Bennie was the first one off the plane when it landed in Miami, and she hurried down the jetway and through the door to the terminal, which was crowded with vacationers in funny hats, big families, honeymooning couples, and world-weary business travelers, all filling the air with different languages. Moms cuddled toddlers in chairs in the gate area, and students slept on the floor, their flights delayed in bad weather. Her connection to Nassau had also been delayed, and on the flight they had announced the gate number, which was only three down the hall.
She made her way through the crowd, reached the Nassau gate, and got in line at the counter to get her boarding pass. It was five people deep and manned by a single beleaguered airlines employee, so she looked around for a supervisor, but there wasn’t one, so she waited. The air-conditioning had been turned off, and it smelled like body odor and patisserie hot dogs. People thronged to the gate, waiting for the boarding announcement, and by the time she reached the desk, the flight to Nassau was already boarding.
“Can I help you?” asked the airline employee, a faint sheen of sweat covering his top lip.
“My name is Bennie Rosato, I’m booked on this flight, and I need a boarding pass.”
“Certainly. Your ID, please?”
“I don’t have it. My wallet was stolen, and the FBI contacted you about me. They called down from Philadelphia.”
The airline employee blinked a few times. “If this is a joke, I’m kind of busy.”
“The FBI was supposed to call you, or someone at the airline. I just got off the flight from Philly, and they let me on without ID because I’m working with the FBI.”
“If you’re with the FBI, you should have identification.”
“No, I’m a private citizen but I’m working with the FBI.” Bennie dug in her purse and slid Special Agent Wingate’s business card across the desk. “This is the agent in charge of the case. If you call him, he’ll vouch for me.”
“I don’t have time to do that, and I can’t board you without ID, no matter who says so. I don’t make the rules.”
“But I’m booked on this flight. You can find my name, and you know I just got off another flight, because I couldn’t have gotten through security without ID, right?” Bennie sensed it was a losing cause, but she couldn’t give up or Alice would be gone forever. “Just let me on. I have to get to Nassau tonight.”
“I can’t do that, I’m sorry.” The airline employee looked at the line, worriedly. “Now, as you can see, there are so many people waiting-”
“Then give me a phone and let me call.” Bennie walked around the side of the counter, but the airline employee recoiled, putting his hands up, protectively.
“Stop! You’re not allowed back here.”
“I just want to use your phone. I can clear this up in two minutes. I have to get on this flight.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that. I don’t have an outside line here. The most I can do is call my supervisor, and you can take it up with her.”
“Call her, then.” Bennie checked behind her, and the flight was boarding quickly. “Right away.”
“I couldn’t reach her right away, Miss. She’s on break.” The airline employee wet his lips, nervously. “Why don’t we put you up tonight, at the hotel near the airport, and give you a voucher for a flight anywhere in the continental United States, usable for up to one year.”
Bennie turned to the next man in line. “Sir, may I borrow your cell phone, please?”
“¿Que?” he said, frowning, but the airline employee was already motioning him forward, speaking to him in rapid Spanish.
“Does anybody else have a cell phone I can borrow?” Bennie called to the others in line.
“Get outta the way!” an older man answered, annoyed. “We’re gonna miss the flight, lady!”
“Excuse me,” said a voice, and Bennie turned. Behind her stood a heavyset man with glasses and a gray-flecked beard. He had on a Hawaiian shirt and carried a Marlboro duffel bag. “Did I hear you say you need to get to Nassau?”
“Yes.”
“I know somebody who can get you there.”
“Tonight?”
“I can find out,” the man answered.