The Winner

  LuAnn slowly pulled out the mirror and held it up in front of her face. She gasped. Looking back at her was a redheaded woman with short, spiky hair, a very light, almost albino complexion, and an abundance of freckles. Her eyes were smaller and closer together, her chin and jawline less prominent, the cheeks flat and oval. Her lips were a deep red and made her mouth look huge. Her nose was much broader and bore a distinctive curve to the right. Her dark eyebrows were now tinted a much lighter color. She was completely unrecognizable to herself.

  Jackson tossed something on her lap. She looked down. It was a passport. She opened it. The photo staring back at her was the same woman whom she had looked at in the mirror.

  “Wonderful work, wouldn’t you say?” Jackson said.

  As LuAnn looked up, Jackson hit a switch and a light illuminated him. Or her, rather, as LuAnn received a second jolt. Sitting across from her was her double, or the double of the woman she had just become. The same short red hair, facial complexion, crooked nose, everything — it was as though she had suddenly discovered a twin. The only difference was she was wearing jeans and her twin was wearing a dress.

  LuAnn was too amazed to speak.

  Jackson quietly clapped his hands together. “I’ve impersonated women before, but I believe this is the first time I’ve impersonated an impersonation. That photo is of me, by the way. Taken this morning. I think I hit it rather well, although I don’t think I did your bust justice. Well, even ‘twins’ needn’t be identical in every respect.” He smiled at her shocked look. “No need to applaud, however I do think that considering the working conditions, it does deserve some degree of acclaim.”

  The limo started moving again. They exited the garage and a little more than half an hour later, they arrived at JFK.

  Before the driver opened the door, Jackson looked sharply at LuAnn. “Don’t put on your hat or your glasses, as that suggests attempting to hide one’s features and you could conceivably mess up the makeup. Remember, rule number one: When trying to hide, make yourself as obvious as possible, put yourself right out in the open. Seeing adult twins together is fairly rare, however, but while people — the police included — will notice us, perhaps even gawk, there will be no levels of suspicion. In addition, the police will be looking for one woman. When they see two together, and twins at that, even with a child, they’ll discount us entirely, even as they stare at us. It’s just human nature. They have a lot of ground to cover and not much time.”

  Jackson reached across for Lisa. LuAnn automatically blocked his hand, looking at him suspiciously.

  “LuAnn, I am trying my best to get you and this little girl safely out of the country. We will shortly be walking through a squadron of police and FBI agents who will be doing their best to apprehend you. Believe me, I have no interest in keeping your daughter, but I do need her for a very specific reason.”

  Finally, LuAnn let go. They climbed out of the limo. In high heels Jackson was a little taller than LuAnn. She noted that he had a long, lean build that, she had to admit, looked good in the stylish clothing. He put a black coat on over his dark dress.

  “Come on,” he said to LuAnn. She stiffened at the new tone of his voice. Now he also sounded exactly like her.

  “Where’s Charlie?” LuAnn asked as they entered the terminal a few minutes later, a chubby skycap with the bags in tow.

  “Why?” Jackson said quickly. He expertly maneuvered in the high heels.

  LuAnn shrugged. “Just wondering. He’d been taking me around before. I thought I’d see him today.”

  “I’m afraid Charlie’s duties with you are at an end.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t worry, LuAnn, you’re in much better hands.” They entered the terminal and Jackson glanced up ahead. “Please act natural; we’re twin sisters, if anyone asks, which they won’t. However, I have identification to support that cover just in case they do. Let me do the talking.”

  LuAnn looked up ahead and swallowed quickly as she eyed the quartet of police officers carefully scrutinizing each of the patrons at the crowded airport.

  They passed by the officers, who did indeed stare at them. One even took a moment to check out Jackson’s long legs as the coat he was wearing flapped open. Jackson seemed pleased at the attention. Then, just as Jackson had predicted, the police quickly lost interest in them and focused on other persons coming into the terminal.

  Jackson and LuAnn stopped near the international flight check-in for British Airways. “I’ll check in at the ticket counter for you while you wait over near that snack bar.” Jackson pointed across the broad aisle of the terminal.

  “Why can’t I check in myself?”

  “How many times have you flown overseas?”

  “I ain’t never flown.”

  “Precisely. I can get through the process a lot faster than you. If you messed up something, said something you weren’t supposed to, then we might attract some attention that we don’t really need right now. Airline personnel aren’t the most security conscious people I’ve ever run across but they’re not idiots either and you’d be surprised what they pick up on.”

  “All right. I don’t want to mess nothing up.”

  “Good, now give me your passport, the one I just gave you.” LuAnn did so and watched as Jackson, the skycap behind him, swung Lisa’s baby carrier in one hand as he sauntered over to the ticket counter. Jackson had even picked up that mannerism of hers. LuAnn shook her head in awe and moved over to the spot designated by Jackson.

  Jackson was in the very short first-class line and it moved very quickly. He rejoined LuAnn in a few minutes. “So far, so good. Now, I wouldn’t recommend changing your appearance for several months. You can wash the red dye out of course, although, frankly, I think the color works well on you.” His eyes twinkled. “Once things die down, and your hair grows out, you can use the passport I originally made up for you.” He handed a second U.S. passport to her, which she quickly put in her bag.

  From the corner of his eye, Jackson watched as two men and a woman all dressed in suits moved down the aisle, their eyes sweeping the area. Jackson cleared his throat and LuAnn glanced in their direction and then away again. LuAnn had spied, in one of their hands, a piece of paper. On it was a picture of her, no doubt taken at the press conference. She froze until she felt Jackson’s hand inside hers. He gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Those are FBI agents. But just remember that you don’t look anything like that photo now. It’s as if you’re invisible.” His confident tones assuaged her fears. Jackson moved forward. “Your flight leaves in twenty minutes. Follow me.” They went through security and down to the departure gate and sat down in the waiting area.

  “Here.” Jackson handed her the passport, along with a small packet. “There’s cash, credit cards, and an international driver’s license in there, all in your new name. And your new appearance with respect to the driver’s license.” He took a moment to toy with her hair in a completely clinical fashion. He scrutinized her altered features and came away duly impressed with himself again. Jackson took a moment to grip her by the hand and even patted her shoulder. “Good luck. If you find yourself in difficulty at any time, here is a phone number that will reach me anywhere in the world day or night. I will tell you, though, that unless there is a problem you and I will never meet or speak to each other again.” He handed her the card with the number on it.

  “Isn’t there something you want to say to me, LuAnn?” Jackson was smiling pleasantly.

  She looked at him curiously and shook her head. “Like what?”

  “Perhaps, thank you?” he said, no longer smiling.

  “Thank you,” she said very slowly. It was difficult pulling her gaze away from him.

  “You’re welcome,” he said very slowly back, his eyes riveted to hers.

  Finally, LuAnn nervously looked down at the card. She hoped she would never have to use it. If she never looked upon Jackson’s face again, it would be all right with her. The way she felt around
the man was too close to the feeling she had experienced at the cemetery when her father’s grave had threatened to swallow her up. When she looked up again, Jackson had disappeared into the crowd.

  She sighed. She was already tired of running and now she was about to start a lifetime of just that.

  LuAnn took out her passport and looked at its blank pages. That would soon change. Then she turned back to the first page and stared at the strange photo and the stranger name underneath it. A name that would not be so unusual after a while: Catherine Savage from Charlottesville, Virginia. Her mother had been born in Charlottesville before moving as a young girl into the deep South. Her mother had spoken to LuAnn often of the good times she had as a child in the beautiful, rolling countryside of Virginia. Moving to Georgia and marrying Benny Tyler had abruptly ended those good times. LuAnn thought it appropriate that her new identity should call that city her hometown as well. Her new name had been well thought out too. A savage she was and a savage she would remain despite an enormous fortune at her command. She looked at the photo again and her skin tingled as she remembered that it was Jackson staring back at her. She quickly closed the passport and put it away.

  She touched her new face gingerly and then looked away after she eyed another policeman making his way toward her. She couldn’t tell if he was one of the ones who might have seen Jackson check in for her. If so, what if he watched her get on the plane instead of Jackson? Her mouth went dry and she silently wished that Jackson hadn’t left. Her flight was called. As the policeman approached, LuAnn willed herself to stand. As she picked up Lisa her packet of documents tumbled to the floor. Her heart trembling, she bent down to retrieve them with one hand, at the same time awkwardly balancing Lisa in her car seat with her other. She suddenly found herself staring at a pair of black shoes. The cop bent down and looked her over. In one hand he held a photo of her. LuAnn froze for an instant as his dark eyes bored into hers.

  A kindly smile emerged on his face. “Let me help you, ma’am. I’ve got kids of my own. Traveling with them is never easy.”

  He scooped up the papers, replaced them in the packet, and handed it to her. LuAnn thanked him and he tipped his cap to her before moving off.

  LuAnn was sure that if someone had cut her at that instant no blood would have come out. It was all frozen inside her.

  Since first-class passengers could board at their leisure, LuAnn took some time to look around; however, her hopes were fading. It was clear that Charlie wasn’t coming. She walked down the jetwalk and the flight attendant greeted her warmly while LuAnn marveled at the interior size of the Boeing 747.

  “Right this way, Ms. Savage. Beautiful little girl.” LuAnn was led up a spiral staircase and escorted to her seat. With Lisa in the seat next to her, LuAnn accepted a glass of wine from the cabin attendant. She again looked around the lavish space in awe and noted the built-in TV and phone at each seat. She had never been on a plane before. This was quite a princely way to experience it for the first time.

  The darkness was rapidly gathering as she looked out the window. For now Lisa was content to look around the cabin and LuAnn used the time to think while she sipped on her wine. She took a series of deep breaths and then studied the other passengers as they entered the first-class compartment. Some were elderly and expensively dressed. Others were in business suits. One young man wore jeans and a sweatshirt. LuAnn thought she recognized him as a member of a big-time rock band. She settled back in her seat and then jumped a bit as the plane pushed back from its moorings. The flight attendants went through their preflight safety drill and within ten minutes the giant plane was lumbering down the runway. LuAnn held onto the sides of her seat and gritted her teeth as the plane rocked and swayed while it gathered speed. She didn’t dare look outside the window. Oh Lord, what had she done? One of her arms flew protectively over Lisa, who appeared far calmer than her mother. Then with a graceful motion, the plane lifted into the air and the lurching and swaying stopped. LuAnn felt as though she were floating into the sky on an enormous bubble. A princess on a magic carpet; the image swept into her mind and stayed there. Her grip relaxed, her lips parted. She looked out the window and down at the twinkling lights of the city, the country she was leaving behind. Forever, according to Jackson. She gave a symbolic wave out the window and then leaned back against the seat.

  Twenty minutes later she had put on her headphones and was gently swaying her head to some classical music. She jerked upright when the hand fell upon her shoulder and Charlie’s voice filtered down to her. He wore the hat she had bought him. His smile was big and genuine, but there was nervousness evident in his body language, the twitching of his eyes. LuAnn took off the headphones.

  “Good gosh,” he whispered. “If I hadn’t recognized Lisa I would’ve passed right by you. What the hell happened?”

  “A long story.” She gripped his wrist tightly and let out a barely audible sigh. “Does this mean you’re finally gonna tell me your real name, Charlie?”

  A light rain had started to fall on the city shortly after the 747 had lifted off. Walking slowly down the street in midtown Manhattan with the aid of a cane, the man in the black trench coat and waterproof hat seemed not to notice the inclement weather. Jackson’s appearance had changed drastically since his last encounter with LuAnn. He had aged at least forty years. Heavy pouches hung under his eyes, a fringe of brittle white hair circled the back of his bald head, which was mottled all over with age spots. The nose was long and saggy, the chin and neck equally so. His gait, slow and measured, matched the feebleness of his character. He often aged himself at night, as though when darkness came he felt compelled to shrink down, to draw nearer to old age, to death. He looked up into the cloudy sky. The plane would be over Nova Scotia about now as it traveled along its convex path to Europe.

  And she had not gone alone; Charlie had gone off with her. Jackson had stayed behind after dropping off LuAnn and watched Charlie board the aircraft, not knowing his employer was only a few feet away. That arrangement might work out all right after all, Jackson thought. He had doubts about LuAnn, serious doubts. She had withheld information from him, usually an unpardonable sin. He had managed to avoid a serious problem by eliminating Romanello, and he had to concede that the difficulty had been partially his in the making. He had, after all, hired Romanello to kill his chosen one if she had failed to accept his offer. However, he had never before had a winner on the run from the police. He would do what he always did when confronted with a possible disaster: He would sit back and observe. If things continued to run smoothly he would do nothing. At the slightest sign of trouble, however, he would take immediate and forceful action. So having capable Charlie along with her might prove to be a good thing. LuAnn was different from the others, that was certain.

  Jackson pulled his collar up and slowly ambled down a side street. New York City in the darkness and rain held no terror for him. He was heavily armed and expertly skilled in innumerable ways of killing anything that breathed. Anyone targeting the “old man” as easy pickings would painfully realize the mistake. Jackson had no desire to kill. It was sometimes necessary, but he took no pleasure in it. Only the attainment of money, power, or ideally both, would suffice as justification in his mind. He had far better things to do with his time.

  Jackson turned his face once again to the sky. The light rain fell on the latex folds of his “face.” He licked at them; they were cool to the touch, felt good against his real skin. Godspeed to you both, he said under his breath and then smiled.

  And God help you if you ever betray me.

  He continued down the street, thinking intently and whistling while he did so. It was now time to plan for next month’s winner.

  PART TWO

  Ten Years Later

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The small private jet landed at the airstrip at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and taxied to a halt. It was nearly ten o’clock at night and the airport had pretty much shut down for the day. The Gu
lfstream V was the day’s last incoming flight in fact. The limousine was waiting on the tarmac. Three people quickly exited the plane and climbed into the limo, which immediately drove off and a few minutes later was heading south on Route 29.

  Inside the limo, the woman took off her glasses and laid her arm across the young girl’s shoulder. Then LuAnn Tyler slumped back against the seat and took a deep breath. Home. Finally, they were back in the United States. All the years of planning had finally been executed. She had thought about little else for some time now. She glanced over at the man who sat in the rear-facing seat. His eyes stared straight ahead, his thick fingers drummed a somber rhythm across the car’s window. Charlie looked concerned, and he was concerned, but he still managed a smile, a reassuring grin. If nothing else he had always been reassuring for her over the last ten years.

  He put his hands in his lap and cocked his head at her. “You scared?” he asked.

  LuAnn nodded and then looked down at ten-year-old Lisa, who had immediately slumped over her mother’s lap and fallen into an exhausted sleep. The trip had been a long and tedious one.

  “How about you?” she asked back.

  He shrugged his thick shoulders. “We prepared as well as we could, we understand the risks. Now we just live with it.” He smiled again, this time more broadly. “We’ll be okay.”

  She smiled back at him, her eyes deep and heavy. They had been through a lot over the last decade. If she never climbed aboard another airplane, never passed through another Customs post, never again wondered what country she was in, what language she should be trying to muddle through, it would be perfectly fine with her. The longest trip she wanted to take for the rest of her life was strolling down to the mailbox to pick up her mail, or driving down to the mall to go shopping. God, if it could only be that easy. She winced slightly and rubbed in a distracted fashion at her temples.

  Charlie quickly picked up on this. Over the years he had acquired a heightened sensitivity to the subtle tracks of her emotions. He scrutinized Lisa for a long moment to make sure she was indeed sleeping. Satisfied, he undid his seat belt, sat down next to LuAnn, and spoke in soft tones.

  “He doesn’t know we’ve come back. Jackson doesn’t know.”

  She whispered back to him. “We don’t know that, Charlie. We can’t be sure. My God, I don’t know what’s scaring me the most: the