“I saw your photograph.”
Richard went silent.
Then Zara said something that made his blood run cold.
“My father also told me never to trust a man who introduces himself by his title before he introduces himself by his character.”
Richard stared at her.
For the first time, he understood.
The little girl he had dismissed wasn't helpless.
She was observant.
And she had been taught to notice everything.
— Turbulence
Flight 212 climbed through a layer of clouds.
The aircraft shook.
Passengers murmured.
The seatbelt sign illuminated.
Zara looked toward the window.
The clouds were thick and gray.
Richard remained silent.
Then the aircraft dropped suddenly.
Several passengers gasped.
Zara's book fell from her hands.
The flight attendant grabbed the nearest seat.
“Everyone remain seated!”
Another jolt.
A warning alarm sounded briefly in the cockpit.
Captain Hayes immediately took control.
“Maintain altitude.”
The first officer checked the instruments.
“Crosswind increasing.”
Hayes adjusted the controls.
The plane steadied.
But the turbulence had changed the atmosphere.
Richard reached for the armrest.
Zara noticed his hand trembling.
“You're scared.”
He looked at her sharply.
“No.”
“You are.”
“I'm not.”
“My father says fear isn't weakness.”
Richard looked away.
“What does he know about fear?”
“More than you think.”
The plane shook again.
Richard closed his eyes.
Zara quietly placed her hand over the armrest.
“Breathe.”
He looked at her.
She demonstrated.
“In through your nose.”
Richard followed.
“Slowly.”
He exhaled.
Again.
The shaking eased.
Richard stared at her.
“You shouldn't be comforting me.”
“Why?”
“Because I was rude to you.”
Zara shrugged.
“That doesn't mean I want you to be afraid.”
Something broke inside Richard.
Not completely.
But enough.
He looked down.
“Your father raised you well.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to your mother?”
Zara became quiet.
“She died.”
“I'm sorry.”
“So am I.”
Richard looked out the window.
For the first time, he didn't see David Coleman as an enemy.
He saw him as a father.
And he realized the girl sitting beside him was the one person he could no longer manipulate.
— The Message
Two hours into the flight, Zara's phone vibrated.
The device had been in airplane mode, but a message had arrived through the aircraft's onboard system.
DAD: TRUST THE CAPTAIN.
Zara stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
DO NOT SPEAK TO ANYONE ABOUT THE FILES.
Her heart raced.
Richard noticed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He looked at her.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“I can't tell you.”
Richard nodded.
For once, he didn't press.
A few minutes later, another message arrived.
This one was from an unknown number.
THE TRUTH IS ON BOARD.
Zara stared at the screen.
Her fingers went cold.
She showed it to the flight attendant.
The attendant immediately informed the captain.
Hayes ordered the aircraft's communication systems checked.
No breach was found.
But then the flight attendant returned.
“Captain says we have a problem.”
“What problem?” Zara asked.
“The message originated from inside the aircraft.”
Richard stood.
“From whom?”
“We don't know.”
The captain made an announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, due to unexpected operational circumstances, please remain seated.”
Zara looked around.
Every passenger suddenly seemed suspicious.
Then she noticed something.
The man sitting in 4D.
He wasn't looking at the crew.
He was watching Richard.
And when Richard looked back, the man quickly turned away.
Zara quietly whispered:
“Captain should check 4D.”
The attendant looked at her.
“Why?”
“He's been watching Mr. Bennett since takeoff.”
The attendant's eyes narrowed.
She immediately walked toward 4D.
The man stood.
Too quickly.
And reached beneath his jacket.
— The Envelope
The cabin froze.
The man in 4D pulled out an envelope.
Not a weapon.
A thick brown envelope.
Security officers moved toward him.
“Hands where we can see them.”
The man complied.
The envelope fell onto the seat.
He looked terrified.
“I didn't do anything.”
The captain's voice came through the intercom.
“Remain seated.”
The security officer picked up the envelope.
He opened it.
Inside were printed documents.
Contracts.
Bank transfers.
Engineering reports.
And one photograph.