Not likely.
This was becoming more and more complicated. But he’d be fine. After all, all he had to do was dump them in Salzburg then return home.
A straightforward job.
––––––––
“We’ll be taking off soon, sir.” Ben spoke loudly over the hailing breeze of the wind as he stood with Parker outside the jet. Everyone had already boarded, only Parker and his sons remained standing outside. Justin looked bored, and Hugh seemed hungover.
“Good.” Parker smiled at the copilot before looking over at his sons as he pulled a box of cigarettes from his pocket. “You can go up and get comfortable if you like.” He turned back to Ben as Justin and Hugh trudged up the ramp and onto the jet. “What's the captain like?”
“Jake?” Ben gave an easy smile. “He's one of the company’s best pilots, sir.”
“So I’ve been told.” Parker lit his cigarette and took a drag. “He hasn't come down to introduce himself.”
Ben looked toward the cockpit. “I can ask him to if you like?”
“Please.” Parker blew out smoke. “I always like to meet those people in whose hands I’m putting my life into.”
As Ben signaled toward the jet, and made his way up the stairs, Parker savored his cigarette. At sixty-four years he kept himself trim and active with regular exercise. His only weakness was nicotine. But he had promised himself that the cigarette he now held between his lips would be his last until he returned from the trip. That meant three days without nicotine. He grimaced, not looking forward to the self-imposed discipline. He’d better make the most of this last one, he told himself.
––––––––
Jake cursed under his breath when Ben signaled to him from outside the window. Ben didn’t need to do more than signal to him. After working closely together for almost five years, they had their own code of communication.
So Parker Drayton wanted to meet him before takeoff, Jake thought. It was a request made by only the most pedantic of clients. Jake told himself that he shouldn't be surprised that Drayton was included in that category.
Leaving the cockpit, Jake entered the cabin. As usual, before takeoff, there was the flurry of activity and excited chatter among the passengers. Jake kept his face impassive when Hugh raked him with a derisive glance from where he lounged in his seat.
I have zero interest in you either, buddy, Jake thought and almost bumped into Ben as the other man entered the jet and headed to the cockpit.
Drayton should have looked relaxed, Jake thought as he descended the steps toward the older man. Instead he saw anxiety in Drayton’s light brown eyes.
“Jake?” Parker asked when Jake stood in front of him.
“Yes.” Jake held his hand out and briefly shook Parker's hand.
“Frank told me that you’re his best pilot,” Parker said with a polite smile.
Jake kept his expression bland. “That was kind of him.”
Parker blew out smoke. “Well, I wanted to speak to you before we took off. Firstly, I wanted to thank you for your quick response to the change of plans this morning. Gwynne told me that you were on annual leave?”
“Don't mention it,” Jake said, but Parker continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
“Secondly, I wanted to suggest that you're more than welcome to join us for a few days for skiing after we arrive.”
Jake drew back, surprise colliding with disbelief. “You're kidding?”
With a chuckle, Parker tossed his finished cigarette to the ground, extinguishing it under the heel of his boot. “Consider it a gesture of appreciation.”
“Isn’t this a business trip?”
Parker grinned. “Of course, but you wouldn’t be in the way. I’ve factored in some leisure time. All work and no play...” He chuckled.
It was out of the question of course. He had no desire to spend more time than necessary with the Draytons, but the generous offer did surprise him. Jets by Gwynne occasionally took skiing events with clients. But only in order to gain additional business, not to perfect their curves. “Thanks, but I’ll be heading straight back to London after I’ve dump– I mean after I’ve dropped you all off in Salzburg."
“Well, no need to decide now.” Parker gave a dismissive wave. "Just think about it." He started toward the jet. “The chalet we’re staying in has ten bedrooms so there's room. And after all...” Pausing on the fourth step, he grinned over his shoulder at Jake who remained on the ground. “’I believe in working hard and playing even harder.”
Chapter 3
––––––––
Nina put down her glass of Bollinger down and looked around the luxurious jet, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with Justin or Hugh. Unlike Parker, who was always engaging, his sons took pleasure in being difficult and immature.
She frowned when Angela sank back into the chair beside her, her usual dewy walnut complexion tight with strain. They hadn’t even taken off yet and already Angela sat tensely beside her. “You okay?” Nina asked her.
Angela took out her inhaler, took two puffs and then said, “I will be once we get there.”
Nina eyed the inhaler. “You’re struggling to breathe right now?”
Angela gave a deep sigh. “I struggle to breathe when my feet aren’t on firm ground. Period. That’s why I leave the travelling to you and Neil.” She began to slip the inhaler back into her clutch bag, paused, and Nina’s concern deepened when Angela slipped it inside the pocket of her trousers instead.
“We’ll be there in less than two hours,” Neil soothed from across the aisle.
“I’m counting on it.”
“Can I get you anything, Mrs. Akura?” Their stewardess, Emily, appeared. Efficient and helpful, her smile was genuine and warm. She wore a smart pink and white uniform, and her curly brown hair bounced on her shoulders. Her dark blue eyes ran over Angela’s face with concern.
Angela attempted a smile. “No I’m fine, thanks. Will we be departing soon, do you know?”
Emily smiled. “Yes. The captain is set to announce takeoff any minute now. Please let me know if you need anything.” She turned to Rita and smiled. “I’ll get you that blanket for the baby now, Mrs. Vaska. We have a couple of woolen ones.”
Rita smiled. “Perfect, thanks.”
With a smile, Emily headed off.
A moment later the captain’s voice came over the speakers, “Good morning, this is Jake, your captain, speaking. Welcome to the flight to Salzburg....”
Nina tuned him out as he went through the usual routine of asking them to put on their seatbelts, and a little while later Emily ran through the mandatory emergency evacuation procedure. Nina switched her phone to flight mode and scrolled through her messages. She hadn’t received anything from Alex, and she shouldn’t be surprised. As their je began to race down the tarmac, she settled into her seat.
“Here we go,” Neil said with a grin.
––––––––
Jake scanned the horizon. Beside him, Ben programmed in the codes for up-to-date weather and air traffic reports. Clear blue skies had been predicted all the way to Salzburg, and Jake was pleased. If he had to break his annual leave to do a job, he wanted the job to be easy. He radioed the ground control to obtain clearance. “Gatwick ground, Challenger 605 uniform, at the old tees, request taxi twenty-three for departure.”
Ground control came back immediately with confirmation clearance, as did the airport communication, much to Jake’s relief. “Challenger 605 cleared for takeoff, runway twenty-three. Enjoy your flight,” they offered in their standard spiel.
Jake began to taxi, running the engine up to high revs and adjusting the elevator trim as they traveled along the flight strip. Holding the control wheel in neutral position, he applied the back pressure to the steering yoke to get the jet up to speed.
He couldn't say the exact number of times he’d done this. It was too numerous to count. Yet, he never grew tire of flying. The adrenaline rush was differen
t each time, or maybe it was how the weightlessness of being in the air or maybe how the altitude changed the scenery. Maybe it was how at one moment everything looked so solid and structured with distinct colors, and then rapidly blurred as everything molded together.
“Let’s climb,” he shouted as they gained speed.
And at that moment, the break in his holiday, the hassle of re-juggling his plans, even the fact that he was piloting Drayton, was forgotten. Now, all that mattered was this.
––––––––
The signal for seat belts flashed off and Nina unsnapped hers, grateful to have more flexibility. She glanced at Angela beside her. Angela had her eyes tightly closed and was breathing heavily, clearly agitated and trying to be brave about it. Nina’s heart went out to her, she knew how much Angela disliked flying.
As the jet gathered altitude, Nina peered out of her window; white clouds greeted her. The captain’s voice came overhead then, announcing they were currently at twenty thousand feet, and Nina marveled at the breakneck speed that their small jet could achieve so quickly.
Nina looked across at Neil and Rita, grinning when she saw they had followed their son's example in succumbing to sleep. With Luke nestled snugly between them, they looked like a close-knit unit.
“Is Angela all right?” Parker was looking at Angela with a concerned expression.
“She’ll be fine, but she doesn’t enjoy flying.”
Parker frowned. “I wasn't aware."
"I thought you knew your lawyers really well, Dad," Justin drawled. Sprawled out across two seats behind Hugh who sat in front, Justin arched a brow at Parker. His gaze switched to Emily, watching her put down the ice bucket.
Pushing her seat further back, Nina stretched her legs out and went to sleep.
––––––––
A loud curse awoke her from her snooze some time later. Blinking, she squinted down at her watch; she had been asleep for over an hour. Angela seemed more relaxed now that the plane had levelled out and was flying smoothly. Angela was sleeping, her chest rising and falling steadily, and Nina was relieved. Neil, Luke and Rita were asleep too.
“Darn it.”
Nina’s gaze shot towards Hugh who had just sworn. He was draped over his armrest, his light eyes brightened with a feverish glow, which instantly made Nina uneasy. “I’m dry,” he told Emily in accusation, indicating his empty glass. “Fill me up will you. But none of that lame champagne. Bring me vodka.”
Lame champagne? Nina stared at him in amazement. Surely, he was aware that the champagne Emily had poured Parker was quality stuff.
Parker’s eyes narrowed on the two empty glasses already sitting on the table in front of Hugh. “Haven’t you had enough?”
Nina shifted uncomfortably in her seat and wished she could have remained asleep and oblivious.
“I can hold my drink,” Hugh insisted and thrust out his glass to Emily. “Get the vodka again,” he ordered.
Emily cast an uneasy look at Parker.
“No more.” Parker’s mouth was tight. “That’s enough for him. Thank you, Emily.” He reached over and attempted to take the glass out of Hugh’s hand. But Hugh held onto it, and a moment later, the glass cracked in both their hands.
Nina and Emily gasped.
Parker swore under his breath as blood seeped through his and Hugh’s fingers.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Hugh shouted. Furious, he looked around for a napkin. “Shut up,” he snapped at his brother who was laughing.
But Justin continued to laugh. “All this for some vodka?” He shook his head in amusement. “Get her to get you another drink.” He shrugged. “That’s what she’s here for.”
Nina exchanged a glance with Angela. Angela’s expression was easy for Nina to decipher: What in the heck are we doing here?
Emily hurried back toward the galley. “I’ll get some tissues and a broom,” she said over her shoulder as she darted away.
Good, Nina searched inside her handbag and dug out tissues. “Here.” She passed them to Parker and Hugh.
Rita scooped Luke up from his seat and put him on her lap. Gently, she began to rub his back.
Nina exchanged a glance with Neil.
Emily returned with a wad of tissues, a small first aid kit, and a dustpan with a brush.
The cabin was eerily silent and tense; only the sound of Luke’s whimpers and Rita’s soft cooing were audible as Emily swept up the fallen glass from the floor.
Parker had discarded the tissue Nina had given him, and now pressed a clean one to his hand. With a grimace, he watched Emily sweep up the broken glass. “Sorry, Emily.”
“It’s okay,” she said, but the stewardess’ expression remained strained.
Nina took a plaster from the first aid kit and handed it to Parker. A moment later Emily had finished sweeping.
“Thanks." With grim eyes, Parker looked over at Hugh who had slumped back into his seat. Hugh hadn’t bothered to administer a plaster to his own cut fingers, and Nina watched in stunned disbelief as he rested his bloodied hand against the smooth cream leather chair in front of him. She cast a glance at Parker, but he was looking at Emily.
“Thanks, Emily,” he said. “We’ll call you if we need anything else.”
“Of course,” she replied, and left quickly, not bothering to hide her eagerness to get away.
Parker frowned as Hugh rose unsteadily to his feet, his injured fingers digging into the chair for support. “Sit down, Hugh,” he commanded.
“I haven’t had my drink,” he shouted back. He swayed backwards. “Where’s Emma gone?” he demanded.
“Her name is Emily,” Parker corrected wearily. “And she’s not getting you another drink. Can you sit down please? Sleep it off. We’ll be in Salzburg in a couple of hours.”
“So, I should keep quiet and...sleep?” Hugh offered his father a wide cocky grin that was marred by his sweating face and bloodshot eyes. “Why? So you can pretend that you’re the perfect parent in front of your clients?”
Justin turned to stare out of the window.
Oh man, Nina briefly squeezed her eyes shut.
“Hugh.” It was Neil who spoke, and Nina opened her eyes to watch him. Neil’s expression was open and relaxed. Attempting, Nina knew, to shift the atmosphere in the cabin to one of ease and comfort. “Why don’t we all relax and enjoy the flight, hmm?” He forced a smile. “I know your father wants to spend time with you and Justin.”
“Is that what he told you?” Hugh slurred. With a wobbly laugh, he perched gingerly on the armrest.
Parker looked at Hugh steadily. “Sleep it off,” he repeated.
Hugh didn’t appear to have heard him. “You think I’m useless, don’t you? I saw the way you were looking at that pilot before we took off. I saw you talking to him. Think he’s better than I am? Think he’s smarter?”
Nina stared at him.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Hugh.” Parker sighed, and then grimaced when Hugh merely turned away and slipped back into his chair and stared straight ahead.
A horrible silence filled the cabin; everyone made the effort not to look at anyone else.
Then Hugh suddenly leaped from his seat, startling everyone. On unsteady legs, he hobbled away from them.
Confused, Nina craned her neck to see where he was going.
“Where are you going now?” Parker demanded, leaning out of his chair to watch his son. “Hugh?”
Within seconds, Nina saw Hugh at the front just outside the cockpit. But her brain still didn’t register what he could be doing until he had his hand on the cockpit door.
“What the–?” Neil began, and together with Parker and Justin, scrambled from his seat and started after the intoxicated man.
Nina was out of her seat before she realized it, only Angela and Rita remaining seated. Rita clutched Luke in her arms, and Angela gripped the armrests. “What’s he doing?” Angela called.
Nina didn’t know and didn’t want to know. Yet she obv
iously did because her eyes refused to leave Hugh’s rigid back.
But a moment later, he’d slipped into the cockpit, slamming the door shut just as the other men reached it.
And Nina’s heart stopped with the unmistakable sound of the door locking behind him.
––––––––
Jake jerked when something solid slammed into his back. “What the–?” His head whipped around and he found himself looking into the unfocused gaze of Hugh Drayton.
Then Ben suddenly fell forward on the display panel, the other man’s head striking the board with a loud thud. It was then that Jake saw Hugh peeling himself off Ben’s crumpled form.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jake screamed, but his scream went unheard as Hugh, breathing hard and reeking of alcohol and frustration, swayed unsteadily on his feet.
Unable to believe his eyes, Jake began to rise, but Hugh’s fist connected with his chin, snapping his head back. Swearing viciously, Jake steadied himself by grabbing the control wheel and just managed to block Hugh’s next blow with his free arm.
He scored his own blow when his fist connected with crunching satisfaction against Hugh’s nose. Hugh howled like a banshee and toppled backward, falling on top of Ben who still lay over the display panel.
Aware of the jet beginning to descend and the blood dripping down his nose from Hugh’s punch, Jake tried to keep the jet steady and the blood from dripping from his nose. He could already tell that they’d lost altitude. Could feel it. He didn’t need to check the dials.
When Hugh began to rise off Ben like a rousing demon, Jake’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Stay back,” he snarled, “or I swear I’ll kill you myself.” His gaze shifted to his friend. “Ben?” he shouted over the roar of the engine. “Ben? Can you hear me, buddy?” But there was no movement. Ben lay immobile, his eyes tightly shut.
“I can fly this thing,” Hugh insisted, and struggled to sit up, eyes looking longingly at the control panel. “Heck, planes fly themselves these days so what's the big deal?” He slithered on the floor like a snake, grabbing the arm of Ben’s chair with a grasping hand. “I’ll show you. I'll be your second in command.”
Spiral and Torn Books 1 and 2 of The Salzburg Saga Trilogy Page 3
