Part 21 (1/2)

”Did you tell Dr. Solomon?”

”I wasn't sure what what to think, and it wasn't like he'd done anything wrong. He didn't say he was going to hurt the priest, just that they should to think, and it wasn't like he'd done anything wrong. He didn't say he was going to hurt the priest, just that they should remove remove him.” him.”

”Did you ever see him again?”

”No. I haven't been back.”

I gripped my cane tightly and struggled to stand. Samuel helped me to my feet. I moved toward the gla.s.s doors to the back patio.

”So what do we do now?” asked Sam.

”I say we get out of the country,” said Rebecca. ”It's none of our business what's going on in that place.”

I looked out at the lake, hoping to absorb its peacefulness. ”Solomon pretended to kill me,” I said ”but if they discover my body is not at the morgue, they'll try to find me.” I turned back to look at my family. ”That means as long as you're with me, you're in danger too.”

”If you think I'm letting you go anywhere without me me, you're out of your mind,” Samuel a.s.serted.

”Thomas, we're in this together. We can all go away until this thing blows over.”

I stood and looked from Annie, to Rebecca, to Samuel. I didn't think there was any way this thing thing was just going to blow over. And although I wanted to be with my family, I couldn't bear the thought of them being hurt by these people. I was just going to blow over. And although I wanted to be with my family, I couldn't bear the thought of them being hurt by these people. I didn't didn't want them involved. want them involved. But, But, they were already involved. If I left them behind, they would be in more danger than if I took them with me. I let out a sigh. ”Where could we go?” they were already involved. If I left them behind, they would be in more danger than if I took them with me. I let out a sigh. ”Where could we go?”

Annie straightened up. ”Well, like Becky said, I think we should get out of the country. Do you remember Stephen?”

I shot her a look. ”Of course course I remember Stephen.” Immediately I gave a look of apology, realizing that her perspective was vastly different from my own. For all I remember Stephen.” Immediately I gave a look of apology, realizing that her perspective was vastly different from my own. For all I I knew, my best friend and business partner could have died knew, my best friend and business partner could have died years years ago. ago.

”Do you remember that resort we bought him in the Bahamas? Well, he's done very well for himself and has expanded to five more locations.”

I let out a breath of relief. ”I knew he had a mind for business.”

”We could go stay in one of his bungalows in Haiti for awhile, until you recuperate.”

”Haiti?” I grimaced. ”Stephen has a resort in Haiti?” Haiti?”

Annie looked momentarily confused, then said, ”Ooohh, you're remembering the old Haiti. It's been very stable and very very prosperous for a long time now.” prosperous for a long time now.”

”Yeah,” Rebecca spoke up. ”After the big earthquake and all the rebuilding, Davata Notrals was much more available. That's when things really changed. Or so I read.”

I looked at her blankly. ”Oh. --Okay. So...” I said, turning back to Annie, ”we should go to Stephen's resort?”

”Whatever you decide, I'll support you.”

”Well, my life won't be my own until I find out why those men want me dead. dead.” I shook my head. ”I'll stay until I recuperate, but I'm coming back as soon as possible to find out what's going on.”

Annie put her hand on my arm. ”Then it's settled.”

”Yes.” I looked at each of them. ”It's settled.”

CHAPTER 20.

SLEEP OF THE DEAD.

001001011001110.

The stewardess pa.s.sed by on her way to coach.

”Miss, could I get a gla.s.s of water before takeoff?”

”Sure thing.”

I looked down at the picture on my new pa.s.sport. I still couldn't believe how much I had aged. It would be a long time before I would get used to all the wrinkles. We'd had no trouble getting the pa.s.sport renewed. --Apparently they hadn't heard I was dead.

Annie peered out the window at the sun low on the horizon. It would be dark soon.

”What are you looking for?”

”The bad guys,” she said, visibly troubled. She turned and looked at me, as if noticing me for the first time. ”How are you feeling?”

”Exhausted. Like I could sleep for twenty years.”

Her eyes narrowed. ”That's not funny.”

”Sorry.” I offered a weak smile. ”Humor is the only thing keeping me from breaking down.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. ”This all must be extremely hard on you. I can't even imagine.”

”It's hard on everyone, I would think.”

”Mom,” said Sam from across the aisle, ”when will we be touching down?”

”10:00 p.m.”

”Thanks.” He leaned back in to tell Rebecca.

”Are you sure they should be with us?” I asked.

”If we left them behind, they'd follow.” She raised her eyebrows. ”They have your stubbornness.”

”You make that sound like a bad thing.” I nudged her. ”My stubbornness made us wealthy, even by today's standards.” I thought back to the airport cafeteria: five bucks for coffee, seven for a danis.h.!.+ Highway robbery! Highway robbery!

”Are you going to try to sleep?” Annie asked.

”Perhaps a couple of winks. Wake me when we get there.”

”Okay.” She reached up and waved her hand, the overhead light went off.

It was going to take a while to get used to the changes in technology. I chuckled to myself as I remembered the incident in the terminal. It didn't look like a robot before or or after I kicked the little b.u.g.g.e.r over. I thought my bag was snagged on a baggage cart. As far as I was concerned, whoever designed carts with arms and hands should be after I kicked the little b.u.g.g.e.r over. I thought my bag was snagged on a baggage cart. As far as I was concerned, whoever designed carts with arms and hands should be shot. shot.