Iris Johansen - Final Target

"Deschamps isn't going to want the police to come pounding on his door." He stepped inside. "Come on, Pichot."

"Maybe I should wait in the car."

"I don't think so." Galen smiled at him over his shoulder as he turned on his flashlight. "Not that I don't trust you, but I like the idea of having company while I'm strolling through Deschamps's lair. You're a little too wary of our absent friend."

"You don't need to worry. I'm more scared of you." Pichot's gaze was wandering around the small hall. "Nice. I wonder what that tapestry cost?"

"You've never been here?"

"Deschamps is not one to get chummy. I always picked him up outside."

It was an exquisitely furnished area. A Persian carpet covered the oak floor and led toward a large room several yards away.

"What are you looking for?" Pichot asked.

"A study, a library…" He glanced up at the spiral staircase. "Maybe the bedroom."

"What's that?"

Pichot was staring across the room at a door. But not an ordinary door. Every inch of it was covered with magnificent floral carvings.

Galen started toward it. "Evidently a portal of importance. Let's see w hat's behind it."

The door was locked.

"Hold the flashlight." He squatted and started to work. With some difficulty, he finally managed to spring the lock. He took the flashlight from Pichot. "Now let's see what we have-" He stiffened. "Holy shit."

"What is it?" Pichot shoved him aside and took a step inside the room.

A red light on the far wall blinked on.

"No!" Galen grabbed Pichot, pushed him through a window, shattering glass, and dove after him. The house exploded into a fireball.

Deschamps went rigid as the signal button on the warning device that was always with him went off. He took the device out of his pocket, but the red light went out even as he looked at it.

He closed his eyes as waves of pain surged over him. "No," he whispered.

It was gone.

"Damn you." Travis's hand tightened on the phone." I'm going to break your neck, Galen."

"Why bother, when I nearly managed to do that on my own?" He paused. "I didn't expect it. I thought maybe a desk or a safe would be rigged but not the whole damn house. The switch wasn't triggered until Pichot stepped into the room. It doesn't make sense."

"Did you get a glimpse of what was in that room?"

"It looked like a bloody museum. Like an Aladdin's cave with paintings and sculpture…That's what doesn't make sense. One of the paintings had to be a Monet. I'd swear it was the water lily painting that was supposedly burned with the Rondeau estate last year. If that was an example of the quality of art treasures in that room, why would Deschamps blow it up?"

"I'll ask him…when we find him." He added grimly, "And if you don't go off on the hunt alone again. I want your promise, Galen."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Galen."

"I guess fair is fair. I had my shot. I'll let you have yours."

"Thank you," Travis said sarcastically. "I appreciate the favor."

"You should," Galen said. "I was royally pissed when I picked myself up off that sidewalk outside Deschamps's house."

"Are you coming back here?"

"Soon. I've still got to go see the Dumairs in St. Ives. See you."

Travis hung up and went outside on the porch. Dammit, he should have known Galen would do something crazy if the opportunity offered itself. He was always a law unto himself. Admit it, he was jealous of Galen, who was free to go after Deschamps and not tied up here. Well, at least Galen had gone on the offensive.

They would just have to see what kind of fallout his actions would bring from Deschamps.

Two nights later Cassie had a nightmare.

Melissa jerked upright in her bed at the first piercing scream.

"Cassie…" She swung her feet to the floor. "No, baby, don't do-"

"What's wrong?" Travis stood in the doorway. "I thought you said you didn't think she'd have any more nightmares."

"I said I hoped." She turned on the lamp.

Cassie screamed again.

"Don't just stand there. Sit down beside her and start talking to her."

"The usual things?"

She nodded and got under the covers with Cassie. "But when I tell you to stop, do it."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to call her bluff."

"Bluff?"

"I've been telling her she won't have any more nightmares." She closed her eyes. "She's showing me I'm wrong."

"Pretty drastic demonstration."

"She wants me out. If she proves me wrong, she thinks I'll go away." She cuddled closer to Cassie. "Talk to her, Travis."

She closed him out, only vaguely aware of the murmur of his voice. Cassie was keeping her at bay. There was no strong pull catapulting her into Cassie's world as there usually was during one of the nightmares. It took her a few minutes to force herself into Cassie's mind.

Terror.

Swirling horror behind her.

Monsters.

"No monsters," Melissa said.

"Liar." Cassie was running, going deeper. "They're here. I have to get away."

"If they're here, it's because you brought them. And you can send them away."

"I told you they'd come."

"Because you want an excuse to stay here."

" Have to go deeper …"

"No." Melissa put herself in front of Cassie, blocking her path. "Stop running ."

"Get out of my way." Melissa could feel the force of the child's willpummeling her. "Go away."

"There are no monsters behind you. Turn around and see."

"I won't. I won't."

"Turn around."

"They're here. I have to run."

"Turn around." Melissa took her shoulders and forced her to turn around.

"I won't look."

"You will look."

"You can't make me."

"You know that's not true. I'm stronger than you are now, Cassie. Open your eyes."

The child held out for another moment and then slowly her lids lifted.

"What do you see, Cassie?"

"Monsters."

"What do you see?"

"Monsters."

"What do you see?"

"I told you," she said defiantly.

"Then why haven't they hurt you?"

"Michael is keeping them away."

"Go away, Travis."

"No!" Cassie struggled to get away from her. "You come back, Michael!"

But Travis's voice had stopped.

"He's gone, Cassie. And you're still here."

"The monsters are coming. They'll get me."

Jesus, her will was strong. "They're not here. You don't see them."

"Don't tell me what I see."

"Then you tell me. What do you see?"

" Masks and teeth and eyes …"

"But they haven't hurt you. Because they're not real. I'm going to hold you right here and let you face them. If they get too close, I'll be here to protect you."

"No, you won't." She was sobbing. "You hate me."

"I love you."

"Then let me go."

"When you tell me what you're seeing."

" Mon -" Her voice broke. "I have to - I can't go back. I have to go deeper ."

"What do you see?"

She suddenly whirled on Melissa. "Nothing," she screamed. "Nothing. Nothingl"

"No monsters?"

"No monsters. Are you satisfied now?"

"Oh, yes." Tears were running down her face as she drew Cassie into her arms. "I couldn't be more satisfied, baby."

"Let me go." Her arms tightened around Melissa even as she spoke. "I hate you."

" Soon." Melissa rocked her back and forth. "I'll let you go soon, Cassie …"