"

"Cassie won't let me."

"What?"

He smiled. "She woke up."

"Oh, my God."

"That was my reaction. I felt like I could walk on air…It was damn wonderful. Even though she was almost hysterical and screaming at me to save Travis. She must have overheard us talking about him last night."

She had overheard all right. But not the way Andreas meant. "I told you how she felt about him."

"Yes, you did." He stood up. "We'll get you back to the house and get the bullet taken out."

" Not unless you bring Travis with me."

"You don't trust me?" He smiled. "I promised Cassie I'd bring him back to the house. It was the only way I could get her to quiet down. Do you think I'm about to send her spiraling away from me again? I'd move the whole damn world to keep that from happening."

She studied his face and then slowly nodded. "I can see you would."

"And now I'd better get back and tell Cassie that her hero is safe."

"But what about after Cassie is better? Will Travis be safe then?"

"We'll just have to see, won't we? I still want to break his neck." He moved toward the door. "I'll see you at the house." He stopped beside the body and bent down to pick up the Wind Dancer Deschamps was still clutching. "There's blood on it."

"Deschamps said the Wind Dancer liked blood."

"Ridiculous. How could it like or dislike anything?" He wiped the blood off the Wind Dancer and then smiled down into its emerald eyes. "After all, it's only a statue."

"Melissa. The monsters…Michael!"

"Shh. They're gone. Michael is safe. He's hurt, but he's right here beside me. We're in a van on the way back to the house."

"That's what Daddy said."

"Believe him."

"But I saw Michael-"

"I know what you saw. But it didn't happen. It doesn't have to happen if we fight it."

"Scary out here. Maybe I'll go back in the tunnel."

"Don't you dare¹. I'll go in and drag you out again. What if Michael or your daddy or mom needs you? What if I need you? You didn't like having your daddy go help Michael, did you? You wanted to do it yourself."

"Yes."

She had known a child as strong-willed as Cassie would have that response. "So would I. And how can you do anything while you're in there hiding?"

Silence. "I'll stay awhile. It's kind of…nice to be back with Daddy."

That she was already beginning to cling to her father was promising. Tentative acceptance was probably as much as Melissa could hope for. Jessica would have known how to deal with her at this stage; Melissa could only go by instinct. "I'll come to see you tomorrow morning."

"Now."

"Tomorrow," she repeated firmly.

"But I want to see you. I've seen you only the way you see yourself."

And she wanted to see Cassie awake. "Okay, it may be a while. The doctor's going to have to take care of my leg."

"I'll wait. Will Michael come too?"

Melissa looked down at Travis, who had been given a shot by the doctor who had arrived on the scene after Andreas had left. "Perhaps we'll both go and visit him tomorrow. He got pretty banged up fighting the monster."

"But he's alive?"

"Oh, yes, he's alive." Thank you, God. It was a night for thanksgiving. Thanks for Travis. Thanks for Cassie. "We're pulling into the driveway. I have to go now. I'll see you later."

"You did come," Cassie said. "I told Daddy you would. He said the doctor would put you right to bed."

"He tried." Melissa made her way forward in the wheelchair. "And I can stay only a few minutes."

"Are you hurting?" Cassie frowned. "You are hurting. I can feel it."

"It'll go away. The doctor gave me some medicine to make sure it does." She stopped beside the bed and just sat, looking at Cassie. The girl was thin, but the fragility was gone, banished by the sheer vitality in her expression. "You look…good."

"And you're prettier than you think you are. Almost as pretty as Mama." Her voice cracked on the last word, and she made a face. "I'm all hoarse. I sound like a frog. Daddy said it's because I'm not used to talking anymore."

"That would cause it." She couldn't get enough of looking at the child. So alive. So wonderfully alive. She'd never seen this Cassie except in photographs and TV news. "It should get better in a few days."

"I don't care. It makes Daddy laugh." She smiled. "And then I laugh."

"That's the way it works."

"I forgot." Her smile vanished. "You're still hurting. You go to bed."

"Yes, ma'am." She turned and wheeled toward the door. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Early. Come early, Melissa."

"Stop it. You don't have to talk to me this way anymore."

"It's easier."

"Don't do it anyway."

"But my throat's sore. You wouldn't want me to hurt my throat."

"Not that sore. And people don't understand when you talk like this. It would worry your mama and daddy."

"Well, then I won't do it with anyone but you."

It was clear Cassie was going to get her way regardless of whatever Melissa said. Accept the compromise. "That might work."

"Are you sure Michael is all right?"

She opened the door. "The doctor said he'll be fine."

"I've been worried. I've been trying and trying, but I can't reach him. If I stay out, he has to stay out too. It's not fair otherwise."

"What are you talking about?"

"You tell him. It's not fair…"

"I want out of here "Travis said as soon as Melissa came into his room the next morning. "And what are you doing in that wheelchair? Deschamps did hurt you. I wasn't sure the bastard was lying. I hoped to hell he was."

"Be quiet." She moved close to the bed. "I'm okay. I'm just bound to this blasted chair for a while. Cassie and her father are going to visit you, but I wanted to see you first." A luminous smile lit her face. "She came back last night, Travis."

He stiffened. "My God."

"She was jarred out of the trauma when she thought you were dying."

"How is she?"

"Scared, eager…beautiful." She swallowed hard. "So damn beautiful. I went in to see her last night and again this morning, and she smiled at me. I've never seen her smile."

"Neither have I."

She drew a deep breath. "We have to get you out of here. Right now Andreas is all sweetness and light." She grimaced. "As much as he can be. But once he's sure Cassie's okay, I don't know what he'll do. He's finding forgiving you a little difficult."

"That qualifies as the understatement of the year. I didn't expect forgiveness."

"Well, if we get you away, it may be a case of out of sight, out of mind. He's got Cassie and the Wind Dancer back, and Deschamps is dead. He can't have a pound of your flesh too."

"No?"

"I've called Galen. He's going to come and pick us up within the next half hour."

He frowned. "I don't want Galen involved."

"No one has to know he's anything but a commercial pilot. He's taking us to Nice, and from there we'll go to Juniper."

"You've got it all planned."

"Someone had to do something. Since you got yourself shot up and weren't able to lift your head, much less-"

"Okay. Okay." He started to laugh. "But when Galen sees how banged up we are, I'll never hear the end of it for not taking him. He'll swear it would never have happened if he'd been along."

"Maybe it wouldn't have." She shook her head. "I don't know anything anymore. The only thing I'm certain about is that I have to get you out of here."

"And I'm certain I have to go with you." He paused. "Anywhere. Anytime."

She went still. "What?"

"You heard me. It's amazing the revelations that come to you when you think you're going to die."

"What about staying on the outside looking in?"

"I didn't say it was going to be easy." He smiled. "But I believe it's definitely worth a try." His smile faded. "What do you think?"

She said unevenly, "There's a possibility I might think it's worthwhile. Though you're a very-"

"Michael, I've been waiting to see you." Cassie had burst into the room. "You should have come with-Oh, you are banged up. Melissa said you were, but I-"

"I'm just a little torn around the edges." He smiled. "But you look awesome. Welcome back, Cassie. How do you feel?"

She walked slowly across the room. "I can't walk very far or my legs feel funny." She plopped down on the side of the bed. "Daddy says that's because I haven't used them in so long."

"That's probably true."

"Mama's coming here. Daddy told her to stay in Washington, but she was already on a plane when he talked to her. She said she wasn't going to wait any longer to see me." She giggled. "And Daddy said she'll probably have the only baby ever born on Air Force Two."

"It sounds like everything's good with you."

"Mostly. It's still scary." Her smile widened. "But the Wind Dancer's here. He'll keep me safe. Daddy brought him to me last night. Isn't that wonderful?"

Melissa felt a ripple of shock that Andreas had brought the statue from that scene of death straight to Cassie. No, she guessed it wasn't so bizarre. The Andreas family and the statue had seen centuries of death and joy. If the Wind Dancer could bring Cassie happiness and a new confidence in life here at Vasaro, why shouldn't she have it? "Wonderful, Cassie."

Her smile faded. "But Melissa says you're both going away, Michael. I don't want you to go."

"It's best for us to leave," he said. "We'll always be there for you if you need us."

She frowned. "You promise?"

"I promise." Travis squeezed her hand. "You let me know and I'll come running."

"Most people wait for a formal invitation," Andreas said from the door.

Travis stiffened. "Cassie just issued one. But if you take good care of her, she'll never have a reason to send out an SOS, will she?"

"I'll take good care of her." He crossed the room and picked up Cassie. "I take it you intend to leave here?"

"We have a pilot picking us up in ten minutes "Melissa said quickly." I know you'll be glad to be rid of us with Mrs. Andreas coming."

"There are many ways for me to rid myself of you." He kissed Cassie's cheek. "Where do you intend to go?"

"Juniper."

"What a surprise. Not exactly Travis's cup of tea, is it? He requires a more exciting venue. And it's very close to Washington." His lips thinned. "Maybe a little too close for me."

"We may not stay there," Melissa said. "But I have private business to attend to. Jessica. You'll take care of the release?"

He nodded. "I'll see to it."

"Good." She met his gaze with a boldness she didn't feel. "Then it's decided."

Andreas didn't speak for a moment, staring at Travis. "So it seems. I'll have Danley arrange to bring you downstairs and put you on the helicopter." He started to carry Cassie from the room.

Melissa breathed a profound sigh of relief. She didn't even want to know how close Andreas had been to going the other way.

"Let me down, Daddy." Cassie wriggled out of Andreas's arms, ran back to Melissa and into her arms. "I…love you" she whispered. And then she said fiercely, "Don't you forget me."

Melissa hugged her tightly. "I could never forget you." She swallowed hard. "I'll always be close to you, sweetheart."

Cassie stepped back and nodded emphatically. "You bet you will."

It sounded almost like a threat, Melissa thought with amusement. Cassie's insecurities were rapidly vanishing.

Cassie gave her an impish grin and winked before marching over and taking her father's hand. "I'm hungry. Can we have waffles for breakfast?"

"I believe that could be arranged," her father said as he led her from the room.

Melissa chuckled. "Give Cassie another few months and she'll be running the White House."

"She's not the only bulldozer around here," Travis murmured.

"You and Andreas were both arching like tomcats. Someone had to step between you two and distract him." She wheeled her chair toward the door. "I'll be glad to get back to Juniper and away from all this-"

She stopped as pain rippled through her. "No, I won't. Every inch of the place will remind me of Jessica."

"After the funeral, maybe we'll go away for a while."

"Maybe." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "But Juniper will probably be safer until Karlstadt forgets about you."

"You're protecting me again." He smiled. "I'm handling Karlstadt. I'll send him the money and the disk as soon as we get to Juniper. I've already given him the diamond I gave to Thomas."

"That should satisfy him, right? The only diamonds missing are the ones the CIA confiscated."

He hesitated. "Well, not exactly."

"What?"

"There are three good-sized ones I had to use to negotiate."

"Negotiate with who?"

"Danley."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Danley? What the hell are you talking about?"

" I made a deal with Danley the night he picked me up in Amsterdam. I thought I might need him."

"Danley took a bribe?"

He smiled. "Most people have their price, and those diamonds would have made him a rich man. Though he was very cagey about the amount of help he'd give me. He agreed to help me escape only if I needed it."

"And he actually knew you were going to take Cassie?"

"No, Galen and I took care of that. But after he learned I'd taken Cassie, he damn well knew he'd better make sure I wasn't caught. I'd already told him that if I went down, I'd take him with me. There's no way he wanted to be drawn in as an accomplice."

"So he put stumbling blocks in Andreas's way?"

"What do you think? Galen is good, but the odds were pretty much against us."

"Are you going to tell Andreas about Danley?"

"Hell no, I might need him. You never compromise a source."

She shook her head in amazement. "You're incredible."

"Well, Karlstadt might demand that I get him those diamonds locked in the CIA evidence room. Danley has access."

"And what if Danley decides to sell those three diamonds you gave to him?"

" I'll just drop him a word, tell him what Karlstadt will do to him if the diamonds surface." He smiled. "So stop worrying. Like I said, I'm handling the problem. We don't have to hide at Juniper. We have to think about you."

"I am thinking about me." She opened the door. " I'll see you downstairs."