Christie
By the time that we had satisfied our craving for Mexican, the marriage had ended. Anything further would have been merely incidental.
"I'm flying out today. Please don't ask me where I'm going. It's better that you don't know, that way you can never give me away. This case is beginning to escalate and I don't know how long it will take. There's enough money in our joint account for the next six months of mortgage payments. There's a de-scrambler in our fax machine now so that if I can send you faxes and you can reciprocate.
"Take care of yourself, Max."
"And you take care of yourself," I responded leaning over and giving her a kiss.
I walked out with the salty taste of her tears on my lips and her last words to me in my heart.
"You will always be dear to me, Max."
The afternoon went by in a whirl. In continued on my rounds tying up all sorts of loose ends. Thanks to the genorosity of Irish Spring I was pleased to be able to give Brad Wary a cheque for twenty grand as a lease or down payment on the Aztec, we never did get around to deciding which. Estrada was wise enough not to ask questions. I would have hated to be forced into lying to him. He referred to the takedown of Frank, my old partner. It was painful but necessary as it had been a thorn in my side ever since the bust had gone bad and Frank was taken out by two die hard dealers..
"I don't know where you are going Max but I wish you well. Make Frank proud of you."
"I will do my utmost," I promised.
By four o'clock in the afternoon, I was airborne. After only twenty minutes or so, after I had put the aircraft on autopilot, I began to feel drowsy. I landed in Yuma, took a motel, chatted with Clarissa and got a couple of hours kip. When my alarm went off, I did not know where I was but only for a few seconds. I soaked in a hot bath for awhile and then once more I was ready and raring to go..