"If we offer her protection, she might change her mind." He shrugged. "And the worst that can happen is that I'll turn her over to Andreas and let the CIA try to persuade her. If I hand him a witness gift-wrapped, he might be a little more inclined to think twice about throwing me in the clink."

"Why do you have the money to find this woman if you don't have enough to locate Deschamps?"

" If Galen can tap into the right contacts, he may be able to find the woman without spending a dime."

"And I'm sure he has the right contacts" she said dryly. "He seems to be able to manage almost anything…criminal. But then, you have the same contacts, don't you? You've been known to sell information too."

"Yes. But we don't have the same sources. Which comes in handy on occasion."

"I thought you had to contact Karlstadt. Why are you still here?"

" I have a telephone. If I need to see him, I can wait until Galen gets back."

"Because you think you have to protect us?"

"Not you," he said lightly. "You could take on Andreas and Deschamps single-handed. But there's the kid to think about." He glanced at her plate. "Do you want any more? Galen cooked more than enough for a couple of meals."

She shook her head. " I'm not hungry. It was very good though. He's multifaceted, isn't he?"

"More than you know. Or maybe not. He said you'd read him very well. Something about brother and sister?"

She smiled. "It was easy to see that we're a lot alike."

"In what way?"

"Well, we both believe in making the most of every minute."

"And you're both tough and very perceptive. Maybe too perceptive?"

" You think this was in the psychic grab bag I got handed to me? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just a good judge of character." She lifted the coffee to her lips. "Like you are."

"I haven't demonstrated much of that ability lately." His gaze went to the bedroom door. "How's the kid?"

"She's sleeping."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure." She hesitated. "I can reach her whether she's asleep or awake now. And I can do it when I'm awake."

"What?"

" I tried it on the plane and it worked."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He shook his head. "Never mind. We weren't on the best of terms."

"No, and I couldn't tell you without telling Jessica. She wouldn't have believed me, and if she had, she would have been afraid." She looked down into her cup. "And I didn't know how I was going to use it. I wasn't sure Jessica was handling Cassie right. We were all being so soft and gentle…"

He stared at her thoughtfully, but he didn't speak.

"Cassie's not a gentle child. She's lively and strong and very intelligent, and she was never a shrinking violet until Vasaro. The withdrawal was completely out of character."

"Shock."

"Yes, but I have a hunch that later her nurse's betrayal made her more angry than hurt."

"You sound as if you know her very well."

"Only what Jessica found out from her parents and what I've observed myself."

He smiled faintly. "And maybe you're a good deal like Cassie too. I hope not. It took six years to heal your trauma."

"But I have an advantage Jessica didn't have with me. I know where Cassie's at right now."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that after the first trauma heals, it takes a really strong push to destroy that world you built for yourself. Jessica never gave me that push. She gave me love and gentleness instead. It might have worked for some kids, but it took a long time for her to get through to a stubborn brat like me." She added, "And it means I understand that Cassie's not really a victim. She was in the beginning, but now she's in that tunnel because she wants to be. She willed herself there, and it's easier to stay."

"Easier? What about the nightmares?"

"She needs them to validate staying in the tunnel." She moistened her lips. "So I'm going to take them away from her."

"How?"

"I've already told her she doesn't have them anymore because the monsters are waiting outside the tunnel for her to come and fight them."

He frowned.

"I know what you're thinking. Yes, it was a risk and yes, it could backfire and keep her in that tunnel for the rest of her life." Her hand was shaking and she steadied it as she brought her cup to her lips. "That's my nightmare."

"I don't know if I would have taken the chance."

"She's a fighter. It's her nature. She just has to be forced back into the battle."

"How can you be sure she won't have the nightmares?"

" I'm not sure. She could still will herself to have them. But I'm hoping that the suggestion I planted will take root. I'll reinforce it every time I'm with her. After that, we can only wait and see." She put her cup down. "She'll probably try her damnedest to do anything I tell her not to do. She's not very fond of me right now."

"And you could be wrong."

"Yes, but if I'm right, I'll make her face her demons and bring her back. I'm stronger than she is now, and I'm growing stronger every day. I'll nag her and block her at every turn."

"Tough love?"

"I do love her. You can't imagine how close I am to her. She's like…my other self." She closed her eyes. "I know I'm being hard, but I have to make her come out. For her sake and for Jessica. You see, I have one more advantage Jessica didn't have with me. I'll do whatever I have to do." She opened her eyes, now stinging with tears. "Because I'm no saint like her, Travis."

"You don't have to be like her." He covered her hand on the table. "You do fine on your own."

"I hope so." His grasp felt warm and comforting, and she let herself take that comfort for a moment before she moved her hand away. "I hope I'm not rushing Cassie because I want to use her to get Andreas to help with Deschamps."

"I don't think you are."

" But neither of us is sure." She pushed back her chair. "I'm going for a short walk on the beach before I wake Cassie and give her supper."

"I'll do it."

She shook her head. "My job."

"I don't mind helping. Are you closing me out?"

"If I've really managed to get rid of the nightmares, then you're closed out anyway. You should be glad there's a chance your responsibility is over."

"It's not over. It's just shifted." He grimaced. "And I'm not at all comfortable with it. I prefer to be an observer."

"I've noticed that. Then maybe you're living in a tunnel as much as Cassie is."

He smiled. "Maybe I am. It's an interesting thought. Do you see any other similarities between me and the kid?"

"Oh, yes. But you're more complicated. It would be difficult to-" She stopped and looked at him. He was sitting there, still smiling, and yet she could sense…what? Pain? Loneliness? She wasn't sure, but he had once again been kind to her. She wanted to do something, but she wasn't even sure what. " I'm…sorry your friend died." The words came haltingly. "And I'm sorry I was ugly about it. Since you don't let many people close to you, it must have hurt you very much to lose him."

"Yes, it did."

" Perhaps you'll tell me about him sometime."

"Sometime."

Because the pain was too deep and he wasn't a man to show his feelings.

"Did he know you loved him? Did you tell him?"

"No, I didn't tell him. But I think he knew."

"Good. That was one rule I made for myself after Jessica brought me back. Life's too short not to have every emotion out in the open. If someone deserves love, then they deserve to know they have it."

"That's a very perilous philosophy."

"It's more perilous not to tell someone they're loved. I would have regretted it all my life if Jessica hadn't known I-" She cleared her throat to rid it of huskiness and headed for the door." I won't be long. I just need to clear my head. Thirty minutes or so…"