Chapter 2

My encrypted comm device had taken the coffee too. Soaked through, dead for good.

The two masked men were trading glances.

I settled on the restroom as an excuse, a chance to get a read on what they were holding.

I'd barely started toward them when Leah caught my sleeve.

"Madge, do you know those two gentlemen back there? Better not stare like that. Duane's right here, you know…"

At the sound of her voice, both of them looked up, and their eyes met mine.

My chest went tight. They'd caught me sizing them up.

Nothing to do but sit back down.

But Leah wasn't finished. When the meals came around, she dropped a cold roll on my tray table.

"Just make do, Madge. That old man next to you is what, halfway into the grave already? No sense wasting food on him."

I rubbed at my brow, worn thin. "Leah, do you think I won't report you?"

She darted straight behind Duane. "Duane, we ran a few meals short today, so I asked Madge to make do with a little and offered to take her out once we land."

"And she turns around and threatens me. Says she'll get me fired!"

Duane clicked his tongue. "It's nothing. Why are you squabbling with a young girl?"

Leah's lip pushed out. "Duane, does Madge just not like me? Everything I do, she can't stand."

I pressed the feeling back down. "I don't need you waiting on me. Please just arrange a seat for me and Grandpa Dickerson where no one bothers us. Thank you."

Leah blinked, then shook her head fast. "I'm sorry, Madge, we can't move people around like that."

She paused, a catch of a whimper in her voice. "I know I'm in your way. But there's nothing I can do about it."

"Then you don't need to come serve us anymore."

I cut her off, keeping my voice as level as I could.

She bit down on her lip, a stubborn flicker in her eyes. "No. This is my job. How could I just slack off?"

Duane sighed. "Leah's only doing her job. Stop giving her a hard time."

Leah suddenly stumbled back two steps and shrieked.

"You touched me!"

She clutched the side of her backside, eyes stretched wide at Professor Dickerson.

"What is wrong with you, old man? You grabbed my ass when you had the chance!"

Professor Dickerson stammered, "I—I didn't…"

Duane's face went hard as iron. "Sir, have some decency."

I stood and put myself between them. "He hasn't moved from his seat this whole time. One look at the cameras will show it. Leah, are you done playing games?"

Leah buried her face against Duane's shoulder. "Duane, she's still covering for the dirty old creep. Is there really something going on between her and him…"

"Madge, you should watch how this looks. Don't give people something to talk about."

Duane's expression sank, a layer of frost setting into his eyes.

"Madge Swanson, who exactly is this old man to you? Explain it to me, clearly."

I opened my mouth. Explain how?

Tell him I was running a classified mission? That Professor Dickerson was a state-protected research scientist?

When I said nothing, Duane gave a cold snort, turned, and walked off.

Leah trotted after him in quick little steps, sticking her tongue out at me and flashing a peace sign.

Professor Dickerson frowned. "Madge, while you were back there just now, that flight attendant kept trying to get into my bag."

"And she made me drink a glass of orange juice. Said she was worried I'd get thirsty."