“She was here,” he said to the officer. “And McCarthy might have a gun. Please calm down, ma’am. Where did you last see them?”
“Over there at that table, but those people aren’t them,” she said, pointing over to a table surrounded by four people.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Larry said and he and the officer took off through the airport.
As soon as he turned around to follow the officers, David caught up with him. They began searching down the side of the concourse. They looked in each of the fast food cafés and gift shops, but no Susan or McCarthy.
—-
“I have to go to the lady’s room,” I told my escort.
He grabbed my suitcase.
“Don’t take too long,” he warned.
He let me enter the woman’s restroom while he remained by the drinking fountains. I took as long as I dared. Five minutes went by and then ten until I heard a woman calling my name. I washed my hands for the fourth time.
“That’s me, tell him I’ll be out in a moment,” I called back.
I peeked around the tiled corner watching Vernon notice the troop of police officers walking in his direction. He bent over the water fountain when Larry and David passed behind him. He waited and stood by the women’s room doorway. According to the new law, he could go in the ladies’ restroom if he wanted to, but he wouldn’t dare create a scene and bring attention to himself.
I sighed and took my time out the entrance when he spotted me.
“What took you so long?” he growled.
“I really had to go, okay? Why are we going back this way?” I asked as we retraced our steps toward the food court.
He didn’t say a word but his self-assuring demeanor had faded to indecisiveness. He stopped and pulled me into a small café where we sat down in the far corner. From this recess in the structural design the general public couldn’t see us.
“You have a chance right now to let me go. The police are on to you, aren’t they?” I said.
“Quiet, let me think.”
“Oh, the great jewel thief doesn’t have plan B?” I egged him on as much as I could. He wouldn’t dare slap me in front of the patrons here, would he?
I observed him scanning around the walkway when he turned to notice what was hanging behind his chair. Football souvenirs, of hats, scarves, and other trinkets from the gift shop next to this café, were stacked on a mobile shelf. He stood up and looked over the items for sale.
“Come with me,” he said, lifting me up by my hand.
He squeezed my fingers too hard as he pulled me into the gift shop with me hauling my suitcase and carrying my purse. There, in the small shop, he picked out a printed scarf covered by the Hawaiian Rainbow Warriors emblem that resembled a green jagged H. He chose a baseball cap with the same logo. I had to pay for them, of course. He checked the receipt after I signed it before handing the sales slip over to the clerk. We returned to the café where he wrapped the scarf around my head and chin. He then pulled the hat’s brim down so others walking by couldn’t see his eyes.
A clerk from the café came over to our table.
“Can I get you something?” she asked.
“Just two sodas,” he replied.
“Great, now I’ll have to pay for those,” I moaned.
“When we finish and pay for these drinks, we will calmly get up and take our time to the gate. Understand?” he emphasized.
“Yes, master,” I replied.
I didn’t care at this point until I looked out into the passing crowd to see Trisha hurry by toting both of her carry-ons. I guessed she had already checked in her larger bags. I saw no one following her. After the server delivered the sodas to our table, I sucked some of the soda through my straw. Then I perked up when two policewomen ran by us.
Ten or more minutes passed before Vernon stood up.
“Get up. We are going to take that stroll,” he ordered, wheeling out my bag.
We walked over to the counter and this time he paid with cash. I guess he didn’t want me to draw them any pictures on a credit card receipt.
He put his hand through my left arm to shield me from passengers walking by us. My scarf may have covered my blond hair but my friends know me from my tall build.
Chapter 30
Deflection
Larry looked over toward the gate waiting area and noticed Trisha carrying two tote bags. He walked over to check on her and if she had seen anything.
“Did you see any sign of Susan here?” he asked her.
“I didn’t, but David found Lorilee Dawn’s business card at the service desk before we walked over to security. I was looking for her all that time. Do you know if she’s still here?” she asked.
“A food kiosk clerk showed me her signed receipt. The man with her has shaved his beard off and could be masquerading as Henry. We found a printed copy of Henry in Susan’s hotel room.
“Oh no,” she said, drawing her hand to her mouth.
Larry looked around the waiting area and took off back up the concourse to look for me some more.
—-
We still had a couple of hours before we could board our plane. “What can I do next to slow this monster down?” I asked myself. I saw a tired little girl slip and stop her mother as she sat on the floor. She crossed her arms and refused to stand up when her mother tried to coax her. So, a few steps further, I tripped.
Down I went with a cry and almost hit the floor before Vernon caught my arm.
“What’s wrong with you? Get up?” he snarled, jerking on my arm.
“Ow, my ankle turned,” I pretended to whine.
“Stand, I’ll help you over to those chairs,” he said, trying to get me up on my other foot.
A man
