The Planck Factor

I walked to the side table and picked up the remote. I turned the TV on to CNN to see if there was an update about Fred or me. I figured Liz had to know by now, and it hurt to think that I hadn’t talked to her about it.

The CNN anchor was doing a report on heightened airport security and the threat of terrorist attacks. My ears perked up at these words, but most of the report was delivered in generalities. More of the usual hype. Orange alerts and intelligence reports seemed to have become part of the background noise of modern life.

I reviewed the bizarre revelations and events of the last few days and couldn’t help thinking how much my life was imitating my own art.

Alexis

Alexis needed to get clear of Swede. She knew that much. She just wasn’t sure exactly how to do this without arousing his suspicions.

They returned to Lena’s house, and she offered to put them up for the night.

Alexis sketched out a plan (kind of iffy, but it would have to do) for getting Swede and Lena to leave. Then she could slip out without anyone noticing.

“So, what’s our next move?” Swede said. He seemed jumpy and irritable. Well, why wouldn’t he be? Alexis thought.

“I . . . I’d like to spend a little time alone, if you don’t mind.” Alexis gave Swede her most entreating look. “I was just going to spend some time looking at his pictures and things. I guess I’m not quite done mourning yet.” She laughed at herself, more in self-deprecation than humor.

Lena placed a hand on Swede’s shoulder and threw Alexis a knowing look. “I’ll leave the photo albums out. Swede and I will go somewhere else for a while, okay, kiddo?” She tugged at Swede’s arm. “March, soldier,” she said.

If Swede were a soldier, he looked about ready to go AWOL. However, Lena’s persistent pull turned him away, resembling a reluctant child being told to go to his room. She winked at Alexis behind his back. Alexis returned it, grinning like they had a girl-to-girl conspiracy going. Boy, did that make her feel like shit.

After they left, Alexis immediately called her sister in New York.

“Allie?” Katie usually answered her work phone with her own name, but she must have seen Alexis’ cell number on the caller ID. Katie sounded almost breathless, as if expecting the worst.

“Yeah, it’s me, Katie. I need to see you about something Daniel left with you?” Her statement ended as a question.

A brief silence, then Katie said, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

Another pause, then Katie spoke. “Do you remember the vacation we took to Jackson Hole as kids?”

“Uh . . . yeah.” Alexis wondered where this was leading.

“Remember the secret I told you?”

Alexis racked her brain. She did recall something, but what was it? “That was ages ago. Hang on.” Then it came to her. “Wasn’t it about your crush on that boy who worked at McDonald’s?”

Alexis heard Katie exhale at the other end. “Okay. I know this is weird, but I just wanted to be sure it was actually you. I mean it sounds like you . . . so I’m hoping this really is you.” Her voice was tinged with desperation.

“Yes, Katie. It’s really me. What’s wrong?”

Katie issued a shuddering breath. “Daniel did give me some papers. He told me to keep them in a completely safe place. He also said the strangest thing.”

“What?”

“He said that if anything ever happened to him, I should wait for you to get in touch with me about them. Daniel was firm on that point. He warned me not to look at the papers or tell anyone else about them, because it could be dangerous. He said that he’d leave instructions for you. Well, I didn’t know what to think, but he insisted it would all be fine, as long as you personally handled the matter.”

“Why me?” Alexis said it more to herself than Katie.

“How should I know? Daniel was always so secretive. Is this about his work?”

“No!” Alexis blurted. “I mean, I don’t know.” She tried to modify her tone. “So, looks like I need to come out there and personally handle the matter--whatever that is. Could I stay with you?”

“Of course!” Katie said. “I’d love to see you. Don’t you have any idea what this is all about?”

Alexis toyed with how much to tell Katie. She worked for a big publisher. Alexis knew she probably had contacts all throughout the business who’d be interested in getting a story out of this. Daniel had told her not to tell anyone what she was doing. Alexis sucked in her breath. Surely this couldn’t include Katie, too. Or could it?