Dead Drop by Jack Patterson (reading cloud ebooks txt) 📕

CHAPTER 34

REBECCA WESTIN TIGHTLY HELD Mason’s hand as they wandered through the Dubai International Airport. The men adorned in white robes and red-and-white shemaghs appeared almost as ghosts hovering slowly along. Rebecca felt self-conscious, obviously out of place in this strange structure where the ancient and modern collided. Hathoric columns supported a ceiling that soared above them, while men stood like statues riding moving sidewalks. As a transplant to America, she knew the feeling of entering a foreign culture, but this felt more like entering another galaxy.

She pulled Mason closer and was able to find a taxi with little trouble. Within half an hour, they were checking into the Atlantis hotel at The Palm just before 7 PM Sunday local time. The hotel was gaudy and extravagant, and even with her hefty bank account, she felt slightly guilty for indulging herself like this, especially so soon after Sid’s death.

It’s for Mason, she tried to convince herself. This will be good for him. He needs this.

The truth is shewanted this. She was the one who needed to escape the fish bowl she’d been living in for the past week or so. Getting out from beneath the scrutinizing, the whispers, the mystery, the tragedy—this was the place to do it. Here, she could be anonymous. Of course, hundreds of other places would’ve sufficed, but when Umbert called her and told her to book a flight for Dubai, she didn’t protest for even a moment. He told her it’d be all right and that they would reunite once everything died down. But she wasn’t so sure.

While Rebecca checked in at the registration desk, Mason gawked at an aquarium teeming with exotic fish and other sea creatures.

“Mum! Check this out!” he yelled.

She smiled and waved at him. It was the first genuine moment of happiness she’d experienced in a while. For weeks—even months—leading up to this time, her life felt like a rollercoaster without any ups. It was just one massive downward spiral. For once, life flickered within her through watching her son. His eyes widened as he stared at a stingray hovering near the glass, appearing to be as interested in Mason as Mason was in it.

This is going to be great.

She got her keycard and grabbed their bags, and an attendant hustled over to help. She politely refused his help and called for Mason. He didn’t budge.

“If you think that’s cool, Mason, just wait until you get to swim with the dolphins,” she said.

Immediately, Mason’s trance was broken as he spun and ran toward her.

“Dolphins? Real life dolphins? I can swim with them?” he asked.

She nodded. “First thing in the morning.”

Mason grabbed his bag and joined her, keeping pace with his mother’s long strides.

But they didn’t make it to the elevators before she heard a sound that made her cringe. A click-click-click and a loud voice in a British accent.

“That’s Rebecca Westin!”

She glanced over her shoulder to see a small contingent of European photographers rushing toward her. She couldn’t see who was the subject of their original impromptu photo session, but she didn’t look long enough to identify the person—nor did she care. She had become their next target.

Pecking at the elevator button to close the door, she grabbed Mason’s hand and told him to look away.

“Come on, come on,” she said.

“What is it, Mum? Who are those people?”

“Just keep your head down.”

Rebecca couldn’t imagine any doors possibly taking longer to close. With her head still down and her eyes shielded by her hand, she looked up ever so slightly to sneak a peek at the oncoming photographers. They were still at least ten meters away as the last glimmer of light from the lobby vanished behind the elevator doors.

She exhaled and tousled Mason’s hair. “It’s okay now. They’re gone.”

He looked up at her. “Does this mean we won’t be able to swim with the dolphins tomorrow?”

“Nothing is going to stop that. Don’t you worry.”

He smiled again and squeezed her hand.

***

AFTER REBECCA PUT MASON to bed, she ordered up a bottle of chardonnay from room service. She needed to unwind after a long day of travel, and finding a comfortable stool at the bar wasn’t an option tonight.

As she popped the cork, she poked her head into Mason’s room. She felt guilty about splurging for a two-room suite, but at fifteen hundred a night for one room, she figured another five hundred wasn’t a big deal. Besides, it was only for a few nights. Jonathan Umbert was going to let her know what to do next. Perhaps everything would’ve died down by now. Surely the feds weren’t going to go after her. They’d never have enough evidence to prove anything. As long as Dr. Lancaster kept fastidious records, she would be fine—at least that’s what everyone told her. But she didn’t want to risk it, especially if it meant losing Mason.

Mason didn’t move when the light from the hallway spilled into his room. She could almost see a half smile on his face as he breathed steadily.

She closed the door and meandered out onto the deck. It was still warm—hot by Seattle standards—this late at night. An intermittent breeze off the gulf waters helped cool the air. When the latest gust ended, she tucked her hair behind her ears and leaned on the railing overlooking the palatial grounds of the Atlantis. It was perfect—almost.

Rebecca wanted the man who’d made this moment of freedom possible to join her. And if he couldn’t be there in person, the least she could do was call him.

She glanced at her phone. It was a few minutes past midnight in Dubai, which meant it was around 1 PM in Seattle. She dialed Umbert’s number. Straight to voice mail.

Undaunted, she called Umbert’s assistant, Ellie Dunaway.

“Ellie, this is Rebecca Westin. Do you happen to know where Jonathan is?” she asked as soon as Ellie answered.

“Oh, Mrs. Westin, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. You’re definitely