Chapter 13 - THE AIRPORT INSIDER
The man behind the wheel was named Patrick Doyle.
For seventeen years, he had worked in airport operations.
He had access to flight schedules, gate assignments, and certain passenger-handling systems.
And he had recently authorized an unusual booking amendment involving Imani Barrett.
Lorraine stared at the photograph.
"You're telling me someone connected to Naomi's death was also connected to Imani's flight?"
Samuel nodded.
"That's what the evidence suggests."
Rebecca looked toward the window.
"Gerald wasn't on that airplane by coincidence."
The investigator agreed.
"His seat assignment was changed shortly before departure."
Lorraine frowned.
"But his boarding pass said 8C."
"Exactly. He had a valid economy reservation. There was no legitimate First-Class upgrade."
"Then why was he sitting in 3A?"
The investigator placed another document on the table.
A special-handling request had been submitted for Imani's reservation.
It contained false instructions suggesting that the child might need to be separated temporarily from her accompanying caregiver for an identity review.
Lorraine went cold.
"Separated?"
Samuel nodded grimly.
"We believe someone intended to create confusion and have Imani taken off the aircraft."
Lorraine covered her mouth.
Gerald hadn't merely insulted the little girl.
He'd been trying to provoke an incident.
A confrontation.
A complaint.
Anything that might interrupt her journey and make her vulnerable to an unauthorized transfer.
But the plan had gone wrong.
Kimberly checked the boarding passes.
The identity alert appeared.
And Captain Reynolds recognized Daniel Mercer's name.
Lorraine looked at Rebecca.
"How did the captain know Daniel?"
Rebecca smiled sadly.
"Thomas Reynolds was one of Daniel's oldest friends. They trained together early in their aviation careers."
Samuel nodded.
"Daniel had asked him to serve as an independent contact if complications arose during Imani's journey."
Lorraine remembered the captain's expression.
The envelope.
The sudden departure hold.
The security vehicle approaching the aircraft.
Now everything made sense.
He hadn't stopped the flight because Imani was wealthy.
He'd stopped the departure because the reservation contained a verified warning concerning a vulnerable minor.
And the man occupying her seat was someone named in that warning.
Rebecca looked down.
"Daniel knew Gerald might try something."
The investigator continued.
"Patrick Doyle has agreed to cooperate."
Lorraine's eyes widened.
"He admitted what happened?"
"He acknowledged making unauthorized changes to the reservation at Gerald's request."
"And Naomi?"
The investigator hesitated.
"He's also provided information concerning the sedan used on the day of her collision."
Lorraine held her breath.
According to Patrick, Gerald had ordered him to follow Naomi and retrieve her storage device.
Patrick claimed he had not known Gerald intended to harm her.
But his testimony placed Gerald near Naomi's route shortly before the crash.
Additional records showed repeated communications between Gerald and Vanessa that day.
The investigation was finally beginning to connect the pieces.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed.
"What?"
A pause.
Then she looked toward Samuel.
"The emergency estate hearing has been moved forward."
Samuel frowned.
"Why?"
"Gerald's attorneys filed a petition seeking immediate control of certain trust assets."
Lorraine stood.
"Can they do that?"
"They can file it," Samuel replied. "That doesn't mean they'll succeed."
Rebecca continued listening.
Then her face went white.
"What did you say?"
She slowly lowered the phone.
Samuel looked concerned.
"Rebecca?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"Gerald has submitted a new document."
"What document?"
"A supposed statement from Daniel Mercer withdrawing recognition of Imani as his daughter."
Lorraine felt her heart stop.
"When was it signed?"
May you like
Rebecca swallowed.
"According to Gerald, Daniel signed it the night before he died."
