"Shit. I just don't see how we can catch him by surprise. If we go in in force, he'll easily see us coming, and have plenty of time to – "

Cassie lifted a hand to cut him off, unwilling to hear possibilities. She got to her feet and went to stand by the fireplace, already feeling cold. "He won't see you coming. I'll distract him."

"How?" Bishop demanded.

She looked at the agent. "I'll give him something else to think about. Me."

"So," Ben said, "your only way of dealing with a rival is to cut his throat, huh?"

"Not my only way. Just the best way. You have to be out of Cassie's life."

"And then she'll tumble into your arms? I don't think so."

"She will come to me quite willingly, Judge," the madman said. "Once I take care of you. Once she learns the lesson."

"The lesson being?"

"That she belongs to me. That I will not tolerate anyone else in her life. Not a lover, certainly. And if, once you're gone, she still fails to understand and I have to kill two or three of the people she considers friends, well, I'm sure that will get the point across." His smile widened. "Don't you agree?"

TWENTY-ONE

"You can't," Bishop said.

"I know you'd like to believe that, but – "

Bishop stepped toward her and grabbed her wrist to stop her when she would have turned away. "That isn't what I mean," he said roughly.

Matt saw Cassie go still, saw her stare up at the agent with surprise and something else, something he couldn't define, the emotion flitting across her delicate face like a shadow. Then Bishop was speaking again, an edge to his voice, and the moment passed.

"If you touch his mind openly, go through that narrow doorway he used with Shaw, the connection is his as well as yours. He can hold on to it. Pull you even deeper. Close off the way behind you. And what happens if the cops shoot him – kill him? We both know that's what's likely to happen, because Vasek won't let himself be taken alive. He'll make damned sure they have to kill him. And he won't let go of you. You'll be in too deep, Cassie."

Matt said, "Too deep? You mean she won't be able to get out? Even if he dies?"

Bishop released Cassie's wrist. "He could hang on even while he dies. And pull her with him."

"You don't know that." Cassie massaged her wrist absently, not looking at either of the men. "At best, it's all theoretical. Besides, I'm strong enough to pull away."

"You don't know that," Bishop retorted. "This man, this monster, is obsessed with you, Cassie. He followed you across three thousand miles, and when he found you, he methodically destroyed what was left of Mike Shaw's mind so he'd have a tool he could use to get your attention without exposing himself. He designed all of this, set up the situation to involve you, impress you with his cunning. Do you really think if you drop your guards and expose yourself, walk willingly into his mind, that he'll ever let go of you?"

"I'm strong enough," she repeated steadily.

"I don't think so."

She glanced up at him, then turned her head and gazed at the sheriff. "One thing we can all be sure of. Unless we stop Vasek, he'll kill Ben. And then he'll go on killing. More women, Matt. Maybe here, in your town. More people you know and care about. This is the best chance we'll have to get to him. You know it is."

Matt was a cop and he saw the logic. But the idea of allowing Cassie to sacrifice herself stuck in his craw. "Can't you just tease him somehow? Get his attention just long enough to let me and my people get close? It would take only a couple of minutes, five at most. Can you do that without giving him a chance to pull you in?"

"Of course I can."

"She can't," Bishop said. "It's all or nothing, Dunbar. To pull this guy's focus, she'll have to expose herself, walk in and show herself to him. And you can bet he'll grab and hold on tight. If she's inside the bastard's head and you have to kill him, she dies." Bishop smiled thinly. "But you'll save your friend. Maybe it's a price you're willing to pay."

The sheriff took a step toward the agent, but Cassie's voice fell between them, curiously soft. "Bishop, if you say one more word, I promise you'll regret it." Her gaze fixed on Matt's face, and she smiled. "You don't have to worry, Matt. I'll be just fine. No danger at all, remember that. Will you remember?"

Matt looked at her, frowning for only an instant as though troubled by something too wispy to get hold of. Then he smiled back at her. "I'll remember. No danger. You'll be fine."

"Yes, I'll be fine. The important thing is to surprise Vasek so you can save Ben." Her voice remained gentle. "So you get your people into position, and when you are, call and let me know. Then give me exactly five minutes before you make your move. All right?"

"All right, Cassie. I'll leave Danny here with my cell phone, and he'll be able to report when we're ready." Bishop didn't say a word.

Matt said, "It'll probably take us fifteen minutes to get there and into position, Cassie. But I'll let you know. And I promise – I'll get Ben out of there alive."

"Of course you will." She said it as if there were simply no other possibility.

The sheriff nodded decisively and left the room after giving his phone to the young and puzzled deputy who remained uncertainly in the doorway.

Bishop reached for a chair and shoved it behind her. "Here – sit down before you fall down."

She did, wondering if she looked as bad as she felt. Surely not.

"Taking quite a risk, using up precious energy in order to ease the mind of the good sheriff." Bishop's voice was not quite mocking. "Does Ryan know you can do that, by the way?"

Cassie drew a deep breath. "I didn't know I could do that."

" Dunbar won't be happy when he realizes you tricked him."

"No, I imagine not. But he won't realize just yet. Not just yet. And by the time he does, it won't matter." She was so tired already, strained with terror and her worry for Ben. And there was so much left to do.

Bishop leaned his shoulders back against the mantel, his arms crossed over his chest, face expressionless as always. But the scar looked whitened and angry.

Cassie wondered if he knew that mark was a barometer of his emotions.

"This is an asinine scheme," he said as if it hardly mattered.

"Maybe."

"Even assuming it works and Ryan comes out of it alive, he won't thank Dunbar or me. He'll say we used you."

"He'll know better."

"Will he? You expect him to be rational, then? When he sees what you've done, what it's cost you?"

"I'll be fine."

"Do not try to trick me," Bishop said. "Climb inside my mind and I'll shove you out."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Yes." She smiled faintly. "But don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

For the first time, his voice softened. "Never mind me. Cassie, this is crazy. Even in top condition, with all your strength, your chances would be slim against Vasek. Like this, drained and exhausted and so scared for Ryan you're hardly thinking straight, you have zero chance of coming out of this alive."

"I have the best reason in the world to survive. Willpower counts for a lot, you know that as well as I do." She paused, then added, "But in case something happens, tell Ben…"

"Tell him what, dammit?" Bishop demanded roughly when her voice trailed into silence.

Cassie shook her head. "Never mind. I should have told him myself when I had the chance."

"I hate melodrama," he snapped.

Despite everything, Cassie laughed. "Yes, I rather thought you would. Don't worry, I won't subject you to any more of it."

They were silent for a few minutes, and then Bishop said abruptly, "Cassie, I want you to promise me something."