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more knowledgeable about my surroundings than they were。 We took the
elevator down to level three； where the passengers unloaded。 Alice and
Jasper spent a long time looking at the departing flights board。 I could
hear them discussing the pros and cons of New York； Atlanta； Chicago。
Places I'd never seen。 And would never see。
I waited for my opportunity； impatient； unable to stop my toe from
tapping。 We sat in the long rows of chairs by the metal detectors； Jasper
and Alice pretending to peoplewatch but really watching me。 Every inch I
shifted in my seat was followed by a quick glance out of the corner of
their eyes。 It was hopeless。 Should I run？ Would they dare to stop me
physically in this public place？ Or would they simply follow？
I pulled the unmarked envelope out of my pocket and set it on top of
Alice's black leather bag。 She looked at me。
〃My letter；〃 I said。 She nodded； tucking it under the top flap。 He would
find it soon enough。
The minutes passed and Edward's arrival grew closer。 It was amazing how
every cell in my body seemed to know he was ing； to long for his
ing。 That made it very hard。 I found myself trying to think of excuses
to stay； to see him first and then make my escape。 But I knew that was
impossible if I was going to have any chance to get away。
Several times Alice offered to go get breakfast with me。 Later； I told
her； not yet。
I stared at the arrival board； watching as flight after flight arrived on
time。 The flight from Seattle crept closer to the top of the board。
And then； when I had only thirty minutes to make my escape； the numbers
changed。 His plane was ten minutes early。 I had no more time。
〃I think I'll eat now；〃 I said quickly。
Alice stood。 〃I'll e with you。〃
〃Do you mind if Jasper es instead？〃 I asked。 〃I'm feeling a little…〃 I
didn't finish the sentence。 My eyes were wild enough to convey what I
didn't say。
Jasper stood up。 Alice's eyes were confused； but — I saw to my relief—
not suspicious。 She must be attributing the change in her vision to some
maneuver of the tracker's rather than a betrayal by me。
Jasper walked silently beside me； his hand on the small of my back； as if
he were guiding me。 I pretended a lack of interest in the first few
airport cafes； my head scanning for what I really wanted。 And there it
was； around the corner； out of Alice's sharp sight： the levelthree
ladies' room。
〃Do you mind？〃 I asked Jasper as we passed。 〃I'll just be a moment。〃
〃I'll be right here；〃 he said。
As soon as the door shut behind me； I was running。 I remembered the time
I had gotten lost from this bathroom； because it had two exits。
Outside the far door it was only a short sprint to the elevators； and if
Jasper stayed where he said he would； I'd never be in his line of sight。
I didn't look behind me as I ran。 This was my only chance； and even if he
saw me； I had to keep going。 People stared； but I ignored them。 Around
the corner the elevators were waiting； and I dashed forward； throwing my
hand between the closing doors of a full elevator headed down。 I squeezed
in beside the irritated passengers； and checked to make sure that the
button for level one had been pushed。 It was already lit； and the doors
closed。
As soon as the door opened I was off again； to the sound of annoyed
murmurs behind me。 I slowed myself as I passed the security guards by the
luggage carousels； only to break into a run again as the exit doors came
into view。 I had no way of knowing if Jasper was looking for me yet。
I would have only seconds if he was following my scent。 I jumped out the
automatic doors； nearly smacking into the glass when they opened too
slowly。
Along the crowded curb there wasn't a cab in sight。
I had no time。 Alice and Jasper were either about to realize I was gone；
or they already had。 They would find me in a heartbeat。
A shuttle to the Hyatt was just closing its doors a few feet behind me。
〃Wait！〃 I called； running； waving at the driver。
〃This is the shuttle to the Hyatt；〃 the driver said in confusion as he
opened the doors。
〃Yes；〃 I huffed； 〃that's where I'm going。〃 I hurried up the steps。
He looked askance at my luggageless state； but then shrugged； not caring
enough to ask。
Most of the seats were empty。 I sat as far from the other travelers as
possible； and watched out the window as first the sidewalk； and then the
airport； drifted away。 I couldn't help imagining Edward； where he would
stand at the edge of the road when he found the end of my trail。 I
couldn't cry yet； I told myself。 I still had a long way to go。
My luck held。 In front of the Hyatt； a tiredlooking couple was getting
their last suitcase out of the trunk of a cab。 I jumped out of the
shuttle and ran to the cab； sliding into the seat behind the driver。 The
tired couple and the shuttle driver stared at me。
I told the surprised cabbie my mother's address。 〃I need to get there as
soon as possible。〃
〃That's in Scottsdale；〃 he plained。
I threw four twenties over the seat。
〃Will that be enough？〃
〃Sure； kid； no problem。〃
I sat back against the seat； folding my arms across my lap。 The familiar
city began to rush around me； but I didn't look out the windows。 I
exerted myself to maintain control。 I was determined not to lose myself
at this point； now that my plan was successfully pleted。 There was no
point in indulging in more terror； more anxiety。 My path was set。 I just
had to follow it now。
So； instead of panicking； I closed my eyes and spent the twenty minutes'
drive with Edward。
I imagined that I had stayed at the airport to meet Edward。 I visualized
how I would stand on my toes； the sooner to see his face。 How quickly；
how gracefully he would move through the crowds of people separating us。
And then I would run to close those last few feet between us — reckless
as always — and I would be in his marble arms； finally safe。
I wondered where we would have gone。 North somewhere； so he could be
outside in the day。 Or maybe somewhere very remote； so we could lay in
the sun together again。 I imagined him by the shore； his skin sparkling
like the sea。 It wouldn't matter how long we had to hide。 To be trapped
in a hotel room with him would be a kind of heaven。 So many questions I
still had for him。 I could talk to him forever； never sleeping； never
leaving his side。
I could see his face so clearly now… almost hear his voice。 And； despite
all the horror and hopelessness； I was fleetingly happy。 So involved was
I in my escapist daydreams； I lost all track of the seconds racing by。
〃Hey； what was the number？〃
The cabbie's question punctured my fantasy； letting all the colors run
out of my lovely delusions。 Fear； bleak and hard； was waiting to fill the
empty space they left behind。
〃Fiftyeight twentyone。〃 My voice sounded strangled。 The cabbie looked
at me； nervous that I was having an episode or something。
〃Here we are； then。〃 He was anxious to get me out of his car； probably
hoping I wouldn't ask for my change。
〃Thank you；〃 I whispered。 There was no need to be afraid； I reminded
myself。 The house was empty。 I had to hurry； my mom was waiting for me；
frightened； depending on me。
I ran to the door； reaching up automatically to grab the key under the
eave。 I unlocked the door。 It was dark inside； empty； normal。 I ran to
the phone； turning on the kitchen light on my way。 There； on the
whiteboard； was a tendigit number written in a small； neat hand。 My
fingers stumbled over the keypad； making mistakes。 I had to hang up and
start again。 I concentrated only on the buttons this time； carefully
pressing each one in turn。 I was successful。 I held the phone to my ear
with a shaking hand。 It rang only once。
〃Hello； Bella；〃 that easy voice answered。 〃That was very quick。 I'm
impressed。〃
〃Is my mom all right？〃
〃She's perfectly fine。 Don't worry； Bella； I have no quarrel with her。
Unless you didn't e alone； of course。〃 Light； amused。
〃I'm alone。〃 I'd never been more alone in my entire life。
〃Very good。 Now； do you k