Sinister Winds (Storm Series Book 2), page 19
So much for there not being any cloak-and-dagger stuff.
“Sit and put on those shoes,” Belinda said, pointing to the seat the body double had vacated.
Abby pulled on the shoes as Belinda shrugged into an oversized brilliant red sweater and matching hat. While a simple disguise, the woman was totally transformed.
“Come on, dear,” Belinda said loudly. She reached out a hand to help Abby from the chair and leaned close, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Remember, you’re old and feeble. Hunch over and take your time. Just before you get to the end, I want you to clutch your chest and claim to have trouble breathing.”
Abby giggled nervously. “Maybe we should have rehearsed this?”
“Nonsense, you’ll be fine. Just remember to keep that stomach covered.”
To Abby’s credit, she managed quite the performance, though she wavered briefly when a small airport emergency shuttle met them at the gate.
“It’s all part of the plan. They’re with us,” Belinda said. “Just keep your head down and your stomach covered.”
The shuttle raced them to the front of the building, where she and Belinda were loaded into a waiting ambulance, which left with the siren blaring.
“Take off those clothes,” Belinda said, removing her hat and sweater. The ambulance swerved. Belinda beat on the side of the vehicle. “Hey, are you trying to kill us or what?”
“You want to drive?”
“No, just take it easy and kill that siren. You’re giving me a headache, and unless you’re a real paramedic, you don’t want to have to deliver this baby,” she yelled.
Abby stripped out of the pants and sweater and reached for the wig. “This too?”
“Unless you want to keep it for a souvenir,” Belinda replied.
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass,” Abby said, pulling the wig and cap from her head. “Do you always work this way?”
Belinda smiled. “What? You don’t like playing dress-up?”
“It’s been a while,” Abby said.
“Yeah, well, you better get used to it. We aren’t done yet.” She handed Abby a dress bag. “Put this on.”
Abby unzipped the bag and pulled out a suit coat that looked two sizes too big. “Um, we might have a slight problem,” she said, holding up the suit.
Belinda took the jacket. “That one’s mine. Yours is on the other hanger.”
Abby reached into the bag once more and brought out what looked to be a light pink jogging suit. Upon further inspection, she found it to be a pair of maternity overalls she’d eyed in the mall but decided they would be way too warm for California. “They are cute, but I’ll probably suffocate.”
“It gets cold on the plane,” Belinda said as she worked to smooth her hair.
“The plane? I thought I was going to California.”
“You did. You’re just not staying here.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s where you asked to go. The agency figures that if you want to go there, you’ve probably mentioned it to someone else along the way. So, your first choice is nearly always off the table.”
“My first choice was my only choice,” Abby said as she struggled to push her foot through the leg of the jumpsuit while balancing in the moving ambulance. “You know, I’m pretty sure this is against the law.”
Belinda raised an eyebrow. “You want to file a grievance with the government, you can let Jefferies know when you see him.”
“He’s going to be on the plane?” Abby asked.
“We should be seeing him any minute,” Belinda replied.
“Two minutes to the checkpoint,” the driver called. “Be ready to jump and run.”
Belinda smiled. “See, what did I tell you?”
Abby finished pulling the jumpsuit up and looked at Belinda. “Please tell me he doesn’t mean that literally.”
“He’ll slow enough so you can tuck and roll,” she said and winked.
The ambulance pulled into a parking garage, went up three levels, and stopped. A moment later, the door to the back opened.
Alfred Jefferies reached a hand in to help her down. “Mrs. Stephens, how was your flight?”
“Interesting,” Abby replied.
Jefferies nodded to a black SUV with dark-tinted windows. “Your chariot awaits.”
Abby stepped out of the ambulance and into a state of confusion. “Wait, are we at the airport?”
“I can’t think of a better place to catch a flight,” Jefferies said, opening the door to the SUV.
“But the lights and sirens?”
“All smoke and mirrors. They drove around until they made sure they weren’t being followed, then met us back here.” Jefferies shut the door then walked around and got in beside her as Belinda took the front passenger seat. As soon as the door shut, the SUV took off. Jefferies looked over at her. “I’m sure you have questions.”
“Who was the woman who looked like me?”
“Abigail Buckley. At least for the time being. She’ll go to your parent’s grave and take up an apartment near your childhood home until after the baby is born. Unfortunately, there will be complications, and the child will not survive. After a brief time, Mrs. Buckley will take her own life and be mourned in a small ceremony and laid to rest next to her parents. Don’t look so distressed, Mrs. Stephens. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Libby is not actually pregnant. It is just another layer in place to keep you and your daughter safe.”
“Where are we going?” Abby asked when the SUV exited the garage.
“Why, to the airport, of course,” Jefferies replied.
Sure enough, the SUV pulled into a restricted drive and then continued onto the tarmac, coming to a stop in a hangar bay next to a Learjet. Abby looked over at Mr. Jefferies. “Is this your plane?”
“It belongs to the agency.” The man smiled. “Care for a lift?”
“Where are we going?”
“Does it matter?”
Abby sighed. “I’m not sure anything matters anymore.”
“Cheer up, Katherine. I think you’re going to enjoy the next leg of the trip.”
Doubtful, but she had to give it to the man. He’d held up his end of the bargain. “Mr. Jefferies, will I ever get used to my new name?”
“Yes, but it’ll take time.” He walked to the plane and motioned her to go first.
“I guess I have plenty of that,” she replied. She started up the stairs and stopped. “What about my suitcase?”
“The ones you checked through belonged to Abby,” he said with a grin. “Yours are already on the jet. I promise everything will be all right,” he said when she hesitated once more.
“I’m not sure I can do this,” she said, suddenly afraid. “I want everything to be all right, but now it feels like it’s all just another lie.”
“Then remember why you are doing this and make it your truth.” Jefferies glanced at her stomach. “The way up is the way out.”
A chill raced up her spine as she realized the truth in Pearl’s words.
A second SUV pulled up. The door opened. “ABBIEEEE!”
“Kevin?”
Kevin waved and hoisted a cat carrier for her to see, and suddenly, her new world felt a tad less empty.
“Your argument had merit.” Jefferies grinned as he stepped aside. “Besides, the boy is so good at computers that it was only a matter of time before he found you.”
Epilogue: A New Beginning
Abby pulled the wool scarf up to shield her face. “Holy smoke, can it get any colder?”
Kevin let out a snort. “We live in Michigan, and it is April. I assure you, this is not cold.”
She pulled the zipper up higher on her coat. “I think we may be in trouble.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Whose idea was it to move to Michigan?”
“You said you love Detroit. It sounded like a good idea at the time,” Abby reminded him.
“Sunshine, we are nowhere near Detroit. We are in the frozen tundra. Just look at the map. Even Mother Nature saw the need to wrap most of the state in a glove to help keep it warm. We actually live in a mitten.”
She looked around in a panic. “Don’t say that!”
He tilted his head. “What? Mitten?”
“No, you can’t use my old name, remember?”
“I didn’t call you Abby. I called you Sunshine. Besides, Katherine is so… boring.” He pursed his lips together in thought. “I know, I’ll call you Kitten.”
She smiled. “Don’t you think that is a bit fresh, considering you’re supposed to be my brother?”
“Pussy would be fresh; Kitten is fine,” he assured her.
She relaxed. He was right; besides, anyone who spent time with Kevin for more than a few moments would realize he was not being fresh, not with her anyway. She veered the stroller around a puddle. “So, Tom,” she said, using his new name. “Any regrets?”
“Sun…Kitten,” he corrected, “before I met you, I was all alone in a town where I was considered normal. Now, I have something I never thought I would have. I have a family. I have a beautiful sister and an adorable niece, neither of which I would trade for anything in the world.”
She glanced sideways at him. “It’s not every day a girl can pick her own brother.”
He snorted. “You make me sound like a puppy you picked up at the pound.”
She sniffed in response.
“Don’t you dare start crying,” he warned. “Your tears will freeze to your face.”
“I’m not crying. The cold is getting to me.” They both remained quiet as two ladies approached. Wearing shorts and sweatshirts, the women both smiled and nodded their hellos. One of the ladies veered too close to the stroller, and the pup barked a sharp warning. Abby smiled at the little Doberman pup that was no taller than the stroller but made no move to correct him. He might just be a puppy, but he was to be the baby’s bodyguard and was already showing great promise.
The lady smiled and backed away. “It’s okay, big guy. I am not going to hurt your baby,” she said, addressing the dog.
The woman turned her attention to Abby. “Dobermans are such wonderful dogs. My aunt used to have one. It saved the whole family from a house fire and wouldn’t let anyone near my little cousin unless my aunt said it was okay.”
Abby felt chills run along her spine. She had been worried about getting the dog, but all her research assured her this would be the best dog and one that would take his job seriously without any extra training beyond basic obedience. She had seen that firsthand with Killer, and that experience inspired her to research the breed.
Kevin had insisted upon naming the pup Preacher, saying that anyone who messed with either the dog or the baby would be praying by the time he was done with them.
The baby started whimpering.
“She might be too warm,” the woman said, eying the snowsuit.
Abby’s gaze drifted to the woman’s bare legs. “We are not used to the cold.”
Abby watched as the woman took in her attire. “Yes, I kind of gathered that. Are you just visiting, then?”
“No, we live here now.”
“Oh? What brought you to our town?”
Kevin, who had been quiet until this time, jumped at this opening. “Witness relocation program.”
Abby felt the color drain from her face. “Tom, what did Mr. Jefferies tell you about telling stories?” She turned back to the woman. “My brother has quite the imagination. I’m afraid it is nothing that romantic. We were just tired of city life. My brother’s therapist thought the change would be good for him.”
“I can understand change, but why Michigan? Why not pick someplace warm?” the woman said dreamily.
Abby was getting a bit put off by all the questions. What? Was the woman writing a book?
“We merely opened the atlas and picked a spot,” she said rather curtly.
The woman took the hint. “I’m sorry, you have to excuse all the questions. We don’t get a lot of strangers around here. We are all pretty nosey, but I assure you we’re harmless. I think you should stick to your brother’s witness relocation story. Half the town will think you are being rude and won’t want to talk to you, and the other half will think you are serious and realize you can’t answer questions. Either way, it should stop those of us who can’t help but ask a million questions.”
Abby felt herself relaxing. After seeing how big San Diego was, she’d asked to be placed in a small town for just this reason. Outsiders didn’t go unnoticed. On the off chance that anyone did find her and came poking around, she was fairly certain word would get back to her in time to do something about it.
The baby’s whimper turned into a full cry. Abby picked her up to comfort her. Preacher sat, keeping his eyes trained on the child. As she bounced the baby, she noticed that the child was indeed sweating. Taking another look at the lady, she decided to remove the snowsuit. As she tugged at the sleeve, her daughter’s top dropped down, exposing the birthmark just above her heart.
“A tattoo?” The second woman sounded surprised.
“A birthmark,” Abby corrected, not bothering to tell the woman of its significance. Pearl had told her the child would be protected when she was born. Abby knew this to be true the moment she saw her daughter had a permanent chicken’s foot to carry with her throughout her life.
“It looks like a talon,” the woman mused.
“It’s a chicken’s foot,” Kevin said, shaking his head. “Katherine here craved Kentucky Fried Chicken throughout her entire pregnancy.”
This brought a chuckle from the woman. “Would you look at all that red hair. You sure can tell she is your daughter. What’s her name?”
“Eva Pearl,” Abby said with pride.
“What a beautiful name.”
“Yes, it is a family name. She is named after her grandmother,” Abby said, using the story they had composed.
“Your grandma must be very pleased,” the woman said, waving at the baby.
“I hope so,” Abby said. “She passed away a couple of years ago, but I like to think she is watching over her from heaven.”
“I’m sure she is. We should all be so lucky to have a guardian angel.”
“Your baby is well protected,” the second woman mused.
The comment brought Abby up short. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, a grandmother looking down from heaven and a fearless protector here on earth, she said, nodding at Preacher. “Most pups that age would have been off seeing what they could sniff, but not that guy. He has not taken his eyes off of us. I think it is safe to say that no harm will ever come to her.”
“I pray for that every single night,” Abby said with a glance toward Kevin. “I guess it is all any mother ever wants for her child: a safe and happy childhood. I know that’s what my mother wanted for me,” Abby said, hugging her daughter close.
“Well, we’re going to get going; we’ve taken up so much of your time. I’m sure this feels like an inquisition.”
Abby cringed, remembering the real inquisition she’d endured months ago. “No, not at all,” she said, meaning it.
The woman smiled. “I’m sure we will see you around town. It was great talking to you.”
Abby made sure the woman was out of earshot before turning her attention to Kevin. “Really, Tom? Witness relocation? Why not just tell her our real names and get it over with?”
She watched as Kevin broke out in a huge grin. “What’s so amusing?”
“I was just thinking how happy I am to have met you. I have a sister and an adorable niece. My legal name is Tom, and I live in Michigan,” he said with a smile.
His enthusiasm was contagious. Abby put the baby back in the stroller and wrapped a blanket loosely around her legs.
“I’m happy too,” she admitted. “I have a brother I can count on in an emergency, a beautiful daughter, and neighbors who care enough to be nosey.”
Kevin chuckled. “Normal people would consider that an invasion of privacy.”
Abby laughed. “Kevin, there isn’t anything normal about either one of us.”
Kevin leaned in and bumped her with his shoulder. “You got that right, Kitten. And don’t call me Kevin.”
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About the Author
Sherry A. Burton writes in multiple genres and has won numerous awards for her books. Sherry’s awards include the coveted Charles Loring Brace Award, for historical accuracy within her historical fiction series, The Orphan Train Saga. Sherry is a member of the National Orphan Train Society, presents lectures on the history of the orphan trains, and is listed on the NOTC Speaker’s Bureau as an approved speaker.
Originally from Kentucky, Sherry and her Retired Navy Husband now call Michigan home. Sherry enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband of more than forty years.
Sherry A. Burton, Sinister Winds (Storm Series Book 2)
