"I'm totally going to run down the hall and jump in his arms."
Paul smothered a laugh. "You two need a moment?"
"No," Kam said coolly.
"Focus," Taylor scolded. Wyatt tucked an envelope in his left jacket pocket. "Remember to keep your papers in your inner jacket pocket when you travel to see me." Taylor put her book in the bag by her feet as Wyatt passed by her table moving toward B Gates.
"Right?" Kam started to hum a tune that Taylor didn't recognize. He used to to hum as they snuggled together before he left. She shook the bittersweet memory away.
"I'm right-handed." She hoped that Kam got that clue.
"I'll meet you all for coffee in a few." Paul was staging for the next phase of the operation. So far, everything was going as planned.
Kam's humming stopped. Taylor couldn't resist the plea, "Please be careful."
"Always." Kam's voice quieted the nerves that had been sparking ever since they touched down in Anchorage.
Taylor hoisted the backpack on her shoulder. She kept one eye on the back of Wyatt Nixon's head as he made his way down the corridor. She prayed that their plan would work.
A person with a ball cap pulled low on their head rammed into Wyatt. If Taylor wouldn't have been watching his every move, she would have missed the slight of hand. That person just picked the envelope from Wyatt's pocket.
"We've got a problem." Taylor stopped to keep both people in her sights. "Someone just beat us to the prize."
"I'm coming to you," Kam and Paul said in unison.
"No. Stick to the plan. I'll get our reward back."
"I can be to Wyatt in three minutes to give him the gift for the party," Kam responded.
Taylor changed direction to intercept the thief. Reason number twenty-five why traveling through airports was not for her—pickpockets. "Paul, meet Nixon for coffee. I've got this. And, Paul, play nice with Kam. He's the only reason I'm alive right now."
She took his silence on the line as grudging acceptance of her request.
The woman took her hat off and tossed it in the trash can, but kept walking toward the restroom. Taylor quickened her step while she cataloged as much as she could about the thief. Combat boots, dark curly hair with green tinsel, and a white shirt. As the woman stepped into the restroom, she glanced over her shoulders. When her gaze locked onto Taylor's, her eyes widened. She ducked her head and turned the corner before Taylor could catch up to her.
Taylor barged into the mostly empty bathroom as the woman slipped into the last stall. A poster on the wall by the hand dryers gave Taylor an idea. She gave the woman washing her hands a kind smile hoping that she didn't call security the moment she stepped out of the restrooms.
"We're all alone now," Taylor gently said through the door.
"Go away," the woman spat back.
Taylor sent a silent prayer that this worked. "I'm a police officer and it looked like you were running from trouble. I'd like to help you. No one is going to hurt you."
The woman was silent for a beat then a sniffle emerged from behind the stall door. "I just want to help you," Taylor encouraged the woman.
Taylor only needed her to open the door preferably without too much fuss.
"You don't understand. I need to get back to him. He'll hurt Sara." Another sniffle.
Either this woman was a gifted actress or there was more to her than just targeting a random person. "Open the door so we can talk."
The stall door creaked open, but the woman kept her eyes downcast. "Hi. My name is Taylor. What's yours?"
In a single breath the woman's shoulder checked Taylor, who stumbled back. Regaining her footing, Taylor swept her leg out and tripped the would-be runner.
"Nice try." Taylor grabbed the envelope from the woman's back pocket. "I'll take this. It's not yours anyway."
"Give me that!" The woman cursed and sprung toward Taylor knocking them both into the sink. A sharp pain radiated up Taylor's back but her grip on the woman's wrist didn't waver. Taylor relaxed her push against the woman, which caused her to tilt toward Taylor. Using the woman's momentum, Taylor flipped her arms behind her and held her head against the mirror.
