Chapter 3 - The Wrong Destination
Adrian reached the cockpit door in three strides.
The flight attendant stepped between him and the handle.
“Mr. Mercer, please remain seated.”
“Who ordered the diversion?”
“The captain.”
“Based on what information?”
“Sir, I’m sure—”
“Call him.”
The woman hesitated.
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“Now.”
Elena removed the children’s headphones.
Oliver frowned.
“Movie’s not done.”
“We’re taking a little break.”
“Why?”
“Because grown-ups are boring.”
Oliver accepted that explanation immediately.
Lucy did not.
She studied her mother.
“Are we going somewhere else?”
Elena smiled.
“Just for a little while.”
The cockpit speaker crackled.
The captain’s voice came through.
“Mr. Mercer, please return to your seat.”
Adrian pressed the communication switch.
“Captain, Aspen weather is clear.”
A pause followed.
“We received updated routing from operations.”
“Which operations?”
“Grant Aviation.”
Elena stood.
“That’s impossible.”
Adrian looked toward her.
“Why?”
“Grant Aviation doesn’t operate the aircraft.”
The flight attendant frowned.
Elena continued.
“They brokered it.”
“Who owns the jet?”
“A holding company.”
Adrian’s expression sharpened.
“Name?”
Elena hesitated.
“North Peak Charter LLC.”
Adrian pulled out his phone.
He sent a short message to his chief of staff.
TRACE NORTH PEAK CHARTER.
Less than thirty seconds later, a response appeared.
WORKING ON IT.
Elena buckled the children back into their seats.
“Whatever happens, stay beside me.”
Oliver smiled.
“Even if Santa comes?”
“Especially if Santa comes.”
Adrian almost smiled despite the tension.
Lucy looked at him.
“You can sit here.”
She pointed to the empty seat across from her.
Adrian sat.
The gesture affected him more than he wanted Elena to see.
Lucy lifted Benny.
“Benny says you’re too tall.”
“He’s probably right.”
“Did you know him when he was little?”
Adrian looked at the bear.
“Yes.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“Benny was little?”
Adrian nodded solemnly.
“He was.”
Oliver leaned over.
“Was he a baby bear?”
“Very tiny.”
Elena watched Adrian play along.
The tenderness felt dangerous.
Anger had protected her for four years.
It was much harder to stay angry while watching the man she had once loved tell their daughter that a stuffed animal had once attended teddy-bear school.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number again.
This time there was a photograph.
Elena stopped breathing.
It showed the cabin.
Their cabin.
Taken only seconds earlier.
Adrian saw her face.
“What?”
She handed him the phone.
He stared at the photograph.
Oliver appeared in profile.
Lucy held Benny.
Adrian himself sat across from them.
The image had clearly been captured from the rear section of the aircraft.
Adrian turned slowly.
There were no other passengers.
Only the flight attendant.
The galley.
A small service compartment.
And the closed lavatory door.
He stood.
Elena grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t.”
“If someone is on this plane—”
“Think.”
Adrian looked down at her hand.
She released him.
“It could be a camera.”
He scanned the cabin.
His security instincts had been neglected because he had boarded in a hurry.
Now he noticed the small black dome near the ceiling.
Aircraft security cameras were not unusual.
Real-time access by an unknown stranger was.
Adrian’s phone vibrated.
His chief of staff replied.
NORTH PEAK CHARTER OWNED THROUGH THREE LLCs.
FINAL BENEFICIAL OWNER APPEARS TO BE MERCER FAMILY TRUST.
Adrian stared at the message.
Elena saw enough.
“Your family owns this plane.”
“Apparently.”
“You knew.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“I didn’t.”
Her disbelief returned.
He held out the screen.
Elena read it.
Mercer Family Trust.
Her stomach tightened.
The jet had not been arranged by a random employer.
Someone inside the Mercer network had known her travel plans.
Someone had put her and the twins aboard an aircraft connected to Adrian’s family.
And now that aircraft was being diverted.
“Who arranged my flight?” Adrian asked.
Elena looked at the flight attendant.
“My company’s travel office.”
“What company?”
She hesitated.
“Grantwell Development.”
Adrian stared.
“You work for Grantwell?”
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
“Three years.”
“Who hired you?”
“The COO.”
“Name?”
“Matthew Cole.”
Adrian cursed under his breath.
“What?”
“Matthew worked for Julian until five years ago.”
Elena’s pulse accelerated.
The flight attendant returned from the front.
“We’ve been cleared for Denver.”
Adrian stood.
“No.”
“Sir?”
“Tell the captain we are not landing until I speak directly with Grant Aviation operations.”
The woman’s face tightened.
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible.”
“Why?”
“Because Denver has been entered as our emergency destination.”
Elena stood.
“Emergency?”
The flight attendant seemed to realize she had said too much.
Adrian took one step toward her.
“What emergency?”
The woman lowered her voice.
“Security instruction.”
“From whom?”
“I wasn’t told.”
The aircraft began descending.
Lucy noticed the change.
“We’re going down.”
Elena sat beside her.
“It’s okay.”
Adrian looked out the window.
City lights spread beneath them.
Denver.
Not Aspen.
Not Elena’s planned Christmas destination.
Someone wanted them on the ground in a place they had not chosen.
Adrian sent another message.
SEND SECURITY TO DENVER FBO.
His chief of staff responded almost instantly.
YOUR TEAM IS ALREADY THERE.
Adrian frowned.
He had not sent them.
A second message followed.
ADRIAN, I DIDN’T SEND THEM.
He looked at Elena.
“Someone’s waiting for us.”
The jet touched down thirteen minutes later.
No one spoke as it taxied away from the main terminal.
Eventually it stopped beside a dark private aviation building.
Through the window, Elena saw three black SUVs.
Four men in dark coats stood beside them.
Her face went pale.
Adrian moved between her and the cabin door.
“Stay behind me.”
The stairs lowered.
Cold night air entered the cabin.
A man approached.
He was tall, silver-haired, and familiar.
Elena had not seen him in four years.
But she remembered his face perfectly.
Daniel Reed smiled from the bottom of the stairs.
“Ms. Hart.”
Then he looked at Adrian.
“Mr. Mercer.”
May you like
His smile widened.
“Your mother would like everyone home for Christmas.”
