Flying Too Close to the Sun, George Jehn [freda ebook reader txt] 📗

do not like that sleazebag. He’s mixed up in something he’s trying to hide, so we’ll keep a close eye on him. Why would Shepard hang out with a dirtbag like him?”

“I have no idea, but I agree with your opinion.”

David hurriedly changed into street clothing and sped to Christina’s. A haggard-looking Christina was lying on the couch, watching television. “How was your workout?” she softly asked.

“Don’t give me your bullshit,” he immediately replied in a high-pitched tone. “What the hell have you been up to?”

“What do you mean?” a stunned Christina asked, standing up.

“Two fucking cops paid me a visit at the gym over something.”

“Maybe it had to do with your stupid luggage scam?” she replied.

“I doubt it, since one was FBI,” he replied, poking her hard on the shoulder with his finger. “I think you stole something off your plane.”

“That hurt,” she said rubbing her shoulder. “Keep your goddamned hands off me. What’re the steroids you’re taking making you crazy? For your information, you’re messing with interstate commerce, so the FBI would be involved with your baggage shit. I tried to warn you, but—”

“This probably has something to do with the guy you told me about,” he screamed. “You got something. Was it money?”

She turned away and when he spun her around, she was crying. “My epilepsy symptoms have returned even though I’m taking medication. Probably because of all the stress you pile on me. Don’t add to it.”

“Let me see if I’ve got this right. You expect me to feel sorry for you over some bullshit disease. What do you take me for, a fuckin’ moron?” Without saying another word he stormed out, slamming the door with a loud crash.

.     .     .

Christina went to the phone and dialed Mimi’s number in Minnesota. The time had arrived. She had to forge a closer relationship with Laurel. She also had to relay the bad news about next semester’s tuition. How would Laurel react? The phone was picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Mimi, it’s Christina,” she said, trying to sound chipper but not doing a very good job.

“Oh. Hello, Mrs. Shep, er, Christina.”

“I’d like to speak with Laurel.”

Mimi hesitated, finally sighing, “Hold on. I’ll get her.”

She could picture Laurel and at the sound of her voice, Christina’s spirits would be lifted as though sunshine had just broken through the clouds at thirty-five thousand feet.

“Hello.”

“How are you, honey? It’s your mother.”

“I’m okay.”

“Did you follow my advice and see a neurologist?”

“Yes. He mentioned studies show epilepsy could be genetic. Doctors have recently isolated the genes that might be responsible so he did a blood test and I don’t have any of the genetic markers, meaning everything should be fine.”

Christina sensed a common bond rapidly slipping away.

“He also said I shouldn’t lose any sleep worrying.”

Christina found herself at a loss for words. “That’s great,” she managed. “I also have a bit of bad news. I’m frequently getting partial complex seizures, which means I can’t take a chance and fly. So I won’t be able to come up with next term’s tuition.”

“After you told me about your epilepsy I expected that might happen, so I went to see the dean. I explained the details of the situation without mentioning your disease and asked if the school could help.”

“What did he say?”

“Because my grades were so good, they offered me a full scholarship for the remainder of my undergraduate work and will assist me in securing one for law school.”

“Oh, I’m so happy for you.” Fortunately, Laurel couldn’t see the frown on her face.

“I have to be honest,” Laurel continued, “my feelings toward you are ambivalent. I don’t dislike you, but really don’t know you either. I do appreciate your telling me about what happened with my father. Although we don’t know where we’re headed when we depart this life it’s nice to hear the details about the arrival.” After a slight hesitation she continued, “But you walked out of my life and now barge back in expecting me to embrace you. I can’t do that, at least not yet. Mimi is the only mother I’ve ever known and loved. It will take me time to see if I can adjust and feel the same way about you.”

Christina mustered all the strength she could and told her, “I want you to know while you’re deciding I’ll always be here for you.” Deafening silence came from the other end, followed by a frosty goodbye, which perhaps incorrectly sounded final. This meant Christina was at the one place she feared the most, completely alone. She went to bed but even after taking two strong sleeping pills couldn’t sleep. Everything in her life was crashing down around her. Why could she never catch a break?

CHAPTER FORTY

As Erik’s August first deadline approached and no check arrived, the bank manger phoned the airline executive offices and was eventually routed to O’Brien. After a lengthy discussion the bank granted an additional fifteen-day grace period, meaning Erik would have to come up with the entire amount by that time.

.     .     .

Daly secured a secret court order allowing him to keep tabs on Erik’s, Christina’s and David’s finances. At Morganthaler’s insistence he also went to a friendly Federal Judge in the Manhattan Eastern District Court and got permission to wire Christina’s and Erik’s home phones. Everything they laid their hands on showed Erik was flat broke and the pilot involvement theory began running into strong headwinds. This became even more evident after the FBI’s examination of the pilots’ home phones and computers showed they had never contacted each other. They anxiously awaited Erik’s new deadline, as the potential loss of his job might force a move.

.     .     .

Daly took all the known facts and shook them down while alone in his office, surrounded only by the FBI’s reference books and Manual of Rules and Regulations, better known as the Big Manual. As he sat behind his intimidating desk, he was perplexed. Although