Elena Brooks spoke quickly.
“Listen carefully. Someone has compromised Northstar's security network.”
Malcolm asked:
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“What about the board?”
“Compromised.”
“Who can we trust?”
Elena paused.
“One person.”
“Who?”
“Captain Parker.”
Steven looked stunned.
Elena continued:
“He's the only person who wasn't supposed to be involved.”
The call ended.
The cabin remained silent.
Steven slowly looked at Malcolm.
Malcolm nodded.
“Now we know.”
“Know what?”
“Why they chose you.”
Steven's expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because they needed someone whose authority passengers would never question.”
Steven looked toward the restrained man.
Then toward the cockpit.
Then toward Malcolm.
Someone had used his reputation.
His rank.
His authority.
And his trust.
For months.
Steven clenched his fists.
“I want names.”
Malcolm nodded.
“So do I.”
Chapter 8 — The Board Meeting
Flight 814 landed in London four hours later.
Police surrounded the aircraft before the doors opened.
Northstar security personnel rushed toward Malcolm.
But Malcolm didn't leave immediately.
He turned to Steven.
“You saved my life.”
Steven shook his head.
“You saved the flight.”
Malcolm smiled.
“Perhaps both are true.”
The investigation began immediately.
The false passenger identity was exposed.
The transmitter was recovered.
The altered flight plan was documented.
The messages were traced.
And the evidence inside Malcolm's folder was reconstructed from encrypted backups.
The person behind everything was finally identified.
Richard Bell.
Northstar's chief operating officer.
He had been Malcolm's closest executive for fourteen years.
Bell had arranged the leaks.
He had manipulated security protocols.
He had created false passenger alerts.
He had paid contractors to intimidate employees.
And he had planned to remove Malcolm before the London board vote.
Why?
Because Bell had secretly arranged a merger.
Northstar would be sold.
Its technology would be transferred.
The company would be broken apart.
Bell would receive nearly two hundred million dollars.
But Malcolm's presence threatened everything.
The board meeting began at 9:00 the next morning.
Malcolm entered the room.
Twenty directors sat around a long table.
Richard Bell was already there.
He smiled.
“Malcolm.”
Malcolm sat.
“Richard.”
“You had quite a flight.”
“So did you.”
Bell's smile faded.
“What does that mean?”
“You know.”
The chairman entered.
Everyone stood.
The doors closed.
The meeting began.
Bell presented his proposal.
Numbers appeared on the screen.
Growth.
Revenue.
Acquisition.
Efficiency.
The presentation was flawless.
Until Malcolm stood.
“I have evidence.”
Bell looked at him.
“Of what?”
“Your involvement in the security breaches.”
The room went silent.
Bell laughed.
“This is absurd.”
Malcolm placed a folder on the table.
Not the black one.
A red one.
Inside were copies of messages.
Payment records.
Access logs.
Flight manifests.
Security instructions.
And one final document.
Bell stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Your agreement.”
Bell's face went pale.
Malcolm continued.
“You planned to sell Northstar without board authorization.”
Bell shook his head.
“No.”
“You used company security to intimidate employees.”
“No.”
“You manipulated passenger-security systems.”
“No.”
“You attempted to interfere with my travel.”
Bell stood.
“This is a setup.”
Malcolm looked at him.
“Then explain your signature.”
Bell looked down.
His name was there.
His signature.
His account number.
His instructions.
Everything.
The chairman slowly removed his glasses.
“Richard.”
Bell looked around.
“You don't understand.”
The chairman's voice was cold.
“We understand everything.”
Security entered.
Bell stepped backward.
“You can't do this.”
The chairman said:
“Actually, we can.”
Bell was escorted away.
The room remained silent.
Then the chairman looked at Malcolm.
“Do you still want the vote?”
Malcolm nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Northstar belongs to the people who built it.”
The chairman smiled.
“Then let's vote.”
The decision was unanimous.
The merger was rejected.
The contract with the airline was approved.
And Richard Bell's scheme collapsed.
But Malcolm had one more person to see.
Captain Steven Parker.
Chapter 9 — The Apology
Steven was sitting alone in the airport lounge when Malcolm found him.
“You're difficult to track down.”
Steven looked up.
“I was hoping you'd forget me.”
“No chance.”
Steven smiled.
Malcolm sat.
For several seconds, they said nothing.
Then Steven spoke.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes.”
Steven laughed softly.
“I deserved that.”
“You did.”
“I judged you.”
“Yes.”
“I believed information because it came through official channels.”
“Yes.”
“And I almost removed you from the aircraft.”
“Yes.”
Steven looked down.
“I was wrong.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Thank you.”
Steven looked surprised.
“That's it?”
“What else should I say?”
“You could remind me how badly I handled it.”
“You already know.”
Steven smiled.
“Fair.”
He leaned back.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why didn't you use your position?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I confronted you.”
Malcolm thought about it.
“Because I didn't want my title to protect me.”
Steven frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because if the rules only apply to ordinary people, they're not rules.”
Steven looked at him.
“That sounds like something you practiced.”
“No.”
Malcolm smiled.
“I learned it the hard way.”
Steven nodded.
After a moment, he asked:
“Are you going to fire me?”
Malcolm laughed.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you did something most people in your position would not.”
“What?”
“You changed your mind.”
Steven became quiet.
Malcolm continued.
“You realized you were wrong.”
Steven looked away.
“That doesn't erase what happened.”
“No.”
“But it matters.”
Steven nodded.
Then Malcolm reached into his bag.
He handed Steven a small envelope.