Because of the attempt on Rosie’s life, and the continuing threat posed by the Red Dragon file, it is decided at dinner that Billy will go alone to Washington for his meeting with the CIA chief and Rosie will stay at the house with Sam and the dogs for her protection. They all go to bed that night with this plan in mind. But early in the morning, before the house is awake, Rosie gets out of bed and, in just a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, pads barefoot down the hall and knocks quietly at Billy’s door. When there is no answer, she cracks open the door and lets herself into his room.
Billy wakes immediately and sits up in bed. “What’s wrong?” he asks Rosie. She comes and sits on the edge of the bed next to Billy.
“I haven’t slept a wink,” Rosie says with a troubled look on her face. “I’ve been awake thinking.”
Billy props himself up on one elbow and makes more room for Rosie on the edge of the bed. “What about?” he asks. Billy can see the concern all over Rosie’s face. She touches his hand.
“Sam is wonderful,” she begins. “I love the dogs, and I know I would be safe here—but I can’t stay Billy. I need to go with you back to Washington. I cannot spend the rest of my life hiding. I have a job—a career. I am a reporter, Billy. I must go back and report what I know. Scott gave his life so the country—the world—would know what is going on in this administration. How it is planning to destroy democracy and create a Fascist-style dictatorship. The public needs to know, Billy, and it’s my job as a reporter to report the story.”
The next morning, Rosie explains her decision to Sam. He is understanding, tells her she always has a place where she can come, and promises that he will do whatever he can to help. Rosie kisses him on the cheek and thanks him, and then after breakfast—with all their gear packed—Sam drives Billy and Rosie to the private hanger at the airport where his company keeps its corporate jets. There are two: a fourteen passenger Gulfstream 650 and a smaller six passenger, single-pilot Cessna CJ3.
“The CJ3 should be already to go,” Sam says. “I called ahead and ordered the hanger crew to ready the plane for a trip. And I already registered with the tower an IFR flight plan to Dulles in Washington.”
When they arrive at the private hangar, the CJ3 has already been towed outside and is sitting on the tarmac, fueled and ready to go. Sam pulls up and parks his black suburban right next to the waiting plane. The cabin door is down, and Sam helps Billy and Rosie load their gear into the rear compartment of the sleek little jet. Then they say their good-byes.
Billy and Sam shake hands. Rosie gives Sam an affectionate hug and thanks him again for all his hospitality.
“Don’t worry,” Sam says to Rosie. “Billy will look after you.”
The two board the plane and Billy pulls up the cabin door, secures it in place, and closes the air lock. Rosie has already settled into the co-pilot’s seat when Billy comes forward and drops into the pilot’s chair. They buckle themselves into their seats and Billy runs a brief pre-flight check to see that everything is operational. Outside, Sam waves the all-clear from the tarmac and Billy starts the twin jet engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage under the rear stabilizer. As the engines come to life and gain power, Billy radios the tower for taxi instructions and take-off clearance. The CJ-3 then begins a slow taxi roll out to the runway.
At the end of the taxiway, Billy turns the jet onto the runway and positions the plane for take-off. He steps down on the brake and moves the throttles forward. As the engines gain power, he again radios the tower, this time requesting clearance for take-off. Then, when the engines are up to speed, Billy backs off the brakes and the jet starts its roll down the runway, accelerating and quickly gaining speed until the nose comes up and the wheels leave the runway. Rosie watches out the side window as the ground disappears from under the plane. Billy briefly looks over at Rosie. She turns back, smiles, and signals a thumbs up.
After clearing the end of the runway, Billy puts the CJ-3 into a steep climb. He executes a banking turn and brings the plane around until it is on the right compass heading. He radios the tower again to get clearance to make a slow ascent to the cruising altitude at 34,000 feet.
The CJ3 is Billy’s favorite plane to fly. It requires only one pilot, has an air speed of almost 500 miles per hour, a range of over 1800 miles and cruises at an altitude of 35,000 feet. It will take them less than three hours to fly non-stop to Washington. Rosie is impressed with the private plane.
“Now, this is the way to fly,” she says looking at Billy. “But I didn’t know that you can fly a plane.”
“I thought I told you,” Billy says back to her.
Rosie responds with a non-committal shrug. “If you did—I forgot.”
Billy smiles and replies. “There’s a lot that you don’t know about me.”
Rosie gives him a challenging look. “Oh, yeah. Well, I intend to find out—everything. Like exactly how it happened that you wound up working for the CIA as a contract assassin.”
“Are you sure you want to know?” Billy asks.
“I’m sure,” Rosie says back. “We’ve got plenty of time before we get to Washington—so start talking.”