Second Chances(17)

She turned and looked at him. He looked so peaceful.

"I do not know you," she said to herself.

She noticed the Wi-Fi logo on the back of the headrest of the seat in front of her. It seemed to be calling to her. She glanced from her watch to the logo, then at Nathan and finally back to the logo. She thought for a minute, chewing on her lower lip and then pulled out Nathan's computer and dug out the instructions for the inflight Wi-Fi.





CHAPTER TWELVE



Cameron Kassar looked down at the flashing light on the phone. He read the caller ID and frowned, it was much too soon for her to be calling. He picked up the phone and pressed the button next to the flashing light. "This is Kassar, go ahead Linda. She hasn't arrived already, has she?"

"No and apparently she won't be any time soon." There was an edge to her voice and Cameron couldn't decide if it was nervousness or barely contained anger. Perhaps it was both.

"Explain."

"Not much to tell. I never received a call during her layover and now I've received an email from her. It said for me not to bother meeting her at the airport. That something has come up that she has to deal with."

"And what was that?"

"She didn't say. The email said that she would call me as soon as she knew what she was doing."

"What about her job? She wasn't concerned about that? Did you try and contact her?"

"I know my job, Mr. Kassar. Yes, I tried to contact her, but it is only email. I couldn't actually talk to her. I tried to question her and of course mentioned her job."

"And?"

"She didn't go into any real details. She said it was something she had to do and that if she lost the job then she'd deal with it. I wrote back again trying to press for more, but I haven't heard back anything in the last half hour."

Cameron took a slow deep breath and sat down on the corner of his desk.

"Wonderful," he muttered.

"Listen, I am not hanging around here forever just hoping she calls or emails back. I knew you should never have changed the timing. Everyone said you were moving too quickly with this one. I am supposed to be on vacation in a week. I haven't seen my husband in almost three..."

"Calm down, Linda," he snapped. He looked at the phone, surprised for a moment by the fierceness in Linda's voice. Had he underestimated her? "Don't act as if this is some grand conspiracy to screw up your vacation. You will stay until the end of the week, as originally planned."

"And if she doesn't show?"

"Then you go. Your part will be over. I will find a replacement." There was a subtle change in the tone of his voice on the last word.

"What are you going to do? Go looking for her?"

Cameron remained quiet, waiting. The line was silent.

"Sorry. Forget I asked. I don't want to know."

"Of course you don't," Cameron agreed. "As I said. You stay until the end of the week and then you are done."

"I'll receive a new assignment upon my return?"

Cameron smiled as he looked around his office. He loved the timid sound of the woman's voice. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He was well aware of his reputation. He'd spent years cultivating it and while not all of the rumors were true, he'd done nothing to deny them. He let the silence spread over a full minute before replying, "Of course."

"I...if you really need me to stay on, Mr. Kassar...I could probably change my plans."

He imagined her holding the phone with two trembling hands and for a moment he almost felt sorry for her.

"Nonsense," he said. "Until the end of the week as was arranged, nothing more. I hope you and Phillip enjoy Hawaii."

"Thank you, sir."

Cameron hung up the phone and frowned. He picked up the receiver once more and tapped a short series of numbers.

"Echo station, this is James."

"Doctor Merrick. Is she in?"

"Can I ask who is calling?"

"Kassar."

"Sir. Umm, yes she is in. I believe in her office, shall I transfer you?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I just wanted to know if she was in. I am on my way down. Please ask her to stay if she tries to leave."





CHAPTER THIRTEEN



They didn't say a word as the plane came in for a landing and then taxied to the gate. The silence continued as they gathered their belongings, always careful when checking the overhead compartment as things have a tendency to shift during flight, and then proceeded to exit the aircraft.

Paige slipped ahead while Nathan was assisting a woman with getting her bag from the overhead bin. Panic seized him immediately. He jerked hard on the handle of the bag and it finally popped free. He handed it to the lady and had to restrain himself from pushing her out of the way and rushing for the exit.