TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,107
you and Terri were off on one of your jaunts that first week, and I took the message. She had the address for where Houlihan was staying. I went and wiped her memory of what happened. And the memories of the two people she talked to. You won't have to worry about her anymore."
"Did you?" Bastien asked with surprise, then real¬ized the matter had completely slipped his mind. He hadn't been worried at all; he'd been too distracted with Terri. That could have been a bad thing. Details like that had to be kept track of and taken care of. It was a good thing Vincent had been on the ball. He was sincere when he said, "Thank you."
His cousin shrugged. "I caused the problem, I took care of it. Now." He glared at them all meaningfully. "Can I get back to my guest? She really is a fascinat¬ing woman."
"She certainly seems to have a strong mind," Mar¬guerite commented, glancing curiously over to where Lady Barrow sat.
"Yes, she does," Vincent agreed. "And now that you know the guests are all safe from ol' rabid Vin-cent, will you go back and enjoy Lucern's wedding?"
"I thought you came for something that little Katie left behind," the landlady said as Terri led the way into the apartment, collected her purse and already packed and waiting suitcase, then immediately turned around with them in hand.
"No." Terri paused in the hall as the woman locked the door behind them. "I'm sorry for the trouble. But I have to get to the airport, and I couldn't go back for the key."
"Oh, it's no trouble, dear. I just misunderstood," the woman assured her as they waited for the eleva¬tor. She looked Terri up and down. "Are you going to the airport dressed like that?"
Terri nodded silently.
"Are you all right?" The landlady was staring at her with concern now, and Terri was sure she must look terrible since crying her eyes out at the reception.
"I will be," she assured the woman quietly, though she wasn't at all sure it was true.
"Well, have a safe trip." The old woman said. Her concern was still obvious in her voice.
Terri thanked her, then hurried out as the elevator doors opened.
The cabby hopped from his car as soon as she came out the front door of the building. Terri could tell by his expression, as he hurried up the steps to take her suitcase, that he was relieved to see her. She guessed he hadn't been at all sure she would return, and sup¬posed the only reason for him to have taken a chance on her was how shattered she apparently looked.
Terri thanked him as he carried her case down, then slid into the backseat as he stowed her bag in the trunk.
"Which airport, miss?" he asked the moment he was back behind the wheel.
"JFK," she murmured, then leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
It was a long ride to the airport. Terri didn't sleep, though the taxi driver must have thought she was do¬ing so. She didn't think, either--she lay quiet and still, and merely was. Her mind was blank, her heart empty. Oddly enough, that state made the long jour¬ney to JFK pass quickly.
Terri dug the money out of her purse to pay the cabbie as he pulled up to the terminal. She gave it to him as he handed over her luggage; then walked into the airport and straight to the ticket desk.
There was some difficulty getting a flight. All of those leaving New York for England were earlier in the evening. The last to leave for Manchester was de¬parting even as Terri spoke to the ticket agent, but again her pale and shattered look helped; the woman went to herculean efforts to get her out of New York and on her way. Terri ended up with an incredibly long and circuitous route, flying to Detroit, transfer¬ring, flying to France, transferring again, then finally flying on to Manchester. Terri didn't care. She just wanted out of New York and to be on her way back home to her little cottage and her safe life.
She purchased her new tickets, canceled the old, and handed over her luggage. Terri then went to the washroom to change, only to realize she had handed over her suitcase and only had her hand luggage. It held nothing to wear. She walked right back out of the bathroom and surveyed the fashion stores avail¬able in Terminal One: Herme's, Ferragamo's, and American Clothier.
She managed to