"Nice." Galen put the suitcases down and glanced around the living room. "Old-fashioned, but very comfortable. Maybe a little too much blue. Blue may be a primary color, but I've always found it depressing."

"It's okay. We won't be here long enough to be depressed." Travis carried Cassie into the bedroom and put her down before turning to Jessica. "She hasn't had a nightmare since we left Juniper. That's good, right?"

"Do you want me to tell you kidnapping her is good therapy?" she asked dryly. "I won't do it, Travis."

"Well, it hasn't hurt her."

"Yet." Melissa came into the room, deposited a suitcase and Jessica's medical bag by the radiator under the window. Then she went into the adjoining bathroom and slammed the door.

Jessica made a face. "She's right, you know. I don't know what long-term effect this will all have on Cassie."

"I can't help that." He tried to keep the edge from his voice. "I'm doing the best I can." He went out into the living room to see Galen heading for the front door. "Where's Stuart Thomas?"

"In the apartment across the hall. He likes his privacy. Believe me, you don't want him too close. When he gets involved in a project, he thinks things like showering and brushing his teeth are a waste of time."

"And is he involved in this project?"

"On a small scale. If you'd asked him to break into top-secret Pentagon records, it would have been more interesting for him." He opened the door. "I'll go check on him."

"I'll go with you."

"No, you won't. You're too tense and I won't have Stuart upset. Besides, it's after midnight. Get some sleep. You can see him in the morning."

"I don't need-" He stopped as he met Galen's steady gaze. It would do no good. Galen had made up his mind and wouldn't budge. "Wake me if Thomas has a breakthrough."

"In the morning."The door shut behind him.

Damn Galen.

And thank God for Galen.

"When are you going to take Cassie to the Wind Dancer?" Melissa stood across the room.

"Two nights from now, after the museum closes. If all goes well."

"It won't go well." She walked to the window and stared out. "But you won't listen to me, will you?"

"I can't listen to you."

"You're hurt. Why don't you wait until you're better?"

"As you pointed out, this is hardly a scratch. Not worth the time it took you to bandage it. Isn't that right?"

She was silent a moment. "Yes. I wish he'd killed you instead of your friend."

"Well, you're out of luck."

"We may all be out of luck." She paused. "I want you to get me a gun."

He stiffened. "Why?"

"I want to be able to defend myself. I'm not going to depend on you." She smiled sardonically. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on shooting you, though it's tempting."

"Do you even know how to use a gun?"

"There were some rapes and assaults on campus a while back and my roommates and I got a little nervous. We took self-defense classes and I bought a Smith and Wesson.38 for the apartment. We all took lessons."

"Okay, I'll have Galen get you one tomorrow morning."

"Good." She started to go back to the bedroom but stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. He was surprised at the desperation in her expression. "I don't want you dead. I don't want anyone dead. Life is such a precious gift. Every minute should be treasured and-"

"Do you think Cassie is enjoying her life? Jessica is doing whatever she can to make it better." He wearily shook his head. "And I guess I am too."

"Jessica doesn't understand. You don't understand." Her voice was filled with despair. "I can't let you do it."

Travis stared thoughtfully at the door after she'd shut it behind her. The intensity of Melissa's feelings was growing, and that could be dangerous.

Jesus, he didn't need this. All he wanted was to come through on his promise to Jessica and get on with finding Jan's killer.

Think about the man in the park. Go over every minute from the time he'd first seen him. He'd told

Jan there was something familiar about him. What was familiar? Green eyes…But he hadn't been close enough to see those eyes when he'd made that remark to Jan.

He sat down on the couch. Think. Go over it. Make a connection.

Washington, D.C.

"Danley thinks he's located Travis, Mr. President" Keller said. "Well, not exactly located, but there was an incident in a park in Amsterdam yesterday. Jan van der Beck was murdered."

"By Travis?"

"No, the assailant fled with Travis in pursuit. We believe Travis was wounded in the attack."

"Good," Andreas said. "I wish the bastard had been skewered on a spit."

"Not until we find your daughter," Keller said. "After that, we'll be glad to accommodate you, Mr. President. Danley thinks they've also located a company in Antwerp that rented the van to transport your daughter. The timing is right. We're getting closer, sir."

"Not close enough. I'm going to Amsterdam."

"That wouldn't be wise."

"I'm going. Get Air Force One ready. That plane was built so that the President could run the country from it during an emergency. It's going to be tested. Then get the doctor to say I've had a slight relapse and can't leave my room. I'll make an appearance on the balcony so that everyone will know I'm not on my deathbed."

"What about the First Lady?"

Chelsea. She had been suspicious from the moment he had stepped off the plane from Tokyo. She knew him so well, they were too close for any deception to fool her for long.

God, he didn't want to tell her about Cassie.

And he couldn't not tell her if he took off for Amsterdam.

He stood up. "I'll go see her. We leave in an hour, Keller."

"Yes, Mr. President."

A few minutes later Andreas was opening the door to their private suite. She was lying in bed, working on her laptop.

"Is that resting?"

"I'm flat on my ass, aren't I?" She gave him that radiant smile that had first captured his attention all those years ago. She was more beautiful now than she'd been that day.

His love, his partner, his best friend…

He came into the room." I have something to tell you, Chelsea."

Chapter Fourteen

"Piece of cake," Stuart Thomas said. He stood up and gestured to the computer screen. "There you go, Mr. Travis. It's all yours."

Thomas's T-shirt was sweat stained and as unpleasant smelling as Galen had warned him, Travis realized. The idea of working in close contact with the kid was not appealing. "Why don't you go get a meal? I'll page you if I need you."

"You're not going to find him just by browsing. What's he supposed to have done?"

"Murder."

"What kind of murder? Crime of passion, burglary, mercy killing? You've got to narrow it down if you want results."

" Let me work at it."

Thomas hesitated. "Then will you give me my money? I usually get paid half upfront and half when you say you're through with me. I waived the first payment, since Galen is a good friend, but I really should have-"

"How much?"

"Five thousand."

"Wait here." He left Thomas and went to the apartment across the hall.

"Trouble?" Galen rose from a chair.

"More an inconvenience. Thomas wants to be paid and I have a cash flow problem. Five thousand?"

Galen shook his head. "I can get it by tonight."

"He wants it now. Never mind." He went to his duffel and drew out h is laptop, then opened the disk drive and took out a pouch. "You'll have to use your powers of presentation and convince him to accept goods instead of cash." He poured out half the contents of the pouch onto the coffee table.

"Holy shit," Galen murmured. "Diamonds?"

Travis sorted through the gemstones. "Even the smallest of these will bring over five thousand dollars."