| |
I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S going on, but when Gabriel gives me the code to get to the plane, I don’t think twice about it; I go. Since I’ve ditched my phone, I have no way of communicating with him or Matt until we get to the airport.
“I don’t have a passport.” Mallory tells me.
“You won’t need one. Follow me.” I take her hand and lead her through the hanger and into the office space. This used to be the headquarters of AOP Medical, Olivia, Piper, and Alana’s medical flight company, but since we bought them out a few years ago, it’s just been unused office space.
I bring Mallory into the back office where we have go bags stashed. Inside my go bag is a satellite phone. I open the bag and power up the phone. “Why don’t you grab one of those bags over there? I think one of them belongs to Olivia. Use the bathroom before we go. It’s a four-hour flight.” I point to the room down the hall.
“Um... okay.” Mallory grabs a bag and heads to the bathroom.
I power the phone up and I dial Gabriel’s satellite phone. “What’s going on?” I ask when he answers.
“When Matt told me about the lack of cell service at the office, we did a grid search of the building and found a signal jammer and the main phone lines cut. Then another team found a bomb on the second floor by a support column.”
“Fuck! What? Is everyone okay?” I run my hands through my hair as I look down the hallway to make sure Mallory didn’t hear me.
“Yeah. The detectives were still here, so they called in the bomb squad and they deactivated it. That’s when Matt called you to tell you to go to the condo. But when the security team that had the girls, dogs, and kids got there, they insisted on searching the building before letting them upstairs. And I’m glad they did. They found a device on your floor. The building has been evacuated, and the bomb squad has secured the device.”
Mallory walks in just as I yell, “FUCK!”
“Grab the go bags and head to Playa del Carmen. No one but Matt, Erick, and I will know where you two are. Lie low until we figure this all out.”
“Is this about the heist earlier today?” I ask, knowing that I’m probably wrong. This has Fusco’s name written all over it.
“I don’t think so, but we can’t be sure.”
I take a deep breath and pull Mallory into my chest. “Understood. You got Bella?”
“Of course. Watch your six.”
With that, Gabriel hangs up and I power down the phone and just hold Mallory while at the same time I try to figure out how much to tell her.
“What’s happening? Is everyone okay?”
I decide to tell her everything, but once we’re in the air. I can’t afford for her to bolt, thinking she brought this to our doorstep. “Come on. We’ve got to go.” I lead her to the plane that’s sitting outside the hangar and I open the door and the stairs unfold. “In.”
Mallory climbs up and stands just inside of the plane looking around. “Who’s plane is this?”
I close the door and seal the hatch. “Mine.”
“You have a plane?”
I can’t help the pride I have in my G800 jet with its state-of-the-art cockpit and luxury seating. “Yes. This is my jet. Now, go sit on the left side of the cockpit and touch nothing.” I direct her to the front while I go to stow our bags. I climb into the pilot seat and start my pre-flight checks.
“Shouldn’t you have another pilot for a plane this large?” Mallory asks while watching me tap on the different touch screens.
“Ideally, yes, it’s best to have two pilots, but we don’t have the luxury. Put your seatbelt on.” I put on my headphones and hand her a set. “Put these on, too.”
“Okay.” She places the headset on her red head.
“Tower, this is November five two three Hotel India.”
“Go ahead, November five two three Hotel India.”
“Tower, November five two three Hotel India requesting departure on runway Charlie six.”
“November five two three Hotel India, permission granted on runway Charlie six.”
“Tower, November five two three Hotel India departing runway Charlie six.” With that, I maneuver the plane to the runway and look over at Mallory. “Hold on.”
~~~
It’s taken only a short twenty minutes to take off and get to a cruising altitude of forty-one thousand feet. I’ve leveled off the jet and hit the auto pilot button. The G800 can fly itself practically around the world with a push of a button. It’s great.
I turn in my seat so that I’m facing Mallory. “You okay? You’re quiet.”
She stays facing the front windshield. “I’m scared.” Her voice is small over the microphone on her headset.
“Why are you scared? Are you scared of flying? If so, you don’t have to be. I’ve been certified to fly for years. I’ve been through Top Gun training and was top of my class. You’re safe with me, Mallory. I promise.”
Shaking her head, “No. I’m not scared of flying. Although I’m terrified of touching anything.” She waves her hand over the dashboard console.
I smirk, “You’re fine. Tell me why you’re scared.” She deeply inhales and exhales a few times. That’s when I notice she’s visibly shaking. I take her hand in mine. “Hey. It’s okay. Whatever it is, we can work it out. Tell me.”
“I think I’m just overtired. It was a long day out in the sun, then working with Agent Newberry all evening.” She turns towards me. “I was so scared sitting on that pier all by myself. I mean... I know I wasn’t technically by myself. The FBI guys were there, but it sure felt lonely. And the last person I wanted to see was Patrick, but knowing I had to one last time gave me the fortitude to just sit there like a lame duck. Then he never showed.”
Her tears fall again, and it’s breaking my heart. But if I’ve learned anything from listening to Olivia and Piper bitch about my brothers, it’s that when women vent, to let them vent and just listen to them. Something neither of my brothers have learned yet.
“Now, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s got to be bad for us to be flying in the middle of the night to another country. And quite frankly, I don’t even know if I want to know, but I know I need to know. You know?” She’s talking faster and the tears are rolling down her cheeks.
I turn to the console and take an inventory of where we are and the status of the flight. The auto pilot, although a great tool, should never be left unsupervised. But right now, it should be fine for a few minutes. I stand up, “I’ve turned on the autopilot. Follow me.”
We stand at the entrance to the cockpit, and I pull her into my arms. “I know you’ve been through a lot today. And I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you for most of it. But I’m here now and everything is going to be okay. I promise.” I smooth my hands down her back as she holds me tight around my waist. “There’s a bedroom at the back of the plane. Why don’t you go lay down and get some rest? I promise to wake you when we’re about to land. Okay?”
She nods against my chest, but doesn’t move and I don’t make her. Having her in my arms feels right, and I know she needs my strength.
Something beeps on the console, and she jumps back. “Are we okay?”
I smile, “Yes. It’s just letting me know auto pilot is still on.” I cradle her head while my thumbs wipe away her tears. “Now, go get some rest.” I kiss her on the lips.
“Okay. Are you going to be okay up here all by yourself?”
I nod. “Go.”
She maneuvers around the plane to the back, and I watch her open and close the bedroom door. Now that she’s settled, I climb back into the pilot seat and turn off the autopilot feature. This is where I’ve always felt at peace, at home. In the air, by myself; alone with my thoughts and the clouds.
But now... I feel at peace and at home in Mallory’s arms. I just have to keep us both alive.