by Jana Janeway
Nodding, Jeramey reached into his pocket to retrieve the pack. “But what will the missus say?”
Craddock ignored his teasing, shaking a cigarette out quickly and lighting it. “At the moment, I don’t care.”
“You’ll care if she comes out here and sees you, and rips into you again,” Josiah said with a nervous laugh, his eyes darting in the direction of where Jessica had gone to change.
“I don’t care, Joe!” He took another long drag, exhaling sharply before immediately hitting it again.
“Are you really that pissed at us?” Marcy asked, surprised by his demeanor.
“I’m not pissed,” he snapped, “I’m concerned!”
“About?”
He scoffed, then took another drag off his cigarette before answering. “You just don’t get it, do you? You’re so busy with the logistics of this, and the bigger picture, that you’re overlooking the smaller picture! Relocating is hard enough! I know! I’ve done it! Add to that the fact that she’s a whole other species she knew nothing about till five days ago! She’s been hunted! Badgered! Threatened at gunpoint! Her parents are dead! She’s being kept in the dark—!”
“And she’s been handling it all amazingly well!” Marcy interrupted.
“I know she has! But that’s what I’m afraid of! One more thing added to all of this, and I’m afraid it’ll push her over the proverbial edge!”
“Craddock,” she sighed, “she’s stronger than you give her credit for.”
He glared back at her, seething. “Don’t presume how much credit I’m giving her. I know how strong she is. But I also know how hard this has been on her! She’s been through enough! No more obstacles to avoid! No more hoops to jump through! Enough is enough!”
“Then what do you suggest we do?” Marcy challenged him. “We’re not creating the hoops! We’re the ones helping you get through the obstacles!”
“This fake pregnancy plan is too risky, and you know it!”
“Provisions are in place for this, okay?” she told him calmly, despite his display of hostility. “The Purists were leaked, on purpose, information that points them in the direction of a train station in Massapequa. They won’t be looking for you at JFK International! Anyone of importance within their organization will be at, near, or in the general vicinity of that train depot, in a city you’re nowhere near! Trust me, okay? We don’t want any more snags with this, either! The faster we get you there, the better off everyone will be! And feel!”
“She’s coming back.”
Acknowledging Jeramey’s whispered warning with a subtle upnod, Craddock dropped his angry expression, and his gaze to the concrete beneath his feet.
“You gonna put that out?” Bibi asked, pointing to his cigarette. He shook his head, taking another long drag.
“You’re smoking another one?” Jessica only received a silent nod in response. “Why?” she asked, calmer but still annoyed.
He glared at the ground, but said in a civil manner. “This is the last one, okay?”
Now in front of him, she could see his tension, and feel it. She still had questions, though. She just curbed her tone when asking them. “Is that the truth? Is there such a thing with a smoker? Or ex-smoker?”
“Yes, that’s the truth.” He finally lifted his eyes to hers. “I’m not picking it back up again. I’m just stressed.”
Seeing the truth in his eyes, she nodded in resignation. “Why are you stressed?”
He barked a short, bitter laugh, as if that alone answered the question. She nodded again, this time in understanding.
“Well,” she said, “if cancer isn’t an issue, then I guess I’ll have one, too. Since I’m beyond stressed.”
As Jeramey passed her the pack, Craddock watched her closely, surprised. “You ever smoke before?”
Shaking her head in answer, she slipped a cigarette out and placed it between her lips, leaning in when Jeramey sparked the lighter and extended it towards her.
“This should be fun,” Jeramey quipped under his breath. When Jessica took too big a drag and immediately started coughing, he burst out laughing.
“Oh, for the love of God!” Marcy griped. “What are we, in high school? Shit! We have more important things to deal with here, guys! Focus!”
Choking and sputtering, Jessica handed her cigarette off to Craddock. “I’m focused.”
Marcy started grumbling, the only discernible words being, “Yeah, you seem it.”
“I think I have water in my purse,” Bibi offered.
Josiah peered over her shoulder as she began digging for it. “Along with everything else in the free world,” he joked.
“So, this’ll be my last one, then?” Craddock asked with a hint of humor, as he held up the barely touched cigarette that she had just moments before thrust upon him. When he received a glare from her in response, as she started to regain her composure, he knew well enough to back off.
“Here.” Bibi twisted off the cap before handing the bottle over to Jessica, who quickly began guzzling the water down.
“First and last time, eh, Jessica?” Jeramey’s amusement earned him a groan from Marcy.
“I’m surrounded by comedians.” She shrugged away from him when he tried to put his arm around her.
“You need to chill out,” he told her. Then he smiled over at Bibi. “You got any saccharin in that magic bag of yours?”
As Bibi shook her head, Marcy warned him, “Tread carefully, Jeramey.”
“What? It was a weird way to get there, but look how much more relaxed everyone is!”
“Great!” she shot back sarcastically. “Does that mean we can get on with this now? The flight leaves in two hours, and we still have shit to discuss!”
“Sorry, Marcy.” Bibi apologized for the group, gesturing for her to continue. “Go ahead.”
“Your flight information is in there.” Marcy pointed at the envelope in Craddock’s hand as she began the long set of instructions. “When you get to the airport, park at the front door. The Registry will pick up the car from the impound lot when they get word back that it’s been towed. Your reservations are in the computer. Go straight to the check-in line and give them your new names. If they question Jessica’s pregnancy, give them the doctor’s note. Otherwise, don’t say anything. Once you’re given your boarding passes, go make yourselves scarce! Find a corner somewhere, with as few people as possible, and set up camp. Wait for them to announce your flight before heading for the gate.
“You’re in the back, middle and far left rows. Give Jessica the window seat. The fewer people she’s near, the better. Hopefully, you’ll get a Human passenger in the row in front of you, but if not, don’t panic! Just make a few casual comments, like, the twins are really kicking me today, or, I hate that I get morning sickness in the afternoon. They’ll get the point and won’t give you a second thought. Trust me on this.” That last comment was directed mostly at Craddock.
“When you land at Ontario International Airport,” she concluded, “there will be a car waiting for you. Its parking spot location and the keys are in an envelope at the information desk. In the glovebox are directions on how to get to the house. Any questions?”
“I thought we were going to California, not Canada,” Josiah mentioned with a scowl.
It took Marcy a moment to determine where the confusion was. “Ontario, California, Josiah, not Ontario, Canada.”
Feeling a bit foolish, he asked a new question to cover his ignorance. “What if we run into trouble?”
“You won’t,” Marcy insisted.
“But what if we do?” Jessica asked, backing Josiah’s concern, curious to know the answer as well.
“In the unlikely event that you do, get as far away from it as possible and call me. I’ll talk you through it. Any other questions?”
Bibi raised her hand like she was a student in class. “What’s in the other duffle bags?”
“Essentials.” Marcy gestured for Jeramey to fetch them. “Clothes, toothbrus
hes, deodorant, hairbrushes. People who travel take luggage. A carry-on, at least. Once you open your identity packets, put the contents into your duffles. Don’t check them! Keep them with you!”
“What do we do once we get to the house?” While Jessica was distracted, Craddock grabbed both her duffle and his own, slinging one over each shoulder.
“Nothing. Kick back. Relax. Unwind. You deserve it! The Registry will be in contact in a few days, to see how you’re settling in. And everything has already been set up for you,” she added. “Lights, gas, water, phone, satellite TV, cupboard full of food, etcetera, etcetera.”
Surprised, Jessica gawked at her. “Everything? Furniture?”
“Everything has been set up for you,” Marcy repeated. Then she sighed and gave a little smile. “I guess this is it.”
When Josiah reached for his duffle, Bibi following his lead, Jessica stepped up to Marcy and threw her arms around her.
“Thanks for all your help,” Jessica whispered, on the verge of tears.
Marcy nodded, glancing briefly into Craddock’s stern face before looking away. “You’re welcome. And hey, we’ll see each other again, okay? I’ll come pay you a visit in a few months or something, I swear.”
“Okay,” Jeramey touched the small of Marcy’s back to gain her attention, “blubbering girl time is over now. They have a plane to catch, and we have a briefing to get to.”
They said their long goodbyes and wishes of luck as they all headed out the same way they had entered, and then parted ways when they got to the gate at the front of the deserted lot, since their cars were parked at opposite ends.
After Marcy and Jeramey drove away, Craddock propped the briefcase up on his lap. Clicking it open, he surveyed the contents. “Well, let’s get this over with.” He handed out the large manila envelopes to each person as he pulled them from the case.
“Who should go first?” Josiah’s forefinger inched under the edge of the seal.
“Jessica,” Bibi answered, “since she’s never done this before.”
“You can go second, Joe,” Craddock told him, off his look of disappointment. When Josiah seemed pleased, Craddock smirked back at him.
“Okay. . .” Jessica sighed, tucking her finger under the glued flap, ripping across quickly. “Here goes.”
Removing the stack of papers from inside, she stared down at them as she thumbed through, a slight scowl appearing, then growing, as she continued without comment.
“Is something wrong?” Craddock finally asked, confused by her silence and concerned expression.
“It’s all here,” she whispered, shaking her head. “High school diploma, birth certificate, marriage license, Social Security card. . . everything.” Amazed, she brought her gaze up to meet his.
“Yeah, well, they’re thorough.” He laughed halfheartedly, shrugging. “What’s your new name?”
Her eyes back on the forms, she searched for a second before locating it. “Alyssa Wilson. Maiden name, Conner.”
Craddock smiled. “Hey, that’s pretty. Allie, for short.” For a moment, she smiled, too, but then it dropped again. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a family history page in here.” Her scowl returned as she pulled it from the stack and set it atop the others. “I’m an only child, apparently. My parents were killed in a car accident—” She stopped abruptly, as soon as she’d said the words, looking over at Craddock with a horrified expression. “They’re not trying to tell me something here, are they?”
“What do you mean?” Her fear had him instantly on edge.
“Are they trying to tell me that Shea is dead?” she asked, struggling not to lose it completely.
“No,” he answered, calm and insistent. “It doesn’t say your brother is dead, just that you don’t have one.”
“But my parents really did die in a car accident! What if this is their way of telling me that Shea died?”
“It’s not,” Craddock assured her with stern compassion, placing his hand on her knee. “Jessica, it’s not.”
“She was here!” she cried. “Why didn’t I ask her?”
Abruptly, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Cueing up the menu, he found Marcy’s number and hit send. When she realized what he was doing, Jessica tensed and stared back at him anxiously.
“Marcy, hi.—Yeah, sorry, no, everything is fine, except, Jessica was wondering, and she forgot to ask, how’re Shea and Stacy doing?” The wait was torturous as he fell silent and listened. “Okay, great, I’ll tell her.—Yeah, thanks.—‘Kay, bye.” After hanging up the phone with a push of a button, he smiled over at her. “They’re fine, Jessica. They’re on their way to their new location, right now.”
Visibly relieved, she sighed, tears falling as she nodded, accepting Craddock’s offer of comfort when he slipped his arm around her and pulled her to him.
Craddock gave an upnod towards Josiah. “‘Kay, Joe, you’re up.”
Permission given, Josiah ripped into his envelope and pulled out the contents. “Kenneth Harris,” he read out loud. “Ken, I guess. Do I look like a Ken?”
Bibi smiled and nodded. “Definitely. What about your family info?”
Locating that page, he pulled it out and began to scan it. “Only child, parents dead. . . I am married to Bibi!” He pointed to her envelope. “You open yours now. I know your name before you do.”
“Okay. . .” Bibi sliced through the seal in one quick motion and removed the contents. “Rayna Harris.” She smiled, but then a second later, it dissolved.
“What?” Craddock asked, confused by her sudden change in mood.
“Jessica?” Bibi looked up and over at her. “What did it say your married name is?”
She glanced back down at her stack of papers, answering when she found it. “Wilson. Why?”
“That’s my maiden name.” Bibi then locked eyes with Craddock. “We’re siblings?”
Shrugging, Craddock immediately ripped into his packet, his eyes scanning the first document in view for his name. “Alexander Wilson.” He quickly located his family history page, as Bibi did hers.
“We are siblings,” Bibi said as she found that piece of information. Her smile was tentative as she looked back over at Craddock, but it grew wider and sure when he grinned.
“That’s kinda cool.”
“I guess we’re all technically related to one another then, right?” Jessica asked. “‘Cause Bibi would be my sister-in-law, and since she’s married to Josiah, he would be my brother-in-law.”
“We’re one big happy dysfunctional family!” Craddock quipped, and everyone laughed.
“Can you put those in my bag for me, dear?” Josiah teased, handing his packet of papers over to Bibi.
She laughed, snatching them from him playfully. “Sure thing, honey.”
“We should get going.” Craddock suggested, as he, too, tucked his packet away. “If we miss our flight, we could be looking at some serious problems.”
“JFK, right?” Josiah asked, starting the car.
Craddock nodded as he pulled the envelope out of his pocket to double check, just to be sure. Finding the information, he nodded again. “Yeah, Joe, JFK.”
“It finally feels like this whole thing is starting to wrap up,” Jessica whispered, sighing contentedly as she snuggled deeper into Craddock’s side. “It’ll be nice to finally put this whole nightmare behind us.”
Not wanting to sully her semi-good mood, Craddock hummed in agreement, kissing her hair. “Yeah,” he struggled to hide the doubts that still plagued him, “it sure will.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Mid-afternoon at JFK International Airport was as busy as expected, but at least there was no upcoming holiday. Holidays meant wall-to-wall people, with no room to move and barely enough to breathe, with lines stretching out the door and crabby employees who took their unhappiness out on anyone who so much as even blinked at them funny. They were on edge enough, without having that to contend with.
“Are you aware, Mr. Wilson, of the possible dangers concerning flying while pregnant?” she asked Craddock, causing Jessica to tense. He squeezed her hand reassuringly before dropping it to reach for the papers he’d been given.
“Got it covered.” He unfolded the fake doctor’s note, handing it to the woman behind the counter with a cordial smile.
After scanning through, the paper was returned to him, the woman’s best forced smile plastered on her face as she continued with mundane details, all of which Craddock handled without the slightest hint of concern. Jessica had just started to relax when Bibi nudged up behind her and whispered in her ear.
“You have to go to the bathroom.”
Jessica spun around, confused. Off Bibi’s intense expression, she knew enough to simply agree. “Honey,” she said to Craddock, attempting to sound breezy, “I’m going to go to the bathroom.”
Unaware of any kind of potential problem, he muttered a quick, “‘Kay,” as he continued to give the clerk his undivided attention.
Linking arms with Jessica, Bibi walked briskly towards the nearest restroom. Not so much so as to draw unwanted attention to them, but enough to clue Jessica in to the idea that something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” she asked as soon as they entered the large tiled room; her whispered words echoed, causing her to frown.
Holding up a single finger, requesting a moment, Bibi bent over and checked for feet beneath each stall door. Finding no sign of any of them being occupied, she then turned to Jessica. “There was a guy in line right behind us, who was showing an unusual amount of interest in you.”
Her previous concern began rising into full blown panic. “Was he Mengliad?”
“Definitely.” With as freaked out as Jessica was becoming, Bibi decided it would be best to downplay things a bit. “But it might be nothing, okay? Maybe he’s just a pervert, who gets his jollies off pregnant women. I just figured better safe than sorry, ya’know?” When Jessica nodded, almost numb and distracted in thought, Bibi took her gently by the shoulders, to hopefully comfort her and to get her attention. “I’m gonna go tell Craddock what’s going on, okay? You stay here, in one of the stalls, and wait for me to come get you.”
