Part 28 (1/2)
”Thomas. We're staying with you.”
”But you're not safe safe with me.” with me.”
Sam got off the couch and walked toward us. ”You're not in any condition to go anywhere by yourself. We need to stay with you.”
Annie's eyes were pleading. ”Sam's right, Thomas. We just got you back, I don't want to take a chance of losing you again.”
I looked at Annie, then back at Sam. ”Well, I need need to find out what's going on, and that's going to draw attention to me...” to find out what's going on, and that's going to draw attention to me...”
Sam gripped my shoulder. ”We're in this together. This is our our problem.” problem.”
I studied them again, then let out a sigh. ”Well if there's no changing your minds, at least meet me half way.”
The satisfaction on Annie's face was obvious. ”What is it you want us to do?” she asked gently.
”While they track me here, I'm going to scatter my trail and try to find Hazel Brown.”
Again, Annie gave me a curious look.
”She's the only lead I have.” I pulled the envelope from my pocket and held it out. ”Solomon told me to give this to her.” Annie slid it from my grasp and opened it. ”I know it doesn't make any sense,” I said, ”but it must be important somehow.”
”This is it?” She held up the tiny piece of paper.
Sam came around and looked over her shoulder.
”Yeah, that's what doesn't make sense. Why would he ask me to deliver a packet, with just my name?” name?”
”Are you supposed to mail it?” Sam asked.
”I don't know. Everything happened so fast, I don't remember exactly what Solomon said. But I'm guessing this Hazel Brown knows something, something, and I want to know what she knows.” and I want to know what she knows.”
They both nodded.
”Which means, I need to go to Florida to find her. And if those men tracking me are the same ones who want me dead dead, I don't want to put my family in danger.”
”But you just agreed to let us...”
I put my hand up. ”Annie, we can all go to Florida, but when we get to Marathon, you and Rebecca need to stay behind for a bit-- just until we know it's safe. Okay?” I looked over at Rebecca, quietly sitting on the couch.
She read my expression, then slowly nodded. ”I trust you, Dad.”
My whole face became a warm smile.
She returned the warmth.
”Andy lives in Homestead,” Annie said abruptly. ”We could stay at his place. Plus, we'll have access to the Florida branch if we need it.”
”We have a branch in Florida?” Florida?”
”You always talked about how much you loved it there.” She smiled and shrugged.
I gave her a warm look. ”You ”You are a faithful woman, Annie Tardin.” are a faithful woman, Annie Tardin.”
Her eyes sparkled. ”I have my moments.”
CHAPTER 26.
THE FALLEN.
001001011001110.
The trip from Haiti to Miami was surprisingly uneventful. Several times I tried to call Hazel Brown, but she was unavailable. I was, however, welcome to leave a message.
In Miami we had a company car brought to the airport under strictest secrecy. Sam and I dropped Annie and Rebecca off at Andy's in Homestead, then continued on down the Florida Keys to Marathon.
”Pinrow!” I said with a point.
”Blinker- on,” said the synthetic voice of the car. ”Turning- said the synthetic voice of the car. ”Turning- left- left- onto- onto- Pinrow- Street.” Pinrow- Street.” The digital voice was The digital voice was annoyingly annoyingly perfect. perfect.
”Can we turn that thing off?” I said, searching the dashboard. ”It's getting on my nerves.”
”GPS voice off,” said Sam, giving me a big grin.
I gave him a big smirk. ”I could have done that.” that.”
Slowly we rolled down Pinrow Street to a one story white stucco home. ”There it is,” I said, pointing. ”128.”
Sam drove past it, turned around in a driveway a few houses down, then pulled to the side of the road. ”Now what?” he asked.
”Well, it looks like there's no one home, but...” As I spoke a tiny compact electric car pulled into the driveway. An overweight, short, black woman in an bright orange dress stepped out. She reached into the car and came out clutching a stack of papers and a briefcase. Awkwardly, she scurried up the front steps and disappeared inside the house.
”That must be our lady,” I said.
”She is going to help us?” Sam looked at me with eyebrows raised. is going to help us?” Sam looked at me with eyebrows raised.
”That's the plan,” I said, checking out the back window. ”I'll go talk to her. You stay here, and call me if you see anything suspicious.”
”O-kay.” He nodded. ”How long will you be?” He nodded. ”How long will you be?”
”If I haven't contacted you in fifteen minutes, come looking for me,” I said, stepping out of the car. Slowly I walked toward the house, casually scanning the area. As I reached the front steps, I took another scan of the neighborhood, then gave the doorbell a poke.
There were footsteps, then the sound of a deadlock. The door creaked open slowly. A face appeared in the crack. ”Are you him?”
”I have an envelope for you.”
”Come in quickly,” she said, pulling on my arm.