There's a little puzzle in the first section to this chapter. See if you can figure it out without jumping ahead to the answer =)

Chapter 14

London's phone dinged. That means she received a text message. Her heart jumped—that's Cody telling her what to do next! But what will he do when he finds out that she will actually take a plane and not some other boat or train or rank bus? She stood there at the railing of the dock in Jacksonville as she watched the ferry move on elsewhere, and after she spent eight grueling hours on that ferry. She should look at her text messages. Cody and Bailey are her friends, as well as Woody who's aboard with this also.

She pulled out her phone as the wind blew her braids and almost blew her hat right off. She held onto it as she opened her phone and stared at the message alert. "Just look at it, London."

People passed her, and as she was about to open the text message, she noticed a bit of black in the corner of her eye. Her heart pulsed and she quickly looked away, hiding her face in Bailey's hat. Those men in suites looked awfully familiar...

London quickly walked away after stuffing her phone into her purse. Well, it was one of Bailey's since mostly every purse that London owns is shimmery.

London hid behind a stack of suitcases that need to be lifted onto the ferry that was just docking. Why the heck are her father's men in Jacksonville?! She had to ditch her own bodyguard that her father attached to her side... Oh, no, did he find out about the plan and tell her father about it? Maybe he saw her sneaking away when she left her friends at the dock in Miami? No, he would've noticed. Then why are they here?

She peaked from behind the suitcases and saw the men. "I think I saw her go this way," one of them said and London gasped and hid again. What should she do?! She fumbled for her phone and pulled up Cody's message. As planned, it was a jumble of letters. She didn't have time to unscramble all the words! She has to figure it out for herself. She really had to think.

"'Kate weN orkY alirisen ot enstBo! 30:6 mp, barueFry 15, cakJolnsilve pAitror,'" she read with difficulty. "What the heck does this mean?" she whined. She looked around frantically for someone to help her. She spotted a cab. She ran for it and shoved someone out of the way and got in the yellow car. She looked out the window and saw that the suited men were still walking about and looking around, most likely for her.

"Where to, Miss?" asked the middle-aged man at the wheel. He had an Indian accent, like he was from India.

The men were still there, looking. "Anywhere. Just get me away from the docks! Just drive and I'll tell you when to stop."

"Okay..." the man said, a little unsure. "As you wish."

He drove on and London let out a breath. "That was close. But now where do I have to go?"

"You don't know where you need to go?" asked the driver.

"I would know if I could figure out what this text says. My friend likes to jumble up words for the fun of it and I can never figure out what he means," she lied. "He told me I have to go to a certain place, I know that much."

The driver grinned. "Oh, I see... And this friend? Is he a special friend and he want to meet you somewhere in the city?" He gave her a wink and London made a face.

"Uhg, no, not Cody. I would never date him." She recalled their fake dating. "At least real dating. I'm dating his twin brother, and I have to meet him somewhere."

"Is that the location in your text message?"

"Yes, and I can't figure it out!"

The man grinned again. "Well, it so happens that I am an expert puzzle-solver. I can pull over and have a look."

"Oh my gosh, would you? I will pay you twice the taxi fare."

"No need for that." He paused. "If you insist."

He pulled over on this busy street and cars zoomed passed them. London handed the man her phone and he took a look. She glanced out the window at the crowded beach and the sparkling ocean. She would love to take Zack on a vacation and have them just lounge on the beach, soaking up the sun. If this plan doesn't work, that's a dream that's never going to come true. Actually, it may never come true if her father is as determined as she is at this moment.

"You say that this is a location?" asked the driver and London came back to what they were doing.

"Yes. He's supposed to tell me where to go next."

"Well, he is telling you to do something, as well as where you are going to do it, as well as the time and date you are supposed to do it."

She was getting impatient. "So? What does it say?"

"Your friend is telling you, 'Take New York Airlines to Boston! 6:30 pm, February 15, Jacksonville Airport.'"

London gasped, shocked by this. "He's telling me to fly? After the conversation that we had? He listened to me!"

The phone dinged. "He has sent you another message. It is jumbled as well." He paused for a minute. "He says 'Pay in cash. Good luck.'" He handed London back her phone. "Well, if you want to make your flight, then we have to get a move-on. It is already 5:45, and the lines can be really long in the airport."

"Well then, drive!"

The cab was off and London's leg moved up and down rapidly in anxiousness. She will get caught if her father finds out about this, if he hasn't already. But she will being paying cash, which mean no credit card slip. Only her name will be in the system... and her ID. Well, that's why Cody said 'good luck.' She's going to need it.

"We are here," the driver said when they arrived twenty minutes later, and London paid the cab fare—twice the amount as she said she would—and left the cab with her suitcase. The driver poked his head out the driver's side window. "Good luck!"

"Thanks!" she shouted back and ran into the airport, pulling her suitcase. She was finally able to take a breath when she sat in economy class on the plan. Of course, she always takes first class, but she had to lay low.

"Miss, please put your carry-one under the seat in front of you," said a stewardess as she walked by. London did so, even though she wondered why she had to do it. She never rides economy—they had their rules, apparently.

London sat back up after putting Bailey's purse under the seat. She turned around and looked at all the people, most of them dressed in shirts that had palm trees on them. But a few didn't. London's heart nearly stopped when she spotted familiar faces a few rows behind her...

Her father's men.

London stayed hunkered down in her seat. She was shocked that the same men who she saw on the docks were on the plane with her. They followed her! And that means that her father knows that she's there and knows what she's doing! She had to complement her father for knowing when she and her friends have done everything to keep this a secret... he really knows how to find people. She would know.

"Attention passengers," said a male voice over the intercom, "we are experiencing engine malfunctions and need to land to see to them. We will be landing in Richmond International Airport in Richmond, Virginia. We apologize for the delay. We will be on our way to Boston as soon as possible."

London heard groans all around her, but her heart was lifting. She can escape those men!

The plane started descending and London felt it in her stomach. She loves to fly, just not the landing part of it. The plane soon landed and rolled into the airport. The speaker came on again. "Ladies and gentlemen, there will be an estimated two-hour delay, so if you wish to leave the plane, then you may. The doors will be opening shortly."

London waited until she saw people stand up and leave. When the person on the speaker said it was okay to do so, people started filing out and London hid herself in them. She hoped at that those men didn't see her as she hid in between people. She has always cursed her five-foot-two height, but it came into handy this time.

Seeing the inside of the airport was a welcomed sight. She quickly hid behind a wall and peeked around it to see if she could spot those men. People walked out of the tunnel that leads to the plane, and after a minute, there were those two men.

"Okay, I have to go," London said and briskly walked passed restaurants, restrooms and little gift shops. "Gosh, Daddy is being so annoying..."

London followed the signs that led to where you have to buy tickets. She has to get on another plane as soon as possible. When she got there, she waited in line anxiously, and watched to see if those men were coming. So far so good.

"Next, right here!" shouted a lady at the counter.

"Hello," London said. "I need a plane ticket for any plane going to Boston, and I need it fast!"

"Alright, let's see..." the woman in a tight blonde bun said. London looked around for those men. Thankfully, they weren't around.

"Are there any?" she prodded.

"The very next flight is on Delta Airlines, and it leaves in one hour."

"One hour?" London gasped. "I need it sooner, like in the next ten minutes! Gosh, I wish I was able to take my private jet."

"That is the soonest flight to Boston, and then there is another plane for New York Airlines that had to land here for maintenance."

"I was already on that one," London whined. "I need to get to Boston faster, and not on that plane."

"I'm sorry, miss, but that Delta flight is the soonest flight to Boston."

London didn't have a choice. "Okay, okay, I'll take that one." She paid and was given her tickets. She headed to where the gate was located and spotted the men again, and one was talking on a cell phone. London hid behind a stand-up poster for some restaurant. She heard the man say,

"No, Sir, we still have not found her. Yes, we followed her onto the plane, but it had to land due to engine difficulties. She left the plane for the layover, and we lost sight of her." A pause. "Yes, Sir, we will keep on looking."

London's heart beat speedily in fear that she could get caught, after all this work of getting back to Boston. "There's no way I'm getting caught now," she muttered in confidence. "I have to do this."

"Do what?"

London jumped and she looked over to find a bright blue-eyed girl with brown hair crouching with her. London stared at her. "Who are you?"

"I should be asking you that question. Why are you hiding?"

"Why are you hiding?" she countered.

"I just wanted to see if you needed any help."

London looked the girl up and down for a moment. She wore trendy, fashionable clothes—a teal blouse and silver pants—clothes that London wouldn't mind wearing herself. Maybe this girl isn't that bad. "Nevermind. I Just need a way to get to Boston."

The girl's brows rose. "Really? I'm from Boston. I was actually headed there. Do you need a ride?"

"Isn't Boston a bit far away from here?" London asked, thinking of going by car.

"No, silly, a lift in my private jet."

London gasped. "Private jet? You have a private jet?"

"Sure do! I got it for my twentieth birthday."

This girl is only a year older than London, and she's rich from the sound of it. "Yes, take me to Boston! I have to get out of here."

The girl looked off at the suited men. "Are you trying to get away from them?" She pointed to them.

"Yes, they're my daddy's men, and they're looking for me." She indicated her outfit. "I don't normally wear stuff like this. I'm in disguise."

"I wasn't going to ask." She held out her hand. "I'm Casey."

"London." She shook her head. "Now, are we going to go?"

Casey looked out from behind the poster. The men were looking away from them. "They're not looking. Let's go!"

They came out of their hiding place right as one of them men turned. He pointed. "Found her!"

"Go, go, go!" Casey urged and the girls ran. London looked behind her and saw the two suited men pursuing them. Oh, how she hoped that they would lose them. She followed Casey, and surprisingly did not have a hard time running in Bailey's cowboy boots. London was used to walking and running in tall heels. She even goes to her gym class in heels.

"This way!" Casey shouted and they rounded a corner, and London found herself being pulled through a doorway. They were suddenly outside in warm weather. London spotted the jet. "This is it! Now let's get on, quick!"

London followed and soon boarded the jet, which looked very similar to London's own private jet. Once Casey ordered the pilet to go, London looked to her as Casey collapsed into one of the leather seats. "Just how rich are you? I have a private jet just like this one. In fact, I have three!"

"Not as rich as you, that's for sure, London Tipton."

That gave London a start. "You know who I am? Even when I'm dressed like this?"

"Of course I do. Our fathers do business with each other sometimes. My last name is Covington."

A light bulb went on in London's head and she pointed at Casey. "Oh yeah! I went to your sweet sixteen birthday party, I think."

"I wouldn't be surprised."

The jet took off and London looked out one of the windows. The suited men had just ran out and watched the jet take off, and one held his forehead in disdain that they didn't get them. London sat down in the seat. "Well, they aren't a problem anymore. I'm just worried about what Daddy's going to do. He knows that I escaped the ship."

"Ship?"

"Yes, the SS Tipton. I lived on that ship, and went to that stupid sea school."

"I almost went to that sea school, but my father made other plans for me. So why aren't you on it anymore? Why are you trying to escape your father's men while wearing a country girl disguise?"

London faced her, readying herself to tell the story. "Well, I fell in love with a great guy that he didn't approve of, and he sent that guy to Boston. Now, I'm going to Boston without Daddy knowing. At least, I thought he didn't know."

Casey put a hand to her heart. "Aw... how sweet! You're trying to make it back to your man."

"Yeah, I just hope that Daddy's men aren't at the front entrance ready to keep me out."

"The front entrance to what?"

"The Tipton. That's where Zack—my boyfriend—is."

"Your boyfriend is staying at The Tipton? Wow, he must be rich, too. Then why would your father not approve of him?"

"Zack isn't rich. His mom works at The Tipton so he got to live here with his brother before they started the sea school. Now he's living there again without his brother. The two of them caused a whole lot of trouble, and that's why Daddy doesn't approve of Zack—he's a trouble-maker, and he's poor. But I don't care about those things. He loves me and I love him and that's all that matters."

Casey nodded. "I agree. And there's no stopping two people who are in love with each other. Do you have a picture of Zack?"

"Daddy made me delete all of them, but I kept one." She got out her phone and pulled up Zack's picture. She handed the phone to Casey and she gasped.

"Oh wow, he's cute! But he also looks a bit young."

"He's sixteen."

She gasped. "You're dating a sixteen-year-old?"

"Yes, but I don't care that he's younger than me. We love each other."

"Love knows no bounds." She handed London back her phone. "You said he has a brother, right? He's older, I hope."

London noticed the hopeful glint in Casey's eyes. "No, Zack's the older one, but by only a few minuets. You know, before I started dating Zack, I couldn't tell them apart."

"Oh, so they're twins! Well, if his twin is available, I wouldn't mind a shot at him, even if he's four years younger than me."

"Cody's dating someone. These clothes actually belong to her. She's some country bumpkin from the middle states."

"Aw, man... Too bad."

"Miss Covington, we are arriving," said the pilot over the intercom.

Casey beamed. "Well, London, prepare to be reunited with your love. We will land and then we can take my limo to The Tipton."

London's heart lifted and her chest started to tighten due to how happy she suddenly became. "Yes! Here I come, Zackie!"