little longer, take your time to process everything.”
“I wish I could, but I need to get back. Colin’s a mess without me, and work won’t wait,” Kayla replied.
Her mother nodded. “I understand. Just know your father and I will be here for a few more days, sorting through your grandmother’s things. I only wish she could’ve met the baby.”
Kayla placed her hand on her belly, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I wish that too. More than anything.”
Once aboard the plane, Kayla sighed in relief as the flight attendant offered to stow her carry-on. The woman next to her groaned in discomfort.
“Ugh, I hate flying. Hate driving, too. Should’ve just stayed home,” she muttered.
Kayla chuckled. “I feel the same way.”
But then something felt off. There was an unsettling presence. She opened her eyes and tilted her head slightly.
Her heart skipped a beat. The man across from her wasn’t glancing casually—his stare was focused and unnerving. She quickly looked away, brushing it off as paranoia, but the feeling lingered.
About ten minutes into the flight, a flight attendant approached her with an unreadable expression.
“Ma’am, could you come with me?” she asked.
Confused, Kayla unbuckled her seatbelt and followed her to a quiet area near the restroom.
“Get on your knees. Now.”
Kayla blinked in shock. “What? Why? What’s going on?”
“Now,” the attendant insisted.
The man who had been watching her moved closer, his voice calm but authoritative. “Where is the golden necklace you stole?”
Kayla’s breath caught in her throat. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about! I just came from my grandmother’s funeral!”
The man laid out photos and documents in front of her.
“This is you at the museum two days ago. And here,” he pointed to another photo, “this is you at the hotel where the necklace went missing. We’ve tracked you here.”
“Wait! The woman in these photos has a tattoo on her wrist! Look!” Kayla extended her arms. “I don’t have tattoos, and I’m six months pregnant! That woman isn’t me!”
The man grabbed her wrist, his grip cold, his eyes narrowing.
“You could be hiding it with makeup. And pregnancy? Could be a disguise.”
Instinctively, she placed his hand on her belly. “You can’t fake this.”
“I… I’m sorry. I was convinced you were her. You look just like her.”
Kayla’s chest relaxed, but the real terror had only just begun.
The flight attendant pulled out a gun.
“Enough! Hands behind your back!”
Kayla’s blood ran cold.
The flight attendant sneered at the detective, tossing zip ties at him. “You were right about tracking me,” she spat. “But you had the wrong person.”
A flash of gold around the flight attendant’s neck revealed the stolen necklace.
Authorities were waiting when the plane landed. The flight attendant was arrested immediately. The detective, now identified as Connor, offered a heartfelt apology to Kayla.
“We’ve been tracking her for months. She’s a master of disguises, always changing identities. I got a tip she’d be on this flight, and when I saw you, I thought…”
Kayla gave him a tired smile. “Well, now you know.”
He nodded. “I’m truly sorry.”
But Kayla didn’t linger on it. Relief washed over her as she walked through the arrival gates and saw Colin.
He was waiting for her with a bouquet of yellow tulips, his face lighting up when he spotted her.
“Welcome home,” he whispered.
Kayla melted into his embrace, finally at peace. Whatever nightmare she’d just endured was over. She was home. Safe.