you are now an accessory to crime. Remember that while you are in the restroom."
I pulled away from him and went to phone Robert. Inside, I immediately started to dial. Then I turned and realized Rex had followed me into the women's restroom!
"Who the hell are you phoning? You've been lying to me. Just what are you trying to do?" He grabbed my left wrist again and twisted. I managed to hang onto my phone and shove it into the pocket of the travel bag. I hadn't seen Eric anywhere, and if I couldn't find Robert I was doomed. I was terrified Rex would take away my phone.
When he pulled me back into the open terminal, he turned to give the money bag to the bodyguard. I assumed it was so he could get a better hold on me. I took the moment to pull away at a run. The heels were impossible, so I took two hops and left the shoes on the floor. With one hand I pulled the long strap on my purse over my head so I could wear it cross body. I could see a sign ahead indicating a route to another area. I wanted to shout for help, but suddenly realized local police might arrest Rex. That wasn't what Sharon wanted. I wasn't sure why, but it might have something to do with French extradition. So I just ran. Behind me I heard the bodyguard yelling at Rex.
"Just guard the satchel with your life and watch the luggage," Rex shouted back. "I'll handle this. Stay here and wait for me."
I was opening daylight between us during his pause, trying to follow the strange signs. They pointed straight ahead but the terminal ended abruptly in a wall. There was a huge open door to my left, so I veered outside along a fenced porch. I was shocked that the porch ended with a fence. Just beyond was a grassy area, like a lawn, and past that was another building. Unless I climbed the fence, it was a dead end.
Behind me there were two or three people sweeping the porch.
"How do I get to that building?" I pointed across the grassy area. I prayed one of them could speak English.
"Just go back inside. On the other side of the wall you will see an elevator. The top floor has a sky bridge to that building." One man pointed, and the other man nodded.
I ran back inside, around a wall to the elevator, and hammered the button with my fist. I could see Rex running toward me. At least I knew he didn't have a gun, but the thought didn't comfort me. Maybe if he got too close I could throw my travel bag at him. At last the elevator door opened, and I ran inside frantically searching for a button to close the door. When the door snapped shut, I slumped with temporary relief. I had no plan. I needed to attempt another phone call to Robert, but how was I supposed to do that while being chased by a madman? And where was Eric?
I was trying to think calmly, but I began to wonder about stairs instead. Could Rex be running up the stairs? I hadn't seen any stairs, but I wasn't looking. Would the doors open to danger? I could stop the elevator and try the phone again, but as I was considering that plan, the elevator opened. And yes, there was a man standing there. The human brain sees what it expects to see, and I started to scream.
"Alexa, Alexa. Don't be frightened. It's me, Robert."
"Robert? You don't understand. Rex is chasing me. He is trying to drag me onto a plane and take me to South America. I think he would hurt me. In fact, he has already hurt my wrist." I stumbled forward and fell into Robert's arms. His body was the best thing I'd ever touched. My pounding heart was suddenly at home.
"It's going to be fine. No one is going to hurt you. I already know Rex is chasing you. I was on the phone with Sharon and Eric. I knew where to find you because they were tracking you through the GPS on your cell phone, and Eric is following close behind."
I couldn't let go of Robert. Feeling returned to most of my body. Then I heard the elevator moving behind me and the swish of opening doors. I flinched, expecting something to happen.
Rex shouted, "Who the hell are you? Get your
I pulled away from him and went to phone Robert. Inside, I immediately started to dial. Then I turned and realized Rex had followed me into the women's restroom!
"Who the hell are you phoning? You've been lying to me. Just what are you trying to do?" He grabbed my left wrist again and twisted. I managed to hang onto my phone and shove it into the pocket of the travel bag. I hadn't seen Eric anywhere, and if I couldn't find Robert I was doomed. I was terrified Rex would take away my phone.
When he pulled me back into the open terminal, he turned to give the money bag to the bodyguard. I assumed it was so he could get a better hold on me. I took the moment to pull away at a run. The heels were impossible, so I took two hops and left the shoes on the floor. With one hand I pulled the long strap on my purse over my head so I could wear it cross body. I could see a sign ahead indicating a route to another area. I wanted to shout for help, but suddenly realized local police might arrest Rex. That wasn't what Sharon wanted. I wasn't sure why, but it might have something to do with French extradition. So I just ran. Behind me I heard the bodyguard yelling at Rex.
"Just guard the satchel with your life and watch the luggage," Rex shouted back. "I'll handle this. Stay here and wait for me."
I was opening daylight between us during his pause, trying to follow the strange signs. They pointed straight ahead but the terminal ended abruptly in a wall. There was a huge open door to my left, so I veered outside along a fenced porch. I was shocked that the porch ended with a fence. Just beyond was a grassy area, like a lawn, and past that was another building. Unless I climbed the fence, it was a dead end.
Behind me there were two or three people sweeping the porch.
"How do I get to that building?" I pointed across the grassy area. I prayed one of them could speak English.
"Just go back inside. On the other side of the wall you will see an elevator. The top floor has a sky bridge to that building." One man pointed, and the other man nodded.
I ran back inside, around a wall to the elevator, and hammered the button with my fist. I could see Rex running toward me. At least I knew he didn't have a gun, but the thought didn't comfort me. Maybe if he got too close I could throw my travel bag at him. At last the elevator door opened, and I ran inside frantically searching for a button to close the door. When the door snapped shut, I slumped with temporary relief. I had no plan. I needed to attempt another phone call to Robert, but how was I supposed to do that while being chased by a madman? And where was Eric?
I was trying to think calmly, but I began to wonder about stairs instead. Could Rex be running up the stairs? I hadn't seen any stairs, but I wasn't looking. Would the doors open to danger? I could stop the elevator and try the phone again, but as I was considering that plan, the elevator opened. And yes, there was a man standing there. The human brain sees what it expects to see, and I started to scream.
"Alexa, Alexa. Don't be frightened. It's me, Robert."
"Robert? You don't understand. Rex is chasing me. He is trying to drag me onto a plane and take me to South America. I think he would hurt me. In fact, he has already hurt my wrist." I stumbled forward and fell into Robert's arms. His body was the best thing I'd ever touched. My pounding heart was suddenly at home.
"It's going to be fine. No one is going to hurt you. I already know Rex is chasing you. I was on the phone with Sharon and Eric. I knew where to find you because they were tracking you through the GPS on your cell phone, and Eric is following close behind."
I couldn't let go of Robert. Feeling returned to most of my body. Then I heard the elevator moving behind me and the swish of opening doors. I flinched, expecting something to happen.
Rex shouted, "Who the hell are you? Get your
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