Page 82 of Trust No One

“I do,” he said. “Never know when you’ll need it.”

“Mel?” he asked, flashing her a glance over his shoulder.

“Yeah, I have mine, too. How about you?”

“Always carry it with me.” He turned to Gideon. “I’ll pull over when Kingsley does,” he said. “Mel and I will get out and follow him inside. We’ll try to head him off before he buys a ticket, but if we can’t, we’ll go through security and try to keep him from getting on a plane. You park the car and find us as fast as possible.”

“Will do,” Gideon said. He glanced from her to Dev. “You sure you don’t want me going after him? He doesn’t know what I look like.”

“Thanks, but this is personal,” Dev said. “He threatened Bree and her fiancé. Killed a man in front of me and Mel. We need to take him down.”

“There’s no place for ego in this business,” Gideon said, his voice blunt. “All that matters is results.”

“You’re right. But Mel and I know this guy. We’re familiar with his tactics. And I’m confident you’ll be in on the take-down.” Dev jerked his head toward the curb. “Looks like Kingsley’s going to leave his car at the curb to be towed. Let us out here.”

Mel stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk, and Dev exited the driver’s seat as Gideon slid over to take his place. Kingsley didn’t look behind him, and she and Dev followed him into the terminal.

When Kingsley got farther ahead of them, Mel started jogging. Dev grabbed her sleeve and yanked her backward. “We don’t want him to see us until we’re on top of him,” he murmured. “I’m anxious, too. But don’t make him look behind him. If he senses someone running, looks back and spots us, all bets are off.”

Kingsley got in line at the American counter. Mel waited for three people to line up behind him, then got in line herself. She jerked her head for Dev to join her.

“This is your jam,” she said, leaning close to whisper in his ear. His woodsy, grassy scent drifted over her, but she forced herself to ignore it. “I’m going to go through security so I’ll be waiting on the other side. When you get up to the counter, flash your badge and ask what Kingsley’s destination is. Text me when you know the gate number. Then come find me. We’ll take Kingsley down together.”

“Got it,” Dev said. He nodded toward the sign for security. “Get moving.”

She stepped out of the line and walked quickly toward the TSA checkpoint. As she walked, she dug her ID and her concealed carry permit out of her wallet. She stood in the short line until she reached the agent, then she presented the woman with her credentials.

“I’m here on a fugitive apprehension,” Mel said quietly. “I have permission to carry a weapon onto a plane. Can you expedite me through the checkpoint so I’m waiting on the other side when my target finally comes through?”

She glanced over her shoulder. No sign of Kingsley yet.

The woman took her ID and her concealed carry permit, which specifically allowed her to carry a gun on a plane. Her gaze shifted from Mel’s face to her paperwork, then back to Mel’s face. Finally, after what felt like hours but was probably less than a minute, she said, “Wait here.”

Met touched her head, making sure the knit hat she’d pulled on in the parking garage was still in place and her hair hidden. Then she turned her back so that if Kingsley started through the line, she wouldn’t catch his eye.

The TSA agent turned away and spoke quietly into the walkie-talkie on her shirt. Finally she turned to Mel. “An agent is on his way to escort you through security. Stand off to the side so the line can keep moving.”

“Thank you very much,” Mel said as she stepped away from the queue. Out of sight of the people shuffling through the line.

Counting the seconds, she waited for the agent to arrive. Finally, after several minutes, a man hurried up to her. “You the one who needs the escort?”:

“Yes,” she said. “Thank you.”

He jerked his head to his left. “Follow me.”

Mel felt everyone in the line watching her as the TSA agent led her through the secure area. Finally, he sent her through the metal detectors, nodding her on when they beeped.

Waving a ‘thank you’ over her shoulder, Mel hurried into the concourse. She pulled out her phone when it buzzed against her leg. ‘Gate C 12’ was all the text said, but that was all she needed. She walked quickly down the C concourse until she got to gate 12. It was leaving for New York’s JFK airport in forty minutes. Boarding started in ten minutes.

Drawing a deep breath, Mel made sure no bright red strands of hair had escaped the hat. Then she found a spot behind a pillar and away from the gate where she could see everyone approaching but still be partially shielded.

No sign of Dev.

No sign of Kingsley.

No Gideon.

Her heart began jumping in her chest as she watched people gathering at Gate 12. No Kingsley yet. No Dev.

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