Chapter 59

 

LILIA WATCHED FLEMING as they circled the landing strip above Cincinnati. She’d have been hard pushed to find a more conflicted woman. It was clear that Fleming still adored Renee yet her actions when Renee had left on assignment and after she’d gone missing had contradicted it.

She suspected too much had to do with career and ambition. Lilia knew the man who had granted Fleming’s promotion. She knew how he worked.

“He will be wondering when you’re coming home,” Lilia said as Fleming continued to ignore the ringing phone.

“It’s Martin’s father.” Fleming stared at the seat in front of her.

“Then he’ll definitely be demanding you come home. Especially if he realizes who you’re investigating.” She was cheating slightly, she knew, but the emotions were too pronounced to miss. Nan always said, “If the signpost is flashing at you, best follow what it’s hollering ’bout.”

“I love Martin.” Said too forcefully, too defensively. “His father is more difficult.”

“Yes, well, when you marry the boss’s son, it’s bound to put you in an awkward position. Despite the initial benefits.” Fleming loved her husband and her children, Lilia could feel that, but just not the kind of love both deserved. 

Once again she was thankful she’d married the man she adored. In true Lorelei tradition, when their hearts beat for someone, it was for only them. She’d never been remotely interested in another man.

The less said about Eli’s loyalty, the better. She had gone missing herself and like Renee had been forced to watch someone move on in haste. It was one of the reasons why she was so fond of Renee. Despite Fleming’s actions, Renee had never become bitter about it. Hurt, yes, confused, of course, sad, for definite, but never bitter.

“She was gone. Martin was there for me.”

Lilia raised an eyebrow, she had been reading Fleming to amuse herself during the flight. “You were already carrying his child.”

Fleming scowled at her. “She chose to leave. It was bad enough when I found out about that other woman.”

Lilia caught the flash of a POI and Renee and tried not to let her surprise show on her face. Renee had a dangerous role. Her work made her appear to be things she wasn’t and like her father, she was incredible at it and cared. How had Fleming known about a POI?

The phone rang again. Fleming once again ignored it.

“You know, it shouldn’t be on while flying.” She didn’t really know the reason why, something to do with equipment.

Fleming pulled it out and turned it off. “Your silence says enough.”

Lilia held her gaze for a moment. She wasn’t going to reveal anything to Fleming that Renee hadn’t.

The plane floated ever closer to the runway and Fleming turned to stare out of the window. Lilia braced herself. Bess had done the flying. Lilia liked the ground. Nice firm, solid ground.

The plane shuddered to a halt amidst the deafening grind of airbrakes and Lilia thanked St. Christopher, thumbing over the new pendant around her neck. Eli had bought it for her and a wave of warm tender love washed over her from it.

“I need to call him back.” Fleming got up from her seat and stomped up the plane. She looked delighted to chat to her father-in-law.

Lilia pulled out her phone and fired off two texts, one to Renee and the other to Eli. She took the CIG sim card out and replaced it with her dummy one. Then she tucked the CIG one in her bra. She doubted Fleming was going to subject her to that deep a search.

A few minutes later, Fleming reappeared. “Why is she in Ocean City, Lilia?”

First name terms, interesting. “Excuse me?”

“I had two calls, Federal Aviation Administration puts the plane in Ocean City.” She rubbed her hand over her face.

“Perhaps she likes the sea?” Why did Fleming think she’d tell her anything?

“Does someone on vacation buy the first truck they find and not go to a rental place?”

Ah so Fleming wanted a GPS on Renee now. “If my daughter was with her, she would have bought it for her.” She gave her most pleasant smile, knowing exactly what she was insinuating and readying herself for the reaction.

“That wouldn’t look very good for her disciplinary record, would it?” She snapped.

Lilia continued to smile. “Neither would it look good for you if Martin’s father knew the extent of your feelings for her still.”

The door to the plane opened and a baby-faced agent stepped on board. She was quite sure he wasn’t old enough to shave, let alone wield a badge and gun.

“Where’s the owner of the airfield?” Fleming snapped, her fury swirling around her.

The agent tensed. Bless him. “The owner is still at the hospital, ma’am.” His aura shuddered for him. “And the car has come up clean.”

“What?” Fleming’s tone bounced off the space.

Lilia held in her smile. The car would always be wiped properly. Frei had taught Renee, who had taught Aeron, and Bess, well, she’d have been able to teach them some extra tips.

Lilia wasn’t quite sure why she was so proud of that.

“The car is clean, ma’am,” the agent repeated as if Fleming was either deaf or unhinged. “It was hired by a Marianne Wilkins from Boston.” He took a breath. “Only she’s ninety eight and has been registered blind for twenty years.” He shrugged at Fleming’s seething stare. “Guess there was a mix up.”

“Or someone is covering their tracks.” She strode to Lilia and motioned to her handbag. She took it, fished through it, and unearthed the cell phone. She spent long minutes thumbing through the texts and call log, her brow dipping lower each time. All she’d find were mundane conversations about Eli fixing the car and her aunt Gertie, Mrs. Stein’s, bake sale.

“What mother doesn’t text her own daughter?” Fleming narrowed her eyes.

Lilia toyed with how to explain that little gem. “Aeron doesn’t own a phone.”

Fleming exchanged a look with the young agent. “Try again.”

Ah yes, everyone had to own a phone. Explaining Aeron’s effect on technology wouldn’t help much. “She spent a long time away from society. She can’t use a computer either.”

That earned her an incredulous look from both. She didn’t care. Aeron was perfect as she was.

“If it makes you feel better, her father isn’t the best at them either.” She could see him typing one fingered, tongue sticking out. It must take him hours to type up his reports.

Fleming put the phone in her own handbag. “It won’t matter if I hold on to it then, will it?”

Lilia sighed. “Is that really necessary?”

“Yes.”

Right. Wonderful. Lilia got to her feet and met the young agent’s eyes. “Are you taking us to the hospital?”

He nodded. So at least he was old enough to drive.

“Good. The quicker we interview him, the quicker I can explain to Aunt Gertie why I don’t have time to make the cakes she’s expecting.” She scowled at Fleming for effect.

“Your agents are evading the authorities, a lead agent is missing, and you’re worried about cakes?” Fleming stared at her. Even motherhood hadn’t thawed that inner ambition. Not really.

“My agents are not evading anyone. They are on vacation. No doubt they are with Ursula . . . and yes, I am worried.” She sighed. “You don’t have to explain to Aunt Gertie.”

“Can’t you bake them when you get back?” the agent asked, leading them down the steps to the waiting car. “My mom makes batches for birthdays.”

“You can’t rush genius.” Lilia motioned to the car door, and he hurried to open it. A boy who talked about his mother was bound to have good manners.

Fleming glared at him as he tried to do the same for her. Lilia smiled encouragement at the agent as he drove them out of the airport and met her eyes in the rearview mirror. It took all her years of experience to appear so detached. She could feel traces of Aeron, Renee, and Bess just walking to the car.

Aeron was struggling, weakening, and not willing to give in. It made Lilia proud and petrified all at once.

“The lock is the key,” she mumbled to herself and caught the flicker of memories. Ursula’s memories. She stood as a teenager with tears soaking her cheeks. She slid on that familiar jacket, the ring. They were getting closer, it just wasn’t quick enough. She glanced at Fleming who sat in the passenger seat. Not by a long shot.