Lara chuckled. “I guess so. I think maybe we’re both being a little optimistic.” She hugged her close for a minute before she let her go. “But I’m ready for a little optimism. It will be gone by tomorrow anyway.” She turned toward the bed and started to take off her clothes. “Let’s get some sleep. You didn’t ask where we were going.” She yawned. “It’s a place called Connecticut. It’s in America. Have you ever heard of it? It’s supposed to be near New York where Tanner…”

*  *  *

“Right on time.” Tanner met Lara and Maria as they came up the plane steps. His gaze raked Lara’s face. “And you look rested. That’s good. It’s a long flight and you might need it.” He turned to Maria. “It’s the best thing to do. Did you tell her so?”

“I said it made sense…at the moment,” she said. “The rest is up to you. You’ll have to perform well to please her. She can be very demanding.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned away and headed toward the cockpit. “Mallory, take care of them. Get them something to eat. I want them to have had their breakfast by the time we reach maximum altitude. I’ll have to go do the takeoff checklist with Jordan. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“You heard the man.” Mallory gestured to two seats on the left side of the plane. “I’ve been chosen to play flight attendant and keep you from fading away.”

“He’s in a big hurry.” Lara was suddenly tense. “Is there a reason?”

“Probably. He likes efficiency, though I don’t remember him demanding anyone having to be fed by a certain time. I’ll find out later. Settle, while I see what I can find you to eat.” He strolled back toward the galley.

Maria was dropping into the window seat. “Stop fretting,” she said quietly. “It might be nothing. Fasten your seat belt.”

“I should be fretting. Maybe I should go talk to Tanner. What if something’s wrong? I’m the one who talked you into this.”

“Not true. And you can’t try to take over. You have to let Tanner handle it.”

Lara opened her lips to protest. Then she closed them and fastened her seat belt. “But I’ll talk to him later if I can’t get an answer from Mallory.”

“You do that.” She leaned back in her seat as the plane’s engines started and the aircraft started to taxi. “And we’ll see how far you get and that will tell us something, too.” She opened her computer. “In the meantime, I’ll look up this Connecticut and see where he’s taking us…”

*  *  *

“Your after-breakfast tea,” Mallory said as he set the cups on their trays. “Can I get you anything else?”