Steven looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the information came through channels I trusted.”
Malcolm nodded.
“That makes sense.”
Steven was surprised.
“You're not angry?”
“I was.”
Steven looked at him.
“But?”
“But anger isn't useful anymore.”
Steven leaned back.
“I've been flying for twenty-four years.”
“I know.”
“You've looked into me.”
“Yes.”
Steven's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because your name appeared in several reports.”
Steven went still.
“What reports?”
“Five passenger incidents.”
“Those were security cases.”
“Were they?”
“Yes.”
Malcolm studied him.
“Were all five passengers connected to Northstar?”
Steven didn't answer.
Malcolm continued.
“Did all five passengers have access to confidential corporate information?”
Steven looked away.
He knew the answer.
“Yes.”
“Did you personally remove them from the aircraft?”
“Not always.”
“But you initiated the process.”
Steven's silence answered the question.
Malcolm opened the black folder.
“I believe someone has been using your authority.”
Steven looked at him.
“What?”
“Someone is manipulating passenger-security procedures.”
“That's a serious accusation.”
“I know.”
“Against whom?”
“I'm not sure.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because you may be the easiest person to manipulate.”
Steven's face hardened.
“Careful.”
Malcolm didn't flinch.
“You trust procedure.”
“Yes.”
“You trust your chain of command.”
“Yes.”
“You believe information passed through official channels is reliable.”
“Usually.”
“And that's exactly why someone would use you.”
Steven stared at him.
“You think I'm being used.”
“I think you may be.”
That sentence changed everything.
Steven had spent years believing that his greatest responsibility was protecting the aircraft.
But what if someone had been feeding him false information?
What if the passengers he had challenged were not dangerous?
What if someone had used his authority to remove people who threatened a corporate interest?
He remembered the five incidents.
One passenger had been an engineer.
Another had been a journalist.
A third had been a former Northstar employee.
The fourth had been a lawyer.
The fifth had been a government consultant.
At the time, each incident had seemed separate.
Now they looked connected.
Steven lowered his voice.
“What is in that folder?”
Malcolm looked at it.
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
“Corporate espionage.”
Steven froze.
Malcolm continued.
“Someone inside Northstar is leaking information. But the leaks aren't the real problem.”
“What is?”
“People who discover the leaks are being isolated.”
Steven felt cold.
“By whom?”
“I don't know yet.”
“And you think I'm part of it?”
“No.”
“Then why did you say I was being used?”
“Because whoever is doing this understands how authority works.”
Steven stared at him.
“What happens in London?”
“A board vote.”
“On?”
“A four-billion-dollar aviation technology contract.”
Steven understood immediately.
“If the vote fails?”
“Northstar loses the contract.”
“And someone benefits.”
“Yes.”
Steven stood.
“Who?”
Malcolm looked directly at him.
“That's what I'm going to find out.”
Steven walked back toward the cockpit.
But halfway there, he stopped.
He turned.
“Mr. Reed.”
“Yes?”
“If you're right…”
Malcolm waited.
Steven's voice dropped.
“Then whoever is behind this knows we're talking.”
Malcolm smiled faintly.
“I was hoping they would.”
Chapter 4 — The Message
At 3:17 p.m., the cockpit received a message.
Daniel read it first.
“Captain.”
Steven looked over.
“What?”
“We've got an operations communication.”
“From?”
“Northstar security.”
Steven took the printed message.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
PASSENGER 1A — REMOVE UPON LANDING.
No reason.
No explanation.
Just an instruction.
Steven looked at Daniel.
“This isn't standard.”
“No.”
“Did you verify it?”
“Not yet.”
Steven picked up the radio.
“Operations, this is Flight 814. Confirm passenger instruction.”
A voice answered.
“Flight 814, instruction confirmed.”
“Authority?”
A pause.
“Corporate security.”
“Name?”
Another pause.
“Director Brooks.”
Steven frowned.
Elena Brooks was Northstar's security director.
He had met her twice.
She was serious.
Professional.
Not the kind of person who sent unexplained orders.
“Confirm passenger is considered a security risk.”
The voice answered:
“Confirmed.”
Steven looked at Daniel.
“Do we have documentation?”
“Not yet.”
Steven felt something was wrong.
He reached for the phone.
“I'm calling Elena directly.”
The call went unanswered.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Unavailable.
Steven's stomach tightened.
He looked at Daniel.
“Something's wrong.”
At that exact moment, Malcolm's phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
A message from an unknown number.
THEY KNOW YOU HAVE THE FILE.
Another message appeared.
DO NOT TRUST THE CAPTAIN.
Malcolm stared at it.
Then he looked toward the cockpit.
For the first time, uncertainty entered his expression.
He stood.
Maya approached.
“Mr. Reed?”
“I need to speak with Captain Parker.”
She nodded.
Before he could move, the aircraft shook.
A sudden pocket of turbulence.
Passengers stirred.
Maya grabbed the nearest seat.
Malcolm steadied himself.
The turbulence lasted twenty seconds.
Then stopped.
But something had changed.
A flight attendant rushed from the rear.
“Captain needs medical assistance in first class.”
Malcolm turned.
“What happened?”
“I don't know.”
Steven appeared from the cockpit.
His face was pale.
He was holding the side of the doorway.
Daniel followed.
“Captain?”
Steven shook his head.
“I'm fine.”
But he wasn't.
He looked directly at Malcolm.
“Your case.”
Malcolm's expression hardened.
“What about it?”
“It was moved.”
Malcolm looked toward the overhead compartment.
His briefcase was still there.
“No.”
Steven looked confused.
“The security seal is broken.”
Malcolm stood.
He opened the compartment.
The black case was still locked.
But the small red security seal attached to the handle had been cut.
Malcolm touched it.
His face changed.
“Everyone stay where you are.”
Steven looked at him.
“What?”
Malcolm opened the case.
Inside were ordinary documents.
Nothing dangerous.