Amanda became even more skeptical of Lee’s “perfect idea” for avoiding others when they got to the Potomac Airport. “Isn’t this where the Agency keeps its airplanes and helicopters?”
“Yep,” he said as he made a couple of adjustments to the paperwork before leaving it lying on the desk.
“Then how on earth is this supposed to be a good idea for avoiding them?”
“Because,” he told her, “we’ll be out of here before anyone else gets in.” Evidently her apprehension was showing on her face, because he kissed her cheek. “Trust me. Nobody’s going to come in this early on a Saturday if they can help it.”
“So why did we?”
“I need the flight hours,” he answered as he led her out to one of the helicopters. “That’s what gave me the idea.”
“For a date?” she asked as he helped her into a seat. “Just how many hours do you need?”
He went around to the other side and climbed into his own seat before answering. “Technically, I only need a couple hours every year to maintain my license, but skills can start getting rusty after just twenty-eight days. It’s been…” he trailed off. “Sixty-eight for me, if I’m counting right, and if I don’t get some landings on record soon, I could lose the right to carry passengers.” By now he was flipping switches and adjusting toggles. “Close your door and strap in.”
She did, but not without trepidation. “Where are we going?”
He signaled for her to put her headset on. “I know the perfect place. It’s only a couple of hours.” He grinned. “Relax. It’s a good day for flying. And this is going to be a lot different since we won’t be under fire or dealing with an emergency.”
He was right; this flight was a lot smoother than her previous helicopter flights. After taking off, they maintained an even height and heading, his hands and feet smooth and confident on the controls. He kept his gaze focused outward except for the occasional glance to smile over at her. Amanda found herself relaxing and even enjoying seeing him do something he clearly loved to do. He’d been right about the morning, too; it really was pretty, and the opportunity to see things from this angle was fascinating.
“How far up are we?” she asked.
“About sixteen hundred feet. I can go farther up if you want. Flight plan’s filed to three thousand.”
“No, that’s all right.” Just under a third of a mile was plenty high enough, especially since she could still see details from this altitude. She might not be able to if they went higher.
He brought them down for a smooth landing at a small airport he identified as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. “You didn’t see it because of the route we took in, but we’re not too far from the battlefield,” he explained. “I’ve been out here a few times, for cases and sometimes just to explore.”
“Is that where we’re headed?”
“No.” After tying down the helicopter, he guided her through the hangar and out toward the main building, picking up the keys to a rental car on the way. To her surprise, they ended up at a building labeled McKnight Community Fire Department. They arrived just in time to pick up some of the first plates of hamburgers and french fries.
“Pilots call this the hundred-dollar hamburger,” he explained as they sat down at one of the tables that had been set up on the lawn. “It’s when you’ll think up any excuse to go somewhere, just so you can fly yourself out there. Even if all you manage to think up is just getting a hamburger at the other end. A buddy of mine mentioned this fundraiser a couple weeks back. When I heard he wouldn’t make it, I thought we might come check it out instead.”
“Well,” she observed, “we never did get around to eating those hamburgers back on the Sinclair case.”
He toasted her with the soda that had come with his plate. “So now we have.”
“Of course, we still didn’t do it the way normal people might.”
“That’s just details. Don’t complain just because I found an interesting way to do it.”
But her comment hadn’t been a complaint; instead, she was charmed. Who would have ever thought that the debonair Scarecrow, toast of the Washington Social Circuit, could have been interested in rural fund raisers? But it was clear he’d done things like this before, and his eyes lit up as he watched some children start a pickup game of baseball. “You should’ve brought your mitt.”
“I might, next time. That is,” he continued, “if you ever want to try this again.”
She shook her head, favoring him with a smile. “I’ve come to enjoy being abnormal with you. Besides, the flight was almost fun.”
“Good.” He leaned over for a kiss.
“But I do have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“How are we going to explain this to whoever sees at the airport when we get back?”
At that, his eyes glittered even brighter. “We’ll just have to get even more creative, then. Won’t we?”
END
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Author’s Note:
- This story was originally written for the Through the Years 3 fanzine, first made available at SMucK-a-Palooza 2024. The online version has been revised and expanded.