His voice was warm.
Educated.
American.
Maya smiled back.
“You have children?”
“One.”
Something in his expression changed.
“Or I did.”
Sensitive subject.
A useful shield against more questions.
Maya nodded, turned, and walked away.
But not before noticing his left wrist.
A watch.
Black face.
Metal casing.
Except it was too thick.
And where the crown should have been, a tiny blue light blinked once.
Then disappeared.
In the rear galley, Maya found senior flight attendant Claire Donnelly.
“I need the passenger manifest.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“Captain’s request.”
The manifest appeared on a tablet.
Maya scanned row eighteen.
18A — Lucas Lin.
18B — Adrian Vale.
18C — Margaret Ellison.
Maya stared at the name.
Adrian Vale.
Nothing.
No recognition.
“Can you search booking details?”
Claire tapped the screen.
“Ticket purchased fourteen hours ago. One-way.”
“Payment?”
“Corporate account.”
“What company?”
Claire’s brows drew together.
“Orison Aeronautics.”
Maya felt something twist inside her.
