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This was no drill.
This was the real deal.
Leah swallowed the vomit that nearly rushed out of her. She needed to sit. She needed to see her parents, her sister, and Chase. Sweet Chase. Her fiancé.
More gunshots. Each one caused Leah to jerk as if she were being hit. Over and over again. Screeching metal and an earsplitting explosion made everyone shout.
A small girl near Leah slapped her hands over her ears as she pressed her face against her mother’s legs. Her small shoulders shook with sobs. Poor thing. If the fear building in Leah’s body was any indication, this little one had to be overwhelmed by terror.
Leah slid her laptop bag off her shoulder and unzipped it. She reached inside and pulled out the two stuffed bears she’d bought on her trip. The pair had caught her eye in a gift shop because they had Velcro on their paws so they could hug each other. For some reason, they reminded her of her and Chase.
She wiggled the bears at the little girl who peeked through tear-soaked lashes at them. Demonstrating how the arms could be repositioned using the Velcro, Leah held the pair out to the girl.
The child took two steps away from her mother and tentatively reached out small hands.
“It’s okay,” Leah said. “I think they need someone to take care of them. Do you want to be that someone?”
The girl nodded and hugged the bears to her chest.
“Thank you,” the mother said. “Let me pay you for them.” She unzipped her purse.
“No,” Leah said, stopping her. “There’s no need. Seeing them in good hands is payment enough.”
Both mother and child gave her shaky smiles.
More gunshots. Everyone cringed. The girl hugged the bears.
Twenty minutes later, the announcement they’d all been waiting for came.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the shooter has been disarmed and is in custody. The airport is now secure. If you’ll be patient for a bit longer, you’ll all be on your way home shortly.”
A collective sigh of relief rose up from the passengers along with loud applause from everywhere in the airport. Leah’s heartbeat slowed to a normal pace. Thank God. Maybe this flying alone and going on grand adventures was better left to other people. She liked home. Home, safe, home.
She tapped her phone screen, hoping to get her family or Chase now. Before she could, however, the phone vibrated in her hands. She didn’t recognize the number, but something told her to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Is this Miss Leah Greenstead?” a male voice asked.
“Yes. Who is this?” Her heartbeat was crawling back up into the abnormally fast range again.
“This is Officer Peter Harrison of NYPD. Are you among the passengers being held inside right now?”
“I am.” Why was he calling her? Why wasn’t anyone else around her getting a call from the police?
“Do you know a Mr. Chase Bennett?”
“Yes.” Her throat was so dry.
“I’m sending someone to get you, Miss Greenstead.”
She had a million questions her mind wouldn’t form completely. Instead she pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. Eventually the screen went to the home screen—a picture of her and Chase. She was looking at the camera, but he was looking at her, his lips pressed to her cheek.
She knew before the officer came for her. Her soul knew that Chase was gone. A sudden emptiness crashed over her and she slumped to the floor. The little girl and her mother rushed to her side.
“We’re okay, honey,” the mother said. “It’s over.”
“We’re going home now.” The little girl held out the bears. “Do you want your bears back?”
