Chapter 5

It had been fifteen minutes since Carter had gotten pulled over for speeding. It was at this moment that he dared to again reach the dizzying heights known as speeding. He pressed his foot down on the accelerator and felt the surge in the engine. He knew why speed was so important to men. He could feel the power flow through his whole body. It was at times like this that he regretted choosing the Jeep instead of the Porsche. However he did not dare exceed the limit by too much just in case. That was until he approached the airport. When it came into view his foot instantly put the pedal to the metal. It wasn't for a few seconds that he managed to contain himself. He pulled into the entrance and scanned around looking for a short- term car park. Actually he just looked for anything resembling a parking space. Nothing. How is it that whenever you need something it is never there, damn Murphy. Oh wait a minute. Yes. That looks like a space. A car was approaching in from the opposite direction. It was like a scene out of one of those fifties movies where two guys play chicken with their cars. It was mono e mono. To the victor went the spoils. To the loser went the prospect of circling forever looking for that elusive spot. Carter just couldn't do that. They both sped towards the space. Closer and closer they got. Sooner or later one of them would have to give in. One would have to accept defeat. At least that was the theory. By now they could see each other's face. Then suddenly the other driver slowed. Carter had won. The spot was his. He didn't know it but the other driver took one look at his face and knew that there was no way Carter was going to lose. Jubilant with victory Carter almost forgot what he had won. However he quickly came back to his senses and parked the Jeep.

He was running now. Running to the entrance of the terminal. He didn't know where to even begin looking for Abby but he knew that he probably didn't have a lot of time. Then a thought struck him; maybe she had already got on the plane. Maybe her plane was taking off right now. Maybe the plane was already flying high amongst the clouds. He felt sick. He felt as if he was going to be sick. However he managed to recover enough to stop this from happening. Something told him that she hadn't left. He couldn't explain it but somehow he knew. She was in this airport somewhere. If only he knew.

The woman at the information desk was having the usual sort of day. Most of her customers had been after directions. There had been one guy who had been a little bit of trouble but when she threatened to call security he soon went away. In fact thinking about it she was having a damn good day. The prospect of her fiancé flying in from New York only made her happier. Finally his business trip was over and they could spend some quality time together. Maybe she might be able to escape the feeling of doubt she was experiencing about their upcoming wedding. She had told herself that it was cold feet and that everyone got it at some point. All she needed was to be reminded of why she had agreed to marry him in the first place. She had the whole week planned to the finest detail. All she had to do was wait for his flight to arrive. She couldn't wait. That was why she had agreed to take this shift. At least it beat doing nothing. She needed something to take her mind off the thoughts that we running through her head. As if due to some divine intervention just such a distraction came running up to her. The man was struggling to catch his breath. He probably had been running all the way from his car. This happened a lot, people often come running into an airport trying to catch their flight before it left. However what was unusual about this guy was that he didn't have any luggage. Most people carry something, if only a small bag. This guy had nothing. He finally reached her desk and managed to get out a few words, "Have.have.you seen.this.this.woman?"

Carter had figured that there may been a way to discover which flight Abby had taken or was about to take. That was to ask someone who might have seen her enter which way she went. That way he could narrow down his search. When he entered the terminal he immediately caught sight of the information desk, which was also dead in front of the entrance. If anyone had seen her it would be the woman working there. He ran up to her and pulled out a picture of Abby he had in his wallet and asked her, "Have.have.you seen.this.this.woman?"

She stared at Carter for a moment then turned her attention to the photo. "I don't know. A lot of people come through here every day."

"It's an emergency. I have to find her before she leaves."

It sounded to the woman as if this was from the plot of a romantic comedy. A man on a last ditch attempt to stop a girl from leaving his life forever. She put all her energy into focusing on the photo and searching through her memory. The face did slightly familiar. Wait. Now she remembered, "I remember her."

"You do?" Carter was genuinely surprised. He had not expected this to work at all.

"Yeah. She came in here about an hour ago, maybe less."

"Do you know which way she went?"

"She was going to go book a flight to a Pacific island."

"How do you know?"

"She asked me where she could book a flight to a Pacific Island."

"Do you know which one?"

"She didn't say. I don't think she even knew. Probably a spur of the moment."

Carter cut her off, "Which way is it?"

"Oh. You go." She proceeded to give him the same directions she had given Abby.

As soon as she finished he began to run. Before he was gone he shouted over his shoulder, "Thanks!"

She hoped that he reached that woman before she left. It wouldn't be much of a romantic comedy if they didn't, she thought to herself.