Final Target

Chapter Two

Amsterdam

Was he being followed?

Travis's heart jumped as he saw the shadowy figure in the darkness behind him.

He cut down Kerkstraat to Leidsestraat, went through an alley, and then ran two blocks north. His breath was labored as he ducked into an alcove and waited.

No one.

He moved quickly down the street. Ten minutes later he was climbing the steps to his flat. He checked the door for booby traps, then flung it open.

Darkness.

He always left the lights on. He whirled and tore down the stairs.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" Sean Galen was leaning over the banister. "You'd think you didn't want to see me."

"You turned the lights off, damn you." Travis started back up.

"I was resting my eyes. I've had a long day." He grinned. "Besides, I wanted to see how sharp you were. You're a little on edge."

"A little." He followed Galen into the flat and closed the door. "What are you doing in Amsterdam? I thought you were going back to California."

" I was about to take off from Paris when I happened on a bit of information. Since you've been on the fly and incommunicado since Vasaro, it took almost a week to locate you." His smile faded. "You have blood on your temple."

"Do I?" He went into the bathroom and washed his face. "Just a scrape."

"Maybe made by a bullet whistling a little too close?"

He didn't answer as he dabbed at his face with the towel. "How did you find me?"

"Don't worry, no one else knows about this place here…yet. I wouldn't have been able to trace you if not for your old friend van der Beck. My God, what have you gotten yourself into, Michael?"

"Something immensely profitable, but it takes careful handling."

" I hear both the Russians and South Africans are after you."

"True. But there's always a chance they'll trip over each other trying to get to me."

" I wouldn't count on it. You take too many risks."

"The pot calling the kettle black. Is that what you came to tell me?"

"I came to tell you the CIA has traced you to Amsterdam."

Travis stiffened. "Oh, have they?"

"I told you to leave the kid and get out of Vasaro before Andreas got there."

"That wasn't an option."

"Any more than it was an option not to go to Vasaro."

"You never know when you need a favor from the President."

"Bull. You knew it would be trouble."

"You came along."

"I owed you. I still owe you. You had the good taste to save my neck that time in Rome and I value my life highly. But I didn't hobnob with Andreas. We were lucky to get you out. The place was crawling with Secret Service and French police, and none of them were pleased that they'd screwed up on the job."

" But you did get me out."

"And then you ran straight to Moscow and into the lion's mouth."

Travis smiled. "But he has such bright, sparkling teeth."

" I think you have a death wish."

"No, I have a life wish, the life I want, exactly the way I want it." He added, "It's going to be a beautiful bonanza, Galen. I wouldn't mind sharing it with you."

Galen raised his brows. "And what do I have to do?"

"Nothing that you haven't already done. Van der Beck is taking care of the negotiations. I'd just like you along on the gravy train. You've always been a good friend to me."

"Damn straight I have." He shook his head. "I don't want to profit from just sitting on my ass, and I don't get a thrill out of walking tightropes anymore."

"Neither do I."

"The hell you don't. You don't know any other life."

"I intend to learn."

Galen shrugged. "Then get out of Amsterdam."

"My thought exactly."

"Do you need any help? I could make arrangements."

It might not be a bad idea. Besides his main occupation of troubleshooting, no one was better than Galen at slipping in and out of difficult situations. Travis thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

"Suit yourself. Anything else?"

"Yes. Who's heading the CIA team?"

"Big stuff. Ben Danley."

"What do you know about him?"

"Not much. Why?"

"Just looking for a way out."

"Try the nearest airport." Galen's gaze narrowed. "I can see the wheels turning. What are you up to?"

"Do me a favor. Send the CIA here."

"What?"

"Make sure the CIA finds out where I am. I don't have much time. I want them bursting in here within the next few hours."

"What are you up to?"

"I was wondering how I could get out of Amsterdam. Isn't it lucky Andreas wants me in Washington?"

"Or he may want you dead."

Travis shook his head. "I don't think so. I would have heard if there was a sanction. Give me two hours to make some preparations and check out a few things and then send them to pick me up."

"I can't talk you out of it?"

"It's the best way."

"Whatever." Galen turned but stopped at the door. "How did you find out about that attack on Vasaro?"

"I have my sources."

"Damn good ones. I didn't hear a murmur about it."

"You think I knew about it because I was part of the plot?"

"It occurred to me."

"A very logical supposition to a man of your cynical nature. But then why should I go to the trouble of a double cross?"

"How do I know? I've never met anyone capable of more convoluted machinations." He waited. "You're not going to tell me."

"I don't usually use kids in my plans."

"But you're not saying you didn't this time." He opened the door. "It was a pretty foul game at Vasaro. I wouldn't like to think you'd drawn me into something that dirty. Tell me who your source was."

"You know me. We've been friends for seven years. If that's not good enough, you'll have to think what you like."

Galen swore softly. "Damn you. Give me something."

"I don't make excuses or explanations. You take me as I am or not at all."

"I'm supposed to trust you blindly?"

Travis didn't answer.

Galen sighed. "You're a tough friend to have, Michael. I don't think you were in on the setup at Vasaro, but the CIA may have a different view. I hope you know what you're doing."

He hoped he did too, Travis thought as the door closed behind Galen. The situation here was very dicey, and he didn't know how long he could stay on the run. He needed a safe haven while he negotiated a way to stay alive and get out with all the marbles in the game.

And keep the marbles from falling into the hands of the CIA. He'd have to do some fast talking and even faster manipulating to place himself in a position to bargain with Andreas.

So what was new? It was what he'd been doing all his life. Deception, manipulation, sleight of hand, and balancing on the tightrope Galen said he wanted nothing to do with any longer. He wasn't sure he wanted it either. God, he was tired.

Snap out of it. The adrenaline would come back in a rush when the CIA came through that door. Think of the challenge. It wasn't every day a man got to match wits with the leader of the free world.

Juniper

The nurse who opened the door was middle-aged, her red hair peppered with gray. "Dr. Riley is with your daughter, Mr. President. I'm afraid she's having a bad night."

"How bad?"

"Just a nightmare."

He knew about the nightmares and the almost catatonic withdrawal that followed. "I'll go to her right away, Teresa. Will you have some coffee made for my driver and the Secret Service men in the other car?"

"It's already made. Shall I bring some up to you?"

"Thank you." He was climbing the oak steps to the second floor. The house breathed of ages past and the same genteel warmth his own house in Charleston possessed. If Cassie came back, this place might remind her of all the weekends she had spent there.

If? She would come back. He couldn't tolerate anything else.

He threw open the door to Cassie's room without knocking. "How is she?"

Jessica Riley looked up. "She's fine. She had a bad time, but it's over now and she's resting. Isn't that right, Cassie?"

He strode over to the bed. "God, she looks-"

"She's resting," Jessica interrupted, standing up. "And I think we'll leave her to rest while we get a cup of coffee." She turned to the little girl. "We'll be right back, Cassie."

"I don't want to-"

"We're going to get a cup of coffee." Jessica's voice was steely with determination. "Now."

He met her gaze, then turned on his heel and followed her from the room. "Well?"

"I've gone over this before. She's not deaf and she's not in a coma, so you will not act as if she is."

"She lies there like a dead person. She won't speak or respond and you say she's-"

" If you accept her the way she is, it will only encourage her. I won't let you make my job harder by-"

"Won't let me? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Your daughter's doctor. Who the hell do you think you are?" She paused and then her lips curved in a faint smile. "The President of the United States?"

His anger suddenly left him. "So I'm told, but evidently that doesn't impress you."

"It impresses me. You've been a good president. But that doesn't mean you know more than I do about your daughter's condition. If you want me to treat her, I have to be the boss."

He stared thoughtfully at her. She was quite small and her short, curly blond hair and luminous complexion made her look much younger than her thirty-two years. But there was intelligence in those brown eyes and an incisive boldness in her manner that definitely was not childlike. "I'm not accustomed to taking a backseat, Dr. Riley."

She smiled, the aggressiveness gone." I know. It's very difficult for you. But you've got to accept it."

"How do I know you're right? How do you know you're right?"

"I don't. We can study, guess, and second-guess, but the mind is still a mystery to us. But I've been through this many times before and I have a better chance than you of hitting on the answer."

"You think she's fully aware?"

She nodded. "More than aware. I've found in cases like this the senses become terribly acute. It's as if rejecting the outside world and turning inward releases some power that's usually inhibited."

"The other doctors never mentioned anything like that."

"I can only tell you what I've experienced."

"With your sister?"

"With Mellie and others." She rubbed her temple. "You knew I was a bit of a maverick when you hired me. I can only do my best based on what I've learned. If that's not good enough, then fire me. But don't try to take control. Conflict might send Cassie deeper and further away from us."

He didn't speak for a moment, then said gruffly, "I…didn't mean to go against your instructions in there. You have no idea how different she is now. I've never known a stronger child than my Cassie. She's the last kid anyone would pick to go under like this. There was nothing fragile about her. She was always such a fighter. When I saw her all curled up like a-I felt so damn angry that I-"

"I know." She added deliberately, "And you don't really trust me."

"I don't trust anyone when it comes to Cassie. I'm her father and I should be the one to help her, not some-"

"Shrink?" She nodded. "I agree. But sometimes it doesn't work like that. Sometimes they totally reject familiarity. So the shrink has to take over. Now, are we going to work together, or do you want to find someone else?"

"It sounds more like you're opting for sole guardianship."

"No. Just don't put barriers in my way."

"And do as you say."

"Right."

He thought about it. "Okay. We'll see how you do as commander in chief."

"And if I don't measure up, you'll fire me in a heartbeat?"

"Exactly. Now, if there's nothing else, I'll go sit with my daughter."

"There's something else. I need more information."

"What kind?"

"About Vasaro."

"We've told you what happened."

"Before the attack, did your daughter like Vasaro?"

"She loved it. Who wouldn't? Vasaro grows flowers for the perfume trade, and what kid doesn't Like farm life? Acres of lavender and lilies and far away from the strictures of D.C."

"She'd spent time there before?"

Andreas nodded. "Often. Caitlin Vasaro is her godmother and they're very close. She lets Cassie work in the fields and pick the flowers for the perfume." His lips tightened. "It's damnable Cassie will never be able to go back now."

"Why?"

"If you could have seen her that night, you'd know why. She was covered with blood and gore. The trauma made her what she is now. If we get her back-when we get her back-there's no way I'd ever let her go to Vasaro again."

"I see."

His gaze narrowed on her face. "Why did you want to know about the place?"

"As you said, that night made her what she is, and it happened at Vasaro. I need to know everything I can about both. You were there because you were lending the statue to Caitlin Vasaro to publicize her new perfume?"

"I was actually lending the Wind Dancer to the Museum d'Andreas for a few months. That's why my wife and I were in Paris that night. We thought the publicity surrounding the loan would remind everyone of Caitlin's first perfume, which she named after the Wind Dancer."

"The Wind Dancer wasn't at Vasaro?"

"No, it had been couriered to the museum." He made a face. "Cassie was so disappointed, we had to set up the hologram Caitlin bought years ago. It's truly remarkable and it satisfied Cassie. Why are you so curious about the statue?"

"I went through the family album you sent me and pulled a few pictures to test Cassie's reactions. I think she had a response to the photo of her with the Wind Dancer in the library at your house in Charleston."

He stiffened. "What kind of response? What did she do?"

"Nothing physical. Nothing I can put my finger on."

His eagerness vanished. "Then how do you know she had any response?"

"It's just…a feeling."

"You think she was afraid?"

"I'm not sure. Was she afraid of the statue?"

"Not before that night. The Wind Dancer has belonged to my family since the thirteenth century. She grew up with the statue and was never happier than when she was allowed to play in the same room with it."

"It must have seemed magical to her. A golden Pegasus is the stuff a child's dreams are made of. Just the image of a horse flying through the clouds…"

"She used to make up stories about it."

"What kind of stories?"

"Oh, adventures. Her own fairy tales about flying away with the Pegasus and rescuing princes from dragons and such."

"She must have a wonderful imagination."

"Marvelous. She was very bright."

"She is very bright."

"Of course, that's what I meant." He opened the door. "I'll try anything you want me to until I decide it's not working. How do you want me to treat her?"

"Talk to her. Ask her questions. Show her you love her."

"You said that she rejects familiarity."

"It never hurts anyone to know that love is waiting. But don't show her you're upset when she doesn't respond. It will only cause her to draw away."

"That's a big order."

"You're a big man." She paused. "I'll bring you a cup of coffee. How long can you stay?"

"Two hours." He sat down in the chair by Cassie's bed and felt his heart twist as he looked at her. Come back to me, sweetheart. "1 have to be back at the White House by seven." He took Cassie's hand and his voice lowered. "But that's long enough to tell you all about what's happening, Cassie. I miss you. Your sister, Marisa, called from Santiago and told me to remind you that you'd promised to go down and help her train the new baby dolphin. She can't wait to show you what they're doing now. Your mama sends her love. You know she'd be here if the doctor hadn't ordered her to stay in bed. Do you remember that you're going to have a new little brother next month? He's proving a little rambunctious and the doctor doesn't want him coming into the world too soon. He's a strong little guy and wants to establish his place in the family. He reminds me of you and the way-" He had to stop a moment to even his voice. "Your mama says she really needs you. She wants to talk to you about names for your brother. So you just think about it and maybe you'll have a suggestion when you come back. We had some acrobats from the Cirque du Soleil two nights ago. Remember when we took you to see…"

Jessica felt her throat tighten as she stood watching Andreas from the doorway. Dear heaven, how he loved his child!

She had made progress with him tonight, but she knew he had a long way to go before he would trust her entirely. Who could blame him? She would feel the same if Cassie were her own daughter. But, in a way, Cassie was her child. They were all her children until they came back and she had to give them up. They heard her voice, and if she was lucky, there came a time when she could coax them back.

But sometimes persuasion didn't work. Sometimes it was necessary to insert a different element to help the process along. It was a hurdle she didn't want to face when she'd barely managed to earn a tentative trust from Andreas.

She could imagine the explosion if she told him she might have to take Cassie back to Vasaro.

"We've got him, sir," Danley said. "We found him in a flat on the Amstel River."

"You didn't hurt him?"

"You gave us our orders. He was actually pretty tame. He didn't give us any trouble."

Tame wasn't the word he'd use for the man he'd met at Vasaro, Andreas thought. Michael Travis had been quiet and respectful but also exuded wariness. Andreas had gathered the impression Travis was a force to be reckoned with. "How unusual."

"He knew he was outnumbered. You want me to take him to Langley?"

"No, the Justice Department. I don't want anyone to know anything about him. I'll use the tunnel from the White House at midnight tomorrow. Have him there."

"Yes, Mr. President." A pause. "He asked us to give you a message. He said if you want his cooperation, he expects cooperation in return."

"What kind of cooperation?"

"He wants you to send Air Force One for him," Danley said. "The son of a bitch doesn't seem to realize he's the one behind the eight ball."

Air Force One. Why would Travis want that concession? Arrogance? To establish a position of strength? He'd judged the man to be too smart to let conceit or arrogance guide his actions, and his message gave promise he wasn't averse to working with him. Let him have his little power play. It might make him feel more secure. "Where is the plane?"

"D.C. and ready to go."

"Then tell the pilot to pick up Travis and bring him here."

"It's not necessary, sir. With all due respect, you shouldn't give in to that bastard."

" ‘That bastard' saved my daughter's life. We're not sure he had any other involvement. Send the plane."