Right to Die

“Lordy, what I mean to say is, this boy’s a nut. If he doesn’t much care about getting caught, he sure isn’t thinking about picking some spot where the cops aren’t as sharp as you’re used to.”
    “Given the way he’s sent the notes so far, I don’t think he wants to get caught.”
    “John,” said Andrus in a soothing tone I hadn’t heard from her before. “Isn’t it at least as likely that this person doesn’t have a passport or the means necessary for a trip like this on short notice? It is the beginning of the high season down there. In order for Tuck and me to vacation before the tournament, we even have to stay over in New York tonight to get a plane out tomorrow.”
    “You can travel most places on just a birth certificate. Plus, charters fly half full to the Caribbean all the time. He could probably go for a third of the price if he just hangs around a travel agency long enough and is willing to leave on two hours’ notice. They’ve already paid for the aircraft, so every seat is a lost margin of profit.” Hebert turned his back to us and began rummaging in the closet, talking into the clothes. “Okay. Okay, let’s say this boy could follow us down if he wants to. Problem is, he doesn’t even know we’re going. Maisy just decided at the last minute to come with me. At most this boy thinks I’m going, and that’d mean he’d think he could get to her easier back here, alone and all.”
    “Except for Manolo.”
    “Manolo. Manolo, Manolo.” Hebert turned back around, a scuba fin in his hand that seemed to match the one sticking out of the duffel bag. “Let me tell you something, John. In a street fight Manolo would be a mountain. He’d take a knife or a bullet, ten bullets, for Maisy, and maybe even a few to save my butt, knowing how she feels about me. But he’s deaf, John. Stone cold deaf. A school kid could take him from behind. He wants to play loyal retainer, that’s fine with me. But down-home protection? Get real, huh?”
    Andrus said, “John, I’m tired. A little frazzled, okay? I’ve spoken to my dean, and under the circumstances he’s agreed to cancel the special session seminar you saw. I think Tuck’s right about my being safer on Sint Maarten, though perhaps for a different reason. I don’t see my tormentor as a world traveler. I see him as a small, wretched little soul trapped in some way that makes him do this. If I am at any risk, that risk is higher here, where he has already acted, than fifteen hundred or so air miles from Boston . Furthermore, in less than a month I start a visitorship three thousand miles away. I’m not about to sacrifice that, and if I’m not, there is no logical reason I shouldn’t enjoy a spur-of-the-moment vacation with my husband beforehand.”
    I certainly couldn’t say I had proof she was wrong. “Tell you what?”
    “What?” said Hebert.
    “At least let me drive you to the airport.”

    Andrus said, “Tuck, are you sure you’re all right back there?”
    “Fine,” said his voice from near my left ear.
    We were in the Callahan Tunnel, the only functional way to Logan Airport . There are two parallel tunnels actually. The one leaving the city is called Callahan and the one approaching the city is called Sumner. Tourists who know they went through one go crazy when from the other side all they can find is the other.
    I said, “It won’t be too much longer.”
    Maisy Andrus conformed to the front bucket, sinking into vacation mode. Hebert was sardined into the optimistic “seating for two” in the back, but hadn’t complained once. Their luggage, both soft-sided pieces of it, didn’t fill even my trunk.
    Andrus said, “What will you do while we’re gone?”
    “I still have a few more people to see or see again.”
    “Have you come to any conclusions?”
    “I don’t have enough information yet.”
    Andrus nodded, as though that was a good answer for the occasion. She inhaled and exhaled deeply. “I’m feeling better already.”
    Hebert said, “Wait’ll we hit this hotel, Maise. It’s got everything you could want. Even a few things you’d never think of.”
    “When will you be back?”
    Hebert said, “Tournament’s over January sixteenth. We’re booked on a return flight the next day.”
    “Afternoon or evening arrival here?”
    “Evening.”
    “Call me when you get back, will you?”
    Andrus said, “Certainly.”
    “How can I reach you down there?”
    Hebert said, “Try Jupiter