A few miles more and she came to the hamlet of Split Cloud Point and pulled up to Sonny’s Gas. Truckers and the people who drove for the county and state liked her tarts and she dropped off four dozen, a mix of pecan, apple, cherry, butter, and lemon.

“Keep ’em coming, Ren, we always sell out,” Sonny Faraday told her, handing her a twenty and two tens from the till. He sold them for a dollar fifty a tart.

Coming to the end of her delivery run, Ren went to Sloan Slope and headed to the Glorious Grand Redeemer Church, where volunteers were preparing for another potluck fundraiser. She was donating pies and tarts. Most of her friends from her card club would be there. It would be good to see them. Maybe she’d tell them that she was thinking of moving to Seattle to help her son and his family.

Ren pulled into the church parking lot and turned off the engine. As the motor ticked, a tiny alarm began sounding in the back of her mind. She was overcome with a sense of foreboding and gripped the wheel hard with both hands.

Hang on! Just hang on!

She had no clue what had come over her, just a sense that something was wrong. Several seconds passed and she regained enough control to get out, pick up her pies and tarts, and make her way to the church.

I’m going to call Lee as soon as I get home.

Ren had reached the door when her friend and fellow card club member, Stella Marchant, was leaving. Stella was known for her delicious egg and potato salads.

“Ren! I haven’t seen you in weeks!”

“That’s right, Stella. I missed you at the club. You and Herb were away at some place much drier.”

“Got back from New Mexico Wednesday, how are you?”

“Well …I’m …” [PI4]Ren was at a loss. She couldn’t lie to her friend. She put her boxes down and massaged her temples. Stella grabbed her shoulders.

“Is it Lee?”

Suddenly the memory of his words shot through her. I’m afraid for Eileen and the kids. They deserve to have a good life, if I don’t make it.

Ren nodded. “Yes it’s Lee.”

“I thought of you while I was away,” Stella said. “How’s he doing?”

“They’re still waiting for a donor. All we can do is hope.” Ren fought her tears because she knew the truth, her hope was slipping away, and her heart was breaking.

“And pray,” Stella hugged Ren. “We’ll pray with everything we’ve got.”

-Chapter 37-

Great Falls, Montana

A few hours after leaving Prince Albert, the plane carrying Robert Lazarus Yacine landed at Great Falls International Airport in Montana.

Fortin and the Marshals talked to people with Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, handing them documents for signing to clear entry.