"Would I? This is all supposition."

"But it's true, isn't it? He chose Vasaro because he and Deschamps would feel more comfortable going after the Wind Dancer here. Deschamps had scoped it out before the kidnapping attempt. What harm can it do you to tell me?"

He was silent a moment and then slowly nodded. "Travis called me after your meeting with Deschamps at St. Ives and told me to come to Cannes to be in position and he'd contact me later by E-mail."

"Where is Travis supposed to meet you?" He shook his head. "No interference." "You're not going to meet him, are you?" "I wasn't supposed to. It was always a trap for Deschamps. Travis promised he'd leave the Wind Dancer after he got rid of Deschamps for me." "Leave it where?"

Andreas smiled. "You are persistent." "Are you going to let Travis escape after he kills Deschamps?"

"We didn't discuss it. I believe he knows he's on his own after I get what's mine. He's a clever man. He might be able to get away."

"But you'll pounce after he leaves Vasaro." "Naturally, I have to have sufficient security to make sure Deschamps doesn't escape if he kills Travis."

Travis falling, dying…

The vision filled her with panic. Keep calm. "But you don't intend to be around if Travis needs any help." She moistened her lips. "For God's sake, you have an army here at the house. You could send someone to see that Deschamps doesn't hurt Travis."

"But that might tip off Deschamps. He might get away."

"You'd still have your statue."

He smiled. "I want it all."

It was what she had been afraid of. "You want Travis to be killed. You regard this as personal business and you don't want to order Danley or one of his men to do it. Because that would compromise your ethics as president. But you're hoping he'll die."

His smile faded. "He took my daughter. He risked her life. For days she was exposed not only to Deschamps but also to any other nut who has a grudge against me. He put my wife through hell. She could have lost the child she's carrying. I believe justice would be served if Deschamps and Travis killed each other. Now, is that all? I have to get back to work."

It was hopeless but she had to try. "Please. Send Danley or someone to save him."

" Let him save himself. He may get lucky."

"He'll die."

"Good day Ms. Riley."

She drew a deep breath. "Okay, just tell me where he is so I can go help him myself."

"No interference."

"Don't tell me that. I'm not asking much." She rubbed her forehead. "It's got to happen tonight because you told me you were going to hold me for only forty-eight hours. You wouldn't have him anywhere close to Cassie, so he has to be far out on the grounds. He's in some kind of house, isn't he?"

He lifted a brow. "Good guess. Would you care to go for animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

"I'll find him myself."

"You're in my custody. You leave this area and you'll be shot."

"I don't think so. You're an honorable man and you know I helped Cassie. The only way you'll stop me is if you kill me." Her lips twisted. "Though maybe you'll get a bonus and Deschamps will take care of me too."

"Vasaro is a large property. You'll never find Travis."

"I'll find him. You just tell Danley not to use me as target practice. Will you have him give me a gun?"

"You're really pushing the envelope."

"I have to." She tried to keep the desperation from her voice but didn't succeed. "Travis doesn't deserve this. Yes, he did something he shouldn't have done, but he's a good man. You're making a mistake."

He shook his head.

"And you'll regret it."

"In my position I have to make many decisions I regret."

"But this doesn't have to be one of them. He saved Cassie once. Doesn't that have any weight at all?" She wasn't getting through to him, she realized in despair. "Cassie thinks of Travis as her friend. Are you going to be able to tell her later what you did to him?"

He didn't answer directly. "It's clear you have an attachment to Travis, but you'd be wise to have second thoughts. I've no desire for you to be hurt. Stay out of it, Ms. Riley."

"The hell I will." She turned and strode past Danley down the hall. She had to stop shaking. After all, she hadn't had much hope that she could persuade Andreas to help. If it had been her child in jeopardy, she would probably have been just as bitter.

She was lying to herself. She had hoped for a miracle. Well, the miracle hadn't happened and she was on her own. She threw open the door of the library. She couldn't run around Vasaro searching blindly. There must be a map of the property somewhere that showed where all the outbuildings were located.

She only had to find it.

Dear God, help me find it.

It took Melissa three hours to find a map. It wasn't on any of the shelves but tucked in a ledger in one of the bottom drawers of the desk.

She quickly spread it out on the desk. It seemed fairly new, so it should have all the current outbuildings on the property.

Shit.

There were seven other outbuildings besides the ones surrounding the farmhouse, and they were scattered all over the property. They had to be miles apart. The chances of her being able to find the right place were practically nil.

She glanced at the window. Sweet Jesus, the sun was going down. It would be dark soon, and that's when it would happen. Dammit, she didn't even know how much time she had left.

She sank down in the desk chair and covered her eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Four

8:15 P.M.

Travis checked his watch. "Almost time to go." He glanced at the helicopter parked near the hangar of the small airport. "Enough fuel to get us there and to Nice afterward?"

Galen looked at him in surprise. "Of course."

"Just checking."

"Since when do I need to be checked on? Are you a tad nervous?"

"Maybe."

"Natural enough. This isn't your field of expertise. You should really let me go in alone." He paused. "You think he'll be there waiting for us?"

" I'd bet he went straight to Vasaro. It's what I'd do. Get to Vasaro before Andreas arrives with the troops, dig in, and wait. No chance of stumbling on to anyone coming or going from the farm. He's smart enough to figure out that Andreas will seal the perimeter to catch me."

"Then how will he get out? He wouldn't leave a car or helicopter sitting around in the fields."

"He could steal my transportation after he's killed me." He smiled. "Or maybe he thinks he'll fly out of there on the wings of the Wind Dancer after he steals it."

"Where is the statue?"

"I put it in the closet in the back room." He opened the door. "Will you go get it? I'll go start the helicopter."

"Right." Galen went in the back room and opened the closet door. No gleam of gold in the darkness. He turned on the light and glanced up on the top shelf. No statue.

"Son of a bitch."

He ran out of the office, but the helicopter was already lifting off. "What the hell are you doing, you asshole?" he shouted. "You need me."

Travis waved a hand.

Galen was still standing on the tarmac, looking up, when Travis turned south toward Vasaro. Jesus, he was pissed.

Well, Travis couldn't help it. Galen had no stake in this that was worth the risk Vasaro posed. Even if taking out Deschamps turned out to be easier than Travis expected it to be, Andreas would snap him up if he got the chance.

Travis just had to see that he didn't get the chance. Get rid of Deschamps, then take off for Nice and hope Andreas didn't have something lethal to take down the helicopter. If he moved fast, he might get out. Andreas would hesitate if he thought Travis might have the Wind Dancer in the aircraft.