Chapter 12 - The Children They Used
Caroline sat on the galley floor, crying into her hands.
Laura crouched in front of her.
"What's your son's name?"
"Ben."
"How old?"
"Six."
"Where is he?"
Caroline shook her head.
"I don't know."
Laura felt something inside her change.
Until that moment, Caroline had been an enemy.
Now she was also a mother trapped by a man who knew exactly where to apply pressure.
"Listen to me."
Caroline looked up.
"You're going to help us."
"He'll kill him."
"Not if we get the authorities involved before he can move."
Caroline shook her head.
"You don't know Halden."
Laura's voice became quiet.
"I know him better than you think."
Caroline stared at her.
Laura continued.
"He killed my husband."
"He destroyed my career."
"And now he's threatening my daughter."
Caroline wiped her face.
"Then why aren't you afraid?"
Laura looked toward the cabin.
"I am."
She swallowed.
"I'm terrified."
"Then how can you stand there?"
"Because being afraid doesn't mean I stop being a mother."
Caroline began sobbing again.
Laura waited.
Finally, the woman whispered.
"Halden isn't acting alone."
Laura leaned closer.
"Who is helping him?"
"Meridian Aeronautics."
"Who at Meridian?"
Caroline hesitated.
"The chief executive."
"Name?"
"Victor Sloane."
Laura recognized the name.
A billionaire defense contractor.
A man whose company had received enormous government contracts.
A man who appeared on television discussing national security and technological innovation.
"What does Sloane want?"
Caroline looked toward the cockpit.
"He wants Nightglass back."
"Why?"
"Because somebody has been selling pieces of the technology."
"To whom?"
Caroline shook her head.
"I don't know."
"But Halden knows."
Laura stood.
She needed to tell Mercer.
Before she could move, Caroline caught her sleeve.
"There's something else."
Laura turned.
"What?"
"Halden didn't board this flight to destroy the evidence."
"Then why?"
Caroline's face crumpled.
"He boarded because someone else is trying to kill you."
Laura stared.
"Who?"
Caroline whispered.
"Victor Sloane."
The cabin lights flickered again.
A loud metallic sound echoed from somewhere beneath the floor.
The airplane shuddered.
Passengers screamed.
And from the cockpit, Mercer's voice came over the intercom.
"Cabin crew, take your seats immediately."
His next words were even more frightening.
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"Laura, I need you up front."
"Now."
