A Pale Paradise

  ******

  "We're landing." Phyl's eyes fluttered open as she heard Thad's deep whisper, and felt him jiggle her shoulder. She sniffed, and realized that her head had slid down and was resting on his shoulder. Raising her head, and getting herself situated in the seat, she buckled her seatbelt, and looked over at him, as he buckled himself in. "Do you feel better now? You've been pretty restless."

  "I think so." Phyl took a deep breath and smoothed her hair. "I'm sure part of it was from worrying about the trip."

  "Not many people get a phone message like the one Jonathan left, I'm sure." Thad glanced at her as the plane descended toward the runway. "Hopefully, we're three hours closer to getting this mystery solved."

  "I hope his parents have heard something positive from the embassy." She felt the wheels touch down, then watched the runway blur as the plane sped across it, and then they were coming to a slow halt, and pulling into the airline's berth. They waited for the signal to begin disembarking, and headed down the narrow aisle. Finally, she sighed, they were almost half-way through the trip. They entered the sprawling, bustling airport, checking their tickets for the next gate, and decided to find that first, then grab something to eat.