“I don’t know. She has . . . responses.”
“But not when she’s awake.”
Travis shook his head. “Jessica seemed to sense a response. Like I said, it’s a long shot. But maybe it’s just as well that Melissa’s going to be absorbed with Cassie. It will be safer than having to chase after her while she scours Europe for Deschamps.”
“And leaves you free to make a deal with Karlstadt.”
“Yes.” He paused. “But it will also give you time to track down another missing piece of the puzzle for me.”
“And what is that?”
“Henri Claron’s widow, Danielle. She disappeared the night of Claron’s death. She grew up in the same village as Cassie’s nanny, and she may have known more about Deschamps than just his identity. If we have her, we may not need Andreas or anyone else.”
“You believe she’s still alive?”
Travis shrugged. “It’s a chance. Since her body’s not been found, she may have gotten lucky.”
“And we may get lucky.” Galen turned away. “I’m on it.”
“Cassie?” Melissa whispered as she gazed down at the child. “I know you’re not sleeping. Answer me.”
No response.
Melissa hadn’t expected it, but she had felt obliged to try Jessica’s method. Jessica had been the voice summoning from the ramparts. Melissa had been the guerrilla behind the lines. Cassie had become accustomed to dealing with both of them.
But now there was no Jessica with her gentle voice and persuasive words, and Melissa had to take her place.
Good God, how was she going to do it? It was impossible. She was as different from Jessica as night and day. She wasn’t even sure that Jessica’s soft approach was the right way to bring Cassie back. The child was strong, perhaps stronger than Melissa had been at that age. She had willed herself away from the world, and persuasion wasn’t working. Perhaps if they had the time . . .
They didn’t have the time. Melissa had to follow her own instincts, and they were not leading her down an easy path.
Poor Cassie.
“I’ll be back. You can play possum while I’m taking my shower and brushing my teeth.” She moved toward the bathroom. “Then we’re going to talk, Cassie.”
It took Melissa two hours to break through the barriers Cassie had erected against her.
“It’s about time you stopped hiding from me,” Melissa said. “And why did you go deeper? It was almost too dark for me to find you.”
“I didn’t want you to find me.”
Not good. “Why not?”
“You’re . . . different now. You make me feel funny.”
“I am different. That doesn’t mean that I’m not your friend. People change.”
“Not in here.” She paused. “Why did you change?”
“My best friend was taken away from me.”
“That wouldn’t have happened here.”
“Yes, it would. It happened because you were here.” She added deliberately, “So it’s partly your fault, Cassie.”
“No, I didn’t do anything.”
“You hide away and close your eyes.”
“I’m afraid.”
“We’re all afraid. You have to fight what you’re afraid of . . . or people get taken away.”
Silence.
“Jessica was your best friend, wasn’t she? She’s . . . gone?”
“Yes.”
“I thought so. I’ve been missing her.”
“So have I.”
“The monsters took her?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not to blame.” A pause. “Am I?”
“We didn’t fight them hard enough.”
“They’re too strong.”
“They’re not too strong. They’ll fade away if you face them.”
“Won’t do it. Blow me apart like they did Jeanne.”
“I’ll be there to keep that from happening.”
“Won’t do it.” Withdrawal. “Going away . . .”
“I’ll follow you. I’ll find you and bring you back. I can do it now whether you’re awake or asleep.”
“Why are you being so mean to me?”
“You have to come back. It’s what Jessica wanted most in the world. She wanted you back in the world and not afraid any longer.”
“Have to be afraid. The monsters . . .”
What could she say to that? Melissa thought wearily. No one knew better than she did that there were real monsters waiting for Cassie. “You’re more afraid now than you will be if you face them. I promise we’ll fight them together. I’m your friend, Cassie.”
“I thought Jeanne was my friend.” Betrayal. Distrust. Hostility.