"Well, did you finish venting your wrath on my poor friend?"

Melissa looked behind her and tensed. He was taller than she remembered, but those eyes were unmistakable. "You're Sean Galen."

"I have that honor." She noticed the faintest British accent as he continued. "I'm flattered you were aware of my sparkling persona. I should have known that even through the deepest drug haze I remain unforgettable."

"Who said I was drugged? Jessica?"

"No, but the signs were pretty clear."

"I wasn't drugged." She sat down on the couch. "And that makes you pretty lame at reading signs, doesn't it? How did you know I was arguing with Travis? I didn't see you."

"I was in the cockpit and I opened the door as you were ripping into him. Since my discretion is legendary, I stayed put until you marched off. Could I get you a cup of coffee from the galley?"

"No, I want to rest."

"You look very rested now."

"But we've already established you're lousy at reading signs."

"Ouch." He made a face. "Since I can't admit to being wrong, I suppose I've got to believe you're trying to get rid of me."

"I suppose you do."

He tilted his head inquiringly. "Why? Most people line up for the pleasure of my company."

"Before you shoot them?"

His smile faded. "Now, that came out of left field. And I thought we were getting along so well. Why did you say that?"

She looked away from him. "You're a friend of Travis's. Jessica said you were at Vasaro and helped him with the escape from Juniper. I can do the math." She leaned back on the couch. "If you don't mind, I want to rest."

"I'll go away." He squatted down beside her. "Just one question."

"You shouldn't have any questions. I'm sure you overheard my entire conversation with Travis while you were practicing your legendary discretion."

"Yes, it was very interesting. I intend to quiz Travis on the details later. But this question has nothing to do with him." His gaze narrowed on her face. "When I was carrying you to the plane, you looked up at me and said, 'Don't do it. Don't let him, Jessica.' What did you mean by that?"

"How should I know? I was out of my head." Face him down. "After all, you can't expect someone on drugs to be coherent."

"Stung." He stood up. "Serves me right. Never ask intimate questions of a stranger."

"That question wasn't intimate."

"Wasn't it?" He smiled. "It felt intimate. Never mind, we'll get back to it later."

She watched him walk away from her. Her first impression had been correct. Galen was a very dangerous man, and the less she had to do with him, the better. Forget about him.

Think about Cassie instead.

Break the tether.

How?

There had to be a way to wrest control of those nightmares from Cassie. The girl was strong, but her loneliness was heartbreakingly evident each time-

My God.

Why take on Cassie at the worst possible moment? Don't wait to be pulled into the nightmares; try to invade a gentler dream or sleep state.

She was crazy. She'd never tried anything like that before, and the prospect scared her. She sure as hell didn't have any idea if it was possible. But if Cassie could pull Melissa from deep sleep into her tunnel, why shouldn't she be able to go there herself?

Because maybe there were rules about this kind of thing?

Rules were made to be broken.

So go for it. There was no time like the present, since Cassie was sleeping.

Melissa closed her eyes. How the hell did you go about something like this?

Concentrate…

Amsterdam

"I want the delivery in the morning, van der Beck." Karlstadt looked out at the canal. "And there won't be any tricks."

"I stand by my reputation. You know I've never been accused of cheating a client."

"I don't like your idea of the transfer taking place in the park. For God's sake, that place even has a playground. There will be too many people around. I'll come to your flat in the morning at nine."

"Travis likes the idea of people being around. It's easier to become lost in a crowd. It will be in the park or nowhere. I told you how it's to be done, and that's the way it will be done."

Karlstadt's lips thinned. "Then you'd better not disappear until I have the merchandise verified."

"I'm sure you intend to have us followed until you finish the verification." He paused. "Oh, did I forget to tell you that you'll receive only half tomorrow? The other half will be sent to you in Johannesburg."

"What?"

"Merely a safety precaution. Naturally, you'll transfer half the money tonight to the Swiss account number I gave you. We'll wait for the other half tomorrow at the park."

"And what if you decide to take, the first half and leave me in the lurch?"

"That's the chance you take. However, we both know Travis has never broken his word in a deal, and he'd be a fool to cheat you. He knows you'd never give up searching for him, and he likes civilized pleasures too well to want to hide in a third-world country. The only question you have to ask yourself is: Does Travis have the merchandise?" He smiled. "And I'm sure you've verified that information."

"He has it." Karlstadt's voice was harsh. "The Russians wouldn't be after him if he didn't."

"Aren't you lucky to be dealing with Travis instead of those unreasonable Russians?" He turned away. "I'll see you in the morning, Mr. Karlstadt, and I'll check the Swiss account tonight."

"Van der Beck."

"Yes?"

"I've been hearing troublesome rumors in the last few hours about your Mr. Travis. Rumors about U.S. Secret Service and CIA involvement."

He'd been hearing them too, but he'd hoped Karlstadt wasn't that deep in the loop. "I'm sure they're completely untrue."

"I don't care what Travis has done to irritate the Americans. I just want you to know it must not interfere with the deal. I would find that very annoying."

"He wouldn't allow that to happen." He paused. "Good night, Mr. Karlstadt." He walked rapidly from the bridge and down the street. He could feel Karlstadt's gaze on him, but he didn't look back. Karlstadt enjoyed his little games of intimidation and would have been entirely too pleased if he knew van der Beck was uneasy.

And there was no doubt he was uneasy. There were too many strings to this deal Travis had handed him. He could handle Karlstadt, but the business with Henri Claron was making him nervous. He was getting too old to keep all these balls in the air.

He looked up at the sky. Travis should be only hours away by now, and soon he could turn the whole business over to him. Travis was young and as sharp as van der Beck had been when he'd worked with Travis's father. God, that seemed a long time ago.

Only a few more hours…

"You're here."

Melissa could feel Cassie's delight and excitement envelop her in the sanding darkness. "I seem to be. Though it took me long enough to get here. It takes a while to get the knack."

"Are you going to stay?"

"No, I'm just visiting."

"Oh." Disappointment. "Lonely."

"We've gone through that. You don't have to be lonely."

"Not if you stay." A pause. "We're not…together. We need to be together."

"No, we don't. We're friends and we can stay apart and still be friends."

"Better together."

Melissa could feel the effort the child was making to draw her closer, to absorb her. Jesus, she was strong. "Stop that or I'll have to go away."

"You're going to go anyway." Sorrow. "You told me so."

"But I'll come back if you don't make it sad for me."

"Together isn't sad." But the effort to merge ebbed and then stopped.