I recalled everything about him, from his vibrant blue eyes to his toned muscles—everything except his phone number. It had been programmed into my phone. I tried to envision the screen. I recalled the sound of his distinctive ring, yet I couldn’t visualize the number. My only choice would be to call the Detroit Police Department. After all, I should be able to find their number with a quick online search.
All I needed to do was slip away for a few minutes and borrow someone’s phone. I didn’t imagine that it would be easy, since I was being flown by a madman who’d already struck me, causing my cheek to swell. But if I succeeded, the payoff would be worth it.
I would hear Dylan’s voice.
He would know I was alive.
A small smile crept across my face with the knowledge that the man I’d imagined while I was without sight was real. At the same time, the realization hurt. If only I’d listened to his warnings about Highland Heights. One of the first things I’d do once we were together again would be to apologize for the heartache I’d undoubtedly put him through.
As urban sprawl began to appear below us, I assumed we were nearing our destination. In the distance were more mountains, but beneath us a flat city began to materialize. Slowly the buildings began getting closer together. Though Fairbanks was the biggest interior city in Alaska, I didn’t suspect that Thomas would land his small plane at the Fairbanks International Airport. Since he was Xavier’s replacement, I wondered whether he flew extensively for Father Gabriel. If he did, he probably flew out of a private airstrip. I prayed it wouldn’t be like the one in Bloomfield Hills, that instead it would be more public. To have a chance to get away, I needed people around.
Thoughts of what my future held caused my hands to ball into fists and my nails to bite into my moistening palms. My investigator’s mind filled with the possibilities Thomas had in store. Each scenario was worse than the last, and none of them included my ability to place that call to DPD.
Believe in yourself.
The words came back to me. I couldn’t project too far ahead; instead I needed to look at my situation in steps. Getting away from Thomas had to be my first priority.
As our altitude began to decrease, I crossed my legs and slowly lifted the hem of my jeans. With my seat directly behind Thomas’s, I hoped he couldn’t see what I was doing. I also hoped that since he was speaking on his headset, his attention was elsewhere. Lifting the cuff, I slid my hand down inside my boot. The handle of the knife was against my ankle and the sheathed blade was near my foot, but without unzipping my boot, I couldn’t quite reach the knife.
“Sara.”
I jumped at the sound of Thomas’s voice through the earphones and quickly lowered my boot. I lifted my eyes to the front of the plane, and our gaze met in a rearview-type mirror.
“Don’t try to talk. I can’t hear you, so listen.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded. In front of him were windows and gadgets. Casually I lowered the leg of my jeans, thankful he hadn’t seemed to notice.
“This airport is small,” he said, “but I don’t want you making a scene. If you do, I’ll be glad to return you to Father Gabriel, but that’s not happening until I’m thoroughly done with you.”
Fighting the urge to vomit, I pressed my lips together and shook my head.
He turned his head toward the side window as he flipped a switch and began talking to someone else. Just like that, he’d spun my world, warning me about a future I’d already imagined.
Clenching my fists, I concentrated on my second objective. It was to get in contact with Dylan. I knew that if I could reach him, my story wouldn’t end like that of MistiLace from my Internet search. Besides, it wasn’t as if I could get to the Fairbanks International Airport and fly home to Detroit, even if I wanted to. I didn’t have any identification. The TSA wouldn’t allow me to travel. I needed the help of the police. Dylan could help me with that.
As the plane touched down, I willed my fist to open and looked at my fingers. Hell, forget about identification, I didn’t even have fingerprints.
The small plane bounced as Thomas brought us to a stop near the hangar, and I glanced around. This hangar didn’t even seem as big as the one at the Northern Light. This one had only two runways going in opposite directions, a large paved area, and the hangar. An old chain-link fence surrounded the entire compound. I sucked my lower lip between my teeth, waited, and contemplated my knife. It would have to wait. I feared that I couldn’t reach it without bringing my movements to his attention. If there was any chance of being successful with it, it had to be a surprise.
Taking off his headphones, Thomas leaned to his side and craned his neck. With a disgusting toothy grin, he said, “Welcome to your new home.”
Removing my headphones, I replied, “I know what you think about women in The Light, but you’re wrong. Father Gabriel won’t let this go unpunished. You stole me from the Northern Light.”