The phone rang in the morning. That evening, Lind drove to the airport.
It was Friday. So the man told him, when he gave Lind his flight information. When he outlined his instructions for the job.
Friday. Lind was surprised, though he didn’t know why. The girl had come over on Sunday. Since then, he’d been alone in his apartment.
Sunday to Friday. Five days.
Lind locked up his apartment and drove to the airport. Left his car in the overnight lot and walked into the terminal. Stopped before he reached the Delta counter and surveyed the long row of desks.
She was there. Caity Sherman. She was working at the priority counter. Lind smiled a little. He started toward her. Then he stopped.
The identification in his pocket said Andrew Kessler. Caity Sherman thought his name was Richard O’Brien. She would want to know why his ID said different. She would ask questions that he wouldn’t be able to answer.
Lind turned and walked to the other end of the Delta counter and checked in on a computer screen. He kept his back to the priority lane and didn’t look back at Caity Sherman. The machine spat out his ticket and he took it and walked toward security. Was nearly at the entrance when she called out behind him. “Richard.”
Lind turned around. She’d left the Delta counter and was standing in the middle of the terminal. “You didn’t like my cooking,” she said, grinning. “Is that it?”
Lind hesitated a moment. Then he walked back toward her, keeping the Andrew Kessler ticket hidden. “I liked your cooking,” he said.
She pretended to pout. “You just didn’t want to talk to me? I’m all alone at the frequent-flier desk.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Uh-huh.” She paused. Then she grinned again. “I’m just teasing. Where are you headed?”
“I’m headed . . .” He couldn’t think. He knew the man would expect him to lie. “I don’t know.”
She frowned. “You don’t know where you’re going? Let’s see your ticket.”
“No.” He snatched it away from her. Glanced quickly at the departures screen above her head. “Houston,” he said. “I’m going to Houston.”
“Houston.” She studied his face. Then she shrugged. “Well, you’d better hurry. They’re about to board.”
“Thank you,” he said.
She shook her head and turned back to the counter. “Don’t mention it.”
Lind watched her go. He’d extricated himself. He’d lied and she’d believed him, and now she was leaving. Disaster averted. He’d won.
“Hey,” he called out. Felt a sudden spasm of panic when she turned around. He looked down at the ground and tried to steady his breathing. “It was . . . it was good to see you.”
She snorted. “I bet.”
Lind watched her walk back to the ticket counter. He still felt the panic. Hell, he was terrified, shaking. He knew the man wouldn’t approve. Still, he wanted to see her again. To hell with the man.