MORE THAN FOUR hours after she'd left her hideout in Belroux, Mischa made it to the airport. She almost missed the turnoff, a mistake that would have taken her into the town of Cauzac instead of to the airport itself. The route to the airport circled around the town of Bordeaux. I followed the signs for guest parking and pulled into the lot. It was an easy walk through the rental-car lots to the terminal. There was a row of manicured grapevines leading to the entrance. But there was not, as far as she could see, a row of manicured law enforcement officials waiting to take her into custody.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5ydtzCGu7
Then again, every minute, at this point, was another adventure.
Her passport said that her name was Audrey Becker, that she lived in a town in Illinois called Gliton, that she was twenty-six, and that she had arrived in France six days ago. Drake had written a note that outlined her story: She was a recently divorced mother of two; she had stayed at the Hotel Burdigala on the Rue Georges Bonnac in Bordeaux; she went on a wine tour; and she visited three friends there, whose names, addresses and backstories Drake had provided. Now she was headed to Paraguay to meet some women I'd known since high school----at North Sneeville, in case she was grilled----whose names, ages, and backstories were also provided.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8dTUxtFP1
Oh, and now she'd have to explain that she dyed her hair brunette in Bordeaux just for the hell of it, which was why she looked different from her sandy-blonde passport photo.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BKwBAC2ih
She stood at the door to the terminal and paused. She let a couple with a small child pass her, watching them stroll in with the carefree whimsy of people on holiday, about to embark on a great adventure.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlHUKLydWA
Drake had gone to a lot of trouble to make sure she was able to make it through customs with a good cover story, if she were asked. He'd given her a convincing passport and a credit card and cash. Why would he do all that, if he weren't trying to help her?387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopAUnvatYU
"Okay, Drake," Mischa said to herself. "I guess I'm going to have to trust you."387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMzurDxfmu
She took a breath and entered the terminal.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GEcks3vAg
Five minutes later, a man standing near the door of the terminal entrance broke from an embrace with his female companion. He opened his cell phone and dialed the number.
"She just arrived," he said.
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