Page 82 of Airborne
Mia glanced away. “This may be useless. Before boarding, he sat behind me at the gate, and I heard him on his phone talking in Hindi. Since I speak the language, I listened. He said, ‘I’ll be there in time to make it happen. Don’t worry.’ He didn’t mention a name or anything else.”
The conversation lined up with what the FBI had uncovered. “Thank you, my friend. I’ll pass it on.”
She chatted with Mia a few more minutes, then excused herself with a promise to keep in touch and to stop by in the morning. Back in her room, Heather closed the door and texted ASAC Mitchell with what Mia had observed.
Now to visit Frankie. The sweet boy sat in a chair and held an iPad. His color looked much better than she expected. Even withhis past health issues, he’d beaten the odds. His eyes sparkled as though she were an old friend.
“Are you sick?” Frankie said.
“No. I’m in the hospital for something else. I’m fine. How about you?”
“In two days is my birthday. I hope Grandma can visit me.”
Heather cringed. “Early happy birthday. Glad you’re better.”
“Thanks. Dad’s here. I mean he stays at a hotel. He’s normally with me, but he had to make some kind of ’rangements. Whatever it is, he was real sad. He wears a mask and gloves like everyone else. He says it keeps him healthy.”
“And he wouldn’t want to bring in any germs to make you sick.”
“Yep. Will you see Grandma?”
A huge knot in her throat threatened to choke her. “Just you.” She smiled into his angelic face.
“Grandma must be bad sick ’cause Dad won’t talk about her. Says he’ll tell me when I’m out of the hospital.”
Wise man.
“If you can visit me,” Frankie said, “why can’t she?”
“I’m sure there’s a good reason.”
Heather played a card game of animal rummy and made sure he won. Frankie deserved wins in his life, even if many parental guides claimed children should learn how to lose. He’d lost enough.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
DR.FRANCISCA RELEASED HEATHERto return to quarantine in the morning. She could sleep as well in the dorm as in the hospital. The baby kicked as though he were excited.
Chad needed to share in his son’s preparation for the world. They had each other’s burner numbers, but he should make the initial call. Eagerness on her part wouldn’t bring restoration. Heather had no desire to fix him. Not ever. Took her eight years to accept God changed people according to His plan.
She looked at a microscope and saw a creator God.
Chad looked at a microscope and saw man’s scientific advances.
Her phone buzzed, and she answered.
“Feeling better?” ASAC Mitchell said. “You gave us a scare.”
“On the mend, thanks.”
“Chad’s visit at the hospital wasn’t a smart move. Was your conversation civil?”
“It resembled a pulled grenade.”
“If you’re feeling well enough, SAC Bischoff has information to relay.”
Heather sat up in the bed to discourage her need for immediate sleep. “I’m ready, and my door is closed.”
SAC Bischoff greeted her with his concern about her health. “We continue to probe into Parker and Sonya Karey, and they are still a vital part of the investigation. We contacted a company in Frankfurt where he’d been scheduled for an interview. The position is on hold due to the current virus situation. In addition, we’re looking into the background of a vague suspect, one who is on Adam’s Island. A few items in his background have the FBI’s attention and our discretion. He’s a high-profile figure, Thomas Powell, the CEO of Software Developers International.”
