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Using the rearview mirror, I lock eyes with Simon.
“What?” asks Dad.
“Why don’t we just fly out of here? Lake Anna Airport is only thirty minutes from here.”
Dad grunts and moves in his seat so he can stare at Simon. “Go on.”
“It’s a small strip, no control tower, and I’m sure a little money will keep the locals’ mouths shut.”
With another grunt, Dad twists forward again. “Good idea. Ann, head for it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.” He opens one of the bottles and shakes out two pills. “Wake me when we get there.”
Simon’s hand lands on my shoulder, and he squeezes it lightly. His very touch eases the stress within me. Looking back in the rearview mirror, he smiles at me and then leans back in the seat. His eyes close when I start the car, and once again I concentrate on the task at hand—driving us to our destination.
Wraith
The airport is nothing more than a strip of asphalt in the middle of nowhere. There are a couple of hangars, but no one is around. Ann checked the buildings and found an old Cessna and a Cirrus SR22. The Cirrus has more room, but the Cessna is a more reliable plane, and there are plenty of them in the air. Climbing into the cockpit, I see the keys sitting in the switch, so I turn them to the far right, and she starts up immediately.
“Ann, do a walk around. Check she’s sky worthy.”
Ann gives me a blank look. “What am I looking for?”
“Dents, cracks, missing parts, leaks. Anything that doesn’t look kosher.”
“Right.” She raises her eyebrows at me and does as I’ve asked.
Simon climbs into the back of the plane. “You know she’d do anything for you.”
“Almost anything,” I reply flatly.
“How so?”
Without looking at him, I check the instruments and fuel. “I asked her to leave you. In hindsight, I’m glad she didn’t. I’d be dead right now if she did.”
“You’re too stubborn to die.”
Chuckling, I look at him. Simon may not be the man I had envisioned for my girl, but he loves her. He’s proved it more than once.
“You’re all right, Mr. Bartlett.”
“So are you, Jamison Felder.”
The smile falls from my face. “That’s a name you need to forget. It could cause us all a lot of trouble. Hank is fine.”
“What about Dad?”
“You asking me something, son?”
“Ann is everything to me. I’m asking for your blessing.”
Ann is walking around the plane and is about to climb in.
“You have it.” Twisting painfully in my seat, I lock eyes with him. “But I’m not the one you need to get the affirmative answer from, and if I know her as well as I think I do, she’s not ready.”
Ann opens the door and climbs into the plane. “As far as I can tell, everything looks fine.” She looks at Simon and me. “Everything okay in here?”
