Chain Lightning by Elizabeth Lowell Read Free Book Online

We’ll take my car,“ Anthea said.
    A few minutes later Mandy tossed the backpack in the trunk of Anthea’s sleek two-seat Mercedes.
    “Are you sure you don’t need more luggage?“ Mandy asked. “For you, surely Sutter would bend his rules.“
    “It’s all right. I guarantee I won’t be inconvenienced by Sutter’s rules in the least.“
    Anthea’s sweeping assurance left no room for questions. Mandy closed the trunk and slid into the driver’s seat.
    “How about your passport?“ Mandy asked. “Did you ever get that problem with it straightened out?“
    That was why Sutter had left early; he hadn’t had the patience to wait while his aunt untangled red tape.
    “I finally called Senator Martin Thurgood. He took care of everything.“
    “What was the problem exactly? You never said.“
    “No, I didn’t, did I?“
    Mandy waited.
    Anthea rummaged in her purse for the car keys. “There you are. Better hurry, dear. Sometimes these international flights are overbooked.“
    Mandy took the keys automatically. “Mr. Axton guaranteed you a seat, didn’t he?“
    “The seat is guaranteed,“ Anthea agreed.
    “Since he owns a huge chunk of the airline, I don’t think you need to worry about getting bumped. The way Mr. Axton feels about you, he’d probably throw out the captain first,“ Mandy said dryly.
    Anthea simply smiled.
    The drive to the airport took only twenty minutes. Mandy let Anthea off at the curb, then zipped across five lanes of traffic to find a space in the one-hour parking lot. She grabbed the vivid backpack out of the trunk, slammed down the lid and raced on foot back across five lanes of traffic. The first-class window was closed, telling Mandy that Anthea had already been checked in. She followed the directions to the gate, expecting to catch up with Anthea. She wasn’t at the security checkpoint, however.
    “Did a tiny silver-haired lady come through here?“
    “Yes, ma’am,“ said the guard, smothering a smile. “Captain took her through himself on a cart. She had the wrong flight time. They’re holding the plane.“
    “But I’ve got her luggage!“
    Mandy tossed the backpack and her purse on the conveyor belt to be X-rayed. She hurried through the arch, didn’t set off any alarms, grabbed the backpack and purse and set off at a run despite her high heels. At first she thought there was no one at the designated gate. Then she spotted a glint of silver hair at the end of the tunnel leading to a huge Boeing 747.
    “Anthea!“
    “Hurry up, dear. They’re waiting for you.“
    Mandy ran down the slanted tunnel and held the backpack out to Anthea. She ignored it, taking Mandy’s purse instead. She stuffed a fat business envelope into the purse and gave it back to Mandy.
    “Everything you need is inside. Now hurry along.“
    “What?“
    “Don’t worry about a thing,“ Anthea continued, rolling over Mandy’s objections as she guided her employee toward the plane’s entrance. “I’m having your mail and newspaper held, Jessi will water your plants, Steve is taking your car in to be serviced and Alice will pick up your dry cleaning. Was there anything else needing your attention in the next few weeks?“
    Openmouthed, unable to say anything, Mandy simply shook her head.
    “Ms. Blythe?“ called the stewardess from the opening. “I have to close the door in one minute.“
    “Run along,“ Anthea said. “Four hundred people are waiting for you.“ Suddenly she stood on tiptoe and gave Mandy a hug. “Enjoy your vacation. You’ve more than earned it.“
    “But I – “
    “Shoo,“ Anthea interrupted firmly. “Steve and Jessi are waiting to help me hang another picture on my wall. Your picture.“
    Purse in one hand, pink-and-black tiger-striped backpack in the other, Anthea’s latest project moved toward the waiting plane in a daze.
    “And, Mandy,“ called Anthea clearly over her shoulder, “don’t forget what I said about finding a lover. Australian men are