Abby narrows her eyes. “This doesn’t make any sense,” she says. Then she hurries Min and me inside. “Come on, get in. Dave’s gone for another hour. I don’t like standing out here when there’ve been so many sketchy people around lately.”
***
I look around the living room of my former landlord’s apartment. I don’t need to ask Abby why she’s here. Not when she’s dressed the way she is. It’s obvious enough that she has followed through on the advice she’d given me last time we saw each other.
“You want a drink?” Abby asks.
“No,” Min and I answer in unison. We pause to look at each other. “We’re not staying long,” I finish.
Abby nods, then hops onto the futon. She curls her legs up under her. Min takes the armchair across from her, and I remain standing.
“The place looks clean,” I point out.
Abby laughs. “Yeah. Dave’s influence. If it weren’t for him, it’d probably look like our old apartment.” She pauses for a second. “Just kidding. Sort of. What you said to me that night really stuck, Penn. I’ve been trying to make myself better since. I got a job, and haven’t been out partying once.”
“And you and Dave…?”
“Stable,” she smiles. “We’ve been together since the night you left. He found me asleep in the hall outside our apartment and felt bad. He said I could crash here until I got myself together. I, um, thanked him that night.” She giggles. “He’s a good guy. Just what I need, in fact. Older, more mature, and definitely more experienced in the sack.” She winks at me. “Just like I told you.”
“That’s good, Abby. I can’t believe you remember our conversation. I thought you were blackout drunk.”
She gives me a significant look. “I know I might seem a little out of control sometimes. But I remember the important things, Penn. I’m not stupid.”
“I’m really happy things are working out for you, Abby,” I say.
“And I’m so relieved you’re alive! I know I’m not good at showing it, but I care about what happens to you. Really. You’re the first person I ever thought understood me. I’m sorry I was such a shitty roommate.”
“Everyone has their flaws,” I smile. “I don’t hold anything against you, Abby.”
Min clears her throat. “You said somebody started a fire?” she reminds us.
“Oh! Oh my God, yeah!” Abby says. “It happened two days ago. Just as the sun was setting. The fire alarms went off. Everybody had to evac. Lucky for me, I was in here with Dave. We ran outside, and I saw smoke coming from our—” she glances at me, “—old window. It wasn’t a large fire, thank God. The sprinklers put most of it out by the time the fire fighters got here. Dave was pissed, though. It took them like ten minutes to arrive.”
“Was anybody hurt?” I ask.
“No. We lucked out there, too. The firefighters told Dave it wasn’t an accident. They said somebody intentionally started the fire in our rooms. It didn’t make any sense to me, though. Dave was the only one who had the keys. I knew it couldn’t have been you.”
“Thanks for thinking so highly of me,” I say dryly.
Abby’s lips form a thin line. “I only considered the possibility for a moment because it meant you were still alive.”
“Did they find out who did it?” Min asks.
“No. But they know somebody kicked the door in. Dave let me look inside after the firefighters left. Whoever broke in didn’t touch any of my stuff. But Penn’s? They tore through everything. They piled all her clothes in the middle of her room and set fire to them. That’s where the smoke was coming from.”
“Holy fuck,” I mutter under my breath. I notice my nails are digging hard into my palm. I force my hand to relax before I draw blood.
“What’s more,” Abby continues, “there were two people asking about you the next day. They didn’t talk to me, but I heard about it from the neighbors. Dave finally called the cops on them. I saw them leave. One was a huge, scary looking man. His face was all busted like he’d just been in a fight.”
My breath catches. “Victor.”
Abby looks at me in surprise. “You know him?”
“It’s a long story.” I shake my head. “But yes. I know who you’re talking about. He’s not a friend. The other guy with him: Was he tall, skinny, and bald?”
Abby scrunches up her nose. “No. It was a woman. I didn’t get a good look at her. But from what I saw, she was beautiful. Her eyes were angry, though. And cold.”
“Amanda?” I wonder out loud, glancing at Min. “Abby, did she have a long, black pony tail?”
“No. Her hair was cut short, right around her face.” Abby motions with her hands to demonstrate. “It was dark, though.”
“What about her skin? What color was it?”
“Umm… dark? Yeah, nothing like yours. She was probably Indian, or had a deep tan—”
“Native,” I correct. “She’s half-native.”
“So you know her, too?”
“I wish I didn’t,” I reply. Breaking into my room, throwing my clothes in a pile, and setting them on fire? Who would do that other than Amanda? I remember what Rich told me she did to his things after their breakup. This was similar, but way more extreme.
“If they come around again, don’t talk to them,” Min says seriously. “Call the cops right away. Both of them are dangerous.”
“Pfft!” Abby flicks her wrist nonchalantly. “I’ve handled dangerous people before,” she says.
“Min’s right,” I emphasize. “If those people are who we think they are, you need to stay away. They might even look for you because you were my roommate. God! I’m so sorry, Abby. I never wanted to involve you.”
“Hey, I’m tough, remember? If they try to do anything to me I’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.” Seeing the serious expression on my face, she sighs. “Oh, all right. I’ll be careful. Just what the hell did you get yourself into while you were away?”
“Made the wrong people angry, got framed as someone else, and fell in love.” I laugh at the absurdity of my explanation.
“You’re in love?” Abby squeals. “With that guy? Richard? Penn, I’m so happy for you! Is he coming here, too?”
“No. He’s in New York.” I gesture at Min. “We’re going after him now.”
“New York? You mean you’re leaving here for good?”
“We’re on our way to the airport. I wanted to find you first. Let you know that I’m all right.” I smile at Abby. “Say good-bye in case we never see each other again.”
“Hold on,” Abby says. “I’m not buying it. Are you pulling my leg, Penn? Because, from what I understand, you’ve got this guy you love—her brother—” she nods at Min, “—who’s left for New York without you? There are people I’ve never seen looking for you who you say are dangerous. You disappear for days without a trace, only to pop up now, and find me here, of all places, before flying across the country to join your new boyfriend?” She shakes her head. “If you invented all that just to get out of rooming with me, at least have the guts to admit it.”
“Trust me,” I say. “All of that is the truth.”
Abby still looks skeptical. I look at Min. She shrugs. I glance at the clock, and see we still have plenty of time left. I sigh, and launch into telling Abby the full version of events.
***
Abby’s eyes are wide by the time I finish my story. Her face has gone white. Now, I’m sure she understands the danger of the people who are looking for me.
“So he left you—both of you—just like that?” Abby asks.
“Just like that,” I agree. I show her the passport Rich had made.
“Shit, Penn,” Abby gapes. “This is like something out of James Bond.” She hands the passport back to me. “How do you know it’s safe for you two to fly?”
“We don’t,” Min says. “But we have to try.”
Abby leans back and chews on her nails in thought. Then she bolts upright. “No. No, I’m not going
to let you take a commercial flight. Not if I can help it. I know a guy—” she pulls out her phone, “—a friend. He owns an airfield close by. He has a plane of his own. He flies for hire. He’s got a permit that lets him fly all over the states. He’ll take you.”
I exchange a glance with Min. “Abby…”
“He’s good at keeping things low key, too. It’s essential for his—” she clears her throat, “—profession. He might even be able to help you find Richard in New York. He knows a lot of people in helpful places.” She dials a number and stands up to pace the room as she makes the call.
I look at Min while Abby talks. She gives a tight smile.
“He’ll do it!” Abby exclaims when she ends the call. “He said he’s been meaning to make a trip to the east coast anyway.”
“Um, Abby?” I ask. “What does your friend do, exactly?”
Her eyes twinkle. “Didn’t I say? He’s a smuggler.”
***
Dave returns to his apartment almost the minute Abby gets off the phone. Once he hears our story, he agrees to drive us all to the airfield.
We get there forty minutes later. It’s far from the city, in the middle of nowhere, really. A barn at one end of the lot has been converted into a small hangar. A long, straight, paved road runs out from the main doors.
Abby’s friend has been expecting us. I see him waving our car over from beside the hangar entrance. He looks young. Really young. Only a few years older than Rich, at most.
“He’s the pilot?” I hiss at Abby, incredulous.
“Don’t worry. He’s been doing this for years,” Abby assures me.
“How, exactly, do you two know each other?” Min asks.
“We went to the same high school. He was sort of my first crush.” Dave tenses beside her. Abby pats his thigh. “Relax, babe. That was a long time ago. We’re just friends now.”
Dave stops the car and we all get out. From up close, I feel like I should recognize Abby’s friend from somewhere.
Then it hits me. He was one of the first guys she brought home when we moved to Oregon.
I decide not to mention it for Dave’s sake.
Abby runs forward and gives him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. Then she finds Dave again and takes his hand. My former landlord looks displeased at the exchange.
“Howdy,” our pilot greets us. He rocks back on his heels as he looks Min and me over. “You must be the two girls in big trouble. Abby said you need someone who can get you to New York pronto.” He spits out the gum he’s been chewing. “And she said you don’t want anybody to know that you’re making the trip.”
I step forward. “That’s right. That’s why we’re here.”
“Good. Then we’re on the same page. I’m always happy to help a friend, but fuel ain’t free, you know? And my time’s not something I piss away, either.” He taps the outside of the hangar. “If you two need to get on the beauty in here, I’m going to require some sort of compensation.”
I glare at Abby. She didn’t mention anything about that!
Min takes a step forward before I can do anything. “Here,” she says, slinging her bag around and digging inside for her wallet. She counts out fifty hundred-dollar bills. “That’s enough to get us in the air. You’ll get the same again when we land.”
“Deal,” he says, his eyes shining with greed. “Now, since y’all want to be hush-hush about this trip, I don’t think we need to exchange full names. You can call me J.” He turns around and slides the hangar doors open. “And this,” he says, “is my baby bird.”
My jaw drops as soon as I see the plane. It’s barely bigger than a small car. There’s no way it can fly across the country.
J laughs when he notices my expression. “Worried, darling? Don’t be. This is just the plane that gets us to a commercial airfield near Seattle. We’ll switch to a more suitable means of transportation there.”
***
Hours later, we’re flying through the air in a large cargo jet. There’s a FedEx logo on the outside. J sneaked us onboard without anybody noticing. Right now, Min and I are huddled next to stacks and stacks of various sized packages.
“Bet you weren’t expecting this a week ago,” Min says when our gazes meet. A bit of turbulence shakes the plane.
“When it comes to your brother, I know to expect the unexpected,” I answer. “Everything that’s happened to me still seems so surreal. I can’t decide if I’m in a dream or a nightmare.”
“Maybe a bit of both?” Min comments.
“Yeah. Definitely,” I agree.
I close my eyes as the conversation lulls. Every minute we’ve been in the air, I’ve been worrying about Rich. Dark thoughts swirl inside me.
Min touches my arm gently. “We’ll find him when we get there,” she says, as if she read my mind. “I promise.”
I swallow. “I just hope we won’t be too late.”
Chapter Five
The floor beneath me rocks, jolting me awake. My eyes shoot open. I hear a grinding sound outside. My heart leaps to my throat as the cabin starts to shake.
“We’re here!” J calls out from the cockpit.
I exhale a sigh of relief. We’re landing.
The plane taxis over to a spot away from the landing strip and comes to a stop. J opens the door. Bright morning sunlight streams inside, causing me to blink.
“Well,” he announces, “this might not be JFK, but it’s as close as you’re going to get without flying commercial.” I can see other freighters around us, bearing the logos of their respective delivery companies. J points north. “Thirty minutes that way will get you to the heart of the city.” He looks at Min. “As for the rest of my payment…?”
Min hands him the money. He points us toward the terminal, where he says we’ll be able to get a cab. We walk there with him, say our good-byes, and get into the lone taxi idling outside.
Min gives the driver an address and he takes off. When I see the metropolis rising in the distance, I get a queasy feeling. I’ve never been to this part of the country. If only the circumstances that brought me here were different…
Our plan to find Rich, which we hatched yesterday morning, is simple. Since he used his real name on his flight, we assume that he wants to be found. Therefore, it’s unlikely he’ll go to great lengths to hide in New York. It’s more likely that he won’t hide at all. In fact, we think he’ll go straight to the one place anybody can find him: his father’s house.
I desperately hope that things will be as easy as that. Otherwise, we’ll have a hell of a time finding him. In a city of eight million, it’s the only chance we have.
We take a left before hitting downtown. Pretty soon, we’re driving through what is obviously the wealthy suburb.
Glitzy sport cars are parked in the driveways, most of them next to luxury SUVs for the families. Every property has a gated entrance and a perfectly-manicured lawn.
We wind our way up the street. As we top the crest of the hill, I see a magnificent mansion towering before us.
“Home sweet home,” Min mutters when she catches me staring. She pays the driver and leads me through the gate after punching in the code. “This is where it all began.”
I can’t get over the splendor of the place. So this is where Rich grew up. White marble statues in the shape of animals dot the lawn. A fountain spurts water up ahead. The house itself is enormous, with a wide veranda and a grand staircase leading to the main doors. All of it speaks of luxury I’ve never known, or ever, ever dreamt of knowing.
“Come on.” Min directs me to the side. “We never use the main doors unless my father’s entertaining. We go round the back.”
I trail after her, feeling distinctly out of my element. Usually, I’m good at coping with unfamiliar environments. This one is so far outside of reality I don’t know how to react.
We reach a back door. Min looks at me before opening it. “This is it.”
I can’t keep the worry from my voice. “Do you think he�
��s inside?”
“We’re going to find out,” Min says, unlocking the door.
The interior of the house is vast. I can’t think of any other word. The ceiling towers at least three stories above my head. The foyer is all white stone. There’s not much furniture, except for some stands with vases on top.
“Wow,” Min breaths as she steps inside. “It’s exactly as I left it.” She trails a finger of the stairwell railing, leaving a clean path in the built-up dust. “Only grimier.”
“Was all this just for you and your dad?” I ask.
“After Rich left? Yes. We had a housekeeper, too. But she stayed in the guesthouse.”
“It doesn’t look like there’s been anyone here recently.” My shoulders slump. All that just to reach a dead end?
“Hold on,” Min says. “Let’s take a look around. It’s easy to get lost in this house. It’s not like Rich has a key. If he came here, he wouldn’t have used this door.”
I remember the way Rich had broken into the bar to save me. “You’re right.” I force a smile. “No need to feel disheartened yet.”
“Even if he’s not here, he’ll show up, sooner or later.”
“I hope so,” I say.
“He will,” Min assures me. “I know it.”
I follow her up the stairs. Every step we take sends an echo through the house. It makes the place feel cold and lifeless.
“If we don’t find him,” Min says, “we should think of some way to let him know we’ve been here. In case he comes after.”
“Right,” I nod. “It’s—”
“Penny? Min?”
I spin around and see him.
Rich.
His eyes are red, his hair tousled. He’s wearing the same clothes as two days ago. His cheeks are lined with dark scruff. He looks menacing and tired and surprised and, above all, like… like him.
Without thought, I break into a run. The anger I’d been expecting doesn’t come. All I feel is relief. Rich is safe. We found him in time. That’s all that matters.
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