Chapter 5: The Passenger Who Knew Too Much
Richard Vale looked nothing like the villain I had imagined.
That was the most terrifying part.
He looked ordinary.
A gray suit.
Perfectly styled hair.
A polite smile.
The kind of man people trusted immediately.
The kind of man who knew exactly how to appear harmless.
He was sitting near the front of First Class when Captain Harris approached him.
I stayed behind with Emily.
But I could still hear every word.
“Richard.””
Vale smiled.
“Daniel.””
Captain Harris’ voice was cold.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Vale glanced around the cabin.
“Interesting choice of words.””
“What do you want?””
Vale leaned back.
“I wanted to see how far you were willing to go for Michael Brooks’ family.””
My fingers tightened around Emily’s hand.
Captain Harris stepped closer.
“You’re done.””
Vale laughed quietly.
“Am I?””
The passengers nearby pretended not to listen.
But they were.
Everyone was.
Vale looked toward Emily.
My entire body reacted.
I stood immediately.
“Don’t look at my daughter.””
His smile faded slightly.
“Mrs. Brooks.””
The fact that he knew my name made my skin crawl.
“You know who I am?””
“I know a lot about your family.””
Captain Harris moved between us.
“This conversation is over.””
Vale looked at him.
“Michael said the same thing.””
Silence.
Then Captain Harris’ expression changed.
“What did you say?””
Vale smiled.
“You heard me.””
My heart pounded.
“You spoke to my husband before he died?””
Vale didn’t answer.
He simply adjusted his watch.
“He was stubborn.””
I stepped closer.
“You knew him.””
“Yes.””
“Did you hurt him?””
The entire cabin went quiet.
Vale looked almost offended.
“Careful, Mrs. Brooks.””
Captain Harris’ voice was dangerous.
“Answer her.””
Vale sighed.
“Your husband was a brilliant pilot.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
“No.””
He looked directly at me.
“I didn’t kill Michael.””
I searched his face.
For a lie.
For anything.
But he was too controlled.
“That means you know who did.””
Vale smiled.
“You always were smarter than people gave you credit for.””
Captain Harris grabbed the seat.
“You need to leave.””
Vale reached into his briefcase.
My heart jumped.
But he only pulled out a folder.
He placed it on the table.
“You think Michael was exposing me.””
Captain Harris stared at the folder.
“You know he was.””
“No.””
Vale leaned closer.
“Michael was exposing someone else.””
Nobody spoke.
The plane engine hummed.
Emily looked between us.
“Who?””
Vale looked at her.
And something strange happened.
For the first time, his expression softened.
“I’m sorry you lost your father.””
I stepped in front of her.
“Don’t talk to her.””
Vale looked back at Captain Harris.
“Tell her the truth.””
Captain Harris said nothing.
Vale continued.
“Tell her Michael wasn’t investigating a company.””
My heart sank.
“He was investigating a person.””
Captain Harris’ face went pale.
I looked at him.
“Daniel.””
He closed his eyes.
Like he had been carrying this secret for years.
“Michael thought someone close to him was involved.””
“Who?””
Captain Harris didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
Because Vale looked directly at me.
And said one name.
“Daniel Harris.””
Emily gasped.
I turned toward the captain.
“No.””
Captain Harris looked devastated.
“Don’t listen to him.””
But then Vale smiled.
Not because he had won.
Because he knew something we didn’t.
“Open the flash drive, Mrs. Brooks.””
My hands went cold.
“What?””
“Your husband didn’t leave that for Daniel.””
Vale leaned back.
“He left it because he knew Daniel would never tell you the truth.””
Captain Harris reached for the folder.
But it was too late.
The question had already entered my mind.
A question I never thought I would ask.
May you like
Could the man who promised to protect my husband’s memory…
be the same man who destroyed it?
