Chapter 4 - THE CAPTAIN COMES BACKAbout forty minutes after takeoff, the captain stepped into the cabin.
The first officer had the controls.
He crouched beside my seat rather than standing over me.
“Mr. Vance.”
“Captain.”
“Thomas Callahan.”
He held out his hand.
I shook it.
His grip was firm.
His eyes were studying me.
“Were you Air Force?”
“Yes.”
“Pararescue?”
I looked at the challenge coin.
“Twenty-third Special Tactics Squadron, later attached to joint personnel recovery.”
His face tightened.
“What years?”
“2004 to 2013.”
“Afghanistan?”
“Yes.”
Maya was listening.
She knew I had been in the military.
She did not know details.
Callahan glanced at her.
Then back to me.
“I’d like to speak with you after we land.”
“About what?”
He paused.
“Something I need to verify before I say it wrong.”
That answer I respected immediately.
“Okay.”
Then I asked:
“The seats.”
His face hardened.
“That is also being reviewed.”
“Did the man behind the agent have my seats?”
“He was assigned 2A after an aircraft substitution created a premium seating problem.”
“And 2B?”
“Operational block.”
“So why both of us?”
Callahan looked toward the galley.
“I don’t have a complete answer yet.”
Good.
Not an excuse before facts.
He stood.
Then hesitated.
“Mr. Vance.”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad you’re on this flight.”
He returned to the cockpit.
Maya looked at me.
“Do you know him?”
“No.”
“Does he know you?”
“I don’t know.”
She narrowed her eyes.
May you like
“You keep saying that today.”
“I’ve noticed.”
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