Missing (7 page)

Fitzpatrick shook his head. She was being manipulative again. She seemed to think that he would fold to her desires every time she raised her voice.

“
I don’t have a choice. When disasters hit, I have to go there and coordinate the relief efforts.”

“
That seems to be happening a lot lately.”

Fitzpatrick nodded. “Yes, I know. That happens in nature a lot, and we have no control over what or when a natural disaster will occur. But, it’s the end of summer and it will be over soon.”

“
So, what am I supposed to do while you are gone?”

He looked at her a moment. She was pouting, but this time he was not going to give in. He picked up his fork and took another bite. Then he got an idea and looked up at her.

“
Go somewhere for the weekend. Go stay at a spa, go to a hotel somewhere, do whatever you want to do.” He knew that whatever she did, it would cost him. She would get even with him by charging everything she could to his credit card. New clothes, makeovers, massages, whatever she could think of. It never failed to amaze him how many things she could charge sometimes.

She glared at him for a few moments, and then stood up. “All right. That’s what I will do then.”

“
Where are you going to go?”

“
I don’t know right now. I will call Susan tomorrow morning and see where she would like to go. Guess I’ll see you whenever you get back.” She stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

Fitzpatrick nodded. No, it was more like whenever Kim got back, he thought. Susan was Kim’s best friend. They were about the same age, but Susan had higher tastes and she brought Kim along for the ride when they went shopping. Susan was teaching her how to spend money. He wasn’t sure how much longer he was going to be able to afford either one of them.

Their relationship had changed too. They had only been married three years, but their intimate life was pretty much over. She often complained she didn’t feel good. At other times, he noticed she seemed far too happy, much too content. He wondered if she was getting her action somewhere else. That was all right with him. He had married a trophy wife and now he was paying for it. Thank goodness, he was going to be gone for a couple of days. Then, when he came back, things were going to change. They had to.

CHAPTER NINE

EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

John Murphy sat on the edge of the twin bed. His head was finally clearing and, as he looked around at his surroundings, he was confused. He remembered the flight leaving London, looking out the window at the English Channel below him and the storm in front of them. The last thing he remembered was some kind of smell. After that, nothing. Right now, he had no idea where he was or what day it was. He looked down at the clothes he was wearing. He was still in his uniform.

He looked around the room. It was a small room, maybe ten feet square. In one corner was the twin bed he was sitting on. Ahead of him, in the next corner, was a small three-foot square table and one wooden chair. A large pitcher of water and a glass sat on the table. Slowly, he stood up. His legs still felt weak. He stood for a minute until he became steady on his feet. Then he took off his jacket and hung it on the back of the chair. It was then that he noticed his rolling suitcase sitting next to the table. He took it over closer to the bed.

To his right, on the same side of the room, was an enclosed room with a door. He walked over to the door and opened it. It was a very small bathroom, consisting of nothing more than a toilet. But it was just what he needed right now. When he finished, he washed his hands in a basin filled with water that was sitting in the fourth corner on a small round two-foot table. He wiped his hands on the towel that was lying on the table. Underneath the table, he noticed four gallon jugs of water.

There were no windows in the room. A single light fixture in the center of the ceiling supplied the only light. There was a door. But, it was locked. A light switch was next to the door. He didn’t remember turning the light on, but maybe it had been on when he got here. He just didn’t remember. John looked around the room again. Except for the amenities, the room reminded him of a cell. Walking back to the bed, he sat down again.

Why am I here, he wondered. He vaguely remembered several men, but no one seemed intent on harming anyone. Where was his crew? Were they alright? He shook his head. Why was all this happening? Suddenly, there was a sound at the door.

A man opened the door and walked in. He was about five foot eight, had thin light brown hair, combed over the bald spot on his head. He was at least fifty pounds overweight, was wearing a white shirt and dark blue dress pants. In his hands was a white plastic container.

“
Is everything alright in here, Captain Murphy?” the man asked.

John wondered how the man knew his name. He stood up. “No. I want to know why I am here. And I want to know about my crew.”

The man sat the container on the table, opened it and took out a plastic plate from inside. He sat it on the table, along with some silverware and a small cup of some liquid. John noticed the gun tucked into the front of his pants. The man picked up the empty container and turned towards him.

“
Your crew members are safe. You are in a house. You have my word none of you will be harmed. I will bring you your meals. If you have any requests, I will do what I can to get whatever you want. Is there anything you would like to read?”

“
How long are we going to be here?”

“
Just a couple more days, then you will be able to go home.”

John sat down on the bed, hung his head and then nodded. “Yes, I like to fish and camp. If you can find some magazines like that. Also, I’d like to see a New York Times newspaper.”

“
Okay. The magazines I can probably get you. The newspaper, no. Sorry. What about books?”

He looked at the man and nodded. “Yes. I’ve always wanted to read War and Peace.”

John knew if was going to have to stay here for a few days, he would need something to keep himself preoccupied and he couldn’t think of better book to accomplish that.

“
War and Peace?” The man pulled a small notebook and pen out of his pants pocket and made a note.

John nodded. “I would also like a pad of paper and a pen.”

“
Okay, I’ll see if I can get the book and I’ll be back later with the magazines. And, yes, I can also bring you some paper and a pen too.” He paused a moment, looking over at the water underneath the small table. “There is water to wash and drink. If you go through the gallons of water that has been left, I can get you more.”

John nodded again and thanked him.

Then the man turned and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. John got up and went to the door, listening for any sounds, but heard nothing. Not even the sound of walking. He looked up and around the walls. They seemed to be normal walls, painted a light grey. Since he could hear no noises outside the door, he wondered if it was a soundproof room.

Suddenly, he felt helpless. He was here at the mercy of someone else and couldn’t change his situation. Was the man right? Would they be released in two days? He could only hope. What time of the day is it? He looked down at his watch. It was now eight o’clock. But was it morning or night? He looked over at the plate sitting on the table. It was breakfast. Then he wondered where yesterday went.

He walked over to the table and sat down in the chair. He was hungry. He couldn’t remember when he had last eaten. Since it seemed the man was going to take care of them, he might as well eat. As he picked up the fork, he thought of Julie. Did she know he was missing? How was she taking it? The safety of his crew was important, but so was his wife. He had to get home to her. She had been sick lately and he needed to be with her, to take care of her. They had made plans to spend time together. He had to keep up his strength and make it home to her. He just had to.

CHAPTER TEN

SATURDAY MORNING

FBI OFFICE, NEW YORK CITY

Matt was sitting at his desk, working on the computer. It was now ten o’clock and he had been here for two hours. He was still bothered about the non-existent tour company. Why would someone book a plane flight and then cancel at the last minute? He had tried everything he could think of, but simply couldn’t find anything out about the tour company. Nothing anywhere close to Elite England Tours. Most tours he knew about had a detailed trip schedule, with set times of doing things, including the trip home. It didn’t make sense. Was it a fictitious company?

Matt wasn’t sure what else he could do. He thought about checking out the six passengers, but at this point, he saw no point in it. Until they found some remnants from the plane, there was nothing to do.

So far, he hadn’t heard from Boyer, which meant they hadn’t found the plane yet. That bothered him too. It didn’t make sense that the plane would just disappear. If the pilot had flown into a storm and the storm was the cause of the crash, why hadn’t anyone found debris from the plane?

Just then, Matt’s cell phone rang. When he looked at the screen, he sucked in his breath, and then answered.

“
Agent Palmer? This is Conrad Boyer.”

“
Yes, Mr. Boyer. You work Saturdays?”

“
I did today. I had to come into work.”

Matt felt a knot beginning in his stomach. “Has something happened?”

“
Yes, I’m afraid so.”

Boyer’s voice sounded nervous. Matt knew something was wrong and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear.

“
Okay. What happened?” Matt held his breath.

“
They found Flight 3351.”

He sat up straight in his chair. “They found the plane?”

“
Yes, sir, they did.”

“
Had it crashed?”

“
No, they found it parked in a remote airport in far eastern Quebec, Canada.”

He narrowed his eyes, looking at nothing. “Canada? Isn’t that a bit off the flight plan?”

Boyer sighed. “Yes, it is.”

“
Has anyone there boarded the plane?”

“
No. The airport manager there said the plane’s doors are closed and he didn’t try to open them. There were no steps up to the door and the emergency chutes weren’t used. There are steps at the airport, but hadn’t been used. At least as far as he knows. He walked around the outside of the plane but couldn’t hear anything. Nor did he see anyone looking out either. Right now, he is just watching over the plane. The airline is calling in a flight crew to fly the plane back. We want to know what you want to do.”

“
I appreciate you calling me. Let me get back with you in a few minutes. I have to report this. Then I’ll let you know what will be happening.” He already knew what they had to do. They had to get on that plane.

Matt closed his cell phone and sat for a moment. Okay, the plane didn’t crash. That was good, but who flew the plane to Quebec? The pilot or someone else? He shook his head. Picking up the office phone, he called ASAC Jason Abernathy at home. It rang twice before he answered.

“
Matt?” he asked. “What are you doing in the office today?”

“
I was trying to see if I could find anything else on that tour company that cancelled out on flight 3351. But that’s not why I’m calling.”

“
What’s going on?”

“
I got a phone call from Boyer.”

“
I take it this isn’t good news.”

Matt shook his head. “No, sir, its not. They found flight 3351 parked in a remote airport in eastern Quebec, Canada.”

“
Canada?”

“
Yes, sir. He said no one has gone on the plane, but the airport manager didn’t see any movement on the plane either. DAC is getting a flight crew ready to fly the plane back. They want to know what we want to do.”

“
You know what you need to do, don’t you?”

“
Yes, sir. We need to get in that plane.”

“
Yes. I want the two of you to be on that flight. Take Pearce and Conroy with you. Take whatever you might need to check the plane out completely. You will have to do the preliminary forensic work on this one. If necessary, when the plane gets back here, we can get a team in there to do a more thorough search.”

“
Alright, we will. I have no idea what we are going to find. He said they saw no movement, but that doesn’t mean the flight crew and passengers aren’t in there, dead or alive.”

“
I know. You will have to go prepared for any number of situations. Call me and let me know what you find.”

“
Yes, sir.”

Matt hung up the phone, and then called Boyer back, telling him they were going to be on that flight to Canada, and how soon they would be there. After they hung up, he got back on the phone and called Colin, Damon Pearce and Sean Conroy, explaining what was going on, telling them to get over to his house as soon as possible and to dress comfortable, and warm.

After he hung up, he paused a moment. There was no way to know if the crew and passengers were on the plane. Assuming they were and were dead, Matt knew they were going to have to take a lot with them, even though they were only doing the preliminary. In this case, preliminary meant finding all the evidence they could. Of course, if the passengers and crew were alive and well, there job will be easier. While he would really like to see everyone alive, his gut was telling that wasn’t going to be the case. If they were alive, they would have walked off the plane.