Worst Fears Realized

34

THE HEADACHE WAS STILL THERE WHEN Stone woke up. Sarah was up and in the shower, and her suitcases were spread over her side of the bed. She came back into the bedroom, clad only in a towel.

She held up a hand. “Don’t you look at me that way,” she said. “We’ve got a plane to catch, and there’s no time for hanky-panky.”

Stone sat up in bed and put his feet on the floor. “You’re in no danger from me, not with the headache I’ve still got.”

“You want something stronger than aspirin? I’m a walking pharmacy.”

“You prescribe, I’ll imbibe.”

She went to the bathroom and came back with a pill and a glass of water. “Don’t have any wine for breakfast; the two together will put you under the table.”

Stone took the pill. “What time is it?”

“It’s seven-thirty, and our flight is at ten. You’d better get packed; what with the security measures at the airport, we don’t even have time for breakfast. They’ll have something for us in the first-class lounge – pastries or something.”

“Right, right,” Stone said. He took a shower, and by the time he was out, his headache was gone, though he felt a little fuzzy around the edges. He got packed, then put their luggage on the elevator, which he rarely used, and sent it to the basement. “Dino’s going to drive us to the airport, just to see that we get off safely.”

“Sounds good to me,” Sarah said, getting into her coat. “Let’s get out of here.”

They rode in Dino’s police car, with a young detective for a driver. Not much was said, but finally, Stone had time to think, and he was not happy. When they arrived at the airport, Sarah handed him the tickets and her passport. “Will you get us checked in?” she asked. “I’ve got to go to the loo, and it can’t wait.”

Dino sent the young detective to escort her, and Stone got a porter and sent their luggage inside. He shook Dino’s hand. “Thanks for ferrying us out here,” he said.

“Don’t worry about what’s going on here,” Dino said. “I’ll take care of it.”

“You should get the feds in on the bombing; they might come up with something.”

“Already done; what’s left of the van is in their garage now.”

“Listen, Dino, I don’t know if you’ve thought about this, but with Mary Ann and Ben in Brooklyn, and with Sarah and me out of the country, you’re all that’s left for these people to go after. You’re going to have to watch your ass.”

“I always do,” Dino said. “You relax and have a good time. Call me, and I’ll update you on what’s happening.”

“I’ll do that,” Stone replied. They hugged, and Stone followed the porter into the terminal. There was no line at the first-class counter, so check-in was quick. Stone set Sarah’s luggage on the scales. He was thinking hard.

“Is this everything?” the woman at the counter asked. “Don’t you have any luggage?”

He made up his mind. “There’ll just be one traveling. Do you mind if I leave my bags here for a few minutes? I’ll come back for them when I’ve seen my friend off.”

The woman handed back the tickets and the passports. “Sure, I’ll keep an eye on them.” Stone stuck the tickets into his pocket, just as Sarah arrived.

“Are we all set?” she asked.

“Yep; let’s go find the first-class lounge.”

They sat quietly and had coffee and pastries while Stone had a look at the Times. “Well, we made the front page,” he said.

“I don’t want to hear about it,” she said. “I’m putting it out of my mind – and for God’s sake, don’t mention it to my parents. They’ll go bonkers.”

“All right.”

Their flight was called, and they walked silently to the gate. Stone waited until they were about to enter the airplane, then he took Sarah aside. “I can’t go,” he said. “I can’t leave Dino in the middle of all this; if I do, he’ll be their only target.”

“Dino can take care of himself,” Sarah replied.

“If these people got to him, I’d never forgive myself.”

She looked at him for a moment. “Stone, I’m not coming back to New York.”

“Look, this will be over, eventually. Stay with your folks until we’ve cleared it up, then come back.”

“No, I’ve had it with this city. I left the first time because I was unhappy here; now it’s trying to kill me. I’m sorry, but I won’t be back.”

“What about your attitude toward being pushed around by terrorists?” he asked.

“I’ve reconsidered my position.”

“You know I can’t live anywhere else but New York,”

“I know.” She put her arms around him. “You’re the sweetest man I know, but, as you said, when there are enough coincidences lined up, it’s fate. The fates are against us.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She kissed him. “So am I.”

He gave her her ticket and passport, and she disappeared down the ramp and into the airplane.

Stone trudged back to the ticket counter, returned his ticket for credit, and picked up his bags. To his surprise, Dino’s car was still sitting at the curb. Stone tossed his bags into the backseat and got in. “I’m back from England,” he said.

“How come?” Dino asked.

“I didn’t like the weather.”

“You let that girl go?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Will she come back when this is over?”

“No. Take me to a hotel, Dino; if somebody watched me go, I don’t want him to know I’m back.” Dino motioned for his driver to move on. “That was some girl,” he said.

“I know.”

“You incredible schmuck.”

“I know.”