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On the way to the airfield, we pick up food and I call Roberta Bronzini, the lady who runs the property agency more or less single-handed. I get a sinking sensation in my gut when the call goes straight to voicemail.
When we pull up by the plane, the sight of it gives me an ache of nostalgia. I ring Lawrence to let him know that I’m leaving the Range Rover by the hangar.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
On the plane, we sit cross legged on facing bench seats with the take out on the table between us. The Vietnamese Catlin ordered is terrific. We share the cartons of noodles with barbecued pork, crackling and spice, and a chicken and rice dish with chilis and shallots.
Daddy keeps beer in the fridge on the plane, but it’s always that thin, fizzy stuff with a yeasty tin can taste. I like this cold Mexican beer I brought from the fridge in the house.
Catlin loves the jet. Well, who wouldn’t?
I tell her, “You’ve certainly taken to shooting.”
“Thank you so much for the opportunity.”
I raise a hand. ”I’m not looking for thank-yous. Anyway, you saved my life today. And you put on a cracking show at the Romanos. No, I got more than my money’s worth, I really was just talking about your skill. You’re a natural.”
Caitlin smiles. “My ROTC instructor used to tell me that.”
“You never thought about following it up before?”
“Back then, there weren’t nearly as many people I wanted to picture in the sights.”
I smile. I feel what she says. “Are they all men?”
She nods. “A lot of them are. Yes.”
I tell her, “Eat up. The flight’s not that long,” Then I snigger, “Oh, wait. Of course. You know. You came out this way.”
She laughs and I laugh along with her.
I tell her, “But I want to get a couple of hours sleep if I can.”
We enjoy the food in silence for a while.
She says, “That man, tonight. He was really there to kill you.”
I nod.
“I mean, I’m really glad I was there to stop him. You knew that might happen though, didn’t you?”
I nod again. “Mm-hmm.”
“That was why you had me fly out.”
“Yup.”
“Knowing that, that there are people out there really trying to kill you, that must be so scary.” she takes another bite, shaking her head a little. She thinks about it and says, “Don’t think I’m blowing smoke up your ass but, I have to say, you are so cool.”
I look at her.
“Sitting, waiting, set up with the sights on, keeping still and quiet and out of sight, making the calculations, knowing the exact moment, leaning on and waiting for the heartbeat, you’re pretty hot stuff yourself.”
She smiles and looks down.
“Will you always need protecting?”
I nod. And I smile. “And I hope I’ll always have you on my team.
