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

life. There’s something special about you that caused everything to change when I committed myself to what we could become. That’s the awesome power of love and it includes honesty and loyalty. I want us to grow so we can live the chapters of our new lives together, one by one. I need your presence, your voice, your love—you.” She shook her head. “To be honest, you’ve changed from my shining knight into a more human one with slightly-tarnished armor. But you’re still my hero ‘cause I know how much you wanted to be successful and worked your butt off to achieve your castle in the sky.” She hesitated. “But that’s enough on this. Nothing positive can come from rehashing it anymore; enough Erik flagellation. We’ve got to move on because the past is like a club and if you keep hitting yourself with it you’ll do permanent brain damage. We can’t keep looking back hoping that somehow the past will change.” The lines in her face disappeared, as though just injected with Botox. “But, we’re still dealing with a colossal unknown.”

He breathed an audible sigh. Their roles were reversed and she was now the strong-minded one, the captain. “Define colossal unknown.”

“Look, I’m no self-beatified Saint Carol. I would love to have that dough. But do we want it? Money, or the lack of it, is pretty much the root of all evil. Keep it and instead of paradise, you’ll be creating a hell.”

“While driving from Montgomery’s place I wound up on a deserted Jersey pier and considered dumping it into the water. But then I thought about Shepard and what it would have meant for her. Some day we could be in a similar situation.” Carol was slowly shaking her head side to side, but Erik continued. “The airlines have become a boom and bust business. I don’t know what’ll happen to Shuttle Air. I want enough to—”

“What’s this guy Juni like?”

“Like I said, Shepard dated this dirtbag baggage handler and she met Juni through him. He’s a relative of David’s, and—”

“You told me that. Is he a suspect?”

“No. No way. The cops couldn’t even know he exists.” He paused to take a sip of water from the etched glass. “Christina mentioned he became involved because he’s in dire straits, borrowed to the hilt for his bakery and is no doubt teetering on the edge of financial ruin...”

“No,” she repeated, pouting. “What kind of a person is he?”

“He’s no Mother Theresa, but a family guy with a couple of kids. He also mentioned struggling hard with whether or not to even get involved; said he had reservations but ultimately decided to do it for his family.”

She took a deep breath and sighed, “It was probably luck that this guy hit him and took the money, ‘because otherwise it would almost certainly be a cinch for the cops to track you down. There are a million ways to do that.” She hesitated only a moment. “Give the money to him.”

Her reasoning didn’t taste right. “What?”

“Give it to him. Every last goddamned cent! Dad bailed you out and I don’t want any. You wanna be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life? I don’t and won’t.” She whispered blackly. “The cops are out there, waiting and watching.” She paused, letting her words sink in, not wanting to take this to the next level, her or the money.

“That’s imposs—”

“Bullshit! Grow up!” the retort came as sharp as a knife, her milky pallor taking on a reddish tint, her eyes glowing like there was a light inside each. “They’re somewhere in the shadows, maybe even here, now. I can guar-an-damn-tee you they won’t rest. And you won’t have a clue ‘til it’s too late. You’ll see the minute you start flashing some. They probably have your phone tapped. And mine too.”

He gave up trying to be his own defense attorney. Grow up? Thoughts of those words made him realize in reality he’d actually never believed he’d be caught. For the very first time he wondered how long would his sentence be? Five years in jail? He’d be prime meat for the psycho animals that did nothing but lift weights and had no gender preference. One of them would no doubt want him for his bitch. Just like his involvement in the robbery, he really had no choice now. Erik didn’t want the helium to escape from their romance balloon. He couldn’t let that happen. After a period of silence that felt like weeks, he nodded in agreement with the young lady who sounded more like a mature woman as her words settled into his mind and like seeds, began sprouting their first buds.

Exhausted, she told him, “I need your touch,” got up as he slid back his chair and sat sideways on his lap. The cushioned chair creaked and groaned under the strain of their combined weight. Other diners sent smiles at the striking young couple, obviously in love. Clutching her tightly, he now knew destiny also clutched them firmly in its grip. As if also sensing this, she put her arm around his neck and gently kissed him, her sweet breath covering his face. “Now we’ll be safe.”

But still, give away over two million bucks?

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

After his final flight Erik checked his six, went to a pay phone and called the Genoa bakery. Juni answered.

“It’s Erik Preis.”

“Why the hell you callin’ me? I told you…”

Erik was now the captain. “Just shut up and listen.”

“If this is about Christina, it’s been all over the news.”

“That’s not the reason—,” Erik began, but Juni interrupted.

“I wonder how her kid is doin’. You have his address? I wanna send some money. I don’t have much, but—”

Erik cut him off. “Did you get my letter?”

“What letter?”

“Never mind. We have to meet. Tonight.”

“I don’t want to be seen anywhere near you. The cops are probably all over you like stink on shit.”

“Believe me, this is worth the risk.”

Silence. Did Erik have a