Final Target Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought about it. "Okay. We'll see how you do as commander in chief."
    "And if I don't measure up, you'll fire me in a heartbeat?"
    "Exactly. Now, if there's nothing else, I'll go sit with my daughter."
    "There's something else. I need more information."
    "What kind?"
    "About Vasaro."
    "We've told you what happened."
    "Before the attack, did your daughter like Vasaro?"
    "She loved it. Who wouldn't? Vasaro grows flowers for the perfume trade, and what kid doesn't Like farm life? Acres of lavender and lilies and far away from the strictures of D.C."
    "She'd spent time there before?"
    Andreas nodded. "Often. Caitlin Vasaro is her godmother and they're very close. She lets Cassie work in the fields and pick the flowers for the perfume." His lips tightened. "It's damnable Cassie will never be able to go back now."
    "Why?"
    "If you could have seen her that night, you'd know why. She was covered with blood and gore. The trauma made her what she is now. If we get her back- when we get her back-there's no way I'd ever let her go to Vasaro again."
    "I see."
    His gaze narrowed on her face. "Why did you want to know about the place?"
    "As you said, that night made her what she is, and it happened at Vasaro. I need to know everything I can about both. You were there because you were lending the statue to Caitlin Vasaro to publicize her new perfume?"
    "I was actually lending the Wind Dancer to the Museum d'Andreas for a few months. That's why my wife and I were in Paris that night. We thought the publicity surrounding the loan would remind everyone of Caitlin's first perfume, which she named after the Wind Dancer."
    "The Wind Dancer wasn't at Vasaro?"
    "No, it had been couriered to the museum." He made a face. "Cassie was so disappointed, we had to set up the hologram Caitlin bought years ago. It's truly remarkable and it satisfied Cassie. Why are you so curious about the statue?"
    "I went through the family album you sent me and pulled a few pictures to test Cassie's reactions. I think she had a response to the photo of her with the Wind Dancer in the library at your house in Charleston."
    He stiffened. "What kind of response? What did she do?"
    "Nothing physical. Nothing I can put my finger on."
    His eagerness vanished. "Then how do you know she had any response?"
    "It's just…a feeling."
    "You think she was afraid?"
    "I'm not sure. Was she afraid of the statue?"
    "Not before that night. The Wind Dancer has belonged to my family since the thirteenth century. She grew up with the statue and was never happier than when she was allowed to play in the same room with it."
    "It must have seemed magical to her. A golden Pegasus is the stuff a child's dreams are made of. Just the image of a horse flying through the clouds…"
    "She used to make up stories about it."
    "What kind of stories?"
    "Oh, adventures. Her own fairy tales about flying away with the Pegasus and rescuing princes from dragons and such."
    "She must have a wonderful imagination."
    "Marvelous. She was very bright."
    "She is very bright."
    "Of course, that's what I meant." He opened the door. "I'll try anything you want me to until I decide it's not working. How do you want me to treat her?"
    "Talk to her. Ask her questions. Show her you love her."
    "You said that she rejects familiarity."
    "It never hurts anyone to know that love is waiting. But don't show her you're upset when she doesn't respond. It will only cause her to draw away."
    "That's a big order."
    "You're a big man." She paused. "I'll bring you a cup of coffee. How long can you stay?"
    "Two hours." He sat down in the chair by Cassie's bed and felt his heart twist as he looked at her. Come back to me, sweetheart. "1 have to be back at the White House by seven." He took Cassie's hand and his voice lowered. "But that's long enough to tell you all about what's happening, Cassie. I miss you. Your sister, Marisa, called from Santiago and told me to remind you that you'd promised to go down and help her train the new baby