Chapter Three

Paris

"You haven't found him yet?" Edward Deschamps asked. "It's been almost eight months. What kind of fool are you, Provlif?"

Provlif's hand tightened on the receiver. He wished it were Deschamps's throat. Patience. The money had been good so far, and no one knew better than he did how deadly Deschamps could be if crossed. "I have a strong lead. He has a connection in Amsterdam. A Jan van der Beck."

"Why didn't you say so?"

"You wanted concrete information. I had to dig very deep to find Jan van der Beck. They used to be partners, but Travis has been on his own for years."

"And what have you found out about Cassie Andreas?"

Silence.

"Nothing?"

"Naturally, we've been concentrating on Travis."

"Dammit, I told you, I need to know where she is."

"You can't be thinking of a second attempt on her? It would be crazy."

"That's none of your concern, Provlif. Your job is to find her."

"It's not as if she's an ordinary kid. The President put a security blanket around everything connected with her. We finally managed to trace her to a clinic in Connecticut, but the President took her from there over a month ago. We're still trying to find out who's treating her now and where she-"

"Where she was a month ago is no help to me. I need to know where she is now."

"I have three men working on it."

"Then hire more."

"I'll need additional cash." He had to walk very carefully, Provlif thought. Deschamps was one of the most coldly brilliant men he'd ever met, but that didn't mean he was always in control. He'd seen him explode on more than one occasion. And the word was out that since he'd become obsessed with finding Travis, Deschamps had become even more volatile.

"You'll get your money," Deschamps said softly.

"I'm leaving at once for Amsterdam."

"No. Get on a plane to Washington and find Cassie Andreas. I'll go to Amsterdam myself and follow up on Jan van der Beck."

"But he may be difficult to-"

"Provlif, you may remember that when I first started in the business, I became very well known for finding people."

Oh, yes, Provlif remembered. Finding them and then ridding the world of them. "I meant no disrespect, Edward."

"Then get on a plane and find that kid."

Lousy son of a bitch.

Deschamps hung up and strode toward the closet. He tossed a suitcase on the bed and began throwing clothes into it.

Prick. The nerve of Provlif to bother him about money. Did he have so little vision?

In spite of Provlif's doubts, the plan was sound and it would still work. But he had to have Cassie Andreas. She was paramount in the scheme of things.

Just as Jan van der Beck was the key to finding Michael Travis.

He slammed the suitcase shut and fastened it. In an hour he'd be on a flight to Amsterdam.

No, wait. First he would go to the room.

Then he would be ready for Amsterdam.

"I want to come home to see you," Melissa said as soon as Jessica picked up the phone the next afternoon. "Is that okay?"

"I thought you were studying for finals."

" I can study at home."

"You always told me that you studied better at your apartment. By the way, how are your roommates?"

"Fine. I decided I wanted a little more privacy, so I moved into an efficiency."

"But I thought you loved living with Wendy and Karen."

"I did. I still see them every day. I guess I'm going through growing pains." She paused. "I want to come home."

"Something's wrong."

"Just because I want to see you? You're my sister, for God's sake. I do like to see that baby face of yours every now and then."

"What's wrong?"

"Can I come or not?"

"I've told you what's going on here. If you come, you won't be able to do anything but study. And I've given Cassie your room."

"That's okay. I'll take the blue room even though it's a disgustingly boring color. Maybe in my spare time I'll paint it orange."

"Don't you dare."

"Just kidding."

"When will you be here?"

" I can't get away before the weekend. That's four days-enough time to get me security clearance with those Secret Service men all over the place." She paused. "They're still there, aren't they?"

Jessica stiffened. "Of course they are."

"That's good."

"You won't think so when they start following you all around the grounds."

"I can live with it. See you Saturday morning."

"Mellie."

"I've got to go now."

"What is it?"

" I just miss you."

Jessica moistened her lips. "Is it the dreams?"

"I'll see you Saturday." She hung up.

Jessica slowly put down the receiver. It was probably okay. Mellie was completely cured now. There was no danger of her falling back.

So stop panicking. Besides, if something was wrong, she could handle it.

Unless it was the dreams.

How the hell would she handle the dreams?

Justice Department

Michael Travis was sitting on the leather couch reading when Andreas walked into the office. "These law books are very dry fare," Travis said. "It's no wonder most lawyers leave something to be desired. Their minds must have atrophied in school."

Andreas crossed to the desk and sat down in the executive chair. "Have a good flight, Travis?"

"Excellent. Thank you." He smiled. "Better than the Concorde. How much did it cost the taxpayers?"

"Not a dime. I made sure the expenses came out of my pocket."

"Very ethical. But only what I'd expect from you.

You're one of those rare, old-fashioned phenomena, a man of honor. But you really could have charged it to the government. Your life is valuable not only to yourself and your family, it's essential to the smooth running of the country."

"I'm fully aware of that. But I didn't have to send Air Force One for you. I could have had Danley bring you by regular means."

"But you didn't want to piss me off even though the demand was unreasonable. You didn't want to start negotiations on the wrong foot."

"Negotiations?" Andreas shook his head. "I don't have to negotiate with you. I can have you charged with accessory to assassinating the President and stick you in prison."

"But you won't do it. As I said, you're an honorable man. You wouldn't punish the man who saved your daughter."

"I would if I thought there was a chance you might be a threat to her in the future. How did you know about the attack?"

"I told you, I have sources."

"Who are they?"

"And have Danley and his men descend on them like a swarm of locusts? Sources have to be protected. It's the way I make my living."

"Among other rather nefarious enterprises, I understand."

"True. I'm big on nefarious enterprises. But we're not discussing anything but my ability to acquire information, are we?" He leaned forward. "You want to know who was behind Vasaro."

"And I'll find out."

"Not from me. Not now. I told you the truth. I didn't know anything about the attack except that it was going to happen."

Andreas studied him. Travis was staring at him boldly and he had spoken with seeming candor. But a man who made his living with his wits would have picked up certain skills and become a master of deception. Yet, dammit, Andreas's instincts were telling him that Travis was telling the truth. Disappointment surged through him.

"You wish I'd lied to you,"Travis said. "Sorry."

"You still could be lying."

"Yes, I'm very good at it." Travis smiled. "But you haven't gotten to where you are in life without relying on your own judgment."

Andreas nodded. "Maybe you didn't know then about the person behind Vasaro, but you could have found out something since that night."