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THE WOMAN KNOWN AS Sandy-Sue “Fortune” Morrow pressed her phone to her ear and paced. Now and then she cast an anxious glance over the bayou that ran across the back of her lawn.
“So Ahmad’s men are back in New Orleans?” she asked.
“And that’s not all. We’re picking up on some chatter indicating one or possibly two of them might be headed to Sinful.”
“I can handle two. When can I expect them?”
“Don’t even think about it. We need to get you out of there.”
“But Harrison—”
“Don’t worry, it’s not a permanent relocation. We’ll just send you on vacation for a few days until we get a better handle on this.”
“Great. What forsaken backwater are you going to drop me into to this time?”
“Morrow wants to send you to Hawaii.”
“Hawaii? I’m listening.”
“We have a safe house, and someone there who can help you get settled in. You’re flying out of Lake Charles Regional Airport tomorrow morning.”
“Geez, Harrison, thanks for the advance notice. Tomorrow? What am I going to tell everyone?”
“Who do you have to tell? You’re not answerable to anyone.”
“Look, I’m doing my best to blend in. But that means I’ve become part of the community and I can’t just disappear.”
In fact, Fortune had done better than just blend in. After several weeks in Sinful, Louisiana, she was starting to feel she fit in. It was getting harder to maintain her emotional detachment. Maybe a few days away would be just what she needed to regain it.
“How about this?” Harrison suggested. “Tell whoever needs to know that your family wants you to take a look at some property out west for them. Don’t give any more details than that, and do not tell anyone you’re going to Hawaii. Keep it vague. Oh, and there’s something else. Ahmad’s guys will be looking for a young woman traveling alone, so you need to find someone to go with you.”
“Oh, that won’t be a problem—”
“Uh-uh. The Director will have an aneurism if you even think about getting those two geriatric loose cannons involved.”
“Are you saying I can’t bring Gertie and Ida Belle? They’re the only ones I don’t have to maintain cover with.”
“You should be keeping cover anyway. You have a ten-million-dollar bounty on your head, remember? Look, don’t you know any sweet, non-trigger-happy old ladies with nice manners?”
Fortune paused for a moment. She saw a ripple on the surface of the bayou that might have been an alligator. Or it could have been nothing more than a floating stick. It was hard to tell in the early-morning light.
“Actually, I might know one.”
“Great. One is all you need. Think you could talk her into coming to Hawaii with you tomorrow?”
“It’s not as easy as you’re making it sound. The locals aren’t exactly jet-setters. I’ve met people here who’ve lived their whole lives without leaving the parish. But look, I’ll try. I’ll ask her.”
“And you might want to think about changing your appearance a little. In case Ahmad’s men saw you in New Orleans.”
“Hey, does that mean I can get rid of these stupid hair extensions?”
“Knock yourself out. As long as you’re on that plane tomorrow morning.”