The Book of Lies

34

Whattya mean, the feds are on their way?” my dad asks, sitting straight up on the floral sofa.

“She. Naomi. She knows we’re in an airport,” I tell him.

“But all those fake reservations—”

“Will hold her off for ten minutes. She’s smart. She knows Lauderdale is closest. We need to go,” I insist. “And you need to leave,” I bark at Serena.

“Th-That’s not possible. I know I’m meant to help him,” she says, standing from her seat.

“And I know I’m meant to escort you outside and save your loopy life,” I shoot back, gripping her by the elbow.

“Please . . . your father needs to settle his spirit,” Serena begs, trying to pull away.

“Cal, let go of her!” my dad growls.

Once again, a nearby TSA employee turns toward us. But it’s not half as bad as the flat black box that I spot over his shoulder, hanging in the corner. Another camera I missed. Staring directly at us.

Following my eyeline, my father freezes when he sees it. He knows what it means. He knows Naomi’s on her way. And he knows what Ellis will do to Serena when he finds out she’s been seen with us.

“Calvin, how much cash do we have left?” my father asks.

“That’s smart—no, good thought,” I tell him. “If we hide her in a motel, she’ll be safe until—”

“I’m not getting her a motel. I’m getting her a plane ticket.” He turns to Serena. “You’re coming with us.”

“Wait . . . what?” I ask.

“Don’t argue with me, Calvin. Not about this. I know what I’m doing.”

“Oh, that’s right—I forgot how good you were at saving the women you love.”

My father stops right there, burning me with the kind of glare that should come with medical attention. Serena starts to scratch his back. It doesn’t help at all.

“Enough with the subtext, Calvin. Where’s all the anger really coming from: that I’m looking out for Serena, or that I didn’t look out for your mother?”

“Didn’t look out for? Lloyd, you killed her. You pushed her and killed her.”

“That’s not what happened!”

“You kidding? I saw it!”

My father falls silent, like he’s surprised I remember.

We’re both breathing hard, but he’s the one to break the quiet. “Why’d you follow me after the hospital, Calvin? Was it to help me, or just to remind me of my life’s greatest regret?”

I shake my head. “You have no idea how much you don’t know me.”

He studies me carefully, unsure of whether to fight. But he also knows that if we don’t move quick, we’re not going anywhere.

“Lloyd, if this is the journey—between you and Cal . . .” Serena begins behind him, “maybe I was wrong. Maybe I’m not meant to be on this trip.”

“She’s right,” I shoot back.

“She’s not,” my father insists. “We can’t just leave her here.”

“We’re not leaving her. If we get her someplace safe . . .”

“Where? In what time?” my dad challenges. “You said they’re already on their way. And then when they pull the video from those cameras—you saw what happened to Timothy. Once Ellis shows his badge and sees that Serena was with us, he’s gonna track her down, leap for her throat, and . . .” He looks over at Serena, refusing to say the words. “Tell me you think I’m wrong, Calvin. She knows what flight we’re on. Tell me if we leave her here you really believe Ellis will walk away peacefully and leave her untouched?”

I stare at Serena, knowing the answer. The last thing I need is another death on my conscience. Besides, I heard her ask about the package last night. At least this way, I’ve got my eyes right on her.

“The moment we get to Cleveland, we’re checking her into the first hotel we see,” I say.

“That’s fine,” my dad says, rushing back to the airline counter.

Behind him, Serena makes a quick pit stop in the restroom.

And I’m left alone by the floral sofas, staring through the tall plateglass windows, studying the arriving cars and taxis, and praying Naomi and Ellis aren’t as close as I think they are.