Chapter 16
16
McKay misjudged the time needed at the cruise line’s London office with the legal team, both in person and on-line. Apparently, their little discovery of Ian’s information sale led to a site on the dark web involving multiple ships and employees. After telling his story for the third time that day, the lead attorney decided there was no more to glean from McKay’s testimony.
After the interviews, he completed the rest of his paperwork with HR and received his plane tickets. The Friday afternoon departure gave him a day in London to explore. If only it had been Saturday, he might find Dana. It was a silly idea to locate one tourist out of thousands. After checking into his hotel, he called his mom to give her the flight details and got her voicemail.
He dialed Jen’s number next. Gracie answered. “You’re early.”
“Hello to you too. Is your mom around?”
Gracie cupped one hand around her mouth. “She’s in the bathroom.”
“While we wait, can I get your opinion on what I should do for a day in London?”
“Visit a real princess!”
Not possible. “I need to get a special invitation to do that. What else should I do?”
“See a castle?” she asked with less confidence.
“I can do that.”
“Will you send me photos?”
“Better yet, I’ll bring them home in a couple of days.”
His comment earned him a squeal of delight.
Jen took the phone from her daughter. “What did you tell her?”
“That I would bring home photos of a castle in a couple of days.” In the background, he heard a door slam. Jen laughed. “She just ran outside to tell all her friends. She may expect more than a photo of a castle.”
“I just called to give you my flight info. I called Mom, but she didn’t answer.”
“Her phone must still be in the rice. Did you call her landline?”
“No. What happened?”
“Gracie, kiddie-pool, and grandma taking a close-up photo.”
McKay laughed with his sister. “Will you tell her my flight information, too?”
Jen wrote the flight times. “You know you could have texted this.”
“True, but I wanted to talk over something.”
“I’m not Mom, but will I do?”
“Remember that woman I told you about?”
“The bride’s sister?”
“Long story short, I know she will be in Lyme Regis on Friday and I didn’t get her phone number. I know where she works and can get it from them.”
“Awkward.”
“Exactly. Which had me thinking of getting a train ticket or renting a car?—”
“Yes!” Jen fist pumped the air. “That is the most romantic real-life thing.”
“But what if I don’t find her?”
“She is going to the Cobb, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Then you only have to stake out one place.”
“Would you think it was creepy?”
“You’re my brother, so of course it is creepy. But if I were her and into you?—”
“I’d need to change my flight to leave on Saturday.”
“Do it. Mom’s surgery isn’t until Tuesday, so you’ll have plenty of time and frankly she’d tell you to miss her surgery for the right woman.”
As soon as McKay ended his call he opened his LegacyAir app and changed flights, claiming one of the last open seats on the early Saturday flight. It was the only one he could change to without a fee. After checking the train schedules, he opted for renting a car. Now he just needed an inconspicuous spot to wait without looking like some creeper and scaring other tourists.
The longer he studied satellite maps of Lyme Regis, the more he questioned his sanity. What if she didn’t come? What if he couldn’t find her? What if someone reported him for suspicious behavior? What if this was the dumbest idea in the history of bad ideas?