Finally, Daniel returned.
"Ms. Vaughn, there's been a mistake."
Selena folded her arms.
"What kind?"
"Your identity was incorrectly linked to another person."
"How?"
"We don't know yet."
"Then why did you stop an entire aircraft?"
"Because we couldn't safely ignore the alert."
Selena looked toward the cabin.
"How long will this take?"
"We're clearing it now."
She nodded.
"Fine."
Then she noticed something.
Richard was staring at her.
Not casually.
Intently.
She returned to her seat.
He leaned closer.
"Everything okay?"
Selena looked at him.
"Apparently."
"That's strange."
"What is?"
"The security alert."
Selena studied him.
"Yes. It is."
Richard's face tightened.
"I hope you don't think I had anything to do with that."
"I didn't say that."
"You looked at me."
"I looked at you because you were looking at me."
He leaned back.
"Right."
The aircraft remained stationary.
Then Selena's phone received a message.
Sean: Auntie, are you okay?
She typed:
Flight delayed. Strange security issue. I'm fine.
Sean replied:
What kind of issue?
Selena hesitated.
Then she typed:
Identity mix-up.
His answer came immediately.
Do not sign anything.
Selena frowned.
Why?
Because I don't like the timing.
She looked at the screen.
Then at Richard.
Then toward the front of the plane.
The timing was strange.
The seat dispute.
The security alert.
The aircraft stopped five minutes later.
But there was another detail she had not considered.
She had told Richard her name.
He had told her his.
And he had looked at her boarding pass.
Anyone standing close enough could have seen it.
Anyone.
Selena opened her laptop again.
Her presentation remained on the screen.
The title read:
WHO GETS TO BELONG?
She stared at the words.
For the first time that morning, she felt something stronger than irritation.
She felt suspicion.
The Name on the Manifest
After nearly twenty minutes, Captain Hayes announced that the security issue had been resolved.
The passengers applauded.
Someone joked that they would miss their lunch reservation.
The tension began to disappear.
But Selena could not relax.
A ground supervisor entered the aircraft and spoke quietly with the captain.
Then he approached Selena.
"Ms. Vaughn, we apologize."
"I've heard that."
He looked embarrassed.
"I understand."
"No," Selena said. "I don't think you do."
The man paused.
She continued.
"An aircraft full of passengers was prevented from departing because an automated system connected my identity to a restricted alert. You haven't explained why."
"We are investigating."
"Then investigate."
"We will."
"Good."
He nodded.
Then walked away.
Richard suddenly stood.
"Excuse me."
Selena looked up.
Richard was holding his phone.
"I think I know what happened."
Selena said nothing.
He continued.
"My company uses a security system that cross-checks passenger information."
"Your company?"
"I'm involved in aviation technology."
Selena's eyes narrowed.
"Which company?"
"Northstar Aviation Systems."
She knew the name.
Northstar was one of the largest private contractors providing passenger-screening technology to airports.
Richard smiled.
"These systems aren't perfect."
Selena looked at him.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"You seem remarkably knowledgeable about what just happened."
Richard's smile disappeared.
"I'm explaining."
"You said the system cross-checks passenger information."
"It does."
"How would you know what system flagged me?"
He hesitated.
"I don't."
Selena leaned back.
"Then don't pretend you do."
Several passengers nearby had begun listening.
Richard became defensive.
"I was only trying to help."
"No," Selena said quietly. "You were trying to explain something you couldn't possibly know."
The senior flight attendant approached.
"Let's keep things calm."
Selena nodded.
"I'm calm."
Richard sat down.
But Selena noticed his hand.
He was gripping his phone tightly.
Then she saw something on the screen.
A message.
She could not read the entire text.
But she saw three words.
She's on board.
Richard quickly locked the phone.
Selena's heart began beating faster.
She looked toward the aisle.
Then at the flight attendant.
"May I use the restroom?"
"Of course."
Selena stood.
She walked toward the rear of the plane.
Instead of entering the restroom, she stopped near the galley.
The same flight attendant was there.
Selena spoke quietly.
"I need to ask you something."
"Certainly."
"Did security tell you why my name was flagged?"
The attendant hesitated.
"No."
"Did they mention another passenger?"
"No."
"Did they mention Mr. Coleman?"
The attendant looked toward 12C.
Then back.
"Why?"
"I saw something on his phone."
"What?"
"A message that said, 'She's on board.'"
The attendant's face changed.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The attendant glanced toward the cockpit.
"I'll tell the captain."
"Please do."
Selena returned to her seat.
Richard looked at her.
"Everything okay?"
"Perfect."
He smiled.
But his eyes didn't.
A few minutes later, Captain Hayes came out.
She walked directly toward Richard.
"Mr. Coleman, may I speak with you?"
Richard stood.
"Of course."
They moved toward the front.
Selena watched.
Their conversation lasted less than a minute.
Richard returned.
His face was pale.
He sat down.
Then he looked at Selena.
"You're causing quite a scene."
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't said anything."
"You reported me."
"I reported a message I saw."
"You don't know what it meant."
"Correct."
"So why assume the worst?"
"I didn't."
"Then why?"
Selena looked him directly in the eyes.
"Because your behavior has been unusual since I boarded."
Richard laughed bitterly.
"Unusual?"
"You took my seat."
"I moved."
"You questioned whether it was really mine."
"I thought there was a mistake."
"Then five minutes later, my identity triggered a security alert."
"That's not my fault."
"I didn't say it was."
Richard stared at her.
Then he whispered:
"You really think the world is against you, don't you?"