‘Why?’
‘Because if David knows you have it, there may be someone else on this aircraft who knows too.’
I looked around the cabin.
Suddenly every stranger had a face I wanted to remember.
A businessman asleep across the aisle.
A young couple sharing earbuds.
A woman reading a magazine.
A man three rows ahead who had gone to the restroom twice.
Normal people.
Or maybe not.
I hated how quickly fear could make the whole world suspicious.
‘I want off this plane.’
‘You’ll be off in less than an hour.’
‘And then what?’
‘That depends on what is in your bag.’
I almost laughed.
It came out sounding like a breath breaking in half.
‘Three days ago I was worried my cousin might not let me sleep on her couch.
Now you’re telling me my husband tracked my flight because of some papers I didn’t understand.’
‘Yes.’
‘And you expect me to trust you?’
‘No.’
That stopped me.
Moretti tapped the business card.
‘I expect you to pay attention.’
He turned slightly toward me.
‘Trust is expensive.
Observation is free.’
I looked at his hands.
Steady.
Empty.
Visible.
David always demanded trust while giving me reasons not to.
Moretti demanded nothing.
That did not make him safe.
It made him different.
The captain announced that we had begun our descent into Chicago.
Around us, seat backs returned upright.
Tray tables clicked closed.
The cabin brightened as passengers opened window shades.
Moretti’s phone vibrated again.
He read the message, then placed the phone face down.
‘Your husband isn’t in Chicago.’
I exhaled.
‘But two men connected to him are.’
My relief vanished.
‘At the airport?’
‘Likely.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because one of them just arrived.’
I stared at him.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
He nodded toward the card.
‘Now you’re asking the right question.’
The landing gear lowered with a heavy mechanical sound.
Moretti told me that when the doors opened, I was not to rush.
