In the past, that would have been as simple as picking up a phone, opening an app designed for The Repair Shop, and scheduling a private jet. A quick ride to the nearest airport—either arranged in the app along with the flight or a quick rideshare under a false name—and she and Fleur would have had a quick escort past security with wheels up within the hour with another car waiting at their destination.
Now that was all gone. Worse—The Repair Shop still had all those resources at their disposal to find her.
She looked down at Fleur trotting next to her. “I love you, sweet girl, but you sure do complicate things.” But she’d sooner chop off her right arm and mail it to Atlantis than leave Fleur behind. When they got to the nondescript white sedan Gina had bought with cash, she opened the backseat door and Fleur hopped in. She curled up in the nest of blankets Gina had left for her on the floor.
The first thing they needed to do was leave Los Angeles. The sedan didn’t have plates, just a forged paper license in the back window. The other windows were tinted and treated with a thin, patterned layer that would blur a camera’s image. It was new technology that in itself might be a flag that could attract Elissa’s attention, but Gina had to take that chance.
Yes, Fleur complicated leaving the country. They would probably expect Gina to drive over the border into Mexico. It would be the quickest, easiest escape route and she owned a small condo in Baja. Maybe they would check that first, and waste enough time to give her a better lead. Or, they might try to second-guess her and monitor the Canadian border. Her name was on a recent lease agreement in Vancouver. Well, one of her names at least.
They wouldn’t find Gina and Fleur in either place.
Gina started the car and called a woman she’d met and befriended a few years back and put the phone on speaker. Florence picked up on the third ring.
“Jenna! Hey, girl, it’s been a while.”
“Sorry, Flo. You know how it is.”
“Well, I don’t know, because you never call me,” Florence teased. “Unless you need something.”
“Yeah, well, guess what?”
Florence laughed. “I see how you are. Well, it’s good timing, because I could useyourhelp too.”
“Oh, good, I was hoping you’d say that. It’s time for the spring shows, isn’t it?”
“Crufts is already past, so I know you and Jasmin aren’t competing this year, so what’s really going on?”
Gina held her breath.
“Let me guess,” Florence continued. “You need to get out of town for a while.”
Gina grinned. She had Florence well-trained. “Yeah, that I do. So, are you going over soon?”
“Of course. You know I like to get in early.”
“How early?”
“We’re leaving from Newark in three days.”
Gina breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been afraid Florence might have already left and then there was no way Gina was leaving the country.
Florence continued. “Are you in Los Angeles?”
“No,” Gina lied. “So, I’ll have no problem getting there on time. Can’t wait to see you.” That wasn’t a lie. Flo was always a riot and had the best gossip. Helpful gossip, when it came to international affairs and certain people involved in Flo’s particular hobby.
“Same.” Florence paused and her voice grew serious. “Trouble with the ex again?”
Gina let just the right amount of worry into her voice when she answered, “Something like that.”
Florence let out a long-suffering sigh on the other end. “Will you tell me about it?”
“I’m not really where I can talk. But we’ll catch up when I get there, okay?” God, she was so,sotired of the lies.
“Jenna.” Her tone was full of concern and warning. “Are you safe right now?”
“Yup! Very safe now.”
Another sigh from Flo washed over her. The woman wasn’t buying it of course. “Okay. But please call if you need me before then. Promise?”
