Part 13 (1/2)
She let the breath go.
”Are you sure? We have witnesses who said they saw someone who looks like you running on the plane.”
”I'm positive.”
”You can check the list of pa.s.sengers. Sam was not on the flight with me,” Mara said.
”Can I go now?” Sam asked.
Suter nodded, and Sam bolted for the door.
The FBI man turned back to Mara. ”Do you recall how you got your head injury?”
”No. It must have happened during the accident, but I don't remember it.” She bent down, lifted a mounted magnifying gla.s.s out of the cabinet beneath the counter, and placed it in front of her. ”Pardon me, I promised to have this done today. But continue, I'm listening.”
”We have a witness who says she saw a young lady matching your description in the back of the plane before the explosion,” Suter said, trying unsuccessfully to lock eyes with her.
”I don't see how that's possible unless I was sleepwalking. I guess I could have gotten up to go to the restroom and don't remember. One second, I'll be right back.”
Mara walked to the back office and grabbed the DVD case that held the copper medallion. Since she didn't have any other pressing work, it was a perfect time to see if she can get those burned crystals to come out and remount the new ones Ned had cut. When she returned, she placed the DVD case on the counter and looked around for tools to begin her work.
”Ms. Lantern, do you think we could have your undivided attention for a few minutes?”
”Keep going. I'm following you.”
”Of all the pa.s.sengers on the flight, a flight on which there was an unexplained explosion, you had the most severe injuries.” Sweat beaded on Suter's forehead, a tic throbbed below his eye. His head twitched. The muscles in his neck strained to keep it in check.
”Well, my injuries weren't that bad. It seemed more like a b.u.mp on the head than being in an explosion. I guess we were all pretty lucky.” She routed through her junk drawer, making m.u.f.fled noise, moving things around.
”My point is, if there was an explosion, you'd think the person with the worst injuries would be the one closest to it.”
Mara flipped on the light mounted to the magnifying gla.s.s, bent its flexible arm over a black mouse pad on which she planned to stage the medallion, grabbed the DVD case and unzipped it. ”I don't know how I hurt my head. I suppose it could have been an explosion, or maybe I just bonked it on the seat in front of me.”
”Ms. Lantern, I don't think you are taking this matter as seriously as...” Suter stopped to look at the medallion Mara placed on the mouse pad. ”That's an interesting piece.”
She stared through the gla.s.s and poked at one of the burned crystals. ”Yes, it is.”
”Anyway, maybe we should make an appointment at a time when you aren't distracted. It's important we get full and accurate information in order to determine what caused this accident.”
”Mr. Suter...”
”Special Agent Suter, ma'am.” He mopped his forehead with his hand.
”Sorry. I'm not sure I remember enough to help you. Of course, if you wish, I would be glad to sit down and talk to you.”
”Where is he?” Mara stomped into the bakery, heading directly toward Ping who sat at a round dinette table in front of a gla.s.s display reviewing some paperwork. She kicked an empty box out of her path without pausing as she crossed the room.
”What's the matter?” Ping asked.
”Where is Sam?
”He's in the back putting primer on the walls. Why?”
”Do you know what he told those cops?”
”What?”
”He told those cops his last name is Lantern, that he is my brother.” She waited for Ping to say something.
He looked at her, not knowing how to respond.
”Well? Say something.”
”What do you want me to say, Mara? That he's not?” Ping asked, more somber than defiant. ”I can't do that. I won't betray a great kid who wants nothing more than to find his place in this world. And that place, whether you want to believe it or not, is with you.”
”Ping, I can't do this. I don't believe in this stuff. Let me make this perfectly clear. I don't have a brother. I have never had a brother. I will never have a brother.” Her face pulled taut with anger. ”What am I supposed to do? Take him home to Mom like a lost puppy? 'Mom, here's your boy from an alternate reality!' Please.”
”Mara, I know it's a lot to absorb, but there's more going on here than you realize. Try to be open-minded. You will have to face up to this eventually. This is not something you can hide from.”
”I'm not hiding from anything. I'm telling you to keep that kid away from me. If he persists in telling people that he's my brother, I'll get a restraining order against both of you.” She turned and stomped back toward the door.
Ping followed. ”Mara-”
She flung open the gla.s.s door and stepped out into the drizzly evening.
Ping stopped at the door and watched her march across the sidewalk and get into her car with a loud slam. The brake lights flashed on, and the engine turned. He stared at her taillights as she stopped at the intersection up the block, a blinker indicated a right turn, which she made and drove from sight.
He turned to go back inside. Sam stood there.
”Don't worry. She'll come around.” Ping threw his arm over the boy's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
Sam slouched forward with his head hanging and said, ”No, she won't. This might be a different realm, but she's the same Mara.”
”I actually think this one is different than the one you describe. She's just scared. Let's give her some time and s.p.a.ce. We will figure out something, a way to get her to realize what is at stake.”
”She better hurry up and realize soon, before it's too late.”
”Let's put that aside for tonight. How about some pizza?”
”What's that?” Sam asked.