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Zoe
Zoe disembarked her second plane to find yet another babysitter waiting for her in the jet bridge. She shivered in the unheated space as the woman flashed her a giant fake smile. “Welcome to Portland!” Her teeth were far too white.
Zoe didn’t respond. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
“Right this way.” Her plastic smile fixed, she turned and headed up the gangway.
Zoe hefted her backpack onto her shoulder and followed. The tunnel was freezing cold. Welcome to Portland, indeed. It was only October. Why was it so cold already? And she knew Carver Harbor would be even colder than Portland.
They spilled out into the gate area.
“Follow me for baggage claim.” Still smiling.
The smell of burgers hit Zoe’s nose, and her mouth watered. There was no hope, though. Even if she didn’t have a taskmaster-escort, she couldn’t afford a twenty-dollar burger. She hoped her grandmother would feed her on the way home. She didn’t think she’d last all the way to Carver Harbor.
The baggage claim area, which was also freezing cold, smelled horrible, and her hunger dissipated—a little. Even though she knew it would make no difference, she said to her babysitter, “I think I can take it from here.”
The smile returned. “I’m sure you can. But I can’t leave your side until I verify your ...” She looked at the piece of paper in her hand. “Until I check your grandmother’s ID.”
Zoe almost snickered. Who on earth would impersonate her grandmother in order to kidnap Zoe? If anyone kidnapped her, they would give her back—pronto. Her parents would probably demand the kidnapper pay them a ransom before they’d take her back.
The suitcases finally started appearing on the belt and made their slow trek around the oval. People crowded around the beginning of the belt. Everyone was in a terrible hurry, apparently. Why were all these people even coming to Maine in October? People flew to Maine in July, not October, didn’t they? What were these people thinking?
“Let me know when you see your luggage.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. Or she could just go grab it herself.
People greedily grabbed for their luggage and then flooded toward the revolving door. Zoe watched the belt closely, knowing they must be coming to the end of the luggage. There hadn’t been that many people on the plane. She watched the rude man from the seat beside her retrieve his lighthouse-covered suitcase and then roll it toward the door with two perfectly healthy kneecaps. Nothing ever went her way.
The bags stopped coming. She waited, trying not to freak out.
Her babysitter shifted her weight, looking uncomfortable. “Will you come with me, please?”
Zoe followed her to a door near the belt. She opened the door and then stuck her head into it. What a predicament. She couldn’t leave Zoe behind, and Zoe wasn’t allowed behind the secret door. Zoe smirked.
She hollered into the void. She was annoyed and trying to hide it. She waited a minute and then hollered again.
Eventually, a male’s voice hollered back.
She propped the door open with her foot so she could wave him over. When he appeared, he looked reluctant. He was also wearing a lot of clothes for October. Her babysitter spoke in hushed tones, and he held his hands out and shrugged.
There was no more luggage.
Would he please double-check?
Sure, but there was no more luggage. He walked away, and she let the door swing shut.
Zoe was doubtful that man was going to check anything, and she thought her babysitter knew that too. For the first time, she felt sorry for her escort, who was no longer smiling.
“Bear with me one minute. I’m going to call for assistance.” She took her cell out of her pocket and turned away from Zoe.
Why was this process so secretive? They had lost her luggage. Did they think she didn’t know that yet?
She spun back around, her smile back in place. “They’re going to do some investigating, and they’ll call right back. Don’t you worry. Lost luggage is very rare these days.”
Of course it was. And of course she’d be the one to interrupt their winning streak.
