Final Target(93)
“ Where is Travis supposed to meet you?”
He shook his head. “ No interference.”
“ You’re not going to meet him, are you?”
“ I wasn’t supposed to. It was always a trap for Deschamps. Travis promised he’d leave the Wind Dancer after he got rid of Deschamps for me.”
“ Leave it where?”
Andreas smiled. “ You are persistent.”
“Are you going to let Travis escape after he kills Deschamps?”
“ We didn’t discuss it. I believe he knows he’s on his own after I get what’s mine. He’s a clever man. He might be able to get away.”
“ But you’ll pounce after he leaves Vasaro.”
“ Naturally, I have to have sufficient security to make sure Deschamps doesn’t escape if he kills Travis.”
Travis falling, dying . . .
The vision filled her with panic. Keep calm. “ But you don’t intend to be around if Travis needs any help.” She moistened her lips. “ For God’s sake, you have an army here at the house. You could send someone to see that Deschamps doesn’t hurt Travis.”
“ But that might tip off Deschamps. He might get away.”
“ You’d still have your statue.”
He smiled. “ I want it all.”
It was what she had been afraid of. “ You want Travis to be killed. You regard this as personal business and you don’t want to order Danley or one of his men to do it. Because that would compromise your ethics as president. But you’re hoping he’ll die.”
His smile faded. “He took my daughter. He risked her life. For days she was exposed not only to Deschamps but also to any other nut who has a grudge against me. He put my wife through hell. She could have lost the child she’s carrying. I believe justice would be served if Deschamps and Travis killed each other. Now, is that all? I have to get back to work.”
It was hopeless but she had to try. “ Please. Send Danley or someone to save him.”
“ Let him save himself. He may get lucky.”
“He’ll die.”
“Good day, Ms. Riley.”
She drew a deep breath. “Okay, just tell me where he is so I can go help him myself.”
“ No interference.”
“Don’t tell me that. I’m not asking much.” She rubbed her forehead. “ It’s got to happen tonight because you told me you were going to hold me for only forty-eight hours. You wouldn’t have him anywhere close to Cassie, so he has to be far out on the grounds. He’s in some kind of house, isn’t he?”
He lifted a brow. “Good guess. Would you care to go for animal, vegetable, or mineral?”
“ I’ll find him myself.”
“ You’re in my custody. You leave this area and you’ll be shot.”
“ I don’t think so. You’re an honorable man and you know I helped Cassie. The only way you’ll stop me is if you kill me.” Her lips twisted. “ Though maybe you’ll get a bonus and Deschamps will take care of me too.”
“Vasaro is a large property. You’ll never find Travis.”
“ I’ll find him. You just tell Danley not to use me as target practice. Will you have him give me a gun?”
“ You’re really pushing the envelope.”
“ I have to.” She tried to keep the desperation from her voice but didn’t succeed. “ Travis doesn’t deserve this. Yes, he did something he shouldn’t have done, but he’s a good man. You’re making a mistake.”
He shook his head.
“And you’ll regret it.”
“ In my position I have to make many decisions I regret.”
“ But this doesn’t have to be one of them. He saved Cassie once. Doesn’t that have any weight at all?” She wasn’t getting through to him, she realized in despair. “Cassie thinks of Travis as her friend. Are you going to be able to tell her later what you did to him?”
He didn’t answer directly. “ It’s clear you have an attachment to Travis, but you’d be wise to have second thoughts. I’ve no desire for you to be hurt. Stay out of it, Ms. Riley.”
“ The hell I will.” She turned and strode past Danley down the hall. She had to stop shaking. After all, she hadn’t had much hope that she could persuade Andreas to help. If it had been her child in jeopardy, she would probably have been just as bitter.
She was lying to herself. She had hoped for a miracle. Well, the miracle hadn’t happened and she was on her own. She threw open the door of the library. She couldn’t run around Vasaro searching blindly. There must be a map of the property somewhere that showed where all the outbuildings were located.