LuAnn scribbled down notes as fast as she could. “I’m sorry, but I really couldn’t wait, Mr. Jackson,” LuAnn said hurriedly. “I told you what it would be like back home. It’s such a small place and everything. People would know I’d got the winning ticket, they just would.”
“All right, fine, there’s no sense wasting time discussing it now,” he said brusquely. “The point is we have to keep you under cover until a day or so after the lottery drawing. You took the bus to Atlanta, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you took suitable precautions to disguise your appearance?”
“Big hat and glasses. I didn’t see anybody I knew.”
“And you of course didn’t use your real name when buying your ticket?”
“Of course not,” LuAnn lied.
“Good. I think your tracks have been effectively erased.”
“I hope so.”
“It won’t matter, LuAnn. It really won’t. In a few days, you’ll be much farther away than New York.”
“Where exactly will I be?”
“As I said before, you tell me. Europe? Asia? South America? Just name it and I’ll make all the arrangements.”
LuAnn thought for a moment. “Do I have to decide now?”
“Of course not. But if you want to leave immediately after the press conference, the sooner you let me know the better. I’ve been known to work miracles with travel arrangements, but I’m not a magician, particularly since you don’t have a passport or any other identification documents.” He sounded incredulous as he said this. “Those will have to be prepared as well.”
“Can you get them made up? Even like a Social Security card?”
“You don’t have a Social Security number? That’s impossible.”
“It ain’t if your parents never filled out the paperwork for one,” she fired back.
“I thought the hospital wouldn’t let a baby leave without that paperwork having been completed.”
LuAnn almost laughed. “I wasn’t born in no hospital, Mr. Jackson. They say the first sight I saw was the dirty laundry stacked in my momma’s bedroom because that’s right where my grandma delivered me.”
“Yes, I suppose I can get you a Social Security number,” he said huffily.
“Then could you have them put another name on the passport, I mean with my picture on it, but with a different name? And on all the other paperwork too?”
Jackson said slowly, “Why would you want that, LuAnn?”
“Well, because of Duane. I know he looks stupid and all, but when he finds out I won all this money, he’s gonna do everything he can to find me. I thought it’d be best if I disappeared. Start over again. Fresh, so to speak. New name and everything.”
Jackson laughed out loud. “You honestly think Duane Harvey will be able to track you down? I seriously doubt if he could find his way out of Rikersville County if he had a police escort.”
“Please, Mr. Jackson, if you could do it that way, I’d really appreciate it. Of course, if it’s too hard for you, I’ll understand.” LuAnn held her breath desperately, hoping that Jackson’s ego would take the bait.
“It’s not,” Jackson snapped. “It’s quite simple, in fact, when you have the right connections, as I do. Well, I suppose you haven’t thought of the name you want to use, have you?”
She surprised him by rattling one off immediately, as well as the place where the fictitious person was from.
“It seems you’ve been thinking about doing this for a while. Perhaps with or without the lottery money. True?”
“You got secrets, Mr. Jackson. Why not me, too?”
She heard him sigh. “Very well, LuAnn, your request is certainly unprecedented, but I’ll take care of it. I still need to know where you want to go.”
“I understand. I’ll think real hard about it and let you know real soon.”
“Why am I suddenly worried that I will regret having selected you for this little adventure?” There was a hint of something in his tone that caused LuAnn to shudder. “I’ll be in touch after the lottery drawing, to let you know the rest of the details. That’s all for now. Enjoy your visit to New York. If you need anything just tell . . .”