Chapter 1 - THE LETTER THAT STOPPED THE AIRPLANE
"Captain, don't open that letter. The person who sent it is standing outside the aircraft."
The warning crackled through the cockpit radio.
Captain Thomas Reynolds froze with the cream-colored envelope in his hand.
Ten-year-old Imani Barrett looked up at him, her brown eyes wide with confusion.
"Sir? Is that letter really for me?"
Nobody answered.
Across the aisle, Gerald Whitford, the businessman who had stolen her First-Class seat, suddenly stopped breathing normally.
Lorraine Parker noticed.
He wasn't angry anymore.
He was frightened.
The captain slowly rose to his feet.
"Kimberly, please keep our passengers comfortable. We have a matter to resolve before departure."
Then he looked directly at Gerald.
"Sir, your assigned seat is 8C. You'll need to return to it."
Gerald swallowed.
"Captain, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"That makes two misunderstandings you've mentioned in five minutes."
A few passengers exchanged glances.
Gerald reached for his briefcase.
"I'm an important client of this airline."
The captain's expression remained cold.
"Every passenger on my aircraft is important."
He looked toward Imani.
"Especially children who deserve to be treated with respect."
Imani lowered her head.
For the first time since boarding, someone besides Lorraine had defended her without making her feel troublesome.
But the captain wasn't finished.
"Mr. Whitford, airport security would like to speak with you."
Gerald's face drained of color.
"Security? Over a seating disagreement?"
"No," the captain replied.
"Over something considerably more serious."
The aircraft door reopened under the crew's supervision.
Two airline security representatives entered.
Behind them stood a woman in a navy business suit carrying a leather folder.
She looked about fifty, with silver-streaked dark hair and an expression that changed the moment she saw Imani.
"Oh, sweetheart," she whispered.
Imani tightened her grip on Lorraine's hand.
"Do I know you?"
The woman stopped.
"No, honey. But I knew your mother."
Lorraine stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"Rebecca Mercer."
The name meant nothing to Imani.
But it meant something to the captain.
He immediately lowered his voice.
"Mrs. Mercer, we received the identity alert."
Rebecca nodded.
"I know."
Her eyes moved toward Gerald.
For one terrifying second, all the warmth disappeared from her face.
"Why is that man sitting in her seat?"
Gerald looked away.
Rebecca took another step.
"Gerald Whitford. I thought the court order made our position perfectly clear."
Lorraine stared between them.
"Court order?"
Gerald stood abruptly.
"This is harassment!"
Rebecca didn't raise her voice.
"No. Harassment is following a ten-year-old child onto an airplane after a judge ordered you to stay away from her."
The cabin erupted into whispers.
Imani felt her stomach twist.
"Miss Lorraine?"
Lorraine knelt beside her.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
But her voice trembled.
Rebecca looked toward the captain.
"The envelope contains information that must be delivered through the proper legal representatives. Please don't open it here."
He nodded.
"Understood."
Gerald tried to move toward the exit.
One security representative stopped him.
"Mr. Whitford, we need you to come with us."
Gerald's voice grew desperate.
"You people have no idea what you're doing!"
Rebecca looked him straight in the eyes.
"I know exactly what you've been doing."
Then she turned toward Lorraine.
"Ms. Parker, you deserve an explanation."
Lorraine stood protectively beside Imani.
"Then start talking."
Rebecca opened her folder.
"Daniel Mercer died twelve days ago."
The captain lowered his head.
Rebecca continued.
"He left behind a substantial estate and a confidential legal instruction concerning Naomi Barrett's daughter."
Imani's eyes widened.
"My mommy?"
Rebecca nodded gently.
"Yes."
"What did he know about her?"
The older woman's expression softened.
"More than anyone realized."
She removed a photograph from her folder.
Naomi Barrett stood beside a smiling man in a navy suit.
Imani recognized her mother's favorite yellow scarf.
She reached toward the picture.
"That's Mommy."
Rebecca nodded.
Then she revealed the words that made Lorraine's knees nearly give way.
"Daniel Mercer was Naomi Barrett's husband."
Imani stared at her.
"But Mommy was never married."
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
"Sweetheart, your mother was married."
May you like
She looked directly at the little girl.
"And Daniel Mercer was your father."
