“I get it,” says Eddie, folding away his laptop. How long has he been locked in here? “Same the world over.”
“Tell you the truth,” says Carlos, “computer wanted to keep you in for longer. You ever been arrested?”
“Couple of times,” says Eddie. “Couple of times.”
His passport was supposed to have been wiped clean, though. Rob Kenna had assured him.
“That’ll be it,” says Carlos. “Knew it as soon as I saw you. Game recognizes game. I had to pull a little magic trick to ease your way through the system.”
Eddie knew it. All the talk of hip-hop and money had done the trick. This could have ended very badly for Eddie. He was lucky he’d chosen to stand in Carlos’s queue. Well, a bit of luck, a bit of judgment.
He stands and stretches, and follows Carlos out of the interrogation room.
“I appreciate that, Carlos,” says Eddie. “Can I call you Carlos?”
“You sure can, brother,” says Carlos. “And maybe I can make it up to you? This little delay?”
“You’ve done enough,” says Eddie, as Carlos opens the door leading back to the immigration hall.
“It’s just you were asking about Rosie D’Antonio? The writer?”
“Uh huh?” says Eddie. This is suddenly getting very interesting. Perhaps the delay will have been worth it?
“Her plane is getting ready to fly.”
“You’re sure?”
Carlos motions out of the terminal windows to the runway. A Gulfstream is taxiing. On the tail is the code TC-816. Rosie D’Antonio’s plane.
“And she’s on it?”
“I can’t…” starts Carlos. “Listen, I’d love to help, you know that. But—”
“I mean, we could help each other?” suggests Eddie.
Carlos looks both ways, checking to see if he is being watched, then ducks behind a computer terminal. “I gotta be mad.”
Outside the window, Rosie’s jet is picking up speed.
“Okay,” says Carlos, coming back around from the computer. “Strictly brother to brother. She’s on board. With another woman.”
“Heading where?”
“Hawaii,” says Carlos. “That’s all I’ve got.”
Eddie thinks.
“Are there other planes I can hire? If I wanted to go to Hawaii too?”
“You really like Rosie D’Antonio, huh?” says Carlos.
“It’s a hobby, sure,” says Eddie.
“I’ll walk you to the charter desk,” says Carlos. “I’m sure we can get you in the air within an hour.”
What on earth would Eddie have done without Carlos? He’s not even going to waste his time offering him three hundred. Just slip him the full thousand for a job well done.
Eddie is heading to Hawaii. And Rosie and Amy will have no idea he’s on their tail.
Rob is going to be very pleased with him indeed.
39
Felicity Woollaston rarely has visitors, but she has made Bonnie Gregor as welcome as she can. Fortunately Bonnie drinks herbal tea, so Felicity hasn’t had to pop out to buy milk this time.
“I’m sorry to just turn up,” says Bonnie. “I feel silly now.”
“Not at all,” says Felicity. Bonnie was the lady whose email she had read. Two kids? Something to do with houses?
“It’s just, my friends all told me, you have to shoot your shot sometimes. So I thought, be brave, Bonnie.”
Bonnie seems very nervous. Felicity can’t remember the last time someone was nervous in her company.
“A good maxim for life,” agrees Felicity. “I wonder what I might be able to do for you?”
“I just,” starts Bonnie. “I just, well, I’m not sure. I thought you could tell me?”
“What I could do for you?”
