“Then why can’t they tell you where the girl is?”
“The CIA and the Secret Service seldom confide in each other.”
“Find them.”
“Whatever you say. As you know, I’ve been concentrating on finding Cassie Andreas only since you told me that’s what you wanted me to do.”
“I wanted you to do what was needed. Get the child. Find Travis.”
A pause. “And kill him?”
“No. I want to do it myself. Besides, he’s going to prove more valuable alive for a while.” He hung up.
Travis and Andreas. Travis was not being held against his will. What in hell was happening? Since he had been here, he had stumbled on intriguing and profitable possibilities he hadn’t expected. But now the picture was becoming more puzzling.
Also more promising?
He’d always believed a clever man was one who let others win the prize and then plucked it from their grasp. Travis was moving, manipulating, and obviously shifting into high gear with Andreas. . . .
A gift for me, Travis?
7
“Get up here,” Jessica said when Travis picked up the phone two nights later. “Now.”
“I’ll be right there.”
She was waiting on the porch when Travis arrived a short time later. “How long has it been going on?” he asked.
“Fifteen minutes.”
“Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
“I wanted to give her a chance to come out of it by herself.”
He followed her into the house. “And eliminate the need for my services.”
“Of course.”
“I understand. But that fifteen-minute delay might not be healthy for Cassie.”
“And are you healthy for her?”
“I’m the best game in town.” They climbed the stairs, and Travis nodded at Fike as they reached Cassie’s room. “Good evening. Same drill?”
“Sorry.”
“I didn’t expect anything else.” He leaned against the wall while Fike searched him. “At this rate, we’re going to become very intimate friends.” He opened the door. “Has she been screaming like that since it started?”
Fike nodded. “Poor kid. I’ve never heard anything like this before. Sometimes she scares me to death.”
“Stop talking and go help her, Travis,” Jessica said curtly. “If you can.”
Travis sat down on the bed. “I’ll do my best.” He gathered Cassie’s hands in his. “Listen to me, Cassie. It’s Michael. I’m here and nothing’s going to harm you. You don’t have to run away.”
Cassie screamed.
“I stopped them before. I can do it again. Just let me help you and we’ll find a way. . . .”
Thank God.
Michael was there in the darkness of the tunnel. Melissa couldn’t see him, but she could feel him. Which meant Cassie could feel him too.
Or maybe she could see him. Melissa was so frightened, she couldn’t tell.
The monsters. Sweet Jesus, the monsters. They were going to catch us and blow our heads to bits.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Find it.
Run.
Find it before they got close enough to—
Run.
It hurt to breathe. Their hearts were going to burst.
No, slow down.
Michael was here. The monsters couldn’t touch them as long as he stood between.
What was he saying?
It didn’t matter.
He was here.
Cassie’s grip on Melissa was loosening. She was floating free. . . .
She could feel Cassie’s desperation. “Come back. Miss you,” the little girl told her.
The call was as alluring as a siren’s song. Don’t yield. Stay clear.
“You’re part of me,” Cassie said.
“No.”
“Lonely.”
“Then come back with me.”
She felt Cassie’s ripple of fear. “Bad.”
“Not anymore.”
“Lonely. Safe now. No monsters. Together we’ll find it. Come back.”
Melissa was lonely too. Why not stay and let herself be— She was drifting closer to Cassie. She made a tremendous effort and jerked herself free. “No, I’m going away. Good-bye, Cassie.”
“Lonely . . .”
“Melissa.”
She opened her eyes to see Jessica’s face above her. She was so tired, she could barely speak. “Hi. It’s . . . okay, isn’t it?”
Jessica nodded. “Cassie’s sleeping?”
“Not yet. But she will be soon. The nightmare’s over.” She reached out and took Jessica’s hand. “Don’t look so worried. We’re both fine. Where’s Travis?”
“Outside in the hall.” She paused. “He . . . helped?”
“I know you’d like me to say no, but we couldn’t have made it without him.” Her eyes closed. “And you didn’t have to leave him out in the hall. He . . . knows about me.”