Iris Johansen - Final Target

"I understand."

"Good."

"You agree?"

"Oh, yes." Andreas smiled. "I know just the place-the gatehouse of an old manor in Virginia, plenty of security. And if any bastards make any move on it, you'd be the first to get your throat cut."

"Really? Now, I wonder why they would attack…" His eyes narrowed. "Cassie. So that's where you've hidden her. I suppose I should be honored you trust me enough to send me there."

"I don't trust you. I don't know what you're up to. But you saved her life and I don't believe you'd harm her. When you handed me Cassie at Vasaro, I had a gut feeling about you. After all she'd gone through, she wasn't afraid of you. You may be a complete son of a bitch, but you risked your neck to protect her. I think you'd do it again." He paused. "And if you are lying to me about anything else, you'll be the-"

"First to get my throat cut," Travis finished. "I'll keep that in mind. When do I go?"

"Tomorrow night. About this time. Danley will find you a hotel for now." Andreas pushed back his chair and stood up." I'll take you when I visit Cassie."

"How is she doing?"

"Bad." His mouth tightened. "So bad that my so-called sense of honor wouldn't stop me from burning those bastards at the stake when I catch up with them. I'll tell Danley you're ready to go."

"Not yet." He took out his telephone. "I have a few calls to make."

"You can make them at the hotel."

He shook his head. "I'm sure this room is thoroughly clean of bugs, and I need that privacy." He smiled. "It's not as if you told me the location where you're taking me. There must be thousands of old houses in Virginia."

"Yes, there are. Who are you going to call?"

"A friend. I don't like the idea of disappearing from view with no one knowing you're responsible. I feel the need for a little insurance."

"But you say I'm such an honorable man."

"I could be mistaken. Tell Danley I won't be more than five minutes."

"Call whomever you please." Andreas started for the door. "I'll make very sure we're not followed tomorrow night, Travis."

"I'd be pretty stupid to try anything like that, wouldn't I?" He started to dial. "Just insurance. Good night, Mr. President."

"Jessica!"

Melissa jerked up in bed, her heart pounding. Her jaw felt sore and she knew she'd been screaming.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

The T-shirt she slept in was soaking wet with sweat, but she was ice cold. She swung her legs to the side of the bed and buried her head in her hands.

As soon as she stopped shaking, she'd phone Jessica and then everything would be fine. No, she couldn't keep running to Jessica. She had to be strong.

Emerald eyes staring at the blood pooling on the floor.

She jumped up, went into the bathroom, and drank a glass of water in four gulps. After wrapping herself up in her terry robe, she turned on all the lights in the apartment, then snuggled down in the worn armchair by the window.

It was going to be all right. She was still cold, but her heartbeat was steadying. She could make it. Only three more nights until she'd be home with Jessica.

Blood pooling on the floor …

Don't scream. Don't scream.

Emerald eyes…

Don't scream.

"Nice house." As they drove through the gates, Travis studied the columned brick building set back from the road. "Shades of Tara."

"What do you know about Tara? "Andreas asked. "From the report Danley gave me on you, you've never spent much time in the U.S."

"My father always considered himself an American even though he chose to live abroad. He found it much easier to conduct business outside this country."

"Smuggling?"

Travis smiled. "Don't be crass. He was a romantic. Until the day he died, he thought of himself as a pirate."

" But you never considered yourself anything but a criminal."

"He chose his 'career' as a young man, he loved the excitement. I grew up with the reality of the underbelly of the game."

"Not the excitement?"

"Oh, yes. After all, I'm my father's son." His gaze was on the manor. "That's where Cassie is? Who's taking care of her?"

"Two nurses and her doctor, Jessica Riley."

"But no progress?"

"Not yet." Andreas turned to look at him. "Do you care?"

"Is that so strange? Let's just say I have a vested interest. I don't like to leave a job half done."

"Stay away from my daughter. I don't want her reminded of anything connected to that night."

"If she had to be reminded, you wouldn't be needing a doctor."

"You heard me." The limousine drew to a stop at the gatehouse. "Stay away from Cassie. I'm going to tell Dr. Riley exactly who you are and what you're doing here. And I'll give her orders that you're not permitted near my daughter."

Travis threw up his hands. "Whatever you say. I'm perfectly content to stay in my own little world." He got out of the limousine. "One last item of business. I know it's tempting to have my calls monitored, but I'd consider that a deal breaker. Besides, I'll be calling only one person. Jan van der Beck in Amsterdam. He'll be my go-between with any and all sources, and if he tells me your people are acting even a little bit intrusive, the deal's off."

"Why are you telling me about van der Beck?"

"You think I'm betraying him." He shook his head. "I'm making sure he's protected."

Andreas was silent a moment. "Your phone won't be tapped."

"Thank you. Then I'll be in touch."

"No, I'll be in touch." Andreas motioned for his driver to go on. "You can bet on it."

Travis watched the car move up the curved driveway. There were lights on in the upper floor of the manor. Cassie's room? Not his business. He turned and opened the door of the gatehouse. As long as he kept away from Cassie and was able to throw Andreas tidbits of information, he'd be permitted to stay here in safety. That was all that was important.

The gatehouse consisted of a living room, kitchen, and bedroom and was comfortably furnished. He spent the first thirty minutes checking for bugs and found five. There were more sophisticated means of surveillance, but they required a truckload of equipment, and he doubted the Secret Service agents would try them once they learned the bugs had been destroyed. The advantage of surveillance lay in the subject not knowing he was being monitored.

He did a final check on the books in the built-in shelves on either side of the fireplace and found two more bugs. He smiled as he realized one had been tucked behind a book by Dr. Jessica Riley, Into the Light . Not very clever. A book written by the owner of Juniper would automatically attract attention.

He sat in a chair, took out his digital phone, and called van der Beck. "I'm settled. Is everything set up?"

"In place."

"Then start negotiations."

"You're safe?"

"Stop being a mother hen, Jan. You're the one who's dealing with the bad guys. I'm surrounded by America's Finest."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"I'm safe, Jan."

"See that you stay that way."

"I'll call you tomorrow." He hung up and leaned back in the chair. Everything was set. He'd done the best he could. Would it be enough?

At least he had Jan doing the negotiations in Amsterdam. He could count the people he trusted on one hand. How long had it been since he'd accepted anyone at face value? Not since he'd been Cassie's age. He hadn't yet learned cynicism or that greed had a dazzling way of blinding a man. During those days when Jan and his father had taken him on their trips to Algiers, life had been full of excitement.

He went over to the window and looked up at the lighted window in the manor. He had a fleeting memory of Cassie's face that night at Vasaro. She'd never accept anything at face value again. She'd been torn away from childhood.