Steven straightened.
“You have two choices.”
Malcolm waited.
“You hand over the folder and remain in the seat under my conditions, or you leave the aircraft.”
Mina Cho looked horrified.
“Captain, boarding is complete.”
Steven didn't even look at her.
“I know.”
Malcolm looked at the folder again.
Then at Steven.
Then at Denise.
“Is this Captain Parker?”
“Yes,” Denise said quietly.
Malcolm nodded.
“Then perhaps I should explain something.”
Steven crossed his arms.
“Go ahead.”
Malcolm lifted the folder.
“I didn't bring this onto your aircraft because I wanted to inspect your operation.”
He placed it on the tray table.
“I brought it because I was instructed to investigate why three aircraft belonging to this company experienced nearly identical maintenance discrepancies in the last six weeks.”
Steven's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Denise noticed.
Malcolm continued.
“Two of those aircraft were nearly involved in serious incidents.”
Luis slowly lowered the tablet.
“And this flight,” Malcolm said, “is one of the aircraft I was sent to investigate.”
Silence.
Steven stared at him.
Then he laughed.
It was short and humorless.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Malcolm opened the folder.
“I expect you to read it.”
Inside were photographs.
Maintenance records.
Inspection reports.
Parts invoices.
And a list of names.
Steven saw the first page.
His expression changed.
At the top was the aircraft registration number.
Below it were three words printed in red:
UNRESOLVED HYDRAULIC FAILURE.
Steven's eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
Because the signature at the bottom belonged to a man he knew.
A man who had personally assured him that everything was fine.
Steven looked up.
“Where did you get this?”
Malcolm closed the folder.
“That is what I came here to find out.”
Steven stared at him.
For the first time that morning, the captain seemed uncertain.
Then the aircraft gave a sudden, violent shudder.
Several passengers gasped.
A champagne glass fell from a table.
The cabin lights flickered.
Denise grabbed the nearest seat.
Steven turned toward the cockpit door.
“What the hell was that?”
Mina looked at the tablet.
“Captain…”
Her voice trembled.
“The aircraft hasn't even pushed back.”
Steven froze.
Malcolm slowly looked toward the ceiling.
Then toward the cockpit.
And finally toward the folder.
“Captain,” he said quietly.
“I think you have a much bigger problem than me sitting in 1A.”
The Man Behind the Name
The cabin remained silent after the shudder.
Steven turned toward the cockpit door.
“Luis, get the first officer.”
Luis hurried forward.
The passengers began whispering.
Malcolm remained seated.
He did not appear frightened.
That was beginning to irritate Steven.
A man who should have been nervous was behaving like someone watching a problem he had expected.
Steven noticed.
“You knew that was going to happen?”
Malcolm shook his head.
“No.”
“You didn't look surprised.”
“I have learned that panic rarely helps.”
Steven stared at him.
Then the cockpit door opened.
First Officer Daniel Hayes stepped out.
“Captain?”
“Any indication of what happened?”
Daniel looked confused.
“No.”
“Hydraulic pressure?”
“Normal.”
“Electrical?”
“Normal.”
“Engines?”
“We haven't started them.”
Steven's eyes narrowed.
“Then what caused that vibration?”
Daniel glanced toward the floor.
“I don't know.”
Malcolm spoke.
“Could have been an external impact.”
Everyone looked at him.
Steven frowned.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it felt localized.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“That was my impression too.”
Steven looked at Malcolm.
“You're an aviation engineer now?”
“No.”
“Then stay out of it.”
Malcolm calmly folded his hands.
“Of course.”
Denise approached him.
“Mr. Reed…”
“Yes?”
“May I ask something?”
“Certainly.”
“Why are you really on this flight?”
Malcolm looked at her.
“Because three weeks ago, I received a report from one of our maintenance supervisors.”
“What did it say?”
“That certain inspection records were being altered.”
Denise's face tightened.
“Altered?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“We don't know.”
Steven stepped closer.
“Then why are you accusing my crew?”
“I haven't accused anyone.”
“You came onto my aircraft carrying an investigation folder.”
“I came onto my aircraft.”
Steven stared.
Malcolm corrected himself.
“Technically, I came onto an aircraft operated by a company my corporation owns.”
The captain's eyes hardened.
“That's exactly the problem.”
Malcolm sighed.
“Captain Parker, I don't want to embarrass you.”
“Then stop.”
“But you are making this personal.”
“It became personal when you walked onto my flight.”