Page 4 of Rescue Plans


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“He must have met unexpected turbulence.” Arianna slid off her shorts and donned the scrubs. “Clear-air turbulence is difficult to detect even with conventional radar and almost impossible to predict or avoid. It’s scary, but he seemed to have handled it well and finished his mission successfully.” She removed her cap and wrapped her ponytail into a professional looking bun. “Oh shoot!”

“What?”

“I’m wearing sandals.”

“Sorry. I don’t have an extra pair of rubber-soled shoes.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll run to my car. I have a pair of sneakers in my gym bag.”

Claudia glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back to the break room. I’m still on duty.”

“Thanks for the pizza. In the air, a full stomach fares better than an empty one.”

Claudia grabbed her arm. “Be careful with Rafael Lopez. Around here, some call himCaptain Charmerand othersCaptain Heartbreaker.”

“Seriously?”

“Call me later. I want to hear all about your crazy date with the captain.”

Captain No Fear, Captain Charmer, Captain Heartbreaker. This should prove interesting. A bitter snort escaped her. Her heart had been immunized years ago.

Arianna took the elevator to the lobby. She had ten minutes before her appointment with the famous captain, just enough time to sprint to her car, throw her clothes in the trunk, slip on her sneakers, and grab a windbreaker. She stuffed her keys, her wallet with her driver and pilot licenses, and a pack of gum into the zippered pocket of her jacket and jogged back to the lobby. Apparently, the captain wasn’t there.

“Arianna, right on time.”

She spun and found him standing next to a column, still in his uniform—navy slacks, white shirt, and a white and navy cap—a picture of self-confidence.

“Are you ready?” His dark eyes bore into hers.

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go back to the roof. By the way, who let you in before?”

He’d already asked her the question.

“I can’t remember,” she lied once more.

He burst out laughing. “All right, I won’t insist.” He led her back to the elevator and up to the roof. “Before we board, I’ll explain a few things.” He told her about his morning expedition, the smooth flight going to Jamaica, the turbulence they’d met on the way back, and how he’d had to climb through the clouds and fly above them for a moment. “For your test, I’ll simulate a copter bouncing as a result of air-turbulence. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, tell me right away.”

“Okay.”Not on your life, Captain No Fear.

For the last two years, she’d been paying a fortune for expensive and frightening flying lessons, her ultimate goals: learning to conquer her fear of heights, her fear of failure, her fear of obnoxious men, but mostly gaining self-confidence. She wanted this job more than anything in the world.

“Before we go, let me show you my pilot’s license.” She dug out her wallet, slipped out the card, and handed it to him.

He examined it carefully and returned it to her with a simple, “Good.”

He opened the copter door, held it for her, and then jumped into the pilot’s seat.

She noticed the one next to his, usually occupied by the paramedic, and proceeded to the other one intended for the nurse, the empty space beside her where the patient’s gurney would be strapped. Watching the captain, she sat and buckled her seatbelt.

“Put a helmet on,” he said as he removed his cap and adjusted his own.

“Okay.” He’d warned her that he would simulate turbulence and wanted her protected.

Captain Lopez surprised her by sticking a religious magnet onto his control board. She also had a lucky charm in her wallet—the one that so far had protected her from danger and nasty people. Following his example, she touched her wallet through the pocket’s material and whispered, “Be with me, Mom.”

As a pilot, Arianna knew it took both hands and feet to fly a helicopter.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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