And he got beat up for it? I said.
He did.
Very karmic, I said.
Jason nodded, actually looking happy. We had our bags on the tarmac and the pilot was asking for a return schedule when we were joined by a man who, though well dressed in a nice conservative suit, had thug tattooed across his forehead. Metaphorically speaking.
The suit was tailored well enough that if I hadnt been looking for it I might have missed the bulge on his hip. But I was looking, and I knew a gun when I saw it ruin the line of a suit. The Browning did not ruin the line of my suit jacket. For such a big gun it was strangely invisible under my little jacket in its new sideways holster.
I actually moved in front of Jason. Just automatic. After all, I was packing a gun, and he wasnt. The conservative thug didnt even look at me. He had attention only for Jason.
The girl gets back on the plane.
The girl has a name, I said.
What I dont know, I cant lie about. Please, Keith, dont do this.
I am not Keith Summerland. Do I have to prove it?
Keith, stuff like this isnt funny anymore.
Do you want to see my drivers license?
The man finally looked puzzled. What?
Call up the governor, or his wife, or even Kelsey, tell them that Jason Schuyler is just trying to visit his family, and you wont let us leave the airport.
The muscleman looked at Jason. Keith, I thought this kind of shit was over.
Jason got out his wallet and flashed his ID. I got confused with them both in high school, too.
The man looked at the ID, like he was really studying it. He looked at Jason, then got a small flip phone out of his outer jacket pocket. This is Chuck, Id swear its Keith, but Im looking at an ID for a Jason Schuyler. He said uh-huh a lot, then closed the phone and handed Jason his ID back. Im sorry about this, Mr. Schuyler. The governor says hes very sorry about your fathers illness.
Yeah, my father is dying of cancer, and instead of being able to see him in peace, Im going to get stopped by every piece of media from here to the hospital. Jesus, if Id known about the wedding I might have held off a week.
I touched his arm. You couldnt have done that.
I know, Jason said, what if he died this week? I think he tried to make it a joke, but it fell flat and bitter.
I am truly sorry about the misunderstanding, Mr. Schuyler. We have limos waiting for the guests to arrive; if we can drop you anywhere to make up for the difficulties, just say the word. The limos have dark glass, and weve had lots of the brides friends arriving. The media has stopped hounding the limos, because the interviews all sound the same.
And if I take a taxi theyll wonder why Keith is with a brunette that isnt his fiance, and why hes not in a limo, Jason said.
Chuck shrugged massive shoulders. That did occur to the governor.
Fine, drop us at the hotel.
But wont us getting out of a Summerland limo sort of add to the confusion? I asked.
Chuck looked perplexed, as if I was forcing him to think about things that werent usually his business. Hed been perfectly comfortable shoving me back on the plane. Forcing Keith to be a good boy. But figuring out what to do with an identical cousin who wasnt close enough to be included in the wedding, that was beyond him.
Well take the limo, and get a taxi to the hospital. I dont know what else to do, Jason said.
Ill call the press secretary from the limo, Chuck said. You guys look enough alike that it could be a real problem. If the media think youre Keith and are cheating with this chiquita here, itll get ugly.
Youve called me girl, now chiquita. Chuck, you are not winning brownie points with me.
He gave me a look that clearly said he didnt give a damn, and who was I to complain?