Echo

call to Peter to check on the house hunting. Abby found the conversation productive, Peter not being one to spend much time on social chitchat. He previewed many home, mostly waterfront. The homes were all exquisite yet lacked the acreage they thought they would need. That gave Jose an idea. Sticking to waterfront gave them an additional escape route in the event it was ever needed, God forbid. It also precluded the problem of another house behind them. They must reduce the possibility of neighborhood eyes accidentally seeing something that would cause alarm. Like funny little golden creatures that hung out with a big fat slobbering dog. Or furry golden tails seemingly attached to the new neighbors.
    So they would buy the neighbor’s homes too. Asking Peter to look on one of the keys off the mainland, he responded that he had found a good possibility on Bird Key, a small island in the shadow of The Ringling Bridge that spanned the bay. The homes were exclusive and their numbers were low. Docking access was also provided with the house. They could look into the purchase of a yacht, if needed. (Abby nodded her head, eyes lighting up) The additional homes would provide the quarters Peter would require and plenty of room for other hired help.
    Since everyone agreed, Peter suggested Abby catch a plane from Newark and meet him in Sarasota to approve the purchase. Abby glanced quickly at Jose, not wanting to go alone.
    “We’ll get her on a plane tomorrow, Peter. We’ll call you back as soon as we have the flight details. Thanks, buddy.” Jose ignored her protesting frown and hung up.
    “Jose,” she said tentatively, “I’ve never been on a plane before. I won’t know what to do.”
    “I’ll go.” Scotty piped up, sounding pumped about the prospect.
    “We can’t send you. You aren’t old enough to sign a contract. It must be either me or Abby. And since she is the oldest and a woman, her input on a house would be much more relevant.” Abby’s shoulders sagged. Breathing slowly and deeply she tried to calm her jitters. She was stuck. It was going to have to be her.

    They went to bed, having firmed up the flight arrangements and a hotel for Abby to stay in while she waited for Jose and Scotty to arrive. They thought it prudent to not put Abby in the same hotel as Peter; just a precaution. Jose was not the jealous type. He just wanted to keep Abby’s exposure limited until he arrived to protect her.
    They gathered their things the next morning, repacking their equipment and called for their limo driver. Unable to avoid it, Jose went to the busy ceremonious lobby to pay the bill. Most people paid by credit card and found it unnecessary to pay in the lobby but Jose could only pay in cash.
    Abby and Scotty rode the elegant elevator to the quiet parking garage, depositing Barney and Echo (in her doggie carrier) in the limo. There, they waited for Jose to join them. Saying a relieved goodbye to Norristown, they started for the airport.

Chapter 20
    Leaving Abby at the airport made Jose purely heartsick. She wasn’t confident about the flight, yet Jose felt powerless to make the situation better for her. His apprehension diminished watching her get searched by the soldiers at the parking lot security point. The soldiers knew what they needed to do. They could spot a terrorist or nut job a mile away. Since they took over airport security, the hijackings and terror of a decade ago stopped. Air travel is truly a commitment of time, as it took two hours alone to get thru the off-sight parking checkpoint. No longer could you drive up to the curb to drop off passengers. It only took a bomb laden SUV at United Airlines curbside checkin at noon of Christmas Eve day to kill 975 people that had been checking in for three flights and lining up for their security check to get to the gates. And that was only at Newark’s Liberty International Airport. Six other airports were hit that day, all with similar losses. There has been no loss of life or property since. It was what gave the public the confidence and nerve to get on the planes. Jose thought it was a miracle any airline survived the chaos back then. So many lives lost, so many lawsuits filed.
    Jose stood at the curb, waiting for the airport bus, killing time while he said goodbye to Abby. He wasn’t comfortable leaving Scotty and Echo alone with the limo driver. Not that the driver was untrustworthy, just that anything could happen in a motor vehicle and he would