Chapter 2 - THE MESSAGE HIDDEN BENEATH THE BLANKET
Alexander Vale had received death threats before.
Hundreds.
Some written.
Some whispered.
Some delivered by men who never survived long enough to explain who sent them.
But none had ever come from a ten-year-old girl standing barefoot in an airplane aisle.
He looked at Leah.
"Say that again."
She swallowed.
"The voice said you wouldn't reach New York."
Daniel Mercer, Alexander's security chief, immediately turned toward the flight attendant.
"We need the captain."
The attendant nodded and disappeared toward the cockpit.
Alexander carefully laid his son, Noah, in the bassinet.
The baby continued crying.
A medical professional traveling in first class stepped forward.
"May I examine him?"
Alexander nodded.
The woman introduced herself as Dr. Emily Foster, a pediatrician from Boston.
She carefully checked Noah's breathing, skin, and general condition.
Then she examined the black disc without pressing it.
"This shouldn't be here."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"What is it?"
"I'm not certain. It could be an electronic device."
Daniel spoke quietly.
"We should treat it as suspicious."
The captain was informed.
A decision was made to divert to the nearest suitable airport so authorities and medical personnel could examine the infant and the object.
Leah stood beside the curtain.
For a moment, she wished she'd never gotten up.
She'd only wanted to help the baby.
Now the entire aircraft was changing course because of something she'd found.
Alexander noticed her expression.
"Leah."
She looked up.
"You did the right thing."
She shook her head.
"People are going to be angry."
"Why?"
"Because we're going to be late."
Alexander stared at her.
Then something in his face softened.
"An inconvenience is better than someone getting hurt."
Leah nodded.
But she looked toward economy.
"My sister."
Alexander followed her gaze.
"Where is she?"
"Back there."
"Who's looking after her?"
Leah's eyes lowered.
"Nobody."
His expression changed.
"What about your parents?"
Leah gripped the hem of her sweatshirt.
"Our mom is missing."
Alexander stopped breathing for a moment.
"Missing?"
She nodded.
"And our dad?"
Leah shook her head.
"We don't know him."
Alexander studied her.
Two children traveling alone.
One ten.
One three.
A suspicious electronic disc in their kitchen.
A threat against his life.
And a missing mother.
Nothing about this was coincidence.
"Leah, does anyone know you're on this flight?"
She hesitated.
"My aunt Celia."
"Did she arrange your tickets?"
"No."
Alexander frowned.
"Who did?"
Leah looked down.
"Our mom bought them last year."
He waited.
"She said we might need to visit Aunt Celia someday."
"Where does your aunt live?"
"Queens."
Alexander nodded.
"Have you spoken to her recently?"
Leah shook her head.
"I tried."
"What happened?"
"Her phone didn't work."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Sir, we should inform the authorities about the children."
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
He looked back at Leah.
"Do you have any documents with you?"
She nodded.
"In my backpack."
"What kind?"
"Our passports. The travel letter. And something Mom left."
His expression sharpened.
"What did she leave?"
Leah hesitated.
Then reached beneath her sweatshirt.
A small silver necklace hung around her neck.
Attached was a tiny metal key.
"My mother told me never to take this off."
Alexander stared at it.
His face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
Leah stepped backward.
"Mom gave it to me."
He slowly lowered himself to her eye level.
"Leah, I need to ask you something."
She nodded.
"Does your mother have a scar on her right wrist?"
Leah's mouth fell open.
"Yes."
Alexander swallowed.
"And does she speak Italian?"
"Sometimes."
His expression became almost unrecognizable.
"What's her name?"
Leah stared.
Then whispered:
"Elena Bennett."
Alexander closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
May you like
Then he looked directly at Leah.
"Your mother worked for me six years ago. And I was told she died in a warehouse fire."
