After a nearby snort, he turned and looked at the lightly snoring face of Leonard Townsend, his mouth turned upward as he leaned against the half-closed window next to him.

Between him and Townsend, Angela Reed watched as Rickards shook his head and turned forward again.  “I wish I could sleep like that on a plane,” she murmured.

He frowned.  “I wish I could sleep like that in my own bed.”

She closed her magazine, placing it on her lap.  “I take it you can’t sleep on a plane, either.”

“No.”

“Well, at least this is a better flight than the first time.”

“That is true.”

She glanced up as someone passed them in the aisle.  “I have to admit, I’m surprised you came.”

“That makes two of us.”

“Maybe the old investigator in you just can’t give up wanting to know.”

He looked at her sarcastically.  “Maybe it was your guilt trip that did it.”

Angela was still grinning.  “I’m happy with either.”

Rickards paused to study her.  “I thought you’d be a little more nervous.”

“Me, too.  But I’m not.  I’m not sure why.”  She thought for a moment and changed the subject.  “So was your boss surprised when you quit?”

“I think he was relieved.”

“Relieved?”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I wasn’t exactly a model employee.”

“You’d been through a lot.”

Rickards shrugged. “I’m glad you didn’t quit.”

“It gave me something to do.  A way to take my mind off everything.”

“Good.”

She glanced briefly at Townsend, who was still softly snoring.  “Do you think your mother-in-law is still in Bolivia?”

“I doubt it.  It didn’t take long when I brought her.”

“How did you two get along before…”

“While my wife and daughter were here?  Okay, I guess.  She’s pretty high-strung.  We’d butt heads a lot until I finally learned to find other things to do when she came to visit.  After that, it was fine.”

“And how long ago did she move into the retirement home?”

“A few years ago.  Just before the accident.”

“I see.”  Angela pulled a small bottle of water from her seatback and took a sip.  “The playground at the park.  It was special to you, wasn’t it?”

“Very much.”

“I’m sorry I got mad at you there.”

Rickards’ eyes returned to her.  “I probably deserved it.”

She returned the bottle to the seatback.  “Can I ask you something else?”

“No.”

She continued staring until Joe finally relented.  “What?”

“Did you really just come back from Mexico?”

“Yes.”

“It was a favorite place for you and your wife?”

He shook his head.  “Not really.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Even though you told–”

“Agent Hayton?” he said, raising an eyebrow.  “I lied.”

Angela gradually smiled.  “Well, she deserved it.”

Rickards smirked.

“Should I warn you about some of the local customs again?”

This time he laughed.  “Didn’t help all that much last time.”