Chapter 7 - The Empty Seat
Seat 19F was empty.
A gray blanket lay folded across the cushion.
A half-finished cup of tea rested on the tray table.
The woman seated beside it said the passenger had gone to the restroom twenty minutes earlier.
"Did she come back?"
Laura asked.
"No."
"Did you see where she went?"
"Toward the back."
Laura looked at Elena.
"Check every lavatory and crew area."
"We already have."
"Again."
Elena hurried away.
Laura turned toward the woman in 19E.
"What did she look like?"
"Brown hair."
"Age?"
"Maybe forty."
"Clothing?"
"Black coat."
"Anything unusual?"
The woman thought for a moment.
"She seemed nervous."
"How?"
"She kept checking her phone before takeoff."
"Did she speak to anyone?"
The woman hesitated.
"She asked me something strange."
"What?"
"She wanted to know whether I believed people could disappear without dying."
Laura felt a chill.
"What did you tell her?"
"I said I didn't understand."
"What did she say?"
The woman swallowed.
"She said neither did she."
Laura thanked her.
As she turned away, she noticed something wedged between the seat cushion and the wall.
A small photograph.
She carefully pulled it free.
It showed a little girl standing in a backyard.
Blonde hair.
Pink sneakers.
A missing front tooth.
Sophie.
Laura's daughter.
Her hands went numb.
The photograph had been taken three days earlier.
Laura knew because she had taken it herself.
She turned it over.
A message was written across the back.
YOU CAN SAVE THE PASSENGERS OR SAVE YOUR DAUGHTER.
YOU CANNOT DO BOTH.
For a moment, Laura couldn't hear anything.
The cabin sounds faded.
The engine noise became distant.
She saw Sophie running through the backyard.
She remembered the way her daughter laughed when the dog chased soap bubbles.
She remembered her small arms around Laura's neck at the airport.
"Don't be late, Mommy."
Laura gripped the photograph.
Elena returned.
"We still can't find the passenger."
Laura looked up.
"Does this aircraft have any areas where someone could hide?"
Elena nodded slowly.
"There are crew rest compartments and service spaces, but access is controlled."
"Then somebody may have helped her."
Elena stared.
"You think one of us is involved?"
"I think someone aboard is hiding information."
A sudden voice came from behind them.
"Major Vance?"
Laura turned.
A young flight attendant stood at the end of the aisle.
Her name badge read AMY.
She looked frightened.
"I need to tell you something."
"What?"
Amy glanced around.
"I saw the woman from 19F."
"Where?"
"Near the rear service area."
"When?"
"About fifteen minutes ago."
"Was she alone?"
Amy shook her head.
"No."
Laura stepped closer.
"Who was with her?"
The young attendant's eyes filled with tears.
"The captain."
Laura stared at her.
"The captain is unconscious in the cockpit."
Amy shook her head again.
"Not that captain."
May you like
She whispered the next words.
"The other one."
