Sliding behind the wheel, I drive toward the highway and call Chester.
“Yes, sir?” he answers on the first ring.
“Have someone get to the Whimstery Café on Seventh, and make sure Miss Temple has a first-class ticket on the next flight back to London.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Anything else?”
“Find out if Autumn has a passport. If she doesn’t, you’ll need to get her one for the cleanup job in Canada.”
Silence.
“Should I take your lack of a response to mean that you’re on top of it, Chester?”
“Yes,” he says, his voice terse. “I’ll make sure your girlfriend has a damn passport.”
“Let’s not label things yet, Chester.” I smile. “I think it’s a bit too early for that. She has to stop being scared of my lifestyle first.”
“Permission to end this call right now, sir?”
“Absolutely.”
End of Episode 2
Brace for Impact
EPISODE 3
Autumn
The clouds are clogging my window, serving me a static gray view.
This plane is three times the size of Ryder’s other jet, with enough space for over a hundred passengers, not just two and a skeleton crew.
Instead of taking a tour, I’ve listened to Adeline sing while skipping up and down the aisle.
While she gears up for an encore, I head to the front.
I need a drink…
The lone flight attendant is staring at a perfume ad in a magazine, whispering something to herself. Her eyes are red and puffy, and the smile she greeted me with at boarding is long gone.
Why do I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before?
“Hello, Miss Jane.” She slowly glances up at me. “How may I be of service to you?”
“I uh—” I look her over, realizing she can’t be much older than me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Well, of course, I can make another cup of coffee for you!” Her smile returns, and she moves to the galley. “Whipped cream, caramel, and hazelnut, correct?”
“Yes, but… That’s not what I wanted to ask you.”
“I promise I won’t forget about adding a bit of caramel to the bottom of the cup as well.” She winks. “I’ve kept the bottle on a warmer as a reminder.”
“No, please listen to me…”
“Would you like to try a bit of toffee this time?” she asks. “It mixes well with the hazelnut.”
“My question is not about the goddamn coffee.” My words spill out harshly, and she steps back.
