“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know where your parents live?” He heard the incredulity in her voice.
“My father has a lot of enemies. Very dangerous enemies. Far more dangerous than Kaimi. When my father retired from his job he assumed a new identity. He and my mother decided to live off the grid. I don’t know where they live now.”
Laurie studied him for a moment.
Dante glanced over to her, and her eyes narrowed.
She stared at him intently, seemingly searching for any weakness, any hint of guilt over telling a lie. He had none. He went back to staring at the road ahead.
“Off the grid?”
“Untraceable. No paperwork. No loans. No credit cards. He pays for everything in cash. He has no contact with known associates or family members. He lives off the grid. He and my mother just vanished.”
“How long has it been since you talked to them?”
“I talk to my mother sporadically. I doubt my father knows about it though. I’ll get a phone call from her. Pay per minute phones, like this one. A new one each time. My father. God. I don’t know.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I haven’t talked to him in years.”
“That’s terrible.”
Dante smiled. It worked out well for him.
“My father and I have never gotten along, Laurie. It’s not so bad. In fact, it’s for the best.”
Laurie stared at him.
“What did your father do to collect so many enemies?”
Dante sighed. He might as well tell her everything.
“He was in the CIA. He was a very, very high ranking agent.”
He glanced over at her.
Realization bloomed over her lips and her eyes. She turned toward him in her seat.
“Thank you for telling me. I’m sure that’s not something you can tell very many people.”
“No one. I’ve never told anyone else. I’m not even supposed to know.”
Dante watched the miles disappear beneath the SUV as he traveled east.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to carry the weight of that burden alone.”
His face broke apart, the veneer shattered. He looked over at her, eyes misted over. No one ever understood the weight of that secret, but Laurie got it immediately. As his gaze traveled back to the road ahead, Dante reached over with his right hand to grasp her hand. She covered it with hers. They drove the rest of the way to the campground in silence.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Air Force Base was a bleak strip of land in the shadow of Mauna Kea. The lone white watchtower looked grey in the dim morning light. Dante flashed his Marshals ID. The sleepy guard at the parking lot entrance yawned and waved him through. Dante had seen him before on the rare instances when he had to take Federal planes for assignments.
He parked at the far end of the lot. He told Laurie to wait in the truck for him, and he got out. He took off the license plate and flung it out into the field. He hoped it would at least slow them down from tracking his movements.
When Dante flung open Laurie’s door, she was pale. She ran her hands up and down her forearms, shivering in the heat of the afternoon. He didn’t have to ask. He understood. He could see it in the way she stared at the planes, her eyes as big as blue balloons. He held out his hand to her.
Laurie unbuckled her seat belt, taking the hand he offered her. He helped her out of the truck, straight into his embrace. They stood in the open car door, holding one another. Neither wanted to let the other one go.
Dante heard a jet engine above him. He turned to see an unmarked, grey plane landing. It was nothing like the military planes that lined the runway. It was nondescript, neither old nor new. It was forgettable, and exactly the type of plane his dad would send for him.
It was time. He grabbed their bags and took Laurie’s hand. They walked toward the small, square building to meet their pilot.
The inside of the building was just as bleak as the outside. The concrete walls were exposed, unpainted, and bare of all decoration. A few plastic chairs were scattered in the largest room, which led out onto the field. There was no security, no stores or restaurants, just a couple of vending machines on the right wall. No one was there. Dante could see why his father chose it. They walked out toward the landing strip to meet the pilot that sauntered up toward the building.
Dante kept one arm around Laurie and one as close to his gun as he could without looking like a threat. As the pilot came into clear view Dante laughed, his face relaxing into a wide grin. He eased his grip on Laurie’s shoulder, taking a deep breath for the first time all morning.
“Your father told me you needed a lift,” his uncle called in greeting.
“Uncle Bob! I wasn’t expecting to see you.” Dante gave him a hug.
“Well, who else would your father trust to bring you home? Especially with such precious cargo.” Bob turned his eyes on Laurie, with a wink and a smile.
Bob had soft brown eyes like Dante’s, like all Stark men. Bob’s grey hair was wispy and thinning, his face was plump. He was broad shouldered, but he had gained a few extra pounds around his waist since Dante had last seen him. His dust colored jumpsuit was tight, covering every inch of his distended belly.
“I thought you were still on duty?” Dante wished he’d called his uncle instead of his father.
“No, no, no. I’m retired now. They sent me packing about a year ago.” Bob gave a smile that was neither happy nor sad. A typical smile for a dedicated public servant who ages out of service.
“Seems retirement is suiting you.” Dante slid his eyes down to Bob’s stomach, then back up to meet his uncle’s gaze with a mischievous grin.
“Just wait to you get over forty, just you wait.” Bob gestured to Laurie. “Now don’t be so rude, son, introduce me to the girl.”
Dante rolled his eyes and turned to Laurie.
“Uncle Bob, this is Laurie. Laurie, my Uncle Bob.” Dante felt the stiff muscles in his neck relax just a hair.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Laurie shook his hand. “Thank you so much for helping us.”
“Of course. Public service is practically the family business.” Uncle Bob held onto her hand. “Dante, you never told me you got to meet such pretty women at your job. No wonder you love it so much.”
“Uncle Bob, Laurie’s a witness.” Dante flushed, stuck between embarrassment and offending Laurie. “She’s one of the few women I’ve had under protective custody. Can we please get on the plane?”
“All right, son, all right.” Uncle Bob winked at Laurie.
Dante groaned inwardly.
“But if you’re smart, you’ll keep her.”
“The plane, Uncle Bob! Let’s go!” Dante said, throwing his hands in the air. His uncle hadn’t changed at all.
Uncle Bob chuckled as he linked arms with Laurie to lead them toward the plane.
“Now tell me about yourself, young lady. What do you do?”
Laurie smiled, wrapping her hand around his arm as she walked with him.
“Well, I used to work at a resort on the west side of the island. But I’m working my way through law school.”
“Law school? A lawyer, Dante. Did you hear the girl wants to be a lawyer?” Uncle Bob tossed him a look over his shoulder.
“I’m well aware.” Dante picked up their bags and hurried after them.
“You know, Dante’s never brought a girl home with him before. You must be very special.” Uncle Bob raised his voice so Dante could hear him.
“She’s a witness! I had to—” Dante exclaimed.
“Calm down, son. There’s no need to yell. I’m just getting to know the girl.” Uncle Bob led them to their seats in the cramped cabin.
“Please, Uncle Bob.” Dante gave him a pointed expression.
“All right. Now buckle up. Since your father is completely paranoid, we’ll be making a few stops before our final destination. I think two interim stops will make him happy.”