Iris Johansen - Final Target

"No, you wouldn't. You just like to talk tough. You'd have done the same thing."

"Good God, you mean I'd have turned into Saint Melissa?" She shook her head. "Nah, it doesn't have the same ring."

"Well, you've decided to study medicine. That's not exactly the most selfish career you could have picked."

"You think I'm following in your footsteps?"

"I think you're more generous and caring than you admit."

"Did it ever occur to you that I want to go to med school because I'm looking for answers?"

"That's why we all study."

"No, I want my answers. I want to know why I resigned from the world for six years." She looked down into her glass. "And I want to know about Donny Benjamin."

"Mellie, you were in a highly charged state and your imagination was working overtime."

"And you don't want to think your little sister is wacko."

"You're not wacko. If you'd actually thought you'd developed some sort of psychic power, you'd have enrolled in classes in psychic research."

"Oh, I've read enough books on ESP to fill a library. But I didn't want to find answers there. Believe me, I'd much rather discover some simple physical reason for what's happening to me."

"You're right. Donny Benjamin was an isolated incident and perfectly explainable."

"And Cassie?"

"The same explanation. I discussed both cases with you and you're highly sensitive to suggestion in that area."

"In the area of never-never land?"

"Whatever you want to call it. It's still perfectly reasonable that you-"

"Stop." Melissa was laughing. "The one thing I've come to realize is that what happened to me has nothing to do with reason. It's wonderful of you to make excuses to keep me out of the nuthouse, but I am what I am."

"And that is?"

"A freak." She held up a hand to stop Jessica's protests. "A nice freak, an intelligent and charismatic freak. But definitely a freak. And stop looking at me as if you want to put me to bed and soothe my fevered brow. I know you wrote this terrific book about me and the way we fought back to normalcy, but you screwed up on one point. I'm not normal."

"You most certainly are."

"I don't even know what that is. Not many people I know are completely normal. You're not normal, you're Saint Jessica." She stood up. "I'm going to bed. I've worried you enough for one night."

"Yes, you have."

"But you're already trying to find a solution. Or should I say cure?"

"Why haven't you talked to me like this before? Why tonight?"

"I was going to slide out of it again because I love you and I want you to respect me. But I was thinking about Cassie as I was sitting here. I may be selfish, but I can't hide what I am if it means Cassie dying." She soberly met her sister's gaze. "Next time, it will be worse. You have to find a way to break the stream. Find a way to enter something new into the mix. Anything to jar her out of the dream."

"How the hell can I-"

"I don't know. You're the shrink." She headed for the front door. "Just do it."

"Mellie."

She looked over her shoulder.

"Is that why you came home? Were you having dreams about Cassie?"

"No." She looked away as she opened the door. "I had no dreams about-with Cassie before tonight."

"You should have stayed away longer,"Teresa said when Jessica walked into the room. "You needed it."

"How is she?"

"No different." Teresa stood up. "I'm going to go down and have a cup of coffee and then I'm coming back and sending you to bed. You're beginning to look like one of your own patients."

"I'm okay." It was a lie. She was definitely not okay. She was exhausted and so scared, she felt sick to her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was more frightened for Cassie or Melissa. The child was lost, but her sister, who she'd thought was whole again, might be spiraling downward.

Yet Melissa had been perfectly coherent. But how many patients had Jessica treated who'd seemed absolutely sane except when in the middle of an episode?

Melissa was sane. She was just…

What?

She leaned back in the chair with a sigh. She didn't need this additional worry. That any kind of mental joining had occurred was completely unacceptable. It offended logic. Whatever had happened tonight was as simple as the premise she'd offered Melissa.

She covered Cassie's hand with her own. "You've got to come back soon. The nightmares are hurting you. I thought we could wait, but it's…Come out of the tunnel, baby. You'll be so much happier, I promise. You'll see your mama and daddy and they'll be-"

Tunnel? Where had that come from?

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.

"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.