The corner of Smith’s mouth ticked up. So did Val’s. Fury sighed. “Anubis, get with our European counterparts and brief them on the situation if Air Traffic Control hasn’t already done so. Val, you need to disappear.”
“I know. We’ll make it happen.” Val nodded. She was prepared to become a wallflower in the situation. “Smith has been the point on all interaction with the aircrew, and I tagged the broken neck of the first hijacker on him.”
Fury grunted. “Good call. We can work with that. What airport are you heading to?”
“Heathrow. At least, that was the plan. Not sure they’ll let us in British air space now.”
“On it,” Anubis said.
“CCS, get them up and follow them.”
“Flight number?” the woman asked.
“Eight-eight-three-six,” Val replied. “Is CCS fully operational?”
“Seventy-five percent for emergencies. It’s only been a few months since my office blew up. We have a lot of work to do,” the woman said. “However it isn’t needed for this. All flights are broadcast for governmental monitoring of Air Traffic Control. I can hop on the back of any number of programs, and … there you are. Approaching Scotland.”
“Val, once you get yourself and Smith out of the clusterfuck this situation put you in, you’ll call. We’ll need a complete debrief.” Fury cleared his throat. “Good job. Fury out.”
“Oh, damn, I bet that hurt him.” Smoke chuckled.
“He’s got a lot on his plate,” Anubis said.
“True, we all do. Smith, keep Val out of the public’s eye. Video, picture, or television. You copy?” Smoke’s words sounded more like an order than a request.
“I understand,” Smith acknowledged. “I’ll do as you ask, but I don’t work for Guardian any longer.” He glanced up at Val and shrugged. “My employment ended when Mrs. Henshaw passed.”
“According to our records, you’re on the payroll,” CCS replied.
Smith’s eyes dropped to the floor, and he replied, “I assumed that was a mistake.”
“No. I knew we’d find a place for you. I made that call,” Smoke answered. “Charley and I have your six, man. You sure as hell had ours when we needed it. Now, do us a solid and make sure Val is out of the conversation you have with any law enforcement entity, will you?”
“Need I remind you that I can take care of myself? I am not a fainting flower.” Sweet sarcasm dripped from her words.
“Yeah, yeah, but having the big guy watching your six will only make things easier. Smith, that device is neutralized. You explain to whatever police entity boards that plane about the need to keep those wires apart.”
“I was here. I understand.” Smith looked at her as they felt the plane bank into a turn.
“We’re turning,” Val said to the phone.
Anubis answered the unspoken question. “You’ve been cleared for an emergency landing at Heathrow.”
“How do you know that?” Smith asked.
There was a laugh at the other end of the line, then Smoke answered, “Smith, if you learn anything about us today, it’s that Guardian has connections.”
Smith’s gaze shifted to the front of the cabin. “It would seem.”
Val sighed. “We’re going to get ready for landing. I’ll call when I can.”
She signed off the phone after everyone else did. “I need to go take care of a few things. You okay to handle this?” She waved at the bomb and the bulkhead.
Smith straightened and rolled his shoulders. “I am. You don’t need to worry; I won’t let you down.”
She glanced at the curtained partition to the central part of the plane. “You could never let me down, Smith.” She lifted onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “When they ask where I am, I’m in my pod, crying in a huddled heap of nerves. Got it?”
Smith fought the urge to smile. “Not a fainting flower, huh?”
“Keep your earpiece in.” She winked at him and hurried to her pod. It was time to become someone else.
4
Smith ensured the backpack was stable before heading to the curtained-off area between first class and the main cabin. He opened the curtain, and when the covey of attendants turned, he motioned to the one who’d been in first class with him and said, “Sabrina.” At least, that was the name on her uniform.
She came over immediately, saying, “We’ve been cleared for an emergency landing, but the captain is waiting to find out if he can descend.”
“He can. The explosive has been neutralized. You can tell the air marshal he can resume his duties.”
Smith grunted when Sabrina hugged him. “Thank you. You’re a true hero.”
“Is she hugging you?” Val’s voice was tinged with a bit of humor.
“Yeah, I’m not. Thanks for the hug.” He patted her on the shoulder, answering Sabrina and Val. “I need to get back in there until the marshal takes control of the situation.”
“Of course.” She let him go and grabbed the phone as he slipped back into the first-class cabin and went to the front. The doctor was sitting beside Donnie, who was obviously dead. “You okay, doc?”
The doctor lifted his head. “No. Not really. This is senseless.” The man waved at the dead hijacker and then Donnie. “What type of madman does this?” The doctor’s eyes fell on the bound hijacker. “His hand is swelling. Soon, the blood will be cut off, and he’ll have permanent damage.”
“Yeah, the way it’s crushed, he’ll probably have that no matter what.” Smith nudged the hijacker. “You want your hand to fall off?”
“Fuck you.” the man hissed back.
Smith looked at the doctor. “He’s good. I’ll help you back to your seat.”
The doctor shook his head. “Let me clean up. If I walk back there like this, I’ll terrify the entire plane.”
Smith sighed. “Hate to tell you this, doc, that button was pushed when we evacuated first class because of the bomb.”
“A bomb?” the doctor squeaked.
Smith reassured him, “We determined the triggering device, and it’s been neutralized. Go out and grab a pod. Law enforcement will want to talk with you, too.”
“Actually, we’ll be detaining the entire flight. No one is going to make their connections today.” The air marshal walked into the area. Smith was pretty damn sure the guy had been listening to their conversation, but Val hadn’t said anything. “My name’s Geoff Parker. Air marshal. Good work in here.”
“Smithson Young. Guardian.” And now, he felt like an imposter. Guardian was a company with integrity and status. He was a nobody who’d survived on the streets.
“Yeah, we checked. My people contacted yours when this first started to validate your credentials. Sorry, I had to be sure.” Geoff bent over the dead hijacker. “How did this happen?”
Smith cocked his head at the statement. When they spoke, Guardian didn’t say anything about the air marshal checking his credentials. But they were working a crisis. “You dislocated his elbow, swept his feet, and he landed awkwardly, breaking his neck.” Val’s words filled his ear. What? Ah, Geoff had asked a question, hadn’t he? Smith repeated her words.