Chapter 5 - The Pilot Who Wasn't Supposed to Be There
The revelation changed everything.
Khloe looked toward the cockpit door.
The captain had sounded calm.
Professional.
Helpful.
But Noah had just identified him as someone connected to Victor.
She turned to Silas.
"Mr. Costello, we need to be careful about what we assume. Noah may have seen or misunderstood something."
Silas nodded.
"What exactly did he sign?"
"He says the captain is connected to Victor."
Marcus's expression hardened.
"The captain has flown for the Costello family for six years."
Khloe looked toward him.
"Does that mean nobody could have pressured him?"
Marcus fell silent.
Silas picked up the cabin intercom.
"Captain, what's our diversion status?"
A pause.
Then the pilot answered.
"We're assessing options, Mr. Costello."
Silas frowned.
"Which airport?"
"Still coordinating."
Something in the answer troubled Khloe.
A private jet at forty-one thousand feet couldn't simply wander across the sky while the crew decided what to do.
The flight crew had established procedures for emergencies.
And the captain should've been able to provide clearer information.
Khloe discreetly contacted the first officer through the crew communication system.
"Can you confirm our intended diversion airport?"
A different voice answered.
"Shannon is under consideration. Why?"
Khloe hesitated.
"We have a serious security concern in the cabin."
A silence followed.
Then the first officer said quietly:
"I need to speak with you privately."
Her pulse quickened.
A minute later, the first officer used the crew channel again.
"The captain received an unauthorized route instruction before departure. I questioned it, but he said it came from the aircraft owner."
Khloe glanced toward Silas.
"What instruction?"
"A change to the Geneva arrival arrangements."
"Authorized by whom?"
"Victor Sterling."
Khloe went cold.
She looked toward the rear partition.
Victor was still inside.
Marcus had secured the corridor.
Silas listened as she explained what she'd learned.
His expression darkened.
"Captain Harris has known me for years."
Khloe shook her head.
"Someone may be threatening him too."
Silas looked toward Noah.
The boy was watching closely.
Then another message arrived on Marcus's phone.
This one contained a video.
A woman sat inside a small room.
Her wrists were restrained.
Her face was pale.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Silas," she whispered.
His breathing stopped.
Elena.
His wife.
Alive.
"Please don't bring Noah."
Her voice broke.
"Whatever they tell you, don't let them take our son."
The video ended abruptly.
Then a second message appeared.
The child is the key to everything.
Silas stared at the screen.
But Khloe noticed something nobody else did.
In the background of Elena's video, a small clock hung above the door.
Its hands showed 9:14.
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And beneath it was a sign bearing the logo of Costello Maritime Holdings.
Someone had been holding Elena inside one of Silas's own properties.
