Final Target (4 page)

"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."

Chapter Three

Paris

"You haven't found him yet?" Edward Deschamps asked. "It's been almost eight months. What kind of fool are you, Provlif?"

Provlif's hand tightened on the receiver. He wished it were Deschamps's throat. Patience. The money had been good so far, and no one knew better than he did how deadly Deschamps could be if crossed. "I have a strong lead. He has a connection in Amsterdam. A Jan van der Beck."

"Why didn't you say so?"

"You wanted concrete information. I had to dig very deep to find Jan van der Beck. They used to be partners, but Travis has been on his own for years."

"And what have you found out about Cassie Andreas?"

Silence.

"Nothing?"

"Naturally, we've been concentrating on Travis."

"Dammit, I told you, I need to know where she is."

"You can't be thinking of a second attempt on her? It would be crazy."

"That's none of your concern, Provlif. Your job is to find her."

"It's not as if she's an ordinary kid. The President put a security blanket around everything connected with her. We finally managed to trace her to a clinic in Connecticut, but the President took her from there over a month ago. We're still trying to find out who's treating her now and where she-"

"Where she was a month ago is no help to me. I need to know where she is now."

"I have three men working on it."

"Then hire more."

"I'll need additional cash." He had to walk very carefully, Provlif thought. Deschamps was one of the most coldly brilliant men he'd ever met, but that didn't mean he was always in control. He'd seen him explode on more than one occasion. And the word was out that since he'd become obsessed with finding Travis, Deschamps had become even more volatile.

"You'll get your money," Deschamps said softly.

"I'm leaving at once for Amsterdam."

"No. Get on a plane to Washington and find Cassie Andreas. I'll go to Amsterdam myself and follow up on Jan van der Beck."

"But he may be difficult to-"

"Provlif, you may remember that when I first started in the business, I became very well known for finding people."

Oh, yes, Provlif remembered. Finding them and then ridding the world of them. "I meant no disrespect, Edward."

"Then get on a plane and find that kid."

Lousy son of a bitch.

Deschamps hung up and strode toward the closet. He tossed a suitcase on the bed and began throwing clothes into it.

Prick. The nerve of Provlif to bother him about money. Did he have so little vision?

In spite of Provlif's doubts, the plan was sound and it would still work. But he had to have Cassie Andreas. She was paramount in the scheme of things.

Just as Jan van der Beck was the key to finding Michael Travis.

He slammed the suitcase shut and fastened it. In an hour he'd be on a flight to Amsterdam.

No, wait. First he would go to the room.

Then he would be ready for Amsterdam.

"I want to come home to see you," Melissa said as soon as Jessica picked up the phone the next afternoon. "Is that okay?"

"I thought you were studying for finals."

" I can study at home."

"You always told me that you studied better at your apartment. By the way, how are your roommates?"

"Fine. I decided I wanted a little more privacy, so I moved into an efficiency."

"But I thought you loved living with Wendy and Karen."

"I did. I still see them every day. I guess I'm going through growing pains." She paused. "I want to come home."

"Something's wrong."

"Just because I want to see you? You're my sister, for God's sake. I do like to see that baby face of yours every now and then."

"What's wrong?"

"Can I come or not?"

"I've told you what's going on here. If you come, you won't be able to do anything but study. And I've given Cassie your room."

"That's okay. I'll take the blue room even though it's a disgustingly boring color. Maybe in my spare time I'll paint it orange."

"Don't you dare."

"Just kidding."

"When will you be here?"

" I can't get away before the weekend. That's four days-enough time to get me security clearance with those Secret Service men all over the place." She paused. "They're still there, aren't they?"

Jessica stiffened. "Of course they are."

"That's good."

"You won't think so when they start following you all around the grounds."

"I can live with it. See you Saturday morning."

"Mellie."

"I've got to go now."

"What is it?"

" I just miss you."

Jessica moistened her lips. "Is it the dreams?"

"I'll see you Saturday." She hung up.

Jessica slowly put down the receiver. It was probably okay. Mellie was completely cured now. There was no danger of her falling back.

So stop panicking. Besides, if something was wrong, she could handle it.

Unless it was the dreams.

How the hell would she handle the dreams?

Justice Department

Michael Travis was sitting on the leather couch reading when Andreas walked into the office. "These law books are very dry fare," Travis said. "It's no wonder most lawyers leave something to be desired. Their minds must have atrophied in school."

Andreas crossed to the desk and sat down in the executive chair. "Have a good flight, Travis?"

"Excellent. Thank you." He smiled. "Better than the Concorde. How much did it cost the taxpayers?"

"Not a dime. I made sure the expenses came out of my pocket."

"Very ethical. But only what I'd expect from you.

You're one of those rare, old-fashioned phenomena, a man of honor. But you really could have charged it to the government. Your life is valuable not only to yourself and your family, it's essential to the smooth running of the country."

"I'm fully aware of that. But I didn't have to send
Air Force One
for you. I could have had Danley bring you by regular means."

"But you didn't want to piss me off even though the demand was unreasonable. You didn't want to start negotiations on the wrong foot."

"Negotiations?" Andreas shook his head. "I don't have to negotiate with you. I can have you charged with accessory to assassinating the President and stick you in prison."

"But you won't do it. As I said, you're an honorable man. You wouldn't punish the man who saved your daughter."

"I would if I thought there was a chance you might be a threat to her in the future. How did you know about the attack?"