that Justin chose to cultivate, but Winona had still had the feeling that finding a place where he could kick off his boots and just tinker wasnât something Justin got to do often.
The TV was on in the background, but neither was watching the sitcom. They just wanted the chance to click up the volume if any further developments were reported on the Asterland plane emergency landing. Temporarily, though, they might as well have been on an island alone togetherâexcept for the sleeping baby.
âSoâ¦whatâd your boss say about the Angel situation?â Justin asked her.
âWell, deserted and neglected kids generally come under my bailiwick, anyway, so Wayne didnât have to give mepermission to handle the problem. It was automatic. He did seem a little startled when I showed up at the station this afternoon with the baby in a front pack. But no one at the station right now has time to worry about anything but the plane crash. Everyoneâs descended on Royal today, if not in person than through the wiresâfrom state cops to feds, TV and press, the aviation safety folks, diplomats and state peopleââ
âI know.â Justin motioned toward the TV. In the hour theyâd had the tube switched on, the local news had interrupted every few minutes to provide an update on the circus. âMy Texas Cattlemanâs group was especially involved with the citizens from both countries. Weâve offered to help, and I hope the authorities take us up on it. I realize that they have to sweep for evidence and prints and all firstâ¦but you can see how much this crisis is driving the town nuts. Everyone wants to know the same thing. What caused that emergency landing? Fine, if it was a mechanical failure, but could it have been terrorists or sabotage?â
âFrom what Iâve heard, that specific jet has an outstanding history for being one of the safest planes in the air. And she was deluxe to the nth degree, no expense spared for security or comfort. Itâs pretty hard to swallow that it was just a plain old mechanical failureâat least if the problem was carelessness.â Winona pulled a couch pillow on to her lap, finding it hard to take her eyes off Justin. Last she knew, heâd long reached the multi-millionaire statusâ¦which made it all the more fun to watch him bumbling with a screwdriver.
âSo what was the buzz at your station house? Your cops find any reason to think there was foul play connected to the emergency landing?â
âThere was no evidence leading in that direction this afternoonâ¦but really, itâs way too soon to say. They may have collected all the relevant evidence, but it will still take weeks of testing procedures before we have complete answers. The whole world knows how much tension there was between thetwo countries of Asterland and Obersbourg, thoughâ¦and that Texas party was the first and only thing that brought those two countries together and talking in more than a decade. I really think youâre right, Justin. You and the Texas Cattlemanâs Club guys should be brought in, both to question and get some advice, and Iâll be surprised if you donât get that call.â
âI wasnât as involved as some of the other members. But I still want to help, if thereâs any chance. And I did know all of the people involved.â Justin righted the baby walker, pushed it around the carpet. Sighed. And then turned it upside down to work on it again. âFrightening. To think you could eat dinner with someone, shake their hand, make a joke and laugh with themâ¦and that they could deliberately have had something to do with a near-fatal plane crash.â
âOr that someone could intend harm to so many good people.â She leaned forward to peer over the edge of the bassinet. She cared about the plane crash. She cared about her job. But at the momentâall day reallyâonly one