Iris Johansen - Final Target

Why were they going to Vasaro?

From Travis's helicopter the limousine and official cars looked like a giant snake as they wound their way to the highway that led to Vasaro.

Galen gave a low whistle. "Andreas brought enough firepower for a battalion."

"He's not about to let Cassie be taken from him again." Travis's gaze shifted to the boat in the harbor that had pulled up anchor and was starting to move. "There goes Deschamps. He's probably gnashing his teeth right now because he didn't go into the cottage and grab the statue when he had a chance." He flipped him the finger. "Screw you, bastard."

"Ready?"

Travis nodded. The Wind Dancer sat on the floor at his feet. He had deliberately not put it in a box. When they'd run down the beach to board the helicopter, the sun had shimmered on the golden statue like the lamp in a lighthouse. There was no question Deschamps had seen it. "Let's get out of here."

Melissa's first glimpse of Vasaro took her breath away. Rolling hills covered with flowers and, dear Lord, the scents…

Now she knew why Andreas had rolled down the window. The delicious fragrance of lavender blossoms was enough to make you dizzy.

"Wonderful," she murmured.

Andreas nodded. "Cassie always loved it. I was hoping it might ignite some response."

"She's stubborn." The limousine was going up the road to a big stone house that had nothing grand about it. It looked like what it was, a lovely, spacious farmhouse surrounded by well-kept outbuildings. It was obviously a working farm, but Melissa didn't see any workers. "Did Mr. Danley toss all the employees off the property?"

"Caitlin Vasaro would have been outraged if we had. Her workers are like family. We found them temporary accommodations in the area." The limousine had drawn up at the front door. "The security of this house is going to be tighter than Fort Knox. Nothing is going to happen to Cassie again."

"Deschamps is still out there. Wouldn't it be better to send her to Washington?"

"There's no reason for Deschamps to target my daughter. I no longer have the Wind Dancer." He got out of the limousine and Melissa followed him. "I'm going to take her up to her room. It's the second one at the top of the stairs. Pick any other room you like." He glanced back at her. "You're free to go anywhere in the house. The grounds are off limits. Don't go past the veranda or you'll be stopped."

She nodded, her gaze going to the foothills. She could already see dozens of men spreading out, ringing the farmhouse and the outbuildings. "If you need me, call me. Cassie's used to me now."

"She won't need you. I've arranged to have a nurse and doctor in residence. And I'm going to stay with her as much as possible." He made a face. "Who knows? Maybe she'll talk to me."

"I hope she will."

He studied her expression. "You really do."

"I know you won't believe me, but I love her." She paused. "I'm going to make something to eat and bring it up. Neither Cassie nor I have had anything to eat today. So if you want one of your CIA people to watch what I'm putting in your food, you'd better send him to me. Where's the kitchen?"

"Down the hall to the left." He started up the stairs. "And I believe I'll trust you. You haven't hurt her yet."

The huge country kitchen was fully stocked, and Melissa found canned soup and vegetables for a salad. She grabbed a bite for herself, then took a tray up to Cassie and Andreas.

An hour later she was standing at the sink, washing the dishes and looking out the window at the hills. It must be wonderful to live here and be able to look out at all these flowers. Such a beautiful place…

A sudden chill went through her.

Such a deadly place.

Melissa stood in the doorway of Cassie's room. "May I speak to you in the hall?"

"Not now," Andreas said.

"Now. I don't want to talk in front of her, but I will."

He looked at her face and then glanced at Cassie. "Five minutes." He stood up and followed her from the room. "You're pale as a ghost. What's the problem?"

"You tell me. Something's going to happen here. What is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The hell you don't." Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Something's going to happen and you're part of it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's true, isn't it?"

"You're imagining things. You and Cassie are perfectly safe."

She knew that was true. "It's Travis."

He turned to go back in the room.

She grabbed his arm. "What's going to happen to Travis?"

"What he deserves." He went into Cassie's room and shut the door.

Damn him. She collapsed back against the wall. God, he was hard and totally unforgiving. He wasn't going to tell her anything. He'd let it happen…

Well, she wasn't going to let it happen, but she couldn't prevent it by standing there feeling sorry for herself.

She straightened and crossed the hall to the bedroom she'd chosen. She snatched a crocheted throw and wrapped it around her shoulders. Christ, she was cold. She curled up on the window seat and stared out at the hills.

Such a deadly place.

The thought had come out of nowhere and with it a vision of Travis falling, blood pouring from his chest. His eyes had glazed over as life had fled.

He was going to die.

Just as Jessica had died and that nice old man at the university. She had failed to stop both. She wouldn't be able to stop Travis from dying either.

You didn't give it a chance, Travis had said. It's easier to just call it fate.

Travis falling, dying.

"No!" She blocked the image.

Coward. Maybe something there could help her put the pieces together. She forced herself to close her eyes and brought the picture back. Travis falling…

Where was he?

Travis falling…

He was inside a building or shed, and there was an old lantern with a copper hood on the post beside him. She saw a table behind him with strange containers and on one corner a gleam of gold.

The Wind Dancer.

Terror iced through her.

A pool of blood and emerald eyes staring down…

No, that was Jessica. It didn't have to happen like that again. She could stop it.

How could she do it if she couldn't even smother the panic freezing her mind? She wanted to scream with frustration. It's not fair . If you're going to let me see anything, let me see enough to stop it.

Travis falling, dying.

Okay, damn you, don't give me any more. I'll figure it out anyway.

4:30 P.M.

"You can't go in there." Danley blocked the way when Melissa tried to enter the study. "The President is busy."

"I'm going to see him. And unless he's ordering another attack on Iraq, it's going to be now."

"He said he didn't want to be disturbed."

"Now."

"I can have you removed by-"

"It's all right, Danley."The door had opened and Andreas stood there. "Evidently, the lady doesn't know the meaning of the word no." He stepped aside. "Come in, Ms. Riley. I can give you a few minutes."

He added sarcastically, "Iraq isn't causing me any immediate trouble. But you might remember that I do have other problems."

"How can I forget?" She whirled to face him. "Where are you supposed to meet Travis tonight?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Don't play games with me. You would have taken Cassie home right away if you didn't have a damn good reason to stay. So I asked myself, what would that reason be?"

His gaze narrowed on her face. "And what did you answer?"

"The Wind Dancer or Deschamps." She paused. "Or both."

"It could be something other than personal business."

"But it's personal business that brought you here."

"And I got what I came for."

"Not entirely. You'll never feel Cassie is safe until Deschamps is taken out." She drew a deep breath. "And that's what Travis promised you, isn't it? When he called you before he got on the helicopter, he told you to go to Vasaro and he'd meet you there and turn the statue over to you in exchange for amnesty. But that call was all a sham for Deschamps's benefit. Travis had called you before, hadn't he? He asked you to go along with what he said and he'd take Deschamps out for you. Then you'd have everything you wanted."