Final Target(18)

She stiffened. Melissa had said Cassie was in the tunnel. It would have been more reasonable for her to see Cassie in the mental forest where she’d spent those six years. But that wasn’t what she’d said.

She’s a strong little girl. She had no trouble pulling me into the tunnel with her.

A chill went through her. Melissa’s imagination or perhaps . . . ?

She wouldn’t believe anything so outlandish. She had to use reason when dealing with Cassie . . . and Melissa. She didn’t know if Cassie’s frail body could withstand another night like tonight.

Next time, it will be worse. You have to find a way to break the stream.

Jesus.





5

“Karlstadt won’t deal with anyone but you,” van der Beck said as soon as Travis picked up the phone. “He wants to see the merchandise.”

“You showed him the sample?”

“He says a raindrop does not make an ocean.”

“More poetic than I’d expect from Karlstadt.”

“He wants you here.”

“Tell him I respect his wishes, but it’s possible to drown in an ocean and I’m not willing to run the risk until I have an attractive offer.”

“And what do you consider attractive?”

“Twenty-five million has a certain ring.”

Van der Beck snorted. “You’re dreaming, Michael.”

“No, they’ll pay it. It’s cheap for the price. Go for it.” He changed the subject. “Have you made contact with anyone who has information about the attack on Vasaro?”

“I’m going to pay a visit to Henri Claron in Lyon. I’ve heard he may know something. But he’s being very quiet, and you know Henri is seldom quiet.”

“On the contrary.”

“And I’ve uncovered an interesting fact. Henri’s wife, Danielle, grew up in the same village as Jeanne Beaujolis, Cassie Andreas’s nanny.”

“That is interesting.”

“But, as I said, Henri’s not being very forthcoming.”

“Scared?”

“I’ve offered a considerable amount of money. It would take something big to scare him away from a payday that substantial. I’ll let you know.” He hung up.

Dammit. Travis slipped his phone back in his pocket and strode restlessly over to the window. Not exactly the progress for which he’d been hoping. He’d been here over a week and he was still at square one.

Well, square one was better than being in a wooden box six feet under. He was just not accustomed to being cooped up. There were only so many hours he could spend on the computer or reading. The only book he’d found really absorbing was the one by Jessica Riley. It was intriguing to delve into the past and minds of Jessica Riley and her sister, Melissa. It made the glimpses he caught of them on the property even more interesting. He felt as if he’d gotten to know them with an intimacy with which he knew few people. Most people didn’t open their minds and their feelings to even their closest friends, but Jessica had written with a clarity that was poignantly touching. Her story of her fight to help her sister through trauma when their parents had burned to death before the child’s eyes had no trace of ego, only boundless affection in every word.

Through the rain he could see that the lights in the upstairs bedroom were on again at the big house. That was the third night this week. It seemed Cassie was not doing well. Poor kid.

And poor Jessica Riley. If he could read between the lines of her book, she was probably suffering almost as much as her patient.

None of his business. How many times had he told himself that since he’d arrived at Juniper? From sheer boredom he was being drawn into speculation, and speculation was seldom enough for him. He liked to be in control. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be abandoning his nice, safe position as observer and diving in and trying to sort out the situation. It was clear he needed to get back to his own life and forget about Cassie Andreas and the people around her.

Cassie screamed again.

“Baby, no.” Jessica rocked her back and forth. “Please. Wake up. You can’t go on like—”

Cassie’s mouth stretched wide and she screamed. Over and over.

Pulse rapid. Skin clammy.

“Hypodermic?” Teresa asked.

“I gave her a shot during the last episode, and it hardly fazed her. If I give her too much now, it could kill her.”

But what would work? she wondered frantically. This fit had been going on for over twenty minutes. It was Cassie’s worst attack yet, and she couldn’t let the child—

“Take care of her,” she told Teresa. She jumped to her feet and ran out of the room, past Cassie’s guard and down the hall. She threw open Melissa’s door. “Cassie’s bad. I don’t know what you can do, but if there’s a chance to—”