The Flight Home

Gus looked at his traveling companion and wondered what her reaction to the false statement would be. "Ah, no, she's tired. I'll let her be."

Settling into sipping his mediocre coffee, Gus checked out the passengers he could see. Despite his lack of intuition, the man walking down the aisle towards him made him antennae go up. The man stared at Miriam as he walked past.

Gus memorized his face. Curly brown hair, deep-set brown eyes over a too wide nose. He imagined women wouldn't find the man particularly attractive, especially with that scar on his face.

When the man walked back to his seat, Gus looked on his list for the man's name. Jeb Hartford. He had to smile.

The poor man tried to figure out if Miriam was who he thought she was. I'm mistaking him for a killer.

Gus put his seat back slightly and studied the top of the airplane, his way of resting without sleeping.

***