“You’re being followed.”

“What? How do you know this?”

“You’re blown in the worst way. Probably our mutual friend, as well, I’m sorry to say.” The German-Brooklyn accent made his rapid speech difficult to follow. André placed the manila envelope on the pew between them.

“Everything’s inside.”

“The passport?”

André nodded and stood to leave.

“Who’s following me?”

He pointed to the envelope. “Everything you need to know is there. Good luck.”

“I still owe you money,” Avery said.

André shook his head. “I owed him a favor. Let him know we’re now even. And whatever it is you have planned, I’d do it quickly. I doubt you have much time.”

André skirted past her and into the middle aisle. Avery twisted in the pew to watch him exit the church, walk down the steps, and disappear into the crowd. She sat unmoving for another minute until finally she lifted the manila envelope, resisted the urge to look inside, and quickly hurried out of the church.

* * *

It was a straight shot up Broadway near Old St. Pat’s, then east to the Lowell. Twelve blocks that she power-walked in ten minutes. Through the lobby and into the elevator, all the while she clutched the envelope to her chest. It wasn’t until she bolted and chained her hotel room door that she finally opened the manila envelope. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she fumbled with the envelope’s button-and-string clasp. When she finally had the flap open, she poured the contents onto the bed. A blue passport tumbled onto the comforter. She examined it—it looked exactly like a US passport—blue exterior with gold embossed letters. She opened the front cover and saw the picture she had given André last week. She read the name aloud.

“Aaron Holland.”

It had a delightful ring to it.

As much joy came from seeing the passport, something else sat in the pit of her stomach. She felt no relief having made it this far. She felt terror and dread, and couldn’t stop the sensation that the manila envelope held her worst fears. She dropped the passport back on the bed and looked into the envelope. She caught the reflection of glossy photos and reached in to retrieve them. Several eight-by-ten photos emerged from the envelope. Avery saw that each was a still photo of Walt Jenkins.

CHAPTER 56 - Manhattan, NY Wednesday, July 7, 2021

CHAPTER 56

Manhattan, NY Wednesday, July 7, 2021