Eva and Jake arrived together and went directly to the international check-in. This was the first test. The counter clerk examined their passports for so long, it made Jake uncomfortable. He traded small talk with Eva as the clerk flipped through the pages, checking his picture against the face on the passport. Finally she handed it back and clicked a few keys on the computer. She gave him his ticket. “Have a safe flight.” “Thanks.” Eva was next, but she wasn’t subjected to the same scrutiny. “One down,” Jake said under his breath as they headed toward the second level of security at the departure gate. He put his arm around Eva’s waist as they jockeyed around the crowd. “Have you seen Jinx and Rita” Eva asked, keeping her focus in front of her. “They’ll be here.” Eva sighed. “I spoke to him before we left. He’ll be here. He was going to pick up Rita on his way.” “We should have all come together.” “No. We don’t want to be seen together. We don’t want to give anyone cause to make a connection between us.”
