Malcolm shook his head.
“No. It became personal when you decided my presence was a threat.”
Steven said nothing.
Malcolm opened the folder again.
“Look at page seventeen.”
Steven hesitated.
Then took the document.
His eyes scanned the page.
It showed maintenance work completed two nights earlier.
One component had supposedly been replaced.
Steven recognized the part number.
“That's the hydraulic pressure regulator.”
“Yes.”
“Why is it here?”
“Because it was never replaced.”
Steven looked up.
“What?”
Malcolm pointed to the document.
“The part was billed. The paperwork says it was installed. The maintenance signature confirms it.”
Steven looked at Daniel.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Captain…”
“I know what you're thinking.”
“No, sir.”
Daniel pointed at the report.
“The serial number doesn't match.”
Steven stared.
The cabin suddenly felt smaller.
Malcolm closed the folder.
“That is why I am here.”
Steven's expression hardened.
“You could have handled this through corporate.”
“I tried.”
“And?”
“And someone blocked the investigation.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Steven looked toward the cockpit.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mina approached.
“Captain…”
Steven turned.
“What?”
“There is something else.”
She held out the black folder she had been carrying.
“This was left in the cockpit.”
Steven frowned.
“By whom?”
“We don't know.”
Malcolm stood for the first time.
Steven immediately raised a hand.
“Stay there.”
Malcolm stopped.
Mina opened the folder.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Three lines.
FLIGHT 718.
DO NOT DEPART.
ASK WHY.
Steven's face drained of color.
Malcolm looked at the paper.
“Where did you find it?”
“Under the captain's seat.”
Steven's eyes snapped toward her.
“I don't have a seat in the cabin?”
“No, sir.”
“I mean who put it there?”
“We don't know.”
Malcolm walked forward.
Steven blocked him.
“Don't.”
Malcolm stopped.
“Captain, whoever left that message knew exactly where you sit.”
Steven looked at him.
“And?”
“And they knew this aircraft would be inspected today.”
Steven's jaw tightened.
Malcolm's voice became quieter.
“Someone expected me to find something.”
The aircraft shuddered again.
This time harder.
Passengers screamed.
The overhead compartments rattled.
Daniel grabbed the wall.
Steven turned toward the cockpit.
“Everybody stay seated!”
Then came a metallic sound from beneath the cabin floor.
A deep mechanical clunk.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Malcolm looked at Steven.
“Now do you believe me?”
Steven didn't answer.
Because he had begun to realize something far worse.
The aircraft wasn't malfunctioning.
Someone had touched it.
The Hidden Inspection
The airport operations manager arrived fifteen minutes later.
Two security officers followed him.
No one was allowed to leave until the aircraft had been inspected.
The passengers were escorted into a private lounge.
Steven remained near the aircraft.
Malcolm stayed behind.
The captain watched him from across the gate area.
“You're not leaving?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I want answers.”
Steven gave a humorless smile.
“So do I.”
The two men stood in silence.
Finally Steven said:
“I owe you an apology.”
Malcolm looked at him.
“For what?”
“For accusing you without evidence.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Thank you.”
“That doesn't mean I trust you.”
“I wouldn't expect you to.”
Steven looked toward the aircraft.
“I have been flying for thirty-one years.”
“I know.”
“I've never had a passenger interfere with my cockpit.”
“I didn't.”
“I know that now.”
Malcolm waited.
Steven lowered his voice.
“I was told you were coming.”
Malcolm's expression changed.
“By whom?”
“My regional director.”
“Name?”
“Victor Hale.”
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Victor Hale told you I was coming?”
“Yes.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That you were conducting a surprise audit.”
Malcolm stared at him.
“That is false.”
Steven frowned.
“What?”
“I told Victor Hale three days ago that I was conducting a surprise audit.”
Steven slowly understood.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“And he told me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say you weren't coming?”
“I never said that.”
Steven's face tightened.
Malcolm opened his folder.
“Victor Hale isn't my concern.”
“Who is?”
Malcolm pulled out a photograph.
A maintenance technician stood beside an aircraft.
The man was smiling.
Steven recognized him immediately.
“Ethan Brooks.”
“Yes.”
“He's one of our senior technicians.”
“Was.”
Steven looked up.
“What happened?”
“He disappeared yesterday.”
Steven's expression changed.
“Disappeared?”
“His car was found abandoned.”
“Police?”
“Investigating.”
Malcolm turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message.
HE FOUND THE WRONG PART.