The flights and the stopover in Houston had been uneventful. For nearly the entire first leg of the journey, Abby had grilled Martin extensively and developed copious notes. During the short layover between flights, the group ventured out into the airport just long enough for a quick lunch and bathroom break. Re-boarding, Steve noticed that the flight had even fewer passengers than before. He supposed the Cozumel vacation crowd would come later in the week. For the second leg of the flight, Abby parked herself by a window and spread her notes around her. She put her ear buds in, donned her sunglasses, and made it abundantly evident that she was no longer in a conversational mood. Martin gave her space and took an entire row for himself, eager for an opportunity to take a nap. The first thing Steve noticed after they landed was the heat. Even through the jetway, he could feel the pulsating and oppressive tropical weather. Texas had been mild compared to the heat here in Mexico.
