Renee said, “And how long have you known Max?”
“Oh, we go way back. Right, Max? What would you say? Ten years at least. Was that when you were at Princeton?”
“Oh, how interesting.” Renee’s eyes squinted, her face bunched up into a forced smile. Max and Renee had also met while they were at Princeton. Max looked at Renee with pleading eyes, thinking he might have been safer back in Mexico.
“That’s right,” Max began. “Our fathers are friends, and they introduced us at one of these air shows back when they were here on business. And that’s how Karen and I met… and became friends.”
Trent, who had remained silent until now, stuck his thumb backward, saying, “So I got that shovel back with the camping supplies… ”
Renee mercifully moved on. “So, Karen, that was you performing just now?”
Karen said, “Yes, that’s right. This is my first time at Oshkosh. I’ve been doing the lesser-known air show circuit for years now. But this is as good as it gets.”
Max said, “Renee, Karen’s father is Senator Becker, of Wisconsin. Around here they joke that this is his air show. He’s been a huge proponent of general aviation and the aviation industry since he’s been in Congress.”
“Oh, yes, Dad is famous here. But I’ve been hoping that maybe if I do a good enough job, I can outshine him someday.”
“And where is your father? I assume he’s coming.”
“Oh yes, he wouldn’t miss this for the world. He’s back in Washington for a vote but promised to catch my Thursday performance.”
They talked for a moment longer, with Trent asking such deep questions as how Karen liked being an air show pilot. Max had to admit that he was impressed. Aerobatic flying at this level was no joke. She was all at once a top-level entertainer, athlete, and aviator. So whatever he thought of her on a personal level, he respected her professionally.
Karen said, “Well, let’s make our way into the VIP tent. I’ve got the night off, and I don’t perform again for another two days. That means I’m having a cocktail.”
Trent made an excuse and headed back to the campground. He whispered to Max that he wanted to scout out the area a bit more.
Renee, Max, and Karen walked into the tent, and Max saw several aviation business executives he knew through his father, a few A-list actors that he knew to be general aviation aficionados, and a lot of people in flight suits. They made the rounds, Max introducing Renee to the people he knew from his father’s network.
The VIP tent was closed off from the outside and had a mildly effective air-conditioning unit, but people were coming in and out of the plastic curtain door so often that it was still quite warm. The grass floor had a thick coat of hay to avoid getting too muddy. The atmosphere reminded him of a horse race.
Except for the noise. There was always the drone of aircraft overhead. Right now, it sounded like a crazed bumblebee. Out of one of the tent’s transparent patches, they could see an aircraft doing spins, one after the other, puffy white smoke trailing from behind.
Max grabbed them all drinks from the bar. They gathered around a tall cocktail table that was affixed to the grass with stakes.
“Wow. That looks pretty dangerous,” Renee said, looking up at the plane. “Do you do all that, Karen?”
Karen said, “I’ll do quite a few spins, yes. I have one part of my routine I’ll do this week where I basically go up to eight thousand feet and spin until I get close to the ground, then I chop a ribbon in half with the prop. First time I took Max up like that, he puked all over my aircraft. He ever tell you about that?”
“Oh, you’ve flown together, too? No, he didn’t mention it. I’m sure there’s a lot that he left out.” Renee shot Max another look. “If you will excuse me, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.”
When Renee was gone, Max swore that Karen moved a few inches closer to him, and her tone became a bit more mischievous. “You’re not exclusive with her, are you, Max?”
Max laughed nervously. “I have to admit, it is getting kind of serious.”
“The single women of the world shall weep. And probably some married ones too.” She winked. “Well, don’t worry. I’ll behave.”
“I appreciate that.”
Just then, the tarp entrance of the tent opened and in walked a tall white-haired man, followed by two men in suits. The members of the VIP tent gave a slight cheer.
One of them said, “There he is!”
Max’s father had arrived.
Renee was delighted that Charles Fend had shown up. Max expected that he might see him here, but he hadn’t spoken to his father since last week, and at the time Oshkosh wasn’t something Max had planned on attending.
“Hello, son.”
“Hi, Dad.”
Father and son embraced, and then Charles held Renee by the shoulders, beaming at her like she was his long-lost daughter. More like his dream potential daughter-in-law. Charles’s increasingly effusive worship of Renee over the last year was an embarrassing hint to Max that his father thought they should get married. Renee adored him right back, and the two had developed a sort of annoying teaming-up-on-Max relationship.
“Has he been treating you well?”
“It’s been an adventure,” she said. “But Max is always the gentleman.”
“Good. You’ll tell me if he ever hints at trouble. I’ll make sure to disown him.”
Renee laughed.
Charles turned to Karen. “Ah, Miss Becker, you are a vision in pink.” He took her hand and kissed it.
Karen gave a toothy grin. “Good to see you again, Mr. Fend. My father will be here tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll want to say hello.”
“Excellent. How is your father? I’ve seen him on the news. Horrible circumstances, I’m afraid.”
“Yes, well… he’s got security assigned to him now, so I feel better about it.”
Max said, “Oh yes, I saw that on the news. They say his chief of staff was killed? What happened? Is your father okay?”
Karen nodded somberly. “It’s still being investigated. He asked me not to talk about it until the investigation is over.”
“Oh, of course.”
Charles stood erect and proper, listening closely, genuine concern in his voice. “Well, if there is anything I can do to help… ”
Charles Fend’s presence in the tent was felt by every one of the attendees, many of whom were clamoring to speak with him about a business proposal, or to get their picture taken alongside him. While Karen Becker might have been dazzling, Charles Fend was world-famous.
“If you’ll excuse me, dear, I shall make my obligatory rounds. Max, Renee, why don’t we plan on meeting up for brunch?”
“Sounds great,” Renee answered, and Charles left their circle.
Renee squeezed Max’s arm. “We should probably get back and set up our tent. Was there anything else you wanted to do here?”
Max turned to Karen. “You said your father is arriving tomorrow?”
“That’s right.”
“Perhaps I could say hello.”
“Of course. Just find me tomorrow — or text me. My number is still the same.”
Max and Renee said their goodbyes to Karen and then walked out of the tent. They walked through the main static display area in silence. An enormous concert stage was being set up. A crowd of thousands had gathered around it.
Renee said, “This place is impressive.”
“Are you mad about Karen?”
“Do I have a reason to be?”
“No.”
“Then don’t be silly. Of course not. Like you said, we need her to gain access to her father.”
“Although it sounds like my father will be with the senator too.”
Max wondered if that was a coincidence. Caleb Wilkes had once run his father as well. Charles Fend had been a CIA asset during the Cold War, helping the American government to pass on false information to the Soviets. And as Max had learned last year, Wilkes still called on him from time to time. When Wilkes had recruited Max, he had been cast as the replacement agent for his father. The heir to the throne of Fend Aerospace. With that title came the power, access, and privileges that would be quite helpful to American intelligence. Max’s background as a DIA operative was a huge plus.