ARTIFACT by Falk T.S

Author:Falk, T.S.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Andrea knew what she was doing. Using the dead man’s credit card they found in the wallet to book the flights, she registered him using the ID and then called the airline, posing as his assistant to buy an upgrade to first class. As she later explained, that ensured quicker boarding procedures and also made it less likely anyone would have a close look at his passport.

Judy, meanwhile, seemed to have overcome the anxiety of their violent night before, and with a broad grin, she clearly enjoyed shaving most of the unruly brown hair off his head. Dave watched in growing horror as he turned into something that resembled a skinhead rather than his usual self.

Finally, he put on the white shirt and jeans she had bought and checked his likeness to one of the men calling himself Jack Smith on the passport. It wouldn’t hold up on closer examination. But this was a domestic flight. Nobody would do more than glance at his passport when he boarded. With the shortened hair, he had to admit it could work.

Andrea got rid of the guns, which they obviously couldn’t take with them, and booked them a rental car from Los Angeles airport, using her credit card since Dave had no driver’s license. Jack Smith hadn’t forged one of those.

When they were done, they packed the little they had taken, and Judy called them an Uber.

****

Dave had never been a great actor, and he knew if the passage relied on his talent to impersonate Jack Smith, they would be lost. So he just tried to look calm, though he was unbelievably nervous as he stepped up to the stewardess and handed her his ID and ticket. His hands were sweaty, his back itched, and he heard his heart pound as if someone was shooting at him once again.

The woman slid the ticket through a machine and smiled at him. “Have a good flight, sir.”

“Thanks,” he said and simply walked past her. This had actually been easier than expected. As he turned, Judy grinned as she followed him. Andrea appeared bored, obviously more attuned to the act necessary of passing security without issues.

As they finally sat on the airplane, they had a front row to themselves with a lot of free room to spread their legs.

“Easy-peasy,” Judy whispered to Dave as she leaned over.

“Yeah, thanks to someone shaving my hair,” Dave replied. She smiled at him and then took his hand, squeezing it. It was pleasantly soft, and it felt as if it belonged in his.

“We’ll get you through this, you hear me, Dave?” Judy whispered to him. “Andrea and I, we’ll help you find your dad, and everything will be alright.”

He turned his eyes to her and simply nodded. For a moment, their faces were pretty close to each other. Almost as if . . .

“Your pills, Judith,” Andrea said from the side, and the moment passed. Dave cleared his throat and withdrew. Judy rolled her eyes and took her pillbox from her backpack.

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