Chapter 4 - Passenger 14C
Laura left the cockpit only after confirming that Mercer could maintain the aircraft's current stable flight.
The physician remained with the captain.
The senior flight attendant, Elena Ruiz, accompanied her into the cabin.
"What's happening?" Elena whispered.
"Someone aboard may know why our systems are malfunctioning."
"Is this a hijacking?"
"I don't know."
"Should I tell the passengers?"
"Not until we understand what we're dealing with."
Elena nodded.
They walked through business class.
Passengers watched them with expressions ranging from curiosity to fear.
Laura counted the rows.
Eleven.
Twelve.
Thirteen.
Fourteen.
Seat 14C was occupied by an elderly man wearing a navy cardigan.
He had silver hair, thick glasses, and a paperback novel resting on his knees.
He looked up as Laura approached.
For one instant, she thought he was simply another frightened passenger.
Then she saw his hands.
They were perfectly still.
"Mr.?"
Laura asked.
"Adrian Cole."
"May I speak with you?"
He closed his book.
"I was wondering when you'd come."
Elena stepped back.
Laura remained standing.
"You know me?"
"Major Laura Vance."
"I haven't used that rank in seven years."
"That doesn't mean you stopped earning it."
Laura studied him.
"Who are you?"
Cole glanced toward the passengers around him.
"Not here."
"Then give me one reason I shouldn't ask the crew to keep you in your seat."
He smiled sadly.
"Because your husband once saved my life."
Laura felt the air leave her lungs.
"What did you say?"
"Nathan was a good man."
"Don't say his name unless you can explain how you knew him."
Cole's smile disappeared.
"I worked on Nightglass."
Laura grabbed the top of the empty seat beside him.
"What was Nightglass?"
Cole looked toward the ceiling.
"A program that should never have existed."
"Military?"
"Military funding."
"Private development."
"Very little oversight."
Laura's mind raced.
"What did it do?"
"It was designed to manipulate what aircraft crews believed their systems were telling them."
Laura stared.
"Electronic warfare?"
"Partly."
"Then what happened in Afghanistan?"
Cole lowered his voice.
"The system was tested during your husband's extraction."
"Against our own people?"
Cole didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
Laura felt anger rise through her chest.
"Nathan found out."
"Yes."
"And they killed him."
Cole looked at her.
"I don't know who ordered the strike."
"Then why are you here?"
He reached inside his cardigan.
Laura caught his wrist.
"Slowly."
Cole withdrew a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Nathan stood beside a younger Adrian Cole in front of a hangar.
A third man stood between them.
Laura recognized him immediately.
General Richard Halden.
The officer who had personally delivered the news of Nathan's death.
The man who had placed a hand on her shoulder at the funeral.
The man who had told her that Nathan's mistakes had consequences.
Laura looked up.
"Halden?"
Cole nodded.
"He approved the program."
Laura's hands trembled.
"Where is he now?"
Cole's expression changed.
"That's what I came to warn you about."
"Warn me about what?"
"Halden knew you were taking this flight."
Laura felt cold.
"How?"
"Because someone wanted you aboard."
A sudden crash came from the rear galley.
Passengers shouted.
Elena turned.
A man in a dark jacket was pushing through the aisle.
May you like
His eyes were fixed on Cole.
And in his hand was a small black device with a blinking red light.
