"If she's alive, I need to know where she is. You said she was as nervous as her husband. There's a good chance she knew what he knew. Or maybe more."

"You think she's going to risk getting her throat cut after what happened to Henri?"

"Sometimes fear or revenge is a greater spur than money. Try to find her, Jan."

"I've already started." He paused. "Yesterday I found two bugs in my apartment. They weren't there three days ago, when I made my last check."

Travis stiffened. "Karlstadt?"

"Perhaps. Or possibly CIA. But the bugs were Chinese. I wouldn't think they'd be regular CIA issue."

Travis didn't like it. Events were taking a nasty turn and the pressure was mounting.

"What about the negotiations with Karlstadt?"

"He's up to twenty-three. You wouldn't consider taking him up on it?"

"I'll think about it."

"Good. I've got a bad feeling about this Claron development. I find it curious that he was murdered before I could complete our transaction. It makes me wonder if there's a wild card out there and closer than I'm comfortable with." He didn't speak for a moment. "And I think someone's been following me."

"CIA?"

"Oh, them too. Two men, green Porsche. I had them spotted three days after you left Amsterdam. But I have a hunch there's someone else."

"Did you see anyone?"

"No, but I've got that tingling in the back of my neck."

"Indisputable proof."

"Enough for me. As you know, it's saved my life any number of times. Things are getting too tense. I think I'll take my cut and set sail on a long, long cruise. Call me when you make up your mind. Good-bye, Michael."

"Wait."Twenty-three million was enough, and he didn't like the way the situation was shaping up for Jan. "Take the offer."

"Good." Jan gave a sigh of relief. "Karlstadt will want delivery at once, you know."

"Stall him."

"It's like trying to stall a cobra that's set to strike. He hates having to bargain for-"

"We don't have a choice. I'm having a few problems with my situation here."

"Four days tops. I'm warning you, Karlstadt will explode."

"I'll call you."

Jan suddenly chuckled. "I didn't think you'd give in to Karlstadt. Are you getting soft, Michael?"

"Maybe. You keep telling me what a tough customer Karlstadt is."

"Oh, I don't think you're afraid of Karlstadt. I believe you may be worried about me. I approve."

"Why should I worry about you? You've got that magical tingling neck to keep you safe." He hung up.

Four days.

How the hell was he going to find a way to leave here in four days? The barriers were monumental. Cassie. Andreas. The Secret Service.

And Jessica and Melissa Riley. The two women might be the most formidable obstacles of all.

Well, obstacles were meant to be overcome. An idea had already occurred to him as to how to finagle his departure, but he'd been trying to think of some other way.

It was nasty. Very nasty.

But so was the situation in Amsterdam, and that was his real life, not this hiatus here at Juniper. Jan was no fool, and if he thought there was danger, then the threat existed. His life might be on the line. It wasTravis's part of the deal to grab the money and get them both safely away from the Russians and Karlstadt, and that was what he had to do.

It was ironic Jan had accused him of going soft. He'd change his mind if he knew how Travis was planning to get away from here.

Nasty…

The sun was going down when Jessica opened the door to Travis.

"May I speak to you?" he asked.

She frowned in puzzlement. "Come in. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing that can't be solved. I'd rather not come into the house. Why don't we go for a walk down to the pond?"

"I have to get back to Cassie. I'm only taking my dinner break."

"I'll try not to be long."

She hesitated. "Fifteen minutes." She followed him down the front steps. "I wanted to speak to you too. I had a talk with Mellie last night. She told me the Wind Dancer was what Cassie was searching for in the tunnel. She seems to have an idea pursuing that lead will be bad for Cassie."

"And what do you think?"

"I think we have to grab any straw we can to help her. I made Mellie promise not to try to steer Cassie away from the statue."

"I imagine she had a few problems with that," he murmured.

"She agreed." She glanced at him. "You don't seem surprised."

"I think we both knew your sister's reaction was a little extreme."

"Then why didn't you follow up?"

"Why should I? I knew you'd do it and you would have only resented my accusing her of anything."

"Yes, I would have." She stopped as they reached the pond. "She didn't mean any harm. She was only concerned for Cassie."

"And that's your concern too."

"Of course."

"You love your sister very much, don't you?"

"That's no secret."

"And you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her."

She went still. "My God, are you threatening Mellie?"

"Yes, I suppose I am." He turned to look at her. "I have to leave here soon. I've got to get back to Amsterdam. I'd like to take you, Melissa, and Cassie with me. It's the only way I can think of to salve my conscience at leaving." His lips twisted. "And I admit the package deal will make getting out of here easier."

Panic shot through her. "You can't leave."

"I can't do anything else."

"The hell you can't. Andreas won't let you."

"I'm going, Jessica."

"Cassie will die."

"Not if you come with me."

"And Mellie."

"She's been getting stronger. She might survive even if Cassie doesn't."

"You son of a bitch." She brought her trembling hand to her lips." It's crazy. For God's sake, you're talking about kidnapping Cassie. They'll find you, lock you up, and throw away the key."

"Not if we find a way to heal her."

"We? You think I'll become involved in this criminal madness?"

"Do you have a choice? You're crazy about Cassie and Melissa. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them."

"Nothing will happen to them." She glared at him. "You're staying and we're going to go on just the way we have been."

"Not quite."

"What do you mean?"

"If Cassie has a nightmare, I won't come to help her."

"What?" She stared at him in disbelief. "You have to come."

He shook his head.

"You may be a bastard, but you couldn't refuse to help Cassie when she suffers."

"It's your call and your responsibility. I've told you I'm willing to help her…on my terms."

"You're bluffing. You're not that cold."

"When I have to be, I'm colder than you could ever imagine." He stared directly into her eyes. "Am I bluffing, Jessica?"

Oh, God, she was afraid he wasn't. His face was without expression, but his eyes…She had gotten to know him over the past weeks; he wasn't capable of letting Cassie go through a nightmare without helping. "You're bluffing."

"I'm sorry. I hoped to make it easy for all of us. I wouldn't mention this to Melissa. It will only worry her. After all, you're rolling the dice for her well-being too."

"I'll do what I like."

"No, you'll do what's best for the people you care about. That's what I'm banking on."

Her hands clenched as she watched him walk away. Damn him. Damn him.

He was bluffing. He had to be bluffing.

The next night the lights came on in Cassie's room.

The phone in the gatehouse rang.

"Get over here," Jessica said. "Now."

"Nightmare?"

"Yes."

He hung up the phone.

Don't call back.

Don't go to the manor.

Don't think of that little girl.

He went back to the window.

And waited.

Thirty minutes later he saw Jessica running down the driveway. He opened the door and waited for her.