Are You Afraid Of The Dark   ::   Sheldon Sidney

Kelly said, "Is this how we're going to outwit these geniuses? This wouldn't fool a ten-year-old." Diane started walking toward the airport exit.

Kelly hurried after her. "Where are you going?" We re going to"Never mind. I don't think I want to know."

* * *



THERE WAS A row of taxis in front of the airport. When the two women walked out of the terminal, one of the taxis pulled out of line and drove up in front of the entrance. Kelly and Diane got into the cab.

"Where to, please?"

"Kennedy airport." Kelly said, "I don't know if they're going to be confused, but I sure am. I still wish we had some kind of weapon to protect ourselves." "I don't know where we could find a Howitzer." The taxi went into gear. Diane leaned forward to examine the driver's photo ID:

MARIO SILVA.

"Mr. Silva, do you think that you can get us to Kennedy without being followed?" They could see his grin in the mirror. "You came to the right party, lady." He pressed down on the accelerator and made a sudden U-turn. At the first corner, he drove halfway down the street, then sped into an alley.

The women looked through the rear window. There were no cars behind them.

Mario Silva's grin widened. "Okay?"

"Okay," Kelly said.

For the next thirty minutes, Mario Silva kept making unexpected turns and going down small side streets, to make sure no one could follow them. Finally, the taxi pulled up in front of the main entrance to Kennedy airport.

"We're here," Mario Silva announced triumphantly.

Diane took some bills from her purse. "There's something extra for you." The driver took the money and smiled. "Thanks." He sat in his cab, watching his two passengers walk into the Kennedy terminal. When they were out of sight, he picked up his cell phone.

"Tanner Kingsley."

* * *



AT THE DELTA Airlines counter, the ticket agent glanced up at the board. "Yes, we do have two tickets available on the flight you want. It leaves at five-fifty p.m. There's a one-hour layover in Madrid, and the plane arrives in Barcelona at nine-twenty a.m." "That will be fine," Diane said.

"Will that be credit card or cash?"

"Cash." Diane handed the ticket agent the money and turned to Kelly.

"Let's wait in the lounge."

* * *



THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Harry Flint was on his cell phone talking to Tanner.

"I got the information you asked for. They're flying Delta to Barcelona.