“I gave her the weekend off,” Stone said. “You can take the copilot’s seat, unless you want to sit in the back alone.”
Dino slid into the right-hand seat, and Stone radioed the tower and was told to proceed to runway 19.
Once they were in position and awaiting permission to take off, Dino said, “At least we have good weather.”
“About that.”
“What?”
“Did I mention the tropical storm that’s headed for Maine?”
“I believe you forgot that detail.”
“It shouldn’t be that bad. It’s supposed to come through overnight and be gone in the morning.”
“We’re not flying into it?”
“Only if it speeds up.”
“That’s not the no I was hoping for. I’d like to officially reconsider my decision to join you this weekend.”
Over the radio, the tower gave Stone clearance to take off.
“Sorry,” Stone said as he increased the thrust. “I can’t hear you.”
He released the brakes and sent them speeding down the runway.
In Rockport, they switched toStone’s Cessna for the short hop to Islesboro.
By the time they were coming in for a landing, gray clouds covered most of the sky and the wind was starting to pick up.
“You might want to hold on,” Stone said.
“I thought you said the storm wasn’t due until tonight,” Dino said, grabbing a nearby handle.
“Did I?”
The Cessna rocked as it approached the runway. Just before the wheels were about to touch the ground, a gust lifted it several feet before relenting.
With a bump, they hit the runway and rolled until they were slow enough for Stone to taxi the plane to the apron.
“Let’s not do that again,” Dino said, looking a few shades whiter than normal.
“No promises.”
Seth was waiting for them as usual, and with his help, they tied down the Cessna to prevent the winds from blowing it around.
The rain started the moment they left the airport, spattering the station wagon’s windshield with a few drops at first then turning into a constant downpour by the time they reached the gate to Stone’s property.
As they drove through, a man wearing a hooded blackraincoat and with a rifle in hand stepped out from cover and signaled them to stop.
“This is new,” Dino said.
“Lance’s doing, I assume,” Stone said.
“They’ve been here pretty much since you left last time,” Seth said.
He rolled down his window a few inches, to avoid letting in too much rain, and the man leaned down and looked inside.
