same.
There had been no choice. Nate had to go with him until things calmed down.
They paused in front of a departure monitor. Quinn pretended to check the display, just another traveler on a holiday. Casually, he looked at his watch, then glanced around as if he were waiting for someone. His gaze never stopped on anyone in particular, and after a couple of sweeps, he decided they were still alone.
'So?' Nate asked.
'What?' Quinn said.
Nate nodded at the departure monitors. 'Which flight are we taking?'
'Give me your passport.'
Nate pulled a blue-covered booklet from his pocket and handed it over. It was one of twenty they carried between them, all fake. Each was top quality, made by a guy Quinn knew who worked out of a shop on the Venice Beach boardwalk.
Dozens of international airlines were set up in Bradley Terminal. Usually they would have had the choice of the whole world. But this wasn't a usual day, and until Quinn heard otherwise, he had to assume most of the world wasn't safe. He needed to select a destination no one would expect them to go to.
Europe was out. As was anywhere in the States or Canada. Latin America was an option, but not a great one. Too many spooks, too many chances someone might spot him. Russia, Australia, China, Japan – all lousy choices. There really was only one answer. He looked around until he spotted what he was looking for.
'Okay. Let's go,' he said. 'Not even a hint?' Nate asked. Quinn ignored the question as he headed off
through the crowd. It took them less than two minutes to reach the business- and first-class passenger line for Thai Airways.
'All right,' Nate said, smiling. 'Not one more word until we're on the plane,
understand?' 'Yeah. Sure. Not a word.' When their turn came, Quinn gave Nate a
warning look before approaching the counter. 'How can I help you?' the ticket agent said. She was an Asian woman about thirty years old. 'I'm wondering if there are any seats left on the
12:05 flight to Bangkok?' 'No business class, sir,' she said. 'But there are
still a couple available in first class.' 'Perfect,' he said with a smile. 'Two, please.' 'The seats are not together. Is that all right?' she
asked. 'No problem,' Quinn said. 'May I have your passports?' Quinn handed her the two passports, then smiled
again. She looked at them, then punched several keys on the keyboard of her computer terminal. 'How would you like to pay, Mr. Hayden?'
Quinn held passports in many names. Louis Hayden was the one he'd chosen for this trip, it having the benefit of being an identity he'd never used previously. Nate was traveling under the name Raymond James. 'Credit card,' he said, removing from his wallet one of the several he had with the Hayden alias on it.
After he paid, the woman busied herself at her computer arranging their tickets. Quinn casually scanned the terminal again. It didn't take him long to identify two suspicious types near the front entrance. They were big guys, both dressed in dark gray business suits. They seemed to be paying particularly close attention to the people coming into the building. Surprisingly, Nate seemed to have noticed them, too. He looked at Quinn, trying but failing to hide his concern. Quinn shrugged and gave him a quick smile.
'Here you are,' the agent said. She set the tickets and passports on the top of the counter. 'Any luggage?'
Quinn shook his head. 'Just our carry-ons.' She smiled in approval, no doubt guessing they were seasoned travelers. 'Enjoy your flight.' 'Thank you,' he said. 'We will.'
Quinn eased his chair back, then glanced out the window at the Pacific Ocean, thirty thousand feet below. It was the first time in nearly twelve hours he wasn't doing anything. Physically, he was exhausted.
Nate was across the cabin, three rows back. Quinn had offered him a sleeping pill before they boarded, and apparently it had worked quickly. Nate's head lolled to the side, his eyes closed.
Quinn let his mind drift, trying not to think of
There had been no choice. Nate had to go with him until things calmed down.
They paused in front of a departure monitor. Quinn pretended to check the display, just another traveler on a holiday. Casually, he looked at his watch, then glanced around as if he were waiting for someone. His gaze never stopped on anyone in particular, and after a couple of sweeps, he decided they were still alone.
'So?' Nate asked.
'What?' Quinn said.
Nate nodded at the departure monitors. 'Which flight are we taking?'
'Give me your passport.'
Nate pulled a blue-covered booklet from his pocket and handed it over. It was one of twenty they carried between them, all fake. Each was top quality, made by a guy Quinn knew who worked out of a shop on the Venice Beach boardwalk.
Dozens of international airlines were set up in Bradley Terminal. Usually they would have had the choice of the whole world. But this wasn't a usual day, and until Quinn heard otherwise, he had to assume most of the world wasn't safe. He needed to select a destination no one would expect them to go to.
Europe was out. As was anywhere in the States or Canada. Latin America was an option, but not a great one. Too many spooks, too many chances someone might spot him. Russia, Australia, China, Japan – all lousy choices. There really was only one answer. He looked around until he spotted what he was looking for.
'Okay. Let's go,' he said. 'Not even a hint?' Nate asked. Quinn ignored the question as he headed off
through the crowd. It took them less than two minutes to reach the business- and first-class passenger line for Thai Airways.
'All right,' Nate said, smiling. 'Not one more word until we're on the plane,
understand?' 'Yeah. Sure. Not a word.' When their turn came, Quinn gave Nate a
warning look before approaching the counter. 'How can I help you?' the ticket agent said. She was an Asian woman about thirty years old. 'I'm wondering if there are any seats left on the
12:05 flight to Bangkok?' 'No business class, sir,' she said. 'But there are
still a couple available in first class.' 'Perfect,' he said with a smile. 'Two, please.' 'The seats are not together. Is that all right?' she
asked. 'No problem,' Quinn said. 'May I have your passports?' Quinn handed her the two passports, then smiled
again. She looked at them, then punched several keys on the keyboard of her computer terminal. 'How would you like to pay, Mr. Hayden?'
Quinn held passports in many names. Louis Hayden was the one he'd chosen for this trip, it having the benefit of being an identity he'd never used previously. Nate was traveling under the name Raymond James. 'Credit card,' he said, removing from his wallet one of the several he had with the Hayden alias on it.
After he paid, the woman busied herself at her computer arranging their tickets. Quinn casually scanned the terminal again. It didn't take him long to identify two suspicious types near the front entrance. They were big guys, both dressed in dark gray business suits. They seemed to be paying particularly close attention to the people coming into the building. Surprisingly, Nate seemed to have noticed them, too. He looked at Quinn, trying but failing to hide his concern. Quinn shrugged and gave him a quick smile.
'Here you are,' the agent said. She set the tickets and passports on the top of the counter. 'Any luggage?'
Quinn shook his head. 'Just our carry-ons.' She smiled in approval, no doubt guessing they were seasoned travelers. 'Enjoy your flight.' 'Thank you,' he said. 'We will.'
Quinn eased his chair back, then glanced out the window at the Pacific Ocean, thirty thousand feet below. It was the first time in nearly twelve hours he wasn't doing anything. Physically, he was exhausted.
Nate was across the cabin, three rows back. Quinn had offered him a sleeping pill before they boarded, and apparently it had worked quickly. Nate's head lolled to the side, his eyes closed.
Quinn let his mind drift, trying not to think of
Similar Books
