Chapter 2
Inside the dimly lit cabin of a red-eye flight bound for Portland, Oregon, Amy pressed her forehead against the cool, frost-tinted airplane window. Below her, the glittering grid of American cities dissolved into a vast, dark expanse of mountains, forests, and quiet rivers. She placed her right hand gently over her lower abdomen, feeling the faint, protective warmth radiating from the life growing inside her.
For seven long years, she had measured her worth by how well she fit into Daniel's frantic, billionaire lifestyle of high-stakes galas and empty mansions. Now, flying away into total anonymity with a single suitcase and a pocketful of savings, she felt lighter than air. The ultrasound picture tucked securely inside her passport wallet was her true anchor, reminding her that she was no longer alone.
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As the Boeing jet punched through a layer of heavy turbulence, Amy closed her eyes and let the steady hum of the engines lull her into quiet exhaustion. She knew Daniel would trace her credit cards or call airport security before sunrise, but she had already anticipated his predictable playbook. Her phone sat powered off at the bottom of her carry-on bag, its SIM card snapped in half and tossed into a terminal trash can.
When the aircraft finally touched down at Portland International Airport amidst a cool morning drizzle, Amy blended effortlessly into the early commuter crowds. She rented a modest, dusty gray sedan from a local off-site agency using cash, paying zero attention to the flashing news tickers behind the counter. On every major television screen across the East Coast, breaking news banners were already broadcasting the sudden stock plunge of Harrison Freight Systems.
