“I’d like to help you folks, but my copilot ain’t here, and the Goose needs a crew of two.”
Nancy’s heart sank again.
Mervyn said: “I’m a pilot.”
Ned looked skeptical. “Ever flown a seaplane?”
Nancy held her breath.
Mervyn said: “Yes—the Supermarine.”
Nancy had never heard of a Supermarine, but it must have been a competition plane, for Ned was impressed and said: “Do you race?”
“I did when I was young. Now I just fly for pleasure. I have a Tiger Moth.”
“Well, if you’ve flown a Supermarine you won’t have any trouble being copilot on the Goose. And Mr. Southbome is away until tomorrow. Where do you want to go?”
“Boston.”
“Cost you a thousand dollars.”
“No problem!” Nancy said excitedly. “But we need to leave right away.”
The man looked at her in mild surprise: he had assumed the man was in charge. “We can be gone in a few minutes, ma’am. How would you pay?”
“I can give you a personal check, or you can bill my company in Boston, Black’s Boots.”
“You work for Black’s Boots?”
“I own it.”
“Hey, I’m wearing your shoes!”
She looked down. He had on the $6.95 toe-capped Oxford in black, size 9. “How do they feel?” she said automatically.
“Great. They’re good shoes. But I guess you know that.”
She smiled. “Yes,” she said. “They’re good shoes.”
PART VI
SHEDIAC TO THE BAY OF FUNDY
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Margaret was frantic with worry as the Clipper climbed over New Brunswick and headed for New York. Where was Harry?
The police had found out that he was traveling on a false passport: that much was common knowledge among the passengers. She could not imagine
As far as she knew, they had not caught him yet. The last time she saw him, he had gone to the men’s room as she was disembarking at Shediac. Was that the beginning of some escape plan? Had he known then that he was in trouble?
The police had searched the plane without finding him, so he must have got off at some point; but where had he gone? Was he even now walking along a narrow road through the forest, trying to thumb a lift? Or had he perhaps talked his way onto a fishing vessel and left by sea? Whatever he had done, the same question tortured Margaret: Would she ever see him again?
She told herself again and again she must not be discouraged. Losing Harry hurt, but she still had Nancy Lenehan to help her.
Father could not stop her now. He was a failure and an exile, and he had lost his power to coerce her. However, she was still frightened that he might lash out, like a wounded animal at bay, and do something terribly destructive.
As soon as the plane reached cruising height, she unfastened her seat belt and went aft to see Mrs. Lenehan.
The stewards were preparing the dining room for lunch as she passed through. Farther back, in number 4 compartment, Ollis Field and Frank Gordon were sitting side by side, handcuffed together. Margaret went all the way to the rear and knocked on the door of the honeymoon suite. There was no reply. She knocked again, then opened it. It was empty.
Cold fear touched her heart.
Perhaps Nancy was in the ladies’ powder room. But then where was Mr. Lovesey? If he had gone to the flight deck or the men’s room, Margaret would have seen him pass through number 2 compartment. She stood in the doorway, frowning and staring around the suite as if they might be hiding somewhere; but there was nowhere to hide.
Nancy’s brother, Peter, and his companion were sitting right next to the honeymoon suite, across the aisle from the powder room. Margaret asked them: “Where’s Mrs. Lenehan?”
Peter replied: “She decided to leave the flight at Shediac.”
Margaret gasped. “What?” she said. “How do you know?”
“She told me.”
“But why?” Margaret said plaintively. “What made her stay behind?”
He looked offended. “I guess I don’t know,” he said frostily. “She didn’t say. She simply asked me to inform the captain that she would not be joining the plane for the last leg of the trip.”
Margaret knew it was rude to interrogate him but she had to persist. “Where did Nancy go?”
He picked up a newspaper from the seat beside him. “I have no idea,” he said, and began to read.
Margaret was desolate. How could Nancy do this? She knew how much Margaret was relying on her for help. Surely she would not have left the flight without saying anything, or at least leaving some kind of message.
Margaret stared hard at Peter. She thought he had a shifty look. He was a little too touchy about being questioned, too. On impulse she said: “I don’t believe you’re telling me the truth.” It was a very insulting thing to say and she held her breath as she waited for his reaction.
He looked up at her, reddening. “You have inherited your father’s bad manners, young lady,” he said. “Please go away.”
She was crushed. Nothing could be more hateful to her than to be told she was like Father. She turned away without another word, feeling close to tears.
Passing through number 4 compartment she noticed Diana Lovesey, Mervyn’s beautiful wife. Everyone had been riveted by the drama of the runaway wife and the pursuing husband, and amused when Nancy and Mervyn had been obliged to share the honeymoon suite. Now Margaret wondered whether Diana might know what had happened to her husband. It would be embarrassing to ask, of course, but Margaret was too desperate to worry about that. She sat down next to Diana and said: “Excuse me, but do you know what happened to Mr. Lovesey and Mrs. Lenehan?”
Diana looked surprised. “Happened? Aren’t they in the honeymoon suite ?”
“No—they’re not on board.”
“Really?” Diana was obviously shocked and mystified. “How come? Did they miss the plane?”
“Nancy’s brother says they decided not to finish the flight, but I don’t think I believe him.”
Diana looked cross. “Neither of them said anything to me.”
Margaret looked an inquiry at Diana’s companion, the mild-mannered Mark. “They certainly didn’t confide in me,” he said.
In a different tone of voice Diana said: “I hope they’re all right.”
Mark said: “What do you mean, honey?”
