The Dead Detective by Robert Wise

Author:Robert Wise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

23

CARA WATCHED HER MOTHER CAREFULLY OUT of the corner of her eye as the Boeing 737 circled above New York City, waiting for the final signal from the control tower to land. Vera looked drawn and distressed, and she kept moving her hands around in her lap, squeezing them, rubbing and pulling at her fingers. Her mouth looked set in a determined way. Periodically, the muscles on the side of her jaw rippled as if she were grinding her teeth. Cara’s mother stared straight ahead.

She doesn’t ever seem to cry, Cara thought. Like she’s doing it for me . . . or maybe she’s just out of touch with how bad she hurts. I think she’s fighting against allowing herself to feel the depth of her pain. She acted too casual, lighthearted around that Newton guy. I know that ha-ha stuff was a front. She worries me.

“Do you have your seat belt fastened?” Vera asked.

“Sure.” Cara pointed at her buckle. “Everything is ready.”

“Good,” Vera answered but didn’t smile.

What in the world are we going to do? Cara pondered. I don’t have the slightest idea how she’s going to run this man down. Makes my skin crawl. I certainly hope she has a plan.

“We’ve now been cleared for our final approach,” the pilot announced over the intercom. “We will be on the ground shortly.”

I actually wish we were still at home. I don’t like this situation. I don’t have any idea what we’re doing or how Mom will handle it all, Cara thought.

“Keep close to me when we land,” Vera said into Cara’s ear. The airplane slowed and started to descend. “Losing you in LaGuardia Airport would be a disaster.”

I’m not going to lose her in a crowded airport! Come on! Cara looked carefully at Vera again. I wonder what she’s thinking. She seems even more tense than I noticed earlier this morning. Really upset.

The airplane settled over the runway. Vera grabbed the two ends of the seat’s arms, pressing her fingers against the metal guard.

Mom has no idea that she’s wound up tighter than a drum, Cara realized. I wonder what’s on her mind right now.

The airplane hit the ground and bounced a couple of times before the pilot threw the engines into reverse and the passengers lurched forward slightly in their seats. The plane slowed quickly.

“Mother, I’d like to ask you a question.”

“Sure.” Vera kept looking straight ahead.

“What if you find this man and he turns out to be a crook, a criminal, a really bad guy?”

“I don’t understand your question, Cara.”

“What would you do if he turned out to be carrying a gun?”

Vera stared out the window for a moment. “I don’t know.” She swallowed hard. “I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.”

“Or jump off it.”

Vera didn’t answer.

Cara studied her mother’s eyes. She looked unsure of herself, which was unusual for her.

“Well,” Vera seemed to be thinking out loud. “I will make sure that I examine my gun in my luggage as soon as we get checked in at the hotel.

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