––––––––
AN HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF from Oahu, Jackie and I reached the eastern terminus of Molokai. We hadn't seen anything of Morton's helicopter. Along the way, I had searched north of the route using a pair of binoculars Jackie had lent me. Jackie had searched to the south from the right seat in the cockpit.
I'd ridden in helicopters during my military days but had never sat up front in one. From time to time I stole a glance at Jackie, fascinated by the skill required to fly the machine. She rarely let go of the cyclic stick with her right hand. It seemed flying a helicopter required near-continuous control inputs.
Jackie had fitted me out with a headset like the one she also wore before takeoff. Headsets were necessary to communicate over the noise of the helicopter. But, we had spoken little since leaving the coast of Oahu. She broke the silence.
"We've followed the heading most pilots would have taken toward Maui," Jackie said. "Now I'm going to come around and head back the way we came. Near the midpoint, flights to Lanai would change course to a southeastern heading."
"Understood," I said.
Now that we were backtracking I didn't feel as compelled to watch the ground passing beneath us. I reckoned it was all right to talk. I was keen to know more about Jackie.
"How long have you been flying helicopters?" I said. "Your skills are impressive."
"Since I was fourteen, more or less," Jackie said. "My father started teaching me then. I did my training solo when I turned sixteen and got my private pilot's license a year later."
"Wow," I said. "So your father was a pilot too."
"Yes, he started Hele Aku Aviation after he returned from the war in Vietnam. He learned to fly in the Army and flew Hueys during the war."
"Does your dad still fly?"
"No, he developed a heart condition that disqualified him from holding a license. So, I inherited the company when he retired."
"So, you've been flying here in Hawaii since you were a young girl?"
"Not only here. I spent time in the Army myself after high school. I attended aviation training at Mother Rucker after completed warrant officer candidate school. I flew Blackhawks out of Wheeler Army Airfield here in Hawaii. I also flew them during two deployments to Afghanistan."
"Mother Rucker?" I said.
"Yeah, Fort Rucker. It's a post in Alabama. It's where the Army trains its aviators. We pilots called the post 'Mother Rucker.' We always seemed to be returning to 'mother' for more training."
"I see. Did you enjoy the Army?"
"It had its moments," Jackie said.
"I also served in Afghanistan with the New Zealand Defense Forces," I said.
Jackie appeared surprised. "Did you? What did you do?"
"I was a sniper in an infantry regiment."
"Now I'm the one impressed," Jackie said. "We've reached the point where we turn southeast. Time to focus on the search again."
"Right," I said. I stopped talking and paid more attention to the ground below.
In a short while, we reached the southern coast of the island and began the channel crossing to Lanai. Unless we had missed spotting it, Morton had made it across Molokai. About ten minutes after changing course we completed the crossing. We crossed the coast and arrived over Lanai. Jackie again broke the silence.
"Now it's time for an educated guess. If I wanted to approach Lanai City without attracting too much attention, I'd fly in from the south. If we don't find the chopper before we reach the outskirts of the town, we will start a circular search pattern. We will expand the circle outward as necessary. That will allow us to determine whether Lanai City was Morton's destination."
"Sounds good," I said.
"Use the glasses to see as far out from our heading as possible, since the route is only a guess on my part," Jackie said.
"Understood."
Jackie flew southeast along the coast for several minutes. Then she put the helicopter into a turn to head north towards Lanai City. About nine or ten kilometers from the town, I thought I saw something.
"Can we turnabout?" I said. "Thought I saw something back there?"
"Where?" Jackie said.
"Off to the west. There was a clearing surrounded by trees. Thought I saw something near the edge of it that might have been a helicopter."
"Okay," Jackie said. She put the helicopter into a turn and headed back the way we had come.
"I pointed to the right of the chopper. "There," I said, "that's the clearing."
"You're right," Jackie said. "There is something there at the edge of the clearing. Can't tell what it is yet, but it is either a helicopter or a vehicle of some sort."
I trained the binoculars on the object. After another minute I was sure. "Yep, it is definitely a helicopter, and it is the color of those I saw at Morton's former employer."
Jackie lowered the helicopter towards the clearing. She put the machine into a hover about 200 meters from the helicopter on the ground. It appeared intact and showed no evidence of a crash. Jackie brought us about a hundred meters closer. Then the helicopter touched down on the ground.
"I'll shut down, and we'll have a look," Jackie said.
"Think he is close by?" I said.
"Doubtful. This close to town, I'm sure that is where he went."
"It's a bit further out than I'd have expected," I said.
"Might have had to land before he planned to," Jackie said. "Let's go."
We both got out of the cockpit. The main rotors were still slowly turning, and by instinct, we ducked our heads until we were well clear. Glancing at Jackie, I saw that she was holding a pistol in her hand.
"Where did you get that?" I said.
"I keep in the bird. You said Morton was a desperate criminal. I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."
"Good idea," I said.
"Aren't you armed?" Jackie said.
"No," I said. "I had a pistol when I arrived in Hawaii but lost it. Long story."
"Then it's not a good idea, but a great idea I brought mine."
As we approached the helicopter, I saw "Oahu Air Tours" on the fuselage. We had the right helicopter.
"Look at that," Jackie said. I followed her finger to the tail of the helicopter.
"See the paint near the tail rotor?" Jackie said.
"Yep, it looks scorched."
"Exactly," Jackie said. "It's been very hot. The bearings cratered and forced Morton down here."
"That explains why it's here and not close to town," I said.
"Yes, it does."
We took a look inside the helicopter but failed to find anything of interest. Because the grass and vegetation were thick, there were no tracks. There was no sign of which direction Morton had gone after landing the craft.
"Since he has money, I bet that he walked into town from here," Jackie said.
"Then I suppose we should head there," I said. "You can drop me at the airport and return to Oahu when you're ready."
"I thought I'd hang out with you," Jackie said.
"Why?"
"This is exciting," Jackie said. "Hunting down a criminal and all. I don't have anything scheduled. If a client calls, I have my phone."
"What if we don't find Morton today," I said. "I'd have to overnight here."
"No problem. There are places we can stay. It's pricey, but I don't mind doubling up. Cheaper for you to get us a room anyway. It will cost less than paying flight time for me to return to Oahu and then back to pick you up when you finish here."
"They have hotels here?" I said.
"Sure. There is a hotel in town and a large resort on the outskirts. Where do you think Morton is staying? We could run right into him."
"Not sure," I said. "Best check both places I suppose. He could be at either, assuming he isn't staying with an acquaintance in a private house somewhere."
"Then let's fly to the airport. We can rent a car and then go into town and ask around. You have a photo of Morton?"
"Yes, I have a flyer the Honolulu police prepared that has his photo on it," I said.
"Cool," Jackie said. "Let's get going."
We walked back to the helicopter. Jackie started it up, and we headed for the airport in Lanai City.