Bill had arranged a non-stop from Tampa to Denver. It left TIA at ten, which didn’t give Rob much time.

He helped Laura pack and the deputies escorted them back to her condo so she could get the clothes she’d need for the northern climate. It was fairly warm there this time of year, but still chilly by Florida standards.

Rob loaded her suitcases into Thomas’ unmarked patrol car. She’d changed into jeans and had a lightweight jacket to carry on. She carried her laptop and iPad and had the rest of the journals she hadn’t read yet in her checked bags.

Rob hated the look on her face when he had to remind her to leave the gun behind. Leaning close, he whispered in her ear, “It’s all right, baby girl. I’m giving you permission not to carry it. You’ll be safe out there.”

She broke down. “I don’t want to go.”

He forced himself to stay strong for her. “I know. I’m sorry, but I’m ordering you to go. And you will stay out there until I say so.” He took her play collar from his pocket put it in her hands. “Take it with you. Keep it in your pocket. Even when you can’t wear it, remember you have it and remember who owns you.”

She tearfully nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

Laura knelt and hugged Doogie. The Lab licked her face but acted listless, apparently knowing his mom was leaving. One of the deputies volunteered to take him to Steve at the shop for her, and she fought back tears as they drove off, Doogie racing back and forth in the back seat while looking out the rear window.

Rob sat with her in the back seat of Thomas’s car. She remained silent most of the way, and when asked a question she answered mostly in one-word sentences. Upon their arrival at the airport, Thomas pulled up to the departures curb and requested an airport police officer be summoned. He identified himself, and three more airport officers arrived to escort them.

They were rushed through the ticket desk. TSA agents gave Rob and Thomas special clearance to go to the airside terminal with her and the airport police.

With a few minutes remaining before her flight boarded, Rob said his good-byes there and kissed her one last time.

“You’ll be fine, baby girl. I’ll be there before you know it. You’ll be safe.”

“What good is it if I’m forced into exile from my own life?”

He caressed her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Sir,” she whispered.

One of the officers escorted her down the gangway and they lost sight of her around a turn. When the officer reappeared, they started boarding the other passengers.

The airport police and TSA agents stood there with them while Thomas and Rob watched until the plane left.

Rob was assured that an airport police and TSA escort would be awaiting her at the gate when the plane arrived in Denver, and would stay with her until she and Bill caught their flight out.

That left Rob feeling a little better.

Neither man said much on the ride back south.

“You know this is for the best,” Thomas said after they’d crossed the Skyway. “You know this is the only way to keep her safe for now.”

“I know.”

“We’ll figure this out and find him.”

He nodded.

Thomas tried again a few minutes later. “He’s going to screw up. He took a big risk trying to get to her. He’s desperate. That means we’ll catch him.”

Rob looked at him. “I’m warning you, if he shows up I’m shooting him before I call for help. If I have my way, he won’t go to trial.”

Thomas nodded. “Can’t say I blame you there.”

* * *

A deputy returned to the Manasota house with Rob and waited while he finished collecting their things, then drove him to the house where he picked up Laura’s truck. It was better if he went home for now. The general consensus felt Laura was the primary target.

Steve was understandably upset when Rob arrived to pick up Doogie. “How long is she going to stay out there?”

Rob shrugged. “Don’t know. I don’t want her out there, but I don’t want her dead, either. If they can find this whacko, she can come home. If not, she won’t be safe here.” He stroked Doogie’s head. “And you can’t tell anyone where she is. No one. Not even Carol or Sarah. Don’t even say she’s out of town. Just say she’s not here and you don’t know when she’ll be in. If someone accidentally lets it slip where she is—”

“Don’t worry. We won’t.”

Rob took Doogie and went back to the condo. He felt as empty as the rooms there without Laura waiting for him. He had to call Shayla and tell her the news and not to spread it around. The only thing she could tell everyone was that Laura wouldn’t be around for a while. That Shayla didn’t know where she’d gone, or when she’d return.

Which was the truth, because he didn’t tell her where he’d sent Laura even though he suspected she’d easily guess Montana.

* * *

Bill didn’t skimp on his little sister. He’d arranged first class for her, and since the airline had been notified of the special circumstances, Laura had the row to herself. She curled up by the window and watched the ground sweep past as they took off. The plane veered northwest, over the Gulf.

In an hour, they were flying over oil rigs and the Mississippi Delta outside of New Orleans. The landscape changed from green to brown as they approached the Midwest. She watched mountains, fields, and strange cities and towns slowly pass beneath her. At one point she dozed for a little while, then a flight attendant asked her to come to the front of the plane.

She kept her play collar in her hands the whole time, rubbing her fingers over the soft leather.

It was the only thing keeping her from crying.

The head steward approached her. “Ms. Spaulding?”

Her heart froze, sure that he was going to tell her Rob was dead. That something horrible had happened and MedicineMan had struck.

“Yes?”

“TSA told us you’re to deplane first. Your brother is already at the airport. The airport police will make sure your baggage is transferred to your connecting flight, and officers will stay with you until you make the plane change.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Laura felt eyes on her as she made her way back to her seat. No doubt there were curious passengers who heard some of her exchange with the crew. She hated the attention and wanted to know when she would wake up from the nightmare.

The flight attendants were very kind, and one even sat next to her for the landing. Officers were waiting when the door opened and the gangway was attached, Bill standing close behind them.

He didn’t recognize her at first and she had her first genuine laugh of the day as he did a double-take over her new hairdo. He held out his arms and she fell into them, enjoying the hug.

“Don’t say it.”

He smiled. “You went and done it.” He took her knapsack and laptop case from her. The officers escorted them to the next gate and helped them board. Once the plane was in the air, she relaxed for the first time that day.

Denver fell away behind them, the landscape giving way to the Rocky Mountains. When she felt the plane descend toward Bozeman, Bill took her hand and squeezed it. “You okay?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head, tears rolling down her face. She’d just started recalling memories about her and Rob, and now she didn’t have him, either. Her life had been put on hold, and she felt terrified.

The breakdown loomed despite doing her best to stave it off. Bill helped collect her luggage and then they traveled across to the private aviation section of the airport, where he loaded her and her luggage into his plane.

That’s where she finally let loose, sobbing in his arms, crying, screaming in the small cockpit while she vented the terror and anger from her system.

The flight to Gardiner from Bozeman didn’t take long. From there they drove to his house, a few minutes north of town.

Gardiner sat just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone. Bill’s house was located on fifty rolling acres in a valley surrounded by hills and pine trees, a large but cozy log cabin with all the amenities. His three dogs, all mutts, came running from the porch to greet them when they pulled in. She sat down among them and let them sniff her, enjoying their furry presence.

It was the first comforting event that had blessed her all day.

She called Rob and reached his voice mail. She also left a message for Thomas that she was safe. The dogs gathered around her once more, so she spent time playing with them and wishing Rob would call.

Bill discussed making dinner and Laura looked at the sky. “Is it that late already?” She glanced at her watch.

He laughed. “Jet lag and an unfamiliarity with Montana summers. It’s after seven.”

“You’re kidding.” She looked at his watch and reset hers with a twinge of regret. It was one less connection to home. It felt like a week had passed instead of hours. It was still only Tuesday afternoon.

Nothing exciting had happened to him since his return from Florida. He flew tourists, hunters, supplies, mail, and medical patients between the Livingston and Bozeman areas to and from more isolated locales.

His career started after he graduated from the Air Force academy. While training to be a pilot, he was injured in a football game after hours, nearly breaking his neck. The injury was life-threatening and enough to keep him out of a fighter cockpit.

He had a medical discharge, flight training, but not enough to get him a job with a large airline. He opted for private enterprise and a friend of his hooked him up with a charter company in the northwest. Within a year he opened his own company with two other pilots working for him. He lived well and didn’t miss the hot Florida summers.