Page 72 of Triple Threat

No complaints. No jokes. No questions.

Clint Eastwood was actually pretty badass, even if he was wearing a Navajo tablecloth.

Sadie’s lap wasn’t such a bad place to be either, especially with how she played with my hair like she used to do as she read her books while we lounged around the Daughton’s.

I tried to pay attention to the movie, but there were too many other thoughts going through my mind, like the itinerary for the next day, and getting her documents from Roan for travel. I wondered what sort of false identity she had, what he had found or made up for her.

I would find out soon enough.

After what felt like two or three eternities, the movie ended, I exchanged a few words with Roan, and Sadie looked properly perplexed and that suited me well enough.Oh, the surprises I had in store for her…

* * *

By 7:30 AM,the Audi was at the curb in front of the main door to the manse, Sadie and my bag stowed in the trunk. Roan handed me her new ID and passport. “These look really good, new printer?” I asked, flipping through the new documents.My eyes stuck on her alias, Roan Lachlan. Someone was a comedian.

“Aye, new printer, much better quality than the last one.” He nodded.

“I’m looking forward to having a new passport myself,” I said. “But keep the names that are still secure, I hate having to break in a new identity. The last one, the Mister Brown, ugh, they were paging me over the airport intercom for fifteen minutes before I realized I was the Mister Brown they were looking for.”

“That was a poor fit,” Roan said.

“Does she have any idea?” I asked.

“None,” he admitted.

“Tell me she picked up a bathing suit on your shopping jaunt.”

“Two actually. Well, the personal shopper picked her out two.”

“Have you seen them?”

“I have; a black one piece with no back, and a royal purple bikini,” he answered.

“No pink, no pastel, did the shopper listen to her and not you?” I asked.

“It was actually hard to let her lay out what she wanted,” he said. “She’s not used to such finery. Or even color.” He made a face.

“I can imagine.” I gave a laugh.

“You know you said you were sorry, the actual words, last night?” he asked carefully.

“We don’t need to talk about that,” I said. “I was an asshole… and serves me right, I was sloppy, she should have never been able to tag my balls like that.”

“She was quite upset.” He nodded. There was a shadow of a grin on his face. I gave him a smirk and nodded back.

“I think we might be even on that.” We both looked up as Sadie came out of the front door, looking for all the world like a woman who had fallen into a moviescape and was struggling to make the best of it. Roan stepped up and opened the door for her to slide into the passenger seat of the Audi and bent down to tell her to enjoy her trip. He told her that I had her passport, ID, and a personal charge card. He kissed her goodbye.

He looked up at me over the top of the car. “Thank you, Roan,” I said, flipping him the middle finger. He smiled back, and did that British thing with two fingers, that was something to do with archery and meant almost the same thing. The look on his face was jovial, but there was an unspoken ultimatum that she was now in my care, and that I had to look out for her in his stead.He didn’t have to worry about that. I lost her once, and I was never going to do that again.

I handed her the passport and other documents, and told her to familiarize herself with the new name, and birthday, and that if they asked questions beyond that, that I don’t know, and isn’t it on there, were perfectly acceptable answers to any questions she might be asked at the terminal.

“Roan Lachlan, that’s too cute!” She stifled a laugh. “Wait, what terminal?”

I chuckled. “We’re taking a shuttle flight from the airport down to Atlanta, will have about an hour and a half layover, and then will be picking up another flight to our destination,” I said.

“I’ve never been on a plane,” she said, sounding hesitant.

“Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe, and we're flying first class,” I said.

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