The insistent soft repetition of words pulled Shae away from chapter four. The low buzz grew in volume. Frowning, she closed her paperback. Concerned that someone needed medical assistance, the nurse in Shae searched the sparsely populated Los Angeles International Airport boarding area for the source of the sound.
Her gaze zeroed in on a tiny Asian lady approximately fifteen feet away. Less than five feet tall, the woman was dressed in a pair of coffee-brown polyester pants and a brown, rust-and-white striped short sleeve top. Black canvas shoes covered her feet. Head bowed, eyes shut and arms wrapped tightly around her body in a protective gesture, the woman rocked back and forth, rhythmically chanting unrecognizable words.
The air in the boarding lounge practically sizzled with tension as the mantra sped up. Silently, the airport patrons in the woman’s vicinity began to fold their papers and close their laptops and books. Travelers near the woman frowned and edged away. Several passengers rose from their chairs, gazing back at the woman as they located new seats in what they hoped was a safe location.
Uneasy, Shae tucked her book away inside her bag and rose from her chair. She moved swiftly across the grey carpet and slipped into the chair next to the little woman.
“Excuse me,” Shae began, speaking softly so that she didn’t frighten the older woman.
Ignoring her, the woman continued to rock back and forth. Her voice rose an octave.
Uncertain what to do, Shae waited a moment more, hoping for a response. When none came, the nurse reached out and gently touched the woman’s arm, stroking her fingertips across the bare skin. “Are you all right?”
Instantly, the chanting ceased. The woman turned and her eyes seemed to clear as she focused on Shae. “Huh?”
Smiling reassuringly, Shae gave the woman a clinical once over. She felt the warmth of the older woman’s wrinkled skin under her fingertips. “Hi. I’m a nurse. Are you ok? Do you need help?”
Deep age lines etched her tea-colored face, extending up into the gray-and-white peppered hair. “Noooo,” the woman answered, then returned to her chanting and rocking.
Shae muttered softly, “Well, I’ve been dismissed.”
Now Shae knew the woman was not suffering from any physical ailment; as to the woman’s mental state, Shae was uncertain. Standing, she straightened her form-fitting silk, coral-colored top and matching Capri pants. Ready to return to her Stephen King novel, the young woman’s gaze landed on a man seated several rows behind the older woman.
He was playing a game of solitaire on the empty seat next to him. His long fingers lifted cards and moved them from one location to another. Every few seconds, his uneasy gaze returned to the chanting woman and his forehead crinkled into a frown. As the volume of her chanting increased, the man’s hand grew still above the cards, as if he were fighting to stay focused.
The imprint on the deck of cards caught Shae’s eye. The design was unique. The background was brown with tan highlights and the lettering was in a red calligraphy. She couldn’t make out the letters, but the cards were very unusual-looking.
Glancing at the Asian woman, the man gathered his cards and slid them into a box. He rose and wove his way through the rows of chairs to the attendant’s desk.
Shae admired the slick line of his tall, muscular frame as he stood at the counter. Dressed casually in a navy sweatshirt embossed with gold University of Michigan lettering and denims, she couldn’t help but appreciate the striking image of broad shoulders, narrow hips and smooth, blemish-free, caramel skin.
Dismissing this tantalizing picture, Shae returned to her seat, gathered her belongings and prepared for the flight. Soon, she would be on her way to Chicago and a new life. A smile as big as her birth state of California spread across Shae’s face.
The overhead pager squawked and the pleasant voice of the gate attendant filled the area. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready to begin boarding for Northwest Airlines Flight 734 bound for Chicago. This is a non-stop flight. We will begin boarding with first-class passengers, World Perk members and anyone with small children or physical restrictions. Please step to boarding gate 10. Have your boarding pass ready.”
Shae rose, picked up her bag and started for the gate, clutching the envelope containing her boarding pass. She pulled the thin slip of paper out and handed it to the attendant, stepped through the door and then hesitated.
Her father hadn’t called. Shae gazed out the window, past the tower, toward Malibu. Sadness filled her heart. She hadn’t been important enough to say goodbye to. Although she hadn’t lived with them in years, she would miss them and the luxurious lifestyle they’d given her. But it was time for her to get on with her life. Chicago offered a challenge, validation of her personal worth and more. It gave her a significant way to help others.
Drawing in a deep breath, she started down the ramp. This was the right decision, and she planned to make the best of her choice.
Chapter 2
James Darren Daniels handed his boarding pass to the Northwest Airlines attendant, then strolled through the door and down the connecting ramp. His steps slowed as his heart hammered against his chest. J.D. brushed away the single bead of perspiration traveling slowly down his neck as he neared the airplane entrance. Flying bugged him. Long or short flights—it didn’t matter. It felt unnatural to J.D. to travel through the air in a sardine can with wings. It was an opinion he expressed to anyone who would listen.
J.D. hoped this would be his last trip for a very long time. Once he made it home, he’d start the hunt for an assistant, someone who was willing to take on most of the travel and keep him out of the “friendly” skies. Then J.D. would be free to handle the negotiation portion of the business, the part of the business he could do by phone. He would only have to fly out for the final review. J.D. nodded. The more he thought about it, the more he warmed to the idea.
The pilot and lead flight attendant stood outside the open door of the cockpit. Dressed in black uniforms trimmed in red, they greeted passengers as they entered the aircraft through first class. The flight attendant ran an appraising eye over J.D., and then flashed him a little sexy smile. Interesting, he thought.
After acknowledging the crew members with a slight dip of his head, J.D. inched his way down the narrow, center aisle. Every few moments the line halted as travelers found their seats or stored the luggage in an overhead compartment. J.D.’s lips turned down at the corners as he studied the cramped, noisy cabin and waited.
Expelling a hot puff of air, the young man wished that this flight was over and he was home. If he had his way, things would soon be very different. There were better ways to enjoy a few hours after clinching a big deal. Ways such as shooting hoops with his buddies followed by two or three rounds of drinks at his favorite sports bar offered a much more pleasing alternative.
Finally, to J.D.’s relief, the line began to move again. Slowly creeping along the aisle, he considered and rejected several alternative modes of transportation. The train, a bus or even a car were safer, but all were much too slow. Deals that he normally concluded in hours would turn into days, maybe even weeks. Although he loathed to admit it, flying remained the most efficient and quickest way to travel and do business.
J.D. had considered a train trip home. It would have been nice but his new client, Amir Jonson, kept stirring up all kinds of problems at home. Now he needed to get back as quickly as possible to perform damage control. So J.D. had to fly.
Glancing at his boarding pass, J.D. discovered the location of his seat. Oh, man! Obviously, he had had too much on his mind when he’d booked this trip. He was stuck in the middle seat, squeezed like a melon between two equally uncomfortable travelers.
J.D. found his seat and stored his laptop bag in the overhead compartment. “Excuse me.” He pointed at the empty space between two occupied seats. “I’m right here.”
Nodding,