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“Hold on. I need a second.”
I had to jump from platform to platform. It wasn’t as simple as typing in the flight number and pressing search. If there was going to be chatter, it was going to be coded. The dark web had a way of being confusing quickly, if I didn’t pay attention.
I inhaled sharply.
“What is it? Do you see something?” he asked. “Fuck. We need something fast. We need a source.” AJ smiled at Cindy when she walked by with an empty tray.
I shook my head. “No. But someone sees me.”
“Who? Can they help?”
“I don’t know.” I cringed. There was an unfamiliar nervousness in my fingertips I never had when I was on the dark web. It wasn’t natural anymore. This wasn’t where I lived. I had buried this part of me years ago.
I didn’t want to jump back into this life. I didn’t want to reconnect. I didn’t want my old contacts to see I had resurfaced. But if I didn’t, there was a chance everyone onboard might die. So far we were following an elliptical pattern around D.C. AJ was right. The gas would eventually run out. No matter what we were facing on the ground, we were going to have to land at some point. There was an expiration on how long we could circle. The seconds ticked off the clock with every pass of the jet. We couldn’t coast on fumes.
“Ask. Ask him. Now,” he urged.
“Her,” I corrected.
“Fine. Ask her about the flight. Someone has to know something in there. There has to be chatter.”
I typed in a coded message. Diamond Dragon was skittish. At least she had been for the years I had known her online profile. This was a long-shot. I didn’t expect her to respond.
“She re-directed me,” I told him.
“Where?”
“To a room where they’re talking about it.”
“Fuck. How fast can you get in there?”
I held my breath and entered the code. “Now.” I exhaled.
AJ laughed. “Incredible. God, you’re amazing, Syd.”
I couldn’t stop to let the praise warm me. It didn’t mean anything. We were trying to save everyone on board this flight. I had to focus on the dark web chatter. Not AJ’s voice. Not the proximity of his body, or the fact that his hand was still gripping my thigh.
The flight attendant bell rang one row behind our heads. “Hey, I’m not going to make my connection to New York,” the passenger complained.
Jeff walked over, straightening his nametag. I was impressed he could remain calm. AJ shielded my screen.
“Sir, the pilot made an announcement. There is an issue on the ground. We have to circle until we have clearance to land. Can I bring you a beverage while we wait?”
“I don’t want a damn gin and tonic. I need to get to New York. What are you going to do if I miss my flight? I expect a reimbursement. And a new ticket. I only fly first class. Are you going to be able to do that?” It sounded more like a threat than an inquiry.
I tried to keep my head down and scan for chatter, but the backseat passenger wasn’t satisfied.
“As soon as we’re on the ground someone at the gate can assist you,” Jeff explained.
“Why can’t you assist me? There’s internet. You do it,” the passenger argued. “You’re supposed to provide service.”
Jeff smarted back with something incredibly sassy. He had lost his patience and customer service.
“We have to get ahead of this,” AJ spoke lowly. “Circling makes them antsy. Once they get wind of what’s happening, they are going to panic. I have to know what we’re dealing with. The flight crew is trained, but there’s no air marshal on this flight. I’m all we have if things get out of control.”
I could feel his breath along my neck. It wasn’t meant to illicit a response. How did I control my body? How did I stop the reaction? How did I stop the memories of his lips on my body? His breath between my thighs. His tongue tangled with mine.
“How do you know that? They are supposed to be undercover. There
