Chapter 17

"I don't even know if you'll be able to delay the second part of the flight. They were booked at the last minute. It might not be convenient. I haven't even asked. He's got responsibilities…"

"Thomas!"

"We land in New York in four hours." Thomas confirmed.

Nikki inhaled sharply, her back rigid against the seat.

"It's another two hours until the next flight leaves. You might be able to take a later flight. There may be a way of breaking the flights, rearranging. But I am not leaving you alone in New York!" Thomas insisted.

"So we could call him, as soon as we land. He could make it to the airport in under an hour. I wouldn't be alone. You'd be there. He could call us when he arrived and I could meet him. I'd just be alone through immigration. I wouldn't be on my own for long."

"You think he'd get there that quickly? Even with a child in tow too?" Thomas was aware of Jack shifting again in his seat.

Nikki paused. It had been a long time since they had really spent any time together.

"How many times did he call when I was away?" Nikki asked.

"I lost count after seven," Thomas admitted. Nikki sat back slightly. Relaxing into the chair as she took on the significance of the answer.

"If we asked him, he would be there." Nikki said without a shadow of doubt in her soul.

"I think I agree," replied Thomas.

"What am I going back to Thomas? An empty house?"

"You could stay with Jack…"

Nikki blew air through her lips and took a quick glance to her left at Jack. "I'm not sure Jack even knows where he lives."

"There's room at my place," Thomas suggested quietly. "Just for a couple of days…" He added, not wanting to presume or insist.

Nikki sighed. "That's kind Thomas. And when I get back to London, it's something I will seriously consider. But if he would have me, even just for a couple of days…"

Thomas sighed. But he knew he'd already made the decision.

"We have to call him, Thomas. I need you to. I need you to at least ask." She was fortunate she still had her passport, some money and a change of clothes, but her phone, that phone and her bag and wallet were long gone.

"I know, I'll call him the moment we land. But you have to remember that Harry is parenting a young child, a traumatised young child at that. He may not be able to take on…" Thomas trailed to a stop.

"What two women who are afraid of the dark and terrified of being abandoned and buried alive."

"It will make things… difficult…"

It made Thomas wonder, the story Nikki had told of Amira. Buried alive, left for dead, abandoned. It prefigured Nikki's story by months, probably a year but it made him feel uneasy. Harry's relentless quest to restore that girl's life despite the consequences. It was almost as if his actions in Syria had somehow foreshadowed and then been reflected and mirrored in Mexico. A mysterious saviour turning up at the eleventh hour. Thomas didn't like Nikki's faith that there was more to the world than just tangible science any more than Jack did. But there was something here, something beyond his understanding. Would things have turned out differently if Harry had given up on Amira as he'd been told to? It was ridiculous. It went against science and facts. And yet?

Nikki was right though. Harry would have a hard task on his hands with both of them traumatised in such a similar way. How would he cope?

"Nikki, you have to admit, it will be complicated."

"That's alright then," Nikki said smugly. "Complicated is what we do well."

"So," Thomas said warily, changing the subject, desperate to get his mind away from wandering down that previous track. "Never on that sofa, then?"

"Thomas!"


Thomas is almost becoming human... I hope he's still recognisable.