02 Total Control by David Baldacci

Author:David Baldacci [Baldacci, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Sidney Archer sipped her coffee while the beverage cart made its way down the rest of the aisle. She was reaching to pick at the sandwich on her tray when the blue markings on the paper napkin caught her eye. She focused on the writing, a jolt went through her, and she almost spilled her coffee.

The FBI are not on the plane. We need to talk.

The napkin was on the right side of her tray and her gaze automatically swerved in that direction. For a moment she couldn’t even think. Then recognition slowly came to her. The man was casually drinking his soda while munching on his meal. Thinning reddish blond hair gave way to a long, clean-shaven face that had more than its share of worry lines. The man looked mid-forties and was dressed in chino pants and a white shirt. A six-footer, he had his long legs partly stuck out into the aisle. He finally put down the soda, patted his mouth with a napkin and turned to her.

“You’ve been following me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “In Charlottesville.”

“I’m afraid that’s not the only place. Actually, I’ve kept you under surveillance since shortly after the plane crash.”

Sidney’s hand flew to the attendant button.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Her hand stopped, millimeters from summoning assistance. “Why not?” she coldly asked.

“Because I’m here to help you find your husband,” he said simply.

She finally managed to answer him, her wariness evident. “My husband is dead.”

“I’m not the FBI, and I’m not trying to entrap you. However, I can’t prove a negative, so I won’t even try. What I will do is give you a telephone number where you can reach me day or night.” He handed her a small white card with a Virginia telephone number on it. Otherwise it was blank.

Sidney looked at the card. “Why should I call you? I don’t even know who you are or what you’re doing. Only that you’ve been following me. That does not win you confidence points in my book,” she said angrily as her fear receded. He couldn’t be a threat to her on a crowded plane.

The man shrugged. “I don’t have a good answer to that. But I know your husband isn’t dead and you know it too.” He paused; Sidney Archer stared at him, unable to say anything. “Although you have no reason to believe me, I’m here to help you, and Jason, if it’s not too late.”

“What do you mean, ‘too late’?”

The man sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, the pain evident there made her suspicions start to fade.

“Ms. Archer, I’m not exactly sure what your husband is involved in. But I do know enough to realize that, wherever he is, he could very well be in grave danger.” He closed his eyes again while Sidney’s heart sank to a depth she hadn’t realized existed within her.

He looked over at her. “The FBI have you under round-the-clock surveillance.” His next words chilled her to the bone.

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