High Flying

by Kaylin McFarren

  The office door opened, and Barillas’ voice could be heard in the next room. “We can’t wait any longer. Looks like Capellan’s wound is getting worse, and we’re obviously getting nowhere here.”

  Skylar stepped back into the room. “Let him die.”

  “Not a bad idea,” Barillas said. His crude humor was obviously missed on Dylan.

  “You two can’t be serious,” he snapped. “You would let him die?”

  “Why not?” Skylar said. “After all, he’s The Chaplain. The man who’s responsible for branding people and killing them. Isn’t that what Ethan said? What you want me to believe?”

  Dylan shook his head. “I’m a smuggler. I’ll admit that. But I’m not a killer.”

  Skylar laughed. “Thank God for near misses. Huh, Dylan? Only it looks like you didn’t miss this time. You clipped Capellan’s wing, I guarantee it…and there’s no telling who’s going to be next.” She glared at him with hatred.

  Dylan had been doubting her judgment, her actions, her words for days now. Ungrateful, self-serving fool! She had gotten him this far. Kept him calm, upright and breathing. Even helped him get married. What a crazy fucked up thing that was.

  Barillas bunched up the pink soiled towel in his hand and dropped it on the floor.

  “Why do you have blood on your clothes?” Skylar asked.

  “I was cleaning up Capellan. I did all I could, but now he needs to go to the hospital.”

  “So, you won’t listen either,” she said, her voice low and cold.

  Dylan blew out a stream of air. “At least someone has some sense here. You’re obviously not thinking clearly.”

  “Dylan’s right,” Barillas said. “If Capellan dies now, we’ll all regret it. He might have done some horrible things…but what if he’s telling the truth? What if he isn’t The Chaplain? What if you made a mistake and the real villain is still out there. How do we live with ourselves?”

  Live with ourselves? Skylar’s frustrations had grown to record proportions. She couldn’t bear to hear Barillas’ words, but deep down inside she knew he was right. And what’s more, she knew who the real culprit was, even if Dylan refused to admit it.

  Skylar walked back into the bathroom and slid down the wall, meeting the cold tile floor. She stared straight ahead, recalling a similar scene in her life. A time when opening her veins was the answer to all her problems.

  Dylan walk in and sat down beside her. He was quiet for a long while, then he said, “I couldn’t tell you the truth, Sky. I’m sorry.”

  How many times had she heard those two words? Far too many to count. Volkov said they were two of the most inadequate words in the English language, and strangely, it was probably the only thing he got right.

  The crisp, cold scent of vanilla enveloped her. It was the suffocating smell of cheap air freshener in the bathroom mixing with the dirt and blood she was covered in. All of a sudden, she felt sick; she needed to get away from Dylan—away from the pain in her head.

  “Excuse me.” She ran into the closest stall, dropped to her knees, and threw up bile in the stall toilet. When the contractions in her stomach finally stopped, she rested her head on the toilet seat and wondered if it was too late to fly to Reno tonight—to fly back home where she belonged.

  It was quiet for a long while, then Skylar stood up. She wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet. She took a deep breath and was about to open the door when she heard Dylan’s quiet voice across the room.

  “It’s not me,” he said. “I was just a pilot…a guy trying to make an honest living. And Diaz was never involved either. I was told to keep the police out of it…to lie if I had to. And how can anybody say no to their father?” His emotion-filled voice cracked. “Say no to the only man they respected and loved?”

  Skylar stayed there, saying nothing, considering the irony of it all. She opened the door to the stall and saw him, hugging his legs against the wall, looking like an older version of Jake—a damaged, grief-stricken child. “They just do, Dylan,” she said. “They say no because it’s the right thing to do.”

  “But what if they promised to look after your wife? To provide every need for your family? How can you still say no?”

  “Because not everyone honors their promises, Dylan. Believe me…I know. Unfortunately for all of us, your dad is a very bad guy. You know that better than anyone. He’s The Chaplain. The man responsible for killing a lot of people to keep drugs moving and money in his pocket. Don’t go down that same path, Dylan. You’re better than that.”

  Dylan half shrugged. “What am I supposed to do now?”

  Skylar laid her hand on his. “Do you still have the money he gave you? The money for the next drop?”

  “Yes, of course. I was told to bring it with me to the airport tomorrow. Alvarez will be waiting. He’s my father’s new partner and will be co-piloting to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

  “Forget about all that. Take out your share of the money and leave the rest in your car. Does Lily have a passport?”

  Dylan nodded.

  “Good. You can both buy whatever you need later. Get out tonight while you still can.”

  “But what about you, Sky? You can’t stay here. When my father finds out we’re gone, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

  “Don’t worry, Dylan. I’ll be in my plane right beside you. We’re leaving…that’s all there is to it. And I’m going to make sure Ethan knows it too.”

  “Really? You’re amazing, Sky. I couldn’t do this without you.” He stood up and opened his arms. She hesitated only a few seconds before walking into them. She put her arms around his waist and hugged him, the way she had always dreamed about doing.

  Then she stood back and smiled, feeling elated and slightly embarrassed. “Someone told me once that no one can change their destiny. But tonight we’re going to prove them wrong. We’re going to change the future and everyone in it.”

  “I don’t know what that means, but if it involves heading to another planet, I’m all for it.” Dylan’s half smile was back. “Number nine, if I remember correctly.”

  Skylar laughed. “That’s right. Wherever we end up will be far better than here. That’s for sure.”

  “So, can you at least tell me where we’re going?”

  She leaned in close and kept her voice low. “Costa Rica. You don’t need a visa and it’s easy to land there. Plus you can get lost and not be found. I’ll ride back to the airport with Ethan to set everything up. But you can’t tell Lily. You can’t say anything to anyone. If Lily really must know, you’re going to Guatemala for a while. But not tonight. You’re just going to stay at the airport to check on your plane…to make sure everything is ready to go before your flight tomorrow. Lily is coming to the airport with me to say goodbye before I take off tonight.”

  Dylan nodded. “Okay. I get it.”

  “And one more thing. There’s no telling who might be listening at your house or who you can trust at this point. I even have my doubts about Ethan. So let’s try to act normal and get out of here as soon as possible. I’ll meet you at the airport at nine.”

  Dylan walked outside with Skylar. He reached for her hand and smiled. “I want you to know that I considered getting out of this a dozen times. But I wouldn’t have had the guts to do it if it wasn’t for you. Skylar, I owe you so much.”

  She felt tears in her eyes and looked away. “You don’t owe me anything. I just want you to be happy, Dylan. That’s all that matters…all I really care about.”

  Dylan released her hand to brush the tears from her cheek. He held her chin between his thumb and fist and lifted her face to meet his eyes. “You’re the most remarkable person I’ve ever met, Skylar. I just hope that one day soon you’ll realize that and find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

  “Thank you, Dylan. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

  Ethan tapped her on the back, starling her. “It’s not going to mean a whole lot if we don’t get going. Do you mind
?” He slipped an arm over her shoulder, supporting himself.

  “Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” Dylan asked him.

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Ethan chuckled at Dylan’s concern. “Don’t worry. It’s just a flesh wound. I’m tougher than I let on.”

  Skylar touched Dylan’s hand. “Remember…9 P.M. sharp.”

  “Got it.”

  As she helped Ethan to his car, she glanced back, watching Dylan approach the flight office. She couldn’t help but smile as she pictured her parents flying off together to an exotic place where they would have the future she had hoped for, even if it was only in her dreams.

  17

  Blindsided

  “When a storm is coming, all other birds seek shelter. The eagle alone avoids the storm by flying above it.”

  — ANONYMOUS

  Skylar went to the house to collect her clothes and to bring her mother back to the airport as planned, but Lily was obsessed with asking questions causing a dangerous delay. “So does anyone else know about our vacation? What about Dylan’s father? Do you think Ethan would be willing to water the yard while we’re away?”

  “Come on, Lily. Everything’s going to be fine,” Skylar told her. “Let’s just get you packed up and ready to go.”

  “I’m nervous about leaving. I’ve never been out the country, let alone Guatemala. Do they speak English there?”

  “Yes, Lily. They do.”

  “And what about you? How do you feel about us going?”

  Skylar stopped moving and looked at her. “I couldn’t be happier for you. But I still don’t understand why you’re not coming with me to the airport. Dylan specifically asked me to pick you up and make sure you brought your passport. He wants to keep your documents together, so that he doesn’t forget them on Sunday.”

  “I know, but my best friend already planned to stop by. She told me she would be happy to take me to the airport and would make sure I got there on time.”

  “Just as long as you leave here soon. Dylan wanted to see you before his flight tomorrow.” Skylar wished that Lily would just cooperate. It was horrible having to lie to her. But like Dylan said, she could be childish at times and incredibly unpredictable. Just like tonight.

  “I don’t understand,” Lily said. “Isn’t Dylan coming home tonight?”

  “No. He’s leaving real early and didn’t want to miss you.”

  Worry was evident in Lily’s face. “It’s just going to be so different in Guatemala. We won’t know anyone there.” She angled her head, studying Skylar, and was quiet for a long moment. Then a knowing look filled her eyes. “We’re not really going on vacation, are we? We’re running away. But what about my parents? Will I ever see them again?”

  “Your parents?”

  “Why yes. Even though my father won’t talk to me, I’d still like my mother to know her grandchild.”

  Skylar gave her a harried look, one that said her patience was at an end. “Call her tomorrow.”

  “I already did.”

  “You did what?”

  “Well, I thought she’d be concerned about us leaving. I didn’t think it would hurt to tell her in advance. Is that a problem?”

  “I thought you agreed that no one was supposed to know. That it was sort of a surprise between you and Dylan. So when did you tell her you were leaving?”

  “In two days,” she said sadly. “Maybe we could all hang out tomorrow? Go to our favorite restaurant or something.”

  “I’m sorry, Lily, but I have plans,” Skylar lied. She picked up her backpack and hooked it over her shoulder. “Ethan’s waiting in the driveway. I’m hoping to see you before I leave.”

  Lily followed Skylar outside and watched her put her filled backpack into the car’s trunk. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive, Ethan?” Skylar called out to him.

  “What for? Got myself plenty of pills to dull the pain.”

  Skylar shook her head. “You know I could have taken a cab…”

  “Then we wouldn’t have had a chance to talk.”

  When Skylar turned around, Lily hugged her and touched her cheek in almost a motherly fashion. “Sky, just say the word and I’ll go with you wherever you want to travel.”

  “Now why would you say that? You have Dylan and a baby on the way. You don’t know where I’m going or anything about me.”

  “I’m always confused and making mistakes…and you seem like you always have it together. You’ve got so much to be proud of, but I don’t. I haven’t done anything. I’m just afraid that when I leave here Dylan will change his mind. He might not even like the person I’ve—”

  Skylar shushed her. “He loves you and that’s all that matters. You can figure it all out. You’ve just got to make up your mind to try.”

  Her voice broke and a tear slid down her face. “You and I…we were just getting to know each other. I hate the idea of you leaving so soon.”

  With everything happening so quickly, Skylar forgot how young and vulnerable Lily was and how sheltered her upbringing had been. She offered a weak smile and said, “Yeah, me too.”

  “Sky!” Ethan called from the driver’s seat. “We really need to get going.”

  Lily laid her hand on Skylar’s arm. “Can I come visit you sometime?”

  “Why yes, of course. Maybe even sooner than you expect.”

  “Really? That would be great. Oh, and just one last thing. Dylan and I talked it over and we’d like to name our baby after you. Would that be too weird?”

  Skylar laughed. “I was wondering how that was going to happen.”

  Lily looked positively puzzled. “What did you say?”

  “I would love that, Lily. The name goes both ways, you know. Boy or girl.” Skylar climbed into the passenger seat and rolled down the window. She called Lily over. “Now don’t forget. Dylan is waiting for you at the airport office. You need to get there as soon as possible.”

  “No problem. I’m ready to go.”

  “When is your friend supposed to arrive?”

  “Any second now. Her new boyfriend is driving us.” Lily leaned in through the window and kissed Skylar on the cheek. They said their goodbyes. However, as Ethan drove away and began heading around the corner, Skylar looked back and spotted a silver Chrysler pulling up to the curb next to Lily, sending a chill up her spine.

  “Ethan,” she said, turning around, “do you know who Lily’s best friend is?”

  “Oh, yeah, sure,” he said. “Charlotte Hampton. She works at Lynnie’s Diner. I only met her once, but from what I hear, she’s a real sweetheart.”

  “Then I guess you didn’t know about her new beau. Jessop Haines. He’s a real sweetheart too.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  Skylar looked down, shaking her head. “My biggest mistake is thinking people have commonsense when all they have is bad judgment.”

  18

  Redemption

  “A million words would not bring you back, I know because I’ve tried.

  Neither would a million tears, I know because I’ve cried.”

  — ANONYMOUS

  Skylar now understood the frustration of knowing something was wrong without knowing exactly what. She borrowed Ethan’s phone and tried to reach Dylan again. “Why isn’t he answering? Dylan’s father is going to find out what they’re up to when he gets to the airport with Lily.”

  “I don’t understand,” Ethan said. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m sorry, but I didn’t think I could trust you.” Ethan looked confused but waited for her to continue. “Dylan is flying to Costa Rica with Lily tonight. Escaping while they still can.”

  “He’s doing what?”

  “It’s the only way he’s going to survive. If he doesn’t get out, he’ll crash on the Mexican border…or he’ll keep flying until he gets caught. And that means a long stint in prison. That’s not the way you want your friend to end up, is it?”

  The brown blanket in the back sea
t moved, catching Skylar’s attention. Jake had claimed the entire space as his own. His legs were splayed over his white fluffy dog, curled up on the other end of the bench seat. Studying his face as they drove, she couldn’t help wondering what his life would be like after leaving him behind. So small and helpless, and scared. How could he not be after everything he’d been through?

  Ethan strained to look back at Jake, concern registering on his face. By watching him, Skylar had discovered a significant detail about the man she thought she knew. He was naturally compassionate towards children and women in distress, even to an effeminate measure.

  “I’m sorry I questioned your loyalty,” she told him. “I almost forgot that you have someone else to worry about.”

  Ethan shrugged. “Some people would do anything for their child. Others don’t care about anyone but themselves. Dylan’s mother was the second kind. She didn’t care. When he was ten years old, she just vanished…no explanation. Never bothered to call or even write a letter. After getting to know Dylan all these years, I’ve always worried if the same thing would happen to him.” Ethan glanced at her. “That I would wake up one morning and find out my best friend was gone.”

  Knowing her grandfather, Skylar suspected foul play was probably involved. According to her grandmother’s friends, she was a smart, beautiful, level-headed woman who decided divorce was the best way to deal with a cheating husband. And as everyone knew, Jessop Haines valued his money above everything.

  Skylar tried to reach Dylan again but had no luck. Whatever was preventing him from answering might be keeping him from flying out as well. At least until The Chaplain arrived. Then all hell was bound to break loose.

  “How much longer till we get there?” Skylar asked, more nervous than she let on.

  “About five minutes. What’s the plan?”

  “If it’s possible for Dylan to leave before his father arrives, he needs to take off. And we need to help make that possible.”

  “He won’t go without Lily,” Ethan told her. “You should know that.”

  “I know that’s how he feels. But he’s not going to survive if he doesn’t.”