Maya stared between the radio and the man beside her.
Adrian whispered, “Of course he’d say that.”
“Who are you?” Maya demanded.
“Ask Ethan.”
“Who are you?”
Adrian met her eyes.
“I was on the investigation team that declared him d/e/@/d.”
The storm thickened around Flight 417.
Reeves ordered Pierce to maintain heading manually.
Maya grabbed the microphone.
“Ethan, tell me what happened eight years ago.”
No response.
“Tell me now.”
Static.
Then—
“Adrian Vale sold the technology that compromised our squadron.”
Adrian laughed.
“That’s clever.”
“You’re lying,” Ethan said.
Adrian stepped toward the radio.
“You always were good at deciding which version of the truth people deserved.”
Maya looked at him.
“You two know each other.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“We worked together.”
“In the Air Force?”
“No.”
Ethan interrupted.
“Maya, get him away from the cockpit.”
Adrian lifted his wrist.
“Ask him why his F-16 has no registered military identification.”
