Chapter 3: The Executive's Phone Call
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I took the phone from Captain Mitchell.
"Mr. Cross, this is Eleanor Whitmore.""
His voice became smoother.
"Ms. Whitmore. I'm glad we finally have an opportunity to speak.""
"Interesting. I wasn't aware we'd scheduled a conversation.""
A brief silence followed.
"I understand there's been an unfortunate misunderstanding with one of our flight attendants.""
I glanced at the orange stains spreading across my jacket.
"Is that what we're calling it?""
"Victoria is an experienced employee. I'm sure she didn't intend to upset you.""
"Did you see the incident?""
"No.""
"Then perhaps you should avoid making assumptions.""
He exhaled impatiently.
"Look, Eleanor. We have a full aircraft, passengers waiting, and a departure schedule to maintain. I don't think an isolated service complaint needs to become a federal matter.""
I almost smiled.
"An isolated service complaint?""
"That's correct.""
"What about the missing maintenance records?""
Silence.
"What about the emergency report removed from the cockpit access cabinet?""
More silence.
Then his voice dropped.
"I think you may be working from incomplete information.""
"That's why I'm investigating.""
"Perhaps you should consider the consequences of making accusations before you've reviewed everything.""
I looked at the captain.
Then at Emily.
Finally, I glanced toward the galley, where Victoria was standing behind the curtain, watching us.
"Mr. Cross, are you aware that your employee has been identified in connection with the missing incident records?""
"Which employee?""
"Victoria Hayes.""
He didn't answer immediately.
That was all I needed.
"Thank you," I said.
"You've confirmed that you know about the investigation.""
"That's not what I said.""
"Then perhaps you'd like to clarify.""
He lowered his voice.
"Ms. Whitmore, listen carefully. You're making this much more complicated than it needs to be.
I can arrange a private meeting at headquarters. We'll provide whatever documents you need.""
"I already requested those documents through official channels.""
"And I can make sure you receive them.""
"Why haven't I received them?""
Another silence.
Then he said, "Because certain materials require executive approval.""
I stared at the phone.
"Federal investigators don't require executive approval to examine evidence relevant to an aviation safety investigation.""
His tone changed.
"You're forgetting that this is a privately operated airline.""
"And you're forgetting that aviation safety is subject to federal oversight.""
Captain Mitchell shifted uncomfortably.
Daniel continued.
"Robert, is she still there?""
The captain leaned toward the phone.
"Yes, sir.""
"Get that aircraft moving. We can discuss this later.""
Robert glanced at me.
"Sir, I haven't completed the necessary checks.""
"Then complete them.""
"There's an unresolved incident involving a crew member.""
"Robert, I'm giving you a direct instruction.""
I stepped closer.
"Captain Mitchell is responsible for ensuring this aircraft is safe to depart. He will not be pressured into ignoring a potential safety issue.""
Daniel laughed.
"Who do you think you are?""
I looked at the gold badge in my hand.
"Someone who has spent twenty-nine years making sure people like you don't get to decide which safety rules matter.""
Then I ended the call.
Robert stared at me.
"That was Daniel Cross.""
"I'm aware.""
"He's the executive vice president of operations.""
"I'm also aware.""
Robert looked genuinely troubled.
"Ms. Whitmore, I need to ask you something. Are we supposed to depart?""
I looked around the cabin.
Passengers were beginning to whisper.
A man in row two had removed his headphones. The businessman across the aisle was recording again.
"No," I answered.
"Not until we establish whether there is an active safety concern.""
Robert nodded.
He turned toward Emily.
"Miss Carter, please accompany me to the forward galley.""
Victoria immediately stepped out.
"Absolutely not.""
Robert looked at her.
"Excuse me?""
"Emily is assigned to my crew. You can't just take her away because a passenger makes an accusation.""
"I'm the captain. I can speak to any crew member I need to.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"Then I'll speak first. Emily has been having performance issues for months. She's emotional, careless, and constantly making mistakes.""
Emily looked down.
I noticed her fingers trembling.
"Victoria," I said, "why are you so concerned about what Emily might tell us?""
She turned toward me.
"Because she's lying!""
"Then you should have no problem answering a few questions.""
"I've already answered everything.""
"No. You haven't.""
I removed a second folder from my briefcase.
Inside were copies of the airline's crew assignment sheets from the emergency flight.
I placed the top page on the nearest empty seat.
"Three weeks ago, Flight 417 experienced a hydraulic warning shortly after departure. According to the official cabin report, the first notification from the crew reached the cockpit eleven minutes after the warning was activated.""
Robert frowned.
"Eleven minutes?""
"Yes.""
He looked at Victoria.
"Is that accurate?""
Victoria shook her head.
"I don't remember.""
"That's unfortunate," I replied.
"Because the flight recorder data indicates that the warning was acknowledged by the cabin crew within ninety seconds.""
Robert leaned closer to the document.
"Then why wasn't the cockpit notified?""
"That's one of the questions we're trying to answer.""
Victoria stepped backward.
"You're twisting everything. I followed procedure.""
I looked at her.
"Then you won't mind explaining why your signature appears on the amended incident report.""
Her lips parted.
"What?""
I removed another sheet.
The document contained two versions of the same report.
The first described a delayed emergency notification and a damaged hydraulic system.
The second claimed that the aircraft had experienced a minor technical irregularity, with no significant delay in communication.
Both carried the same authorization code.
But only one bore Victoria's handwritten initials.
I pointed to them.
"These are yours, correct?""
Victoria didn't answer.
Robert picked up the document.
"Victoria?""
She swallowed.
"I was told to sign it.""
"By whom?""
She looked at the cockpit.
Then at the phone in Robert's hand.
I already knew the answer.
But I wanted to hear her say it.
"Who instructed you to alter the report?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, the arrogance disappeared.
"I didn't write it," she whispered.
"Who did?""
She looked directly at me.
"Daniel Cross.""
Robert's face went pale.
But Victoria wasn't finished.
"He told me the original report would cause a major investigation. He said the airline could lose its operating contract, and hundreds of employees would lose their jobs.""
"Did he threaten you?""
She shook her head.
"Not exactly.""
"What did he offer?""
Victoria looked away.
"A promotion.""
Emily suddenly spoke.
"That's not all, Ms. Whitmore.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She reached into her pocket and removed a small silver USB drive.
"I copied the original cabin report before it disappeared.""
Victoria stared at her.
"You told me you deleted that!""
Emily's voice trembled.
"I lied.""
I held out my hand.
"May I see it?""
Emily placed the drive in my palm.
"What exactly is on here?""
She looked at Victoria.
"Everything.""
Robert moved closer.
"Everything?""
Emily nodded.
"The original incident report. The maintenance communication. The recording of Victoria speaking with Mr. Cross.""
My heart began beating faster.
"There's a recording?""
"Yes.""
"Of what?""
Emily swallowed.
"Of them discussing what happened to the first officer.""
The cabin went silent.
I looked at Robert.
"What happened to the first officer?""
He slowly lowered the report.
"His name was Michael Turner.""
I knew that name.
Michael Turner had been listed as a witness in the preliminary investigation.
But according to the airline's official records, he had resigned two days after the emergency landing and left the country.
I looked back at Emily.
"Where is he now?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"That's the problem.""
She glanced toward the cockpit door.
Then she whispered:
"Michael Turner never resigned. And he's been trying to contact you for the last three weeks.""
Before I could respond, the aircraft's cabin speakers crackled.
A voice came over the intercom.
It wasn't the captain's.
It wasn't a member of the cabin crew.
It was a man's voice.
"Ms. Whitmore, if you're still aboard Flight 417, do not trust anyone in that cockpit.""
Robert froze.
Victoria grabbed the edge of a seat.
And Emily whispered the words that changed everything.
May you like
"That's Michael Turner.""
*To be continued...*
