"Golden Texas Tea" (pg 12)

Azalea managed to avoid being hit by flying luggage by hiding behind a large support column nearby. Waiting for the pandemonium to subside, she watched rather nonchalantly as a crowd of people began taking their anger out on an airline rep that was manning the lost luggage counter near the claim area. Seeing how the immediate area was relatively deserted, she decided that now was a good time as any to start looking for her missing luggage.

Methodically making her way through the battered and damages suitcases that were strewn about like broken cars in a freeway accident, Azalea finally located her luggage after fifteen minutes of searching. One piece was found quite some distance from the area, resting on top of the motor boat display that was seen as one entered from the outside world. The other was found wedged into a lighted display panel that said, 'Hartford! CT's Latest Falling Star!'

Retrieving both pieces and relieved that they weren't badly damaged, she walked outside to board the shuttle that would take her to the car rental lot. Finding it rather quickly, the driver put her luggage away as Azalea climbed aboard. Finding a seat in the back, Azalea vegetated while waiting for the driver to get the shuttle moving.

Twenty minutes later, she was jarred back to reality as the shuttle lurched to a stop in front of the car rental place. Annoyed at being awakened so abruptly, Azalea saw that she was the only passenger on the shuttle when it stopped. Alarmed, she asked the driver about everyone else.

"You were the only one to board the shuttle. Everybody else that was supposed to be on the shuttle weren't, as they were still arguing with airline officials, airport officials, seeking medical attention and the like. I had a schedule to keep, so we tripped off by our lonesome. Because we were running so far ahead, I made a slight detour to get some lunch."

"Oh?" Not quite satisfied with the driver's explanation about the lack of other people, Azalea became worried that something more sinister went on behind her back.

Before the driver could explain further, his boss's assistant came aboard to yell at him for stopping at the fast food place. "Don't you know that we still have a slew of passengers waiting for you at the airport? Get your butt in gear and get going!!"

"Absolutely! Just let me unload this nice lady's luggage and this nice lady, then I'll be on my way."

Throwing her luggage out, the driver then came back and slung Azalea over his shoulder, and before she knew it, was unceremoniously dumped on the ground. The driver sarcastically laughed at her before taking off for the airport.