CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 12

Somewhere Over Europe

 

 

Payne heard a voice and opened his eyes. The things he saw didn’t make sense.

He was strapped into a black leather chair in the dimly lit cabin of an airplane. The scent of cigarettes filled his nose. He was wearing the same clothes as the night before, and his head was pounding like a jackhammer. He tried to remember how he had gotten there, but the details were lost in the haze that clouded his mind, a fog so thick it swallowed him.

So he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Two hours later, he awoke again. This time he felt much sharper. His headache was gone, and the cobwebs had mostly cleared. He recalled dinner at Uncle Sam’s, followed by billiards and beers at a sports bar, then a trip to the local casino. That probably explained why he smelled like smoke. But for the life of him, he couldn’t remember getting onto the plane.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time he had woken up confused.

It had happened hundreds of times in the military.

Back when he was in the MANIACs, they were forced to grab sleep whenever they could because they never knew when they would be on the move. Jones was a master at it, able to fall asleep anywhere in a matter of seconds. Hot or cold, wet or dry, nothing stopped Jones from getting his rest. One time in Afghanistan, he fell asleep standing up while leaning against a tree.

Guys in the unit were so amazed they actually filmed it.

Unfortunately for Payne, he had always been a troubled sleeper. When his head hit the pillow, his mind went into overdrive, chugging through whatever issues were lurking in his subconscious just below the surface. It didn’t matter how tired he was when he crawled into bed. The instant he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, his demons emerged from the shadows.

And that was in the controlled environment of a quiet bedroom.

Things were far worse in the field.

But the one place he was always able to sleep was in the belly of a plane. It didn’t matter if he was sitting on the vibrating floor of a cargo jet or the middle seat of a commercial flight. There was something about the quiet hum and the gentle rocking of an aircraft that put him at ease. Perhaps it took him back to his infancy when he was safely tucked inside a cradle. Or maybe it had something to do with the high altitude and the pressurized atmosphere.

Whatever it was, it worked like a charm.

“Good morning, princess,” Jones said from the front of the cabin where he was bathed in the soft light of a laptop computer. Like Payne, he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Unlike Payne, he had been awake for some time. “That was some celebration last night.”

“Was it?”

“Must’ve been. We woke up on a plane.”

“How long did we sleep?”

“From Pittsburgh to Portugal. However long that is.”

“We’re in Portugal?”

“Nope,” Jones said as he grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it at Payne.

Unfortunately, Payne wasn’t looking, so it flew right past him and smashed against the rear cabin wall. “What the fuck?”

“Sorry. You looked thirsty.”

“I am thirsty, but it doesn’t mean I want you to throw a bottle at me.”

“Wow,” Jones muttered. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Are you going to be this cranky the entire trip?”

“That depends. Are you going to keep throwing stuff at me?”

“Probably.”

To emphasize his point, Jones grabbed a second bottle of water from the beverage cart and fired it at his best friend. But this time Payne was ready. He snatched the bottle with his massive hands and tucked it against his chest like a wide receiver.

“Good throw.”

“Nice catch.”

Payne cracked open the bottle before drinking half of its contents in a series of large gulps. “You were saying something about Portugal?”

“I sure was,” he said with a smile. “We’re no longer in Portugal.”

“But you just said we slept from Pittsburgh to Portugal.”

“And we did,” Jones assured him. “Then you feel back asleep.”

“Where are we now?”

“In your jet. I thought that was obvious.”

Payne growled softly. It was too early in the day to deal with Jones’s antics—if it was even daytime. For all he knew, it could’ve been midnight. To recalibrate his internal clock, he raised the nearest window shade and instantly regretted his decision. Bright sunlight poured into the cabin. He quickly shielded his eyes from the harsh glare while lowering the shade to half-mast.

Outside he saw nothing but white clouds and blue sea.

Payne took another sip of water as he glanced around the cabin of the luxurious G650. It sure was different than the planes they had used in the military. Everything about those had been stripped down for efficiency. They were hard, and cramped, and smelled like grime. But this aircraft was the complete opposite. From its soft leather recliners and large video screens to its plush carpet and fully stocked bar, the Payne Industries jet was built for comfort.

The Gulfstream’s entertainment package featured a multichannel satellite communications system that delivered Internet, phone service, television, on-demand movies, and onboard printing, plus a cabin management system that synchronized with mobile devices to provide touchscreen controls for temperature, lighting, flight tracking, and more.

With a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925, the aircraft was pressurized to a comfortable 3,290 feet. That was twice as low as commercial airliners. The lower cabin altitude meant hearts and lungs didn’t have to work as hard to oxygenate blood, which reduced fatigue and helped passengers feel more refreshed upon arrival.

All things considered, the jet was a technological marvel.

No wonder Jones was so fond of it.

“In case you can’t tell,” Payne grumbled, “I’m still waking up, so please ease up a bit until I get some caffeine and something to eat. You know I’m not a morning person.”

“No worries, chief. I know the drill.”

“Good. Then let’s start with the basics. Where are we?”

“Somewhere over the Mediterranean.”

“And why were we in Portugal?”

“We stopped in Lisbon to refuel. That’s when you briefly woke up and mumbled something about a rock concert in your brain. I went up front to get you some Advil, but by the time I returned, you were sleeping again. I’ve been awake ever since making plans.”

Payne rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t recall the conversation. “And when was that?”

“About two hours ago.”

He glanced outside a second time, still trying to make sense of things. “Wait. Why did we need to refuel? This plane has a range of eight thousand miles. Where the hell are we going?”

Jones laughed. “Now that’s where things get interesting. I wanted to take you home last night, but you insisted on going straight to the airport. You even called the pilot from our casino limousine and told him we were on a secret mission for the Travel Channel. When he asked where we were headed, you told him it was classified.”

“Are you serious? I don’t even remember being in a limo.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. You actually fell asleep at the casino. You’re lucky some old lady didn’t rob you. Heck, you’re lucky I didn’t rob you. I’m black, you know.”

Payne grimaced as he tried to piece things together. Although he enjoyed a beer or two on occasion, he wasn’t the type to overindulge. His former career wouldn’t allow it. He was expected to remain sharp at all times, just in case he came across an enemy from his past. He knew too much about too many things to let his guard down.

And yet he couldn’t remember half of Monday night.

Something wasn’t adding up.

“Obviously,” Jones said, “the pilot needed a direction, so I told him Portugal. It’s a straight shot from Pittsburgh and the gateway to Europe. I hoped that would give you enough time to dream about our final destination. Unfortunately, you were still pretty out of it in Lisbon.”

“Which doesn’t make sense. I remember having a couple of beers while playing pool, but I don’t remember having any drinks at the casino.”

“I don’t think you did. Honestly, I think you were so mentally and physically drained from the whole corporate transition that your body finally gave out.”

Jones grabbed a tray full of snacks and placed it on the table in front of Payne. He knew his best friend would think clearer once he had something to eat.

“Thanks,” Payne said as he selected a blueberry muffin.

“Remember, I’ve seen you like this before. You used to get this way after prolonged maneuvers in the field. Whereas I would get plenty of rest, you would stay awake for weeks at a time while under tremendous stress. When we finally got back to camp, you’d be loopy as hell. Sometimes you wouldn’t even make it to your bunk. Sometimes you’d just lay on the floor and pass out, and we’d have to step over you for a week. I think that’s what happened last night.”

Payne considered the explanation. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Either that, or you’ve become a total lightweight.”

“I think I prefer your original explanation.”

“I don’t know. You Navy boys are kind of soft.”

“I forget, how many times have I saved your life?”

“Almost as many times as I’ve saved yours.”

“That’s only because you’re older than I am.”

“And yet, you were the one who fell asleep like an old man in the casino.”

Payne laughed. “Touché.”

“So,” Jones said, “are you ready to get this vacation started?”

“That depends. Where the hell are we going?”

“Sorry, Jon. That’s classified.”

“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be. I have one night of vulnerability, and you’re gonna make fun of it the entire trip.”

“Of course I am! That’s the basis of our entire friendship.”

“Fine, I’ll let it slide,” Payne said as he peeled the paper from his muffin. “But wherever we’re going, they better have one thing.”

“Viagra?”

“Nope. Somewhere to shop. Because I’m pretty sure we forgot to pack.”