Killer Summer

36

Summer signaled for Kevin to pull over next to a chain-link fence that separated the tarmac and hangars from the airport access road. Beyond the fence, a dozen business jets were parked and tied down. Kevin killed the engine, his palms slippery on the steering wheel.

“Sun Valley Aviation’s up there,” he informed her. “Why here?”

“Yeah, but we aren’t exactly going there.”

“Because?”

“Because of the small technicality that I am underage and neither of us is a pilot. You’re not a pilot, are you?” she added as an afterthought.

“No, but my uncle owns a sailplane, a glider. I’m sure they’d let me show it to you. I know most of the guys in there.”

“That’s the point. I’d rather just jump the fence.”

“That’s insane.”

“No, it’s not. It’s easy. Look around, dude. It’s not like anything’s happening around here.”

“Hello? It’s illegal.”

“We can be over in, like, two seconds.”

“But why bother if I can get us through the FBO? Fixed Base Operation,” he added, answering her puzzled expression. “Sun Valley Aviation, we don’t have to jump any fence,” he said. “Maybe I should just go.”

“No way!”

“You’re here. You wanted me to drive you here, and I did. We’re good.”

“I’m way early for my flight,” she complained. “The inside of the jet is way cool. That’s it, right over there.” She pointed. “I’m telling you, you’re going to totally love it.”

“I’m not jumping the fence, that’s nuts. It’s, like, a federal crime or something.”

“Are you afraid?”

“No. I’m just not going to do it.”

“Because you’re afraid…”

“No. Because I can just walk through Sun Valley Aviation and get to the same place.”

“At some point,” she said, “my father’s going to look for me, we both know that. Tonight, tomorrow? When he does, he’s going to check everywhere. He doesn’t do anything halfway. If you and me go through Sun Valley Aviation, we’ve been seen together. And then, when I’m suddenly not around…”

“Which is why this is where you get out.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Yes, it is,” he said. “Seriously, I’ve got to go. Have a safe flight.”

She yanked the keys from the ignition, popped open the door, and sprinted for the fence. She climbed the fence like a cat. Through the chain link, she grinned playfully, dangling Kevin’s keys from her finger. She glanced furtively to either side, wondering if she’d been seen, then was all the more obnoxious when she realized she was in the clear.

“If you want ’em, you’re going to have to come and get ’em.” She slipped the keys into the tight front pocket of her jeans. “Throw my suitcase over, while you’re at it.”

He left the suitcase in the car and climbed the fence, landing flat-footed on the tarmac.

She backed away, her right hand still guarding the keys in her pocket.

“Your bag for the keys,” he said, looking around hotly, terrified of being caught.

“Come and get it,” she said.

She sprinted toward one of the jets.

He caught up to her just as she was slipping a key in the jet’s lock. The top half of the jet’s hatch lifted up as a set of stairs simultaneously lowered with the bottom half.

She grabbed Kevin by the front of his shirt and pulled him toward her. Then, as their lips were about to touch, she spun around, placing her backside against his crotch, and pulled his right hand down around her, his fingers inching into her pocket.

It was warm inside the pocket. And terrifying.

“They’re yours, if you want them.”

His fingers touched his keys. She forced his hand lower, deeper into the pocket. It was like a furnace down there.

He grabbed his keys, pulled them out, stuffed them in his pant pocket.

She pulled his now-free hand against the skin of the jet.

“Now that you’ve touched it,” she said, confusing him, “don’t you want to see it?”

“I… don’t think so,” his voice cracked. He looked back at his car.

“One beer,” she said. “Have a look around. Stay or don’t stay. Whatever you want. But I’ve got time to kill, and we might as well kill it together.”

Her warmth lingered on his fingertips.

Now that you’ve touched it…

He followed her up the stairs.