The woman had placed the coat on her lap and tucked the wallet deep inside her handbag. Her face was turned toward the window, but her fingers moved restlessly over the bag's clasp.
Danielle noticed.
She leaned toward her daughter.
“Tell me exactly what you saw.”
Maya lowered her voice.
“The photograph had Dad in his uniform. He was standing next to a woman in a dark jacket. The card said Evelyn Whitmore. And there was another card with a badge.”
“Did you see the badge clearly?”
Maya nodded.
“It looked like the one Dad has in his office.”
Danielle felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cabin air-conditioning.
Her husband had a collection of old photographs in a wooden box at home. He rarely talked about his earlier work, but he had once shown Maya a picture from a mission in which a supply convoy had been delayed during a severe storm. He had told her that the commander in charge had made a decision that saved several lives.
Danielle remembered the name: Whitmore.
She looked across the narrow gap at Evelyn.
“Is Colonel Whitmore your relative?”
Evelyn turned sharply.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Danielle's pulse quickened.
“From my husband.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“What is your husband's name?”
“Terrence Brooks.”
The woman's face changed again.
This time, the shock was unmistakable.
She looked toward Maya, then at Danielle, then down at her handbag.
“Terrence Brooks?” she repeated.
“Yes.”
Evelyn's lips parted.
For several seconds, she did not speak.
Then she said, almost inaudibly, “You're his wife?”
Danielle felt her stomach tighten.
“Yes.”
Evelyn looked toward the window.
“Oh, my goodness.”
Rachel, still standing nearby, glanced at the woman.
“Ms. Whitmore?”
Evelyn closed her eyes briefly.
“I need a moment.”
Danielle's voice was quiet.
“So you do know him.”
Evelyn opened her eyes.
“I knew him years ago.”
Maya leaned forward.
“Then why did you say you didn't?”
Evelyn looked at the child, but her expression was no longer arrogant. It was strained, almost frightened.
“Because I wasn't expecting to see him mentioned here.”
Danielle held the sleeping infant closer.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn looked down at her hands.
“It means there are things I haven't thought about in a very long time.”
The aircraft door was still open. Passengers continued boarding, though the flow had slowed. The cabin supervisor spoke quietly with the gate agent, who was standing just inside the doorway.
A few rows away, a man in a business suit glanced at his watch and sighed.
“Are we going to leave soon?” he asked.
Rachel turned toward him.