“Maya!”
“What?”
“Reeves is part of it!”
Her heart stopped.
“What?”
“He was recruited three years ago. We suspected someone in the cockpit, but we never knew which pilot.”
Another steep drop sent screams through the cabin.
Aaron shouted over the chaos.
“The request for a fighter pilot wasn’t a coincidence!”
Maya stared toward the cockpit.
“He knew I was here.”
“Yes.”
The entire night rearranged itself inside her mind.
Captain Reeves had not been searching for help.
He had been summoning her.
Drawing her out.
Confirming her identity.
Giving Ethan a reason to reveal himself.
Leo clung to Maya.
“Mom, I’m scared.”
She held his face between her hands.
“Look at me.”
His frightened eyes met hers.
“Remember when you fell off your bike?”
He nodded.
“You said you couldn’t get back on.”
“I did.”
“And what happened?”
“You made me try again.”
“No.”
Maya smiled faintly.
