Chapter 4: The Voice from the Cockpit
The voice coming through the cabin speakers was unmistakable.
"Captain Mitchell, if you can hear me, do not open the cockpit door.""
Robert stood frozen beside the forward galley.
Emily covered her mouth.
Victoria backed away from the speaker as though it had suddenly caught fire.
I reached for the intercom handset.
"Michael Turner? This is Eleanor Whitmore. Can you hear me?""
A burst of static followed.
Then the voice returned.
"Ms. Whitmore, thank God. I've been trying to reach you.""
"Where are you?""
"On the aircraft.""
I looked at Robert.
"What?""
Michael continued.
"I'm in the rear service compartment. I've been hiding here since we boarded.""
Robert's expression changed completely.
"That's impossible. The rear service compartment was checked before boarding.""
"Not properly," Michael replied.
"And that's exactly why I'm calling you.""
Victoria suddenly lunged toward the intercom.
"Give me that!""
I stepped aside, holding the handset away from her.
"Don't touch it.""
"You don't understand what's happening!""
"Then explain it.""
She looked at Robert.
"Captain, you need to get these people away from the cockpit. This is becoming a security situation.""
Robert moved between her and the intercom.
"Victoria, stand back.""
For the first time, he sounded genuinely angry.
I pressed the handset closer to my ear.
"Michael, why are you hiding?""
His answer came quietly.
"Because Daniel Cross knows I'm alive.""
My stomach tightened.
"Your official employment record says you resigned three weeks ago.""
"I never resigned. They forged my signature.""
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes. I have the original incident report, and I have something even worse.""
"What?""
"The recording of Daniel ordering the maintenance team to disable the hydraulic warning before Flight 417's previous departure.""
I looked at Robert.
He slowly shook his head.
"That can't be true.""
Michael continued.
"Captain, you remember the warning during the emergency landing?""
"Of course.""
"That warning should have activated much earlier. Someone had altered the system.""
Robert gripped the edge of the counter.
"Why would anyone do that?""
"Because the aircraft had already failed an inspection. Daniel wanted it flying before the airline's major contract review.""
Victoria suddenly began crying.
"Stop it, Michael!""
The voice paused.
Then Michael said something that made everyone turn toward her.
"Victoria, you were standing beside Daniel when he gave that order. You heard everything.""
She shook her head violently.
"I didn't know what he was planning.""
"You knew enough to change the report.""
"I was protecting my job!""
Emily stepped forward.
"You threatened me because I wouldn't lie for you.""
Victoria pointed at her.
"You have no idea what he could do to us!""
I raised my hand.
"Enough. We're not going to settle this through shouting.""
I turned back to the intercom.
"Michael, can you leave the compartment safely?""
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
A long pause followed.
"Because somebody locked the access panel from the outside.""
Robert looked toward the rear of the aircraft.
"Who has access to that compartment?""
"Ground operations, maintenance, and authorized crew members," I answered.
Victoria's face drained of color.
Robert noticed.
"Victoria, what do you know?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why are you looking at the floor?""
She didn't answer.
I handed the handset to Robert.
"Captain, I want the aircraft held at the gate. Nobody leaves until we establish what is happening.""
He nodded and reached for the cockpit phone.
But before he could make the call, the cabin lights flickered.
The intercom crackled again.
Michael's voice sounded more urgent.
"Ms. Whitmore, listen to me. There's someone outside the compartment.""
I leaned toward the speaker.
"Who?""
"I can't see his face.""
"Can you hear him?""
"Yes.""
A metallic scraping sound came through the speaker.
Then Michael whispered:
"He's trying to open the panel.""
Robert immediately grabbed the radio.
"Ground control, this is Flight 417. We need airport security at our aircraft immediately.""
A reply came through.
"Flight 417, confirm your request.""
Robert glanced at me.
"Security assistance. Possible unauthorized access to the aircraft.""
I nodded.
Then Michael spoke again.
"Ms. Whitmore, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"I found a passenger manifest in this compartment.""
"Why is that important?""
"Because someone boarded this aircraft under a false identity.""
I looked toward the first-class cabin.
Thirty-seven passengers.
Fourteen crew members.
One hidden pilot.
And apparently, one person who wasn't supposed to be there.
"What's the passenger's name?"" I asked.
Michael hesitated.
Then he gave me a name.
"Daniel Cross.""
I stared at the handset.
That was impossible.
Daniel had just called us from the airline's headquarters.
Unless the man on the phone wasn't Daniel.
Or the man aboard the aircraft wasn't an ordinary passenger.
I looked at the passenger list Robert had left on the counter.
One name was highlighted in yellow.
*DANIEL J. CROSS — SEAT 2C.*
I turned slowly toward the second row.
The businessman who had been watching Victoria's behavior all morning was no longer there.
May you like
His seat was empty.
And his briefcase was gone.
