Chapter 2: The Man in Row Four
The man in row four had aged badly.
That was my first thought.
Not because he looked old.
Because guilt had finally started showing on his face.
His hair was grayer than I remembered, his jaw thinner, and there were deep lines around his mouth that hadn’t been there five years earlier.
But I recognized him.
Daniel Price.
Former chief counsel for Bennett & Cole.
Former friend of my late father.
And the man who had testified that I was “not involved in the company’s financial decisions.””
A lie that cost me nearly everything.
I looked at Captain Reed.
“Do you know him?””
Captain Reed’s expression hardened.
“I know his name.””
Daniel gave a small laugh.
“Rachel, this really isn’t the place.””
“No,” I said.
“It’s exactly the place.””
Several passengers were openly listening now.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“We need a private conversation.””
“You should have thought about privacy before standing up in front of forty people and saying my name.””
His eyes flicked toward Captain Reed.
“Captain, this is a family matter.””
“It doesn’t sound like one,” Captain Reed said.
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand.””
“I don’t need to.””
Captain Reed pointed toward Daniel’s seat.
“Sit down.””
Daniel obeyed.
For the next twenty minutes, he didn’t look at me.
Neither did I look at him.
But I could feel his attention.
When the plane finally pushed back from the gate, my phone vibrated.
One message.
Unknown number.
*You should have stayed away from Chicago.*
I stared at the screen.
A second message appeared.
*They know you’re coming.*
I typed nothing.
A third arrived.
*Your father didn’t die for the reason you were told.*
My throat tightened.
That was the one sentence capable of cutting through years of anger.
My father had died three years before.
Officially, a heart attack.
That was what the doctors said.
That was what the newspapers printed.
That was what Daniel Price had repeated when he delivered the condolences on behalf of the company.
I had spent three years trying not to wonder whether there was more to it.
I locked my phone.
“Everything okay?”” Captain Reed asked from the aisle.
“Yes.””
He studied my face.
“You’re a terrible liar.””
I almost smiled.
“You’re a terrible pilot if you spend this much time watching passengers.””
“I’m excellent at multitasking.””
I looked toward the cockpit.
“Go fly your plane.””
“Yes, ma’am.””
He started to walk away.
“Captain.””
He stopped.
“Who told you I was traveling under a different name?””
His expression changed.
“I didn’t say you were.””
“You did.””
“I said you were traveling differently.””
“No. You said under a different name.””
Silence.
Then Captain Reed glanced toward the front galley.
“I may have said too much.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He came closer.
“After we land, stay inside the terminal.””
“Why?””
“Because someone requested your arrival information.””
I felt cold move through my chest.
“Who?””
He shook his head.
“I wasn’t given a name.””
“Then how do you know I’m in danger?””
“I don’t.””
“That’s not what your face says.””
He hesitated.
Then he said, “My face is none of your business.””
Despite everything, I laughed.
“Now you sound like my father.””
Captain Reed’s smile disappeared.
“You never told me he was your father.””
The words landed strangely.
“You know my father?””
“Not personally.””
“Then how—”
The intercom chimed.
Captain Reed looked toward the cockpit.
“Ms. Bennett, I need to go.””
He walked away.
Daniel stood again.
This time I didn’t stop him.
He came toward my seat and crouched beside the empty seat across the aisle.
“Rachel.””
“I’m listening.””
“You need to cancel the meeting in Chicago.””
“I’m not canceling anything.””
“It isn’t safe.””
“Coming from you, that means nothing.””
His face fell.
“I deserved that.””
“Yes.””
“I’m trying to fix what happened.””
“What happened?””
He looked around.
Then whispered, “Your father found something.””
My heart began pounding.
“About what?””
“Money.””
“What money?””
He glanced toward the flight attendant.
Then back at me.
“Forty-two million dollars.””
I stared at him.
“Where did it go?””
Daniel opened his mouth.
The plane suddenly jolted.
A few passengers gasped.
Captain Reed’s voice came over the speakers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to experience some turbulence. Please remain seated.””
Daniel grabbed the armrest.
I steadied my handbag.
The turbulence lasted less than a minute.
When it ended, Daniel looked at me again.
“Your father knew about an offshore account.””
I whispered, “Whose?””
He swallowed.
“Yours.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Rachel, he believed someone had been using your identity to move money.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you telling me this now?””
He leaned closer.
“Because the account was accessed again yesterday.””
“By whom?””
Daniel looked toward the cockpit.
Then he said something that made the blood drain from my face.
“The person who accessed it used a name you know very well.””
“What name?””
He opened his mouth.
The flight attendant suddenly appeared beside us.
“Sir, you need to return to your seat.””
Daniel stood.
His eyes locked on mine.
“I’ll tell you when we land.””
He walked away.
I watched him return to row four.
Then my phone vibrated again.
This time, there was an attachment.
A scanned bank document.
At the bottom was a signature.
I knew it immediately.
May you like
It belonged to my mother.
My mother had been dead for eleven years.