York, and Joseph Berry was holding out a thick envelope to her.
'Here you are. Twenty thousand dollars, in hundred-dollar bills, just as you requested.' It took Kelly a moment to get her bearings. 'Thank you.' Kelly opened the envelope, extracted ten thousand dollars, and handed it to Diane.
Diane looked at her, puzzled. 'What's this?' 'This is your half.' 'For what? I can't-' 'You can pay me back later.' Kelly shrugged. 'If we're still around. If we're not around, I won't need it anyway. Now let's see if we can get out of here.'
CHAPTER 34
AT LEXINGTON AVENUE, Diane hailed a cab.
'Where are we going?'
'To La Guardia airport.' Kelly looked at Diane in surprise. 'Don't you know they'll be watching all the airports?' 'I hope so.' 'What are you-?' Kelly groaned. 'You have a plan, right?' Diane patted Kelly's hand and smiled. 'Right.'
AT LA GUARDIA, Kelly followed Diane inside the terminal to the US Airways ticket counter.
The agent behind the counter said, 'Good morning. Can I help you?' Diane smiled. 'Yes, we'd like two coach tickets to Los Angeles.' 'When would you like to leave?' 'On the first available flight. Our names are Diane Stevens and Kelly Harris.' Kelly winced.
The ticket agent was consulting a schedule. 'The next plane will be boarding at two-fifteen.' 'Perfect.' Diane looked at Kelly.
Kelly managed a weak smile. 'Perfect.'
'Will that be cash or credit card?'
'Cash.' Diane handed him the money.
As they walked away, Kelly said, 'Why don't we just put up a neon sign telling Kingsley where we are?' Diane said, 'You worry too much.' They started to pass the American Airlines booth. Diane stopped and walked up to the ticket agent.
'We'd like two coach tickets to Miami on the next flight out of here.' 'Certainly.' The ticket agent checked the schedule. 'That flight will be boarding in three hours.' 'Fine. Our names are Diane Stevens and Kelly Harris.' Kelly closed her eyes for an instant.
'Credit card or cash?'
'Cash.' Diane paid the clerk and he handed her their tickets.
Kelly said, 'Is this how we're going to outwit these geniuses? This wouldn't fool a ten-year-old.' Diane started walking toward the airport exit.
Kelly hurried after her. 'Where are you going?' We re going to'Never mind. I don't think I want to know.'
THERE WAS A row of taxis in front of the airport. When the two women walked out of the terminal, one of the taxis pulled out of line and drove up in front of the entrance. Kelly and Diane got into the cab.
'Where to, please?'
'Kennedy airport.' Kelly said, 'I don't know if they're going to be confused, but I sure am. I still wish we had some kind of weapon to protect ourselves.' 'I don't know where we could find a Howitzer.' The taxi went into gear. Diane leaned forward to examine the driver's photo ID:
MARIO SILVA.
'Mr. Silva, do you think that you can get us to Kennedy without being followed?' They could see his grin in the mirror. 'You came to the right party, lady.' He pressed down on the accelerator and made a sudden U-turn. At the first corner, he drove halfway down the street, then sped into an alley.
The women looked through the rear window. There were no cars behind them.
Mario Silva's grin widened. 'Okay?'
'Okay,' Kelly said.
For the next thirty minutes, Mario Silva kept making unexpected turns and going down small side streets, to make sure no one could follow them. Finally, the taxi pulled up in front of the main entrance to Kennedy airport.
'We're here,' Mario Silva announced triumphantly.
Diane took some bills from her purse. 'There's something extra for you.' The driver took the money and smiled. 'Thanks.' He sat in his cab, watching his two passengers walk into the Kennedy terminal. When they were out of sight, he picked up his cell phone.
'Tanner Kingsley.'
AT THE DELTA Airlines counter, the ticket agent glanced up at the board. 'Yes, we do have two tickets available on the flight you want. It leaves at five-fifty p.m. There's a one-hour layover in Madrid, and the plane arrives in Barcelona at nine-twenty a.m.' 'That will be fine,' Diane said.
'Will that be credit card or cash?'
'Cash.' Diane handed the ticket agent the money and turned to Kelly.
'Let's wait in the lounge.'
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Harry Flint was on his cell phone talking to Tanner.
'I got the information you asked for. They're flying Delta to Barcelona. Their plane leaves Kennedy at five- fifty this evening, with a one-hour layover in Madrid. They'll arrive in Barcelona at nine-twenty in the morning.' 'Good. You'll take a company jet to Barcelona, Mr. Flint, and meet them there when they arrive.
I'm counting on you to give them a warm welcome.' As Tanner hung up, Andrew walked in. He was wearing a bou-tonniere in his lapel.
'Here are the schedules for the-'
'What the hell is that?' Andrew was confused. 'You asked me to bring-' 'I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about that stupid flower you have on.' Andrew's face lit up. 'I'm wearing it to your wedding. I'm your best man.' Tanner frowned. 'What the hell are you-?' And the realization suddenly struck him. 'That was seven years ago, you cretin, and there was no wedding. Now get your ass out of here!' Andrew stood there, stunned, trying to understand what was happening.
'Out!' Tanner watched his brother leave the office. I should have put him away somewhere, he thought.
The time is coming.
THE TAKEOFF ON the flight to Barcelona was smooth and uneventful.
Kelly looked out the window at New York fading into the distance. 'Do you think we got away with it?'
