Escape From Reality (2 page)

“I’ll do it.”
Her voice sounded more resolute than she really felt, but saying the words out
loud seemed to give credence to the whole crazy idea. Worst case, she’d waste
cab fare for a round trip and be no worse for wear, albeit horribly embarrassed
for being so gullible.

But a tiny
voice said she’d regret at least not taking the chance. Leila wasn’t a
daredevil, but she’d played it safe all her life. Maybe an adventure was what exactly
she needed.

Chapter Two

Leila paid the
cab driver and climbed out, clutching her purse and a small carry bag. She glanced
up at the massive building made of steel and glass, shimmering in the bright
New York sun. The note had said everything would be provided, including
clothes, and she wondered if some kind of role-playing would be involved. It
seemed odd, but then again, there was nothing about any of this that seemed in
any way normal.

Grabbing the
chrome handle of the large glass doors, she pulled it towards her. To her
surprise, the lobby door was locked. A security guard responded to her knock,
opening the double doors and ushering her inside. The lobby was empty, the
reception area dark. It was Sunday, she mused, and no one was working.

“Ms. Connors?”

She nodded,
startled that he knew her name.

“This way,
please.”

The guard
ushered her to a bank of elevators. Once inside a car, he inserted a key,
turned it, and the elevator took off at a dizzying speed, whisking them smoothly
to their destination.

“Follow me.”
The guard led the way down an elegant carpeted hallway, soft lighting accenting
framed paintings along the wall. Leila glanced at the artwork, surprised to
notice many works by the old masters. But she was almost trotting as she tried
to keep pace with the guard as he strode down the hallway, his long legs making
it difficult for Leila to keep up.

At the end of
the hall, he unlocked a nondescript gray metal door. Pushing it open, he held
it for her. She hesitated, blinking as she stepped into the sun, almost blinded
by the reflection from a neighboring building. She heard the sound of the door
closing behind her and she turned, now facing the outside of the metal door.
From the other side, she heard the sound of the key in the lock.

“Ms. Connors?
This way.”

She turned
toward the voice, finding a man in a pilot’s uniform standing by her side.

“Yes…I mean,
thank you.”

He walked
toward a helicopter set on what looked like the very edge of the roof. Leila
followed, clutching her purse and bag tightly, her heart beating faster. The
flight to Austin and back had been enough of a challenge. But flying in a
helicopter was almost enough to make her turn around and run. Except that her
only escape route was through a locked door. The pilot turned, holding out his
hand, and she had the doomed sense there was no turning back now.

Just do it, Leila.
The voice in her head was commanding,
providing her with the last bit of courage that she needed.

“Watch your
step, please. You can stow your bags beneath your seat. I’ll help you with your
harness after I board.”

She drew a
shuddering breath, accepted his hand, and climbed into the helicopter, taking
the seat next to the pilot’s. The helicopter seemed absurdly small, and she
struggled to cram her bags beneath the seat. Maybe this was the explanation for
the no luggage clause for the trip.

“Here. You’ll
need to wear these as well. Once we’re in the air, it’s the only way we can
communicate.” The pilot was settling himself beside her, holding out a large
headset. She slid them over her ears as he reached across her body, fastening
the harness securely around her.

The pilot began
flipping a complicated series of switches and Leila turned away, looking out of
the cockpit window, taking a small measure of comfort that the man appeared to
know what he was doing.

“Excuse me, but
where are we going?”

“Sorry, ma’am.
I can’t answer that.”

“Can’t?” Or
won’t?” Leila’s heart leapt in her chest. Was she being kidnapped? Was this
really some elaborate scheme by someone? Would Jordon be that crazy?

“My
instructions are to fly you to a small private airfield just outside the city.
You’ll be met there by your guide, and that’s all I know.”

He gave her a
sympathetic smile and shrugged. “Don’t look so worried. From what I do know,
you’re in good hands. The payment for this leg of your journey was made by a
very prominent and well-respected writer.”

Leila let out
the breath she realized she’d been holding, smiling for the first time
since…she couldn’t remember.

“Thank you.
This is…just all a bit overwhelming.”

“Yes, ma’am. I
understand.”

And with that
the rotors began turning, the helicopter vibrating around her. Her hands
gripped the edge of her seat. Everything became very loud as the helicopter
lifted off the ground. The pilot held the machine steady for a moment and then
they began rising very quickly into the air.

Leila was fine
for the few brief seconds they were still over the building, but as the machine
rose higher and the buildings fell away, her heart leapt into her throat and
she squeezed her eyes tightly closed. After a few moments, she became aware of the
static over the headset, and then she heard the pilot’s voice.

“Ma’am,
breathe. You’re fine. You’ll feel better if you keep your eyes open. Enjoy the
view; it’s not every day you get a bird’s-eye view of the city.”

Leila opened
her eyes cautiously, making sure to look straight ahead. They were flying over
the skyscrapers of Manhattan. She watched the buildings passing beneath them
and she focused on trying to recognize those that she could. But soon they were
over the Hudson River and then she lost track of where they were.

Leila was just
getting the feel for the sway and movement of the helicopter when the pilot
banked suddenly, swooping down toward a small patch of green. Leila pushed
herself back into the seat as the ground seemed to rise much too fast. The
green beneath them formed itself into an airfield, dotted with toy-sized
buildings and planes.

The helicopter
slowed then, and the pilot set the machine gently onto the grass. Leila sat for
a moment, willing herself to draw a breath and for her fingers to release their
death grip on the seat. The pilot’s voice was in her ears again.

“Ma’am, you can
remove your headset now.”

She pulled off
the headset as the pilot reached over and undid the safety harness, which
retracted back into its housing. There was a noise to her side and then a cool
rush of incoming air as the door of the helicopter opened.

“Enjoy the rest
of your trip.” The pilot smiled and she nodded in his direction. A hand gripped
her elbow and she turned, looking down into the eyes of another man dressed in
a crisp navy blue uniform and hat.

“Ma’am, if
you’ll follow me.” He helped her down, and she reached back for her bag and
purse. The helicopter pilot had turned back to the dials and switches of his
machine.

The second
pilot was waiting, and she followed him across the grass. Her heart gave a
little leap of joy at the sight of a small Learjet on the tarmac. She’d done
research on private jets for a long-ago manuscript and remembered all the
luxurious details she’d given her hero’s plane. She hoped the real live version
in front of her had half the amenities.

“If you’ll have
a seat, we’ll be underway.”

The pilot held
her hand as she walked up the small flight of stairs into the plane. She
hesitated then turned back, leaning down to speak to the pilot.

“Let me guess,
you’re not at liberty to tell me where I’m going.”

He smiled up at
her. “On the contrary, Ms. Connors. We’ll land in Miami in just over three hours.
Also, they’re an hour ahead of us, so you may want to adjust your watch.” He
touched the visor of his hat and was gone.

“Ms. Connors?
If you’ll be seated.”

This voice was
female, and Leila turned. A woman stood there, in a skirt and jacket matching
the pilot’s uniform minus the hat, wearing a pleasant smile.

“Thank you.” Leila
moved further into the cabin and took in her surroundings.

Everything was
covered in cream-colored leather, with four large plush seats surrounding a
table. There was a banquet along one side. On the other side of the cabin was a
polished mahogany sideboard, echoing the wood trim of the cabin. Leila dropped
her bag and purse onto one seat and took the one closest to the window.

“My name is
Stephanie and I’ll be with you for the duration of the flight. If you’ll fasten
your seat belt, we’ll be underway.”

Leila did as
she was instructed and Stephanie walked to the front of the cabin, speaking
briefly through an open door into the cockpit before closing it. The door was
covered in polished mahogany as well and closed with a reassuringly solid
sound.

Stephanie took
a small seat near the front of the plane and fastened her seat belt. She
turned, giving Leila a professional flight attendant smile.

“We’ll be able
to remove these in just a few moments. Then, if you like, we have some
refreshments. Something to tide you over until you reach your ultimate
destination.”

“Miami, right?
That’s what the pilot told me.”

Stephanie
continued to smile. “Yes, well, that’s where we’re headed now, but no, that’s
not your ultimate destination.”

Leila frowned.
“I don’t understand.”

Beneath her, Leila
felt the plane begin taxiing down the runway. She squeezed her eyes shut and
clamped her hands down on the armrests of her seat, bracing herself against the
plush leather as the plane’s speed increased and the wheels left the runway.

“Breathe, Ms. Connors.”

Leila opened
her eyes. Stephanie’s smile was firmly in place. Despite her thudding heart and
sweating palms, Leila found something reassuring in the constancy of that
smile. She drew in a slow breath, deliberately uncurling her fingers.

“I’m not fond
of flying. Take offs and landings are the worst, and…well, pretty much
everything in between is just as bad.”

“You’re not the
first, Ms. Connors. But we have an excellent pilot in Captain McKenzie, and in
his co-pilot, Captain Walsh.”

“Please, call
me Leila. And thank you. I’m sure Captain McKenzie is an excellent pilot. It’s
just…I haven’t flown very much until recently.” A nervous laugh escaped Leila’s
lips.

“I guess I’m
making up for lost time.”

A soft chime
sounded and Stephanie briskly unfastened her seat belt, rising smoothly.

“Well, you can
take off your seat belt. We’ll be in the air for just over three hours, landing
at the Miami International Airport. Since you’re flying on a charter craft, you
won’t need to wait.”

“Thank you.” Leila
unfastened her seat belt, straightening in her seat. “Do you know where I’m
going? Everyone’s so mysterious and secretive.”

“I’m sorry, Leila.
I don’t know anything beyond Miami. I do know someone will meet you there and
you’ll carry on with your journey.”

Leila drew a
deep breath. Her curiosity was still piqued, but her enthusiasm for the actual
trip was waning. The knot between her shoulders had returned. She shifted in
her seat, reaching back to rub her neck.

“Would you like
a glass of champagne? We have cheese and fruit as well.” Stephanie moved to the
sideboard, efficiently opening doors and drawers and returning with a flute of
champagne.

“Thank you,
Stephanie.” Leila watched the bubbles rising in the pale amber liquid. She took
an experimental sip. The champagne was fruity and complex, leaving a faint
effervescent feeling on her tongue.

Within moments,
Stephanie returned and set a silver tray on the table in front of Leila, laden
with several varieties of cheese, fruit, and crackers.

“Is there
anything else I can get for you, Leila? If you wish to take a nap, I can drop
the window screens and provide you with an eye mask and blanket.”

Leila smiled up
at Stephanie. “It’s been a long week.” She took another sip of champagne. “But
thank you, no. I’m fine. I think I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be in the
back if you need anything.” Stephanie glided out of Leila’s line of sight.

The champagne
worked its magic and Leila sat back, stretching her legs in front of her. She
nibbled on a piece of cheese, looking out the window of the jet. Below her,
there was nothing but blue ocean, a few clouds visible in the distance.

The
improbability of her situation struck her again, the events of the day playing
out in her mind. That morning she had been in Austin, leaving the conference
early and in shame, and now she was comfortably ensconced in a private jet,
heading for Miami.