Random Hearts by Warren Adler Page A

badly.
    "I'll check and call you back," Jan said coldly.
    Having already assumed irrationally that someone at the
office had forgotten to give him Lily's message, he felt his frustration
accelerate and started to nibble on the crackers. Most of all he hated
uncertainty, and his anger began to focus on Lily. She had been thoughtless not
to call, selfish. She probably got so involved she simply forgot. The idea
placated him somewhat. He, too, was often forgetful. Still, even if he forgave
her, which he would, of course, the matter would have to be aired. In the
future they could not leave each other hanging like this. It was too worrisome,
and it was not fair. She had no right to destroy his peace of mind. One thing
was certain—he would be spending a long anxious night.
    He flicked on the television set with his remote gadget,
changing stations until he found some news. A commentator was talking about the
plane crash that had taken place four days ago. It was no longer the top of the
news, although they were still getting bodies out of the river. Old hat now. He
had hardly thought about it since that first day. He listened vaguely. Yet, in
his present state, the idea triggered his anxiety. Perhaps she had been in a
crash? But there were no reports of other plane crashes. Maybe a car crash on
the Coast? She would be in some hospital, or worse. He dismissed such thoughts,
although he considered them natural. Where the hell was Lily?
    Again, his anger focused on Lily, then on himself. They
were too independent of each other, too work-oriented. Their priorities were
wrong. They would have to make some changes in their lifestyle. The telephone
rang again. He picked it up quickly. It was Jan Peters.
    "Sorry, Edward. No messages from Lily."
    "You're certain?"
    "As much as I can be."
    "So there is the possibility that she did call?"
He was grasping at straws.
    "I doubt it."
    "Why should you doubt it?"
    "Because..." He sensed the hesitation.
"Because if it was so important, she would have called back."
    He mulled it over.
    Then Jan said, "Wouldn't she?"
    "I suppose," he said lamely, less angry than
frightened. It was damned important, he thought. She could at least have spared
him a night like this.
    "Is there anything I can do, Edward?" Jan asked.
    "Nothing," he said abruptly, hanging up.
    It was nearly one o'clock by then, and he discovered that
he had eaten all of the cheese and crackers. Often, when under stress because
of some nagging problem, he would will himself into complete concentration on a
single issue requiring resolution, isolating the problem from all others. He
could not sit around inactive. His anxiety level was too high. He had to find
out where Lily was.
    Calling the airlines, he discovered that the "red
eye" had not yet left. Then he called the agent at the Los Angeles
airport, posing as the Congressman himself, which he had often done, especially
when only intimidation would do the job. He literally ordered the clerk to tell
him if a Lily Davis had made reservations.
    "No Lily Davis, sir," the agent answered,
thoroughly intimidated. He probably needn't have been so strong, but he was no
longer concerned about other people's feelings.
    "Are you sure?"
    He had learned never to assume, always demanding certainty
from an inquiry. It was too easy for a clerk to say no. Less of a hassle.
    "It's a common name," he pressed. "Any Davises?"
    "Sorry..." There was a pause, and his heart
leaped when the agent's voice came on again. "There's a David. Samuel R.
David."
    "What about tomorrow's flight?"
    Another silence. The clerk was obviously punching his
computer.
    "Sorry. No Davises. No Davids. Nothing even
close."
    Suddenly, he got an idea.
    "Can you check her departure from Washington? She left
Monday. It might indicate a return time and date. I might have gotten it
confused." He felt himself trying to be ingratiating, as if a better
attitude might get a better result. The possibility seemed encouraging. Lily
always