A Murder Misstery Epilogue

"I'll let you know when I get there. Sorry to be so mysterious!"

"Really, Madeline, you must let me know these things," he said in exasperation.

The flight attendant announced that all cell phones had to be turned off, and I'm sure that Jacques heard the announcement. "Must go, au revoir!" I said and switched off my phone. Round two to the Mistress! I tucked my stockinged feet under my skirt and reveled in the sensation of being a pretty woman in love.

The less said about my brief excursion to North Africa, the better. It's all a blur: clearing customs and immigration as Madeline Moreau, checking in to the Hyatt Regency, sleeping past noon, a room service breakfast, a foray to the old market where I purchased one item of women's clothing, and five minutes in the hotel sundry shop completed my whirlwind tour of Casablanca. At the sundry shop I purchased a postcard featuring the Old Medina and enough stamps to mail it to the United States. Once back in my room, I penned this note to Tracy:

Surprise! You probably thought I was dead. I've missed you. If you ever get to fly here, I'd love to see you, although being a woman in a Muslim country is not recommended for fun...love, Maddy

I hated myself for the turmoil my card would cause her, then again for all I knew she'd found somebody else. I was counting on the FBI reading it before she did. To make sure they picked up my trail, I placed a call from my hotel room before I left, dialing the old house in Winnetka from memory. One ring...two rings..."Hello?"

"Hi, Mom."

"Maddy, where are you?"

"I'm back in Morocco."

"Morocco?"

"Yep. It was so nice to see you in Chicago. I just wanted to apologize again for chickening out at Dad's funeral."

"That's all right, dear...."

"Mom, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."

She started to sniffle into the phone. Whether it was an act for the FBI, or genuine, even I couldn't be sure. "I'm just glad you're alive and well. Are you going to be there long?"