Nothing suspicious.
But the black folder was missing.
Steven stared.
“What was in that folder?”
Malcolm looked at him.
“Evidence.”
Steven's heart sank.
Someone had accessed the case.
On a sealed aircraft.
At thirty-seven thousand feet.
And they had known exactly what to take.
Then Daniel shouted from the cockpit.
“Captain!”
Steven turned.
“What?”
“The cockpit access log.”
Daniel's voice had changed.
“Someone tried to open the cockpit door.”
Silence.
Steven looked at Malcolm.
Malcolm looked at Steven.
For the first time, they were on the same side.
“Lock the cockpit,” Malcolm said.
Steven nodded.
“Already done.”
“Then we have a problem.”
Steven looked toward the cabin.
“More than one.”
Chapter 5 — The Passenger List
The crew secured the cabin.
No one was allowed to move.
Maya stood near the galley.
Daniel remained in the cockpit.
Steven stood beside Malcolm.
“Tell me everything.”
Malcolm shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Steven's eyes narrowed.
“Someone accessed your case.”
“Yes.”
“Someone tried the cockpit.”
“Yes.”
“Someone sent me an order to remove you.”
“Yes.”
“And you still don't want to tell me everything?”
“Not until I know who is listening.”
Steven looked around.
The cabin contained thirty-eight passengers.
Any one of them could have information.
Or none.
Malcolm lowered his voice.
“Captain, how many people knew your flight number?”
Steven thought.
“Operations.”
“Who else?”
“Dispatch.”
“Anyone in security?”
“Yes.”
“Your family?”
“No.”
“Your crew?”
“Only the crew assigned to the flight.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Then the leak is internal.”
Steven looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because my itinerary was changed yesterday.”
“By whom?”
“Northstar.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Malcolm looked toward the passengers.
“But someone knew the original schedule.”
Steven suddenly remembered something.
The man sitting in 2C.
A passenger who had boarded late.
Steven pointed.
“Him.”
Malcolm looked.
A man in his forties wearing a gray jacket.
He had been asleep since takeoff.
Steven walked toward him.
“Sir.”
The man opened his eyes.
“Yes?”
“May I see your boarding pass?”
The man reached for it.
Malcolm noticed something.
“Captain.”
Steven stopped.
“What?”
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Look at his hands.”
Steven looked.
The passenger's right hand was trembling.
The man noticed.
Then he stood.
“Is there a problem?”
Steven's voice became firm.
“Sit down.”
The passenger did.
Malcolm approached.
“What is your name?”
“Thomas Gray.”
“Occupation?”
“Consultant.”
“For whom?”
“Several companies.”
Malcolm looked at Steven.
“Search the passenger manifest.”
Daniel did.
Seconds later, his voice came through the intercom.
“Captain.”
“What?”
“The passenger in 2C isn't Thomas Gray.”
Steven looked at the man.
“Then who are you?”
The man said nothing.
Maya moved behind him.
The passenger suddenly stood.
His hand disappeared inside his jacket.
Steven reacted immediately.
“Hands where I can see them!”
The entire cabin froze.
The man slowly removed his hand.
He was holding a phone.
Nothing else.
Steven exhaled.
But Malcolm noticed something.
The man's phone was displaying a photograph.
A photograph of Malcolm.
Taken that morning.
At the airport.
Malcolm's expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
The man said nothing.
Steven reached for the phone.
The man pulled away.
Then Maya shouted.
“Captain!”
Another passenger stood.
A woman near the back.
She was holding a small black device.
The cabin erupted.
Steven moved quickly.
“Sit down!”
The woman ignored him.
She pressed a button.
Nothing happened.
She looked at the device.
Then at Malcolm.
And smiled.
“You're too late.”
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Who are you?”
She laughed.
“You really don't know?”
“No.”
“That's the problem.”
Steven moved toward her.
“Put the device down.”
She did.
But her expression remained calm.
“You think this is about the flight?”
Malcolm said nothing.
“It isn't.”
“Then what is it about?”
“The vote.”
Steven looked at Malcolm.
The woman continued.
“Northstar changes hands tonight.”
Malcolm's face became unreadable.
She smiled.
“You brought the evidence.”
Malcolm stepped forward.
“Who sent you?”
The woman didn't answer.
Then every screen in the cabin went black.
Lights flickered.
Maya screamed.
The aircraft entered darkness.
And somewhere behind them, something metallic clicked.
Steven's voice cut through the cabin.
“Everyone stay seated!”
Then the cockpit door began to move.
Someone was trying to open it from the outside.
Chapter 6 — Thirty-Seven Thousand Feet
Steven reached the cockpit door.
He pushed against it.
The handle moved.
Someone was applying pressure from the other side.
“Daniel!”
“I'm here!”
Daniel grabbed the emergency lock.
The door stopped moving.
Steven's heart pounded.
“Who is out there?”
No answer.
Malcolm stood behind him.
“Captain.”
Steven looked back.
“What?”
“Turn off the cabin communication system.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever is doing this may be listening.”
Daniel hesitated.
Steven nodded.
“Do it.”
The communication system went silent.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the pressure on the door stopped.
Steven waited.
One second.
Two.
Five.
Nothing.
Malcolm looked at him.
“They're testing us.”
Steven nodded.
“Why?”
“To see what we know.”
Steven stared at him.
“You think they're passengers?”
“Some are.”
“And the crew?”
“I don't know.”
Maya appeared.