Chapter Five

"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.

And poor Jessica Riley. If he could read between the lines of her book, she was probably suffering almost as much as her patient.

None of his business. How many times had he told himself that since he'd arrived at Juniper? From sheer boredom he was being drawn into speculation, and speculation was seldom enough for him. He liked to be in control. If he wasn't careful, he'd be abandoning his nice, safe position as observer and diving in and trying to sort out the situation. It was clear he needed to get back to his own life and forget about Cassie Andreas and the people around her.

Cassie screamed again.

"Baby, no." Jessica rocked her back and forth. "Please. Wake up. You can't go on like-"

Cassie's mouth stretched wide and she screamed. Over and over.

Pulse rapid. Skin clammy.

"Hypodermic?" Teresa asked.

"I gave her a shot during the last episode, and it hardly fazed her. If I give her too much now, it could kill her."

But what would work? she wondered frantically. This fit had been going on for over twenty minutes. It was Cassie's worst attack yet, and she couldn't let the child-

"Take care of her," she told Teresa. She jumped to her feet and ran out of the room, past Cassie's guard and down the hall. She threw open Melissa's door. "Cassie's bad. I don't know what you can do, but if there's a chance to-"

Melissa didn't answer.

Jessica turned on the lamp.

Melissa was lying with her eyes open.

"Mellie?"

Rapid pulse. Clammy skin.

"Shit."

Tears were running down Jessica's cheeks as she ran out of the room. What the hell could she do? Everything was crazy. Nothing made sense. There was no reason for that lovely child to die.

And Melissa. Oh, God, Melissa.

Sweet Jesus, what could she do? There was nothing-

You have to find a way to break the stream. Find a way to enter something new into the mix.

She was running down the stairs and out in the rain.

Break the stream.

Find something new.

She knew where to find a new element. She had known since the night Andreas had forbidden her to have anything to do with Michael Travis.

Screw it. She couldn't stand by and let this horror happen.

She pounded on the door of the gatehouse. "Open the door, dammit."

Travis opened it. "What the hell-"

"Come on." She grabbed his arm. "I need you. Now."

"What's happened?"

"Don't ask questions. Just come." She pulled him out. "I'm Jessica Riley and-"

"I know who you are. What I don't know is what you're doing here."

"I'll explain later. Just come with me."

"I'm coming." He ran beside her up the driveway. "The kid?"

"Yes. I think she could die." Jessica tried to steady her voice. "She's having a nightmare and I can't wake her." They reached the manor and she pulled him inside the foyer. "You've got to help."

"I'm no doctor."

"Don't argue. Just do what I say." She heard the screams as she ran up the staircase. Relief poured through her. If Cassie was screaming, she was still alive.

Larry Fike met her at the top of the steps, his gaze on Travis. "He can't come in, Dr. Riley. I have my orders."

"He is coming in," she said fiercely. "You can search him. You can come into the bedroom and stand beside him. But he's coming in. I need him."

"I have my orders."

"And are you going to explain to the President why you kept me from having the means to save his daughter's life?"

"I have my-" He stopped, his gaze on Cassie's door. "Spread-eagle and put your hands on the wall, Travis."

She watched impatiently as Fike frisked Travis. "Hurry. Please, she's-"

Fike motioned for Travis to go into the bedroom but followed him immediately.

Jessica flew over to the bed. "How is she, Teresa?"

"Maybe a little worse." She looked at Travis. "What's he doing here?"

"I'm asking the same question," Travis said. "What am I doing here?"

"I don't know. I had to do something-"

Another scream.

Travis jumped and then took a step forward. "Can't you stop that? It's got to be bad for her to-"

"If I could stop it, I wouldn't need you." She took a deep breath and tried to think. "She's having a nightmare and I can't jar her out of it. I think it's about Vasaro and she's trying to get away from something. But she can't escape it so the nightmare keeps going on and on. We have to have something to break the pattern."

"Me?"

"You saved her life at Vasaro. You may have to do it again tonight."

"She's that bad?"

"I don't know. The nightmare has to stop."

"You're damn right it does." Travis sat down on the bed. He gathered Cassie's hands in his. He was silent for an instant and then said, "You're safe, Cassie. I'm here. It's over. Remember, we're going to go into the kitchen and wait for your mom and dad."

Cassie screamed.

"You're safe. I'm here. He's gone. They're all gone."

She screamed.

"Listen to me, Cassie." His voice was low, urgent. His gaze fastened on her face. Jessica could almost feel his will grappling with the child's terror. "It's over. You're safe. He's gone."

Cassie's scream broke off.