The Four Corners of the Sky_ A Novel - Michael Malone [87]
She pointed out, “Well, it is a personal favor.”
“You know the government. Everything’s personal. I’m going to bed.” Trevor added that Annie’s cat was already in bed with his Westie.
“Don’t make too much of a one-night stand.”
“I thought Brad’s one-night stand was why you left him.”
Annie gave a sharp laugh. “Didn’t I tell you I found out he’d already been sleeping with Melody even before we left for Desert Fox?”
“If you’d known, you could have taken him out in Kuwait. Talk about unfriendly fire.” Trevor yawned. “I’ll call you in the morning, late in the morning. I’m turning off my phone now.”
Back at the Admirals Club counter Annie spoke again with the receptionists. “Any chance you can help find me a seat on a plane to Miami tonight? Any plane.”
The older woman turned to her companion. “Come on, she’s in the military. Let’s see.”
But unfortunately, because of delays and cancellations caused by the storm, there proved to be no seats on any commercial flights to Miami, not even for the military, until 10 a.m. tomorrow. “You could try to hitch with one of the private companies,” the other receptionist proposed. “You’re Navy?”
Annie tapped the insignia on her cap and white collar. “Yes, a lieutenant; I’m a pilot. Combat jets.” She pointed at ribbons on her shirt. “Desert Fox.”
The women were surprised. “You were in the Gulf War?”
When Annie nodded yes, the older receptionist solemnly crossed her hands on her chest. “I think that’s great. My cousin was in Desert Storm.”
Annie said, “My aunt says it’s all about the oil and the armaments industries.” The woman’s frown darkened, but then Annie smiled and she smiled back. “My aunt’s an old hippie.” The younger receptionist smiled too. There was something about Annie’s smile, when she did smile, that was irresistible.
Chapter 27
Let’s Make It Legal
Even near midnight on the Fourth of July 2001, Lambert–St. Louis International Airport was crowded with still largely cheerful people waiting for flights not yet delayed, with families pushing strollers, men and women lugging golf bags and tennis rackets, college students bent under backpacks, headed for far-off places.
In the terminal connector near the Admirals Club, across from where the handsome man in jeans and boots had gone back to reading his magazine, Annie called home again.
This time Clark answered the phone from his bed. Hearing that Jack had fled the airport after sending Annie to recover a courier case from the fuselage of the King of the Sky, Clark admitted, “Nothing about that man surprises me anymore. Come on back home, Annie.”
“Let me talk to Sam.”
Clark knocked at Sam’s door. “It’s Annie again.” Sam was sitting up in bed with her cell phone in her hand. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
After listening to Annie’s story of what had happened in the airport, Sam told her, “Watch out for Sergeant Hart.”
“Sergeant Hart? In Miami?”
“He may be using you to get to Jack. Don’t say anything incriminating to him if he calls you. I’m getting Jack a lawyer. He shouldn’t have to die in jail. I mean, if he’s dying, which he isn’t. But if he does, bring his body back to Emerald.”
Clark took the phone from her. “Sam’s up to something furtive here, Annie.”
Sam shouted, “No, I’m not. Call us later.”
***
In the corridor, someone grabbed Annie from behind. She spun around, defensive, assuming it was the good-looking man from the newsstand. Instead, her well-dressed, soon-to-be ex-husband Brad Hopper stood in front of her, grinning. He scooped Annie off her feet. “Hey, get you, blast from the past!”
“God, Brad,” she finally was able to say. “What are you doing here?”
“Why, looking all over creation for you.” He grinned his best dimpled grin, the one he had used from infancy to cajole women into spoiling him. Even his formidable mother Mama Spring had been unable to resist it, and neither (for a few years)