She had fallen asleep less than two hours ago after poring over the written transcript of the Orion-to-LCR communications, concentrating on the final transmissions from the flight deck. It was obviously what had precipitated the dream this time around, just as reading the newspaper story about Orion had originally brought it on. Which made, what now, four occurrences in less than a week?

"Shit," she muttered aloud. "Better find a way to clear your head before hitting the sack or you're going to burn out fast, Annie. Listen to some music, watch those Seinfeld reruns on TV, anything besides taking your work to bed with--"

Her eyes snapping wide open, her heart pounding again, she straightened with such an abrupt jerk that her headboard struck the wall behind her with a bang.

Mark's words to her in the dream ... those last words.

She could recall them as if they had actually come from his mouth and not her own subconscious mind. As if he were repeating them from beside her in bed at that very instant.

It's all on the tape, Annie. On the tape. You already know everything you need to know.

She switched on her reading lamp and grabbed up the bound pages of the transcript from where they lay on the nightstand, unaware that she'd barely missed knocking over her water glass in the process.

Everything you need to know.

"Oh, my God," she said into the pin-drop silence of the room, slapping the transparent binder onto her lap and opening it with a jerky, almost violent flick of her hand. "Oh, my God."

EIGHTEEN - FLORIDA APRIL 23, 2001

EIGHTEEN

FLORIDA APRIL 23, 2001

NO MATTER HOW HEAVY ANNIE'S WORKLOAD AT THE JSC, she'd routinely driven the kids to school every morning rather than hustle them off with their nursemaid, and she hadn't wanted that to change while they were in Florida. When the phone rang she was helping them pack their book bags, impatient to get under way, having jumped out of bed, showered, and dressed almost immediately upon awakening from her dream long hours before sunrise.

She motioned for them to keep packing and snatched up the receiver.

"Hi," she said. "This is Annie."

"Good morning," a man's voice said at the other end of the line. "My name's Pete Nimec. I'm from--"

"UpLink International." She glanced quickly at the wall clock. Seven-thirty. Some people had their nerve. "Mr. Gordian called yesterday to tell me you'd be coming to Florida, and I'm very appreciative of your assistance. Hadn't expected to hear from you so soon, though."

"Sorry, I know it's very early," he said. "But I was hoping we could get together for breakfast."

"No can do," she said. "You caught me as I was practically heading out the door, and I need to get to the Cape--"

"Let's meet there," he said. "I'll bring the coffee and muffins."

She shook her head.

"Mr. Nimec--"

"Pete."