The River Speaks

Chapter Nine: Airport

Chapter Nine: Airport

Aiden and I sit in his mustang, the engine off. We're watching silently as Elliot walks out of the apartment building. He stops by my truck to peek in both the windows and then goes walking to his car.

"He looks like a dick." Aiden mutters under his breath. "He's more of a city slicker than I am."

"He's terrifying." I mumble.

I hear the car start and then he drives off.

After a few more minutes, Aiden opens his car door.

"In and out, remember?"

I nod, following Aiden.

Once we're inside, he lets me lead up to the third floor.

I walk to the apartment and stop, pointing to the door.

Aiden tries the handle and finds it's locked.

He pulls a little black package that was in the glove box. I watched him get it out. He opens it and it's a lock picking set.

He uses a few different tools after after a few seconds, it unlocks. He tries the handle it it opens easily.

"In and out." He repeats.

"Aiden, I know." I say. I get a garbage bag and walk into the bathroom, grabbing all of my things and throwing it in mindlessly. I grab a few of my things from the kitchen and the bedroom.

"Okay, now the dresser."

"Let's leave the drawers."Aiden says.

I nod in agreement and watch as he grabs the top of the dresser and tips it. I throw the garbage bag on the drawers and grab the bottom, lifting it. He walks to the living room and I walk with him, both of us carrying the dresser.

We take it out into the hall and he locks the door with his tools, and then we go to the elevator.

My adrenaline is strong as we take the elevator down and carry the dresser to my truck. We put it into the bed.

"Okay. Follow me, alright?"

I nod.

He jogs across the parking lot to his mustang and I get in my truck, starting the engine.

I lock the doors and plug my phone in where the cord is plugged into my radio.

Aiden backs out and waits for me to follow him, and we pull out of the complex, driving through the city for a while longer until we're back on the interstate.

*****

Sunlight streams through the airport windows as I follow Aiden through security.

There's a certain aura about him I can't place. Confidence?

It's probably confidence.

He walks with confidence.

Maybe it's his ego.

Though he has bags under his eyes, he looks fine.

He looks content with not sleeping.

Why didn't he sleep during the two hour stakeout? Wasn't he exhausted?

I didn't sleep because I was on edge.

I am on edge.

I feel like Elliot is going to appear somewhere.

People eye my neck wearily as I set my things on the metal detector. I walk through and the security officer gives me back my stuff. Aiden is waiting patiently with a backpack slung over his shoulder.