Fatal Flight Read online

  Adam’s confidence increased. He swooped and banked, stitching a lacy pattern of invisible swirls across the sky. Finally, he tapped her shoulder. When she turned, he indicated he wanted her to take him through some of her loops. She calculated his weight at one hundred and eighty pounds and factored that in as she took back control of the stick and pedals. Easing into a roll, she turned them upside down and then eased them out again. She climbed and fell backward in a lazy loop, pulling out at the bottom, only to soar into another. Behind her, Adam’s shout of jubilation came strong and clear. Incited by his joy, she danced across the sky, performing a tail spin and a barrel roll. They’d been up forty minutes when she lined up for the landing strip. She slid the bi-plane in as smooth as soft butter on bread, taxied back into its parking space, and killed the engine.

  For several moments, she remained still and silent, letting Adam take the lead. His hand grasped her shoulder and squeezed.

  “Thanks, Sky. That helped more than all the therapy. As soon as the air hit my face and we became one with the sky, my fear went away, just like you said. Even my lungs took the G force of the maneuvers.”

  She climbed out, waited until he stood on the grass strip beside her, and turned on him. “What do you mean your lungs took the G force? You didn’t tell me there was anything wrong with your lungs.”

  “One of my broken ribs perforated my lung. There’s scar tissue, and the doctors are wondering if it will affect my ability to fly at altitude and test jets again. This experiment proved to me it won’t. It’s like a huge black shadow has passed over my head and disappeared. I can’t thank you enough.”

  Sky was torn. She wanted to rip in to Adam for instigating the maneuvers without telling her of the danger to him, yet she could understand how he felt—jubilant, free of fear, looking forward to flying jets again. She settled for muttering, “You should have told me.”

  His hand closed around her arm. “Don’t be angry, Sky. You’ve given me the best present ever. I didn’t trick you into going against your best judgement. It just felt like fate. I lost my fear. You gave me the stick, and it seemed like the perfect moment and the right test.”

  Mollified by his explanation, she slowed. “I’m glad going up tandem worked, and you have your confidence back, Adam. I wouldn’t take the joy of flying away from anyone.”

  “Let alone your worst enemy,” he finished for her.

  “I don’t see you as an enemy,” she said, her calm indifference back in place. “More like a big nuisance and a mild threat. But, since your company will foot my competition costs to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars and seeing my grandmother isn’t part of the contract, why should I quibble.”

  “Well, at least you acknowledge she is your grandmother, now.”

  “That doesn’t make me more willing to meet with her.”

  “Understood. As long as you realize I plan on changing your mind.”

  “You won’t be around,” she said with conviction.

  “Didn’t I tell you I’m on holiday? All I’ve done since the accident is copious amounts of physiotherapy. I’m taking a relaxing break for a couple of weeks.”

  “If you’re the COO for Hamilton Aeronautics, how can you afford so much time away?”

  “Ah, once again I’m classified with the rich and useless. I don’t owe you an explanation, Sky, but in the interest of nudging that lump of bias off your shoulder, I handle the work of COO long distance. We have several test pilots, so I’m not needed in that area, and my engineering design for a new prototype of drone is on hold till I recover. Our R & D team is working on other projects until I return. Yes, my family owns the company, but I am more than qualified for the positions I hold. I’m sorry some rich guy destroyed your trust, but I’m not him. I’ve been upfront with you all along.”

  “You consider going to Max behind my back being upfront?”

  “Max came to me. I was interested. After crunching the numbers, researching your top-notch standing on the circuit, and talking with my father, I thought this was a great PR opportunity for our corporation. I didn’t know you were against the idea. My experience is that as soon as someone knows what I’m worth they want something from me.”

  “And you assumed I was sticking my hand in the pot.” She stopped at the entrance to the big tent, where oceans of food were served all day. “Okay, I see where you were coming from. Pax?” She offered her hand.

  She took quiet satisfaction in the fact he looked like she’d turned him on his head. Good, keep him off balance, and he couldn’t do the same to her. He took her hand, his long fingers clasping it, warm and dry, just the lightest of squeezes. He’d never used his size and strength to intimidate, she realized. He was a true alpha male, for only the strongest, fastest, and smartest protected the vulnerable. A weaker male took advantage of them.

  “Pax,” he acknowledged, letting go of her hand.

  “Don’t corral me, or manipulate me, Adam, or the only thing you’ll change is the direction I go every time you come near,” she warned.

  “I promise I won’t do either.” Adam raised his fingers in a Scout salute. “Scout’s honor.”

  “Were you one?”

  “Suspicious as ever. I’ll have you know I am an Eagle Scout and earned all my badges.”

  She slanted him a droll look as she moved toward her plane. “I have to give Rob back the keys to his plane.” She moved toward the old friend, who’d broken away from a group of men seated inside the tent and walked toward them.

  Adam followed, thanking Rob for lending Sky his Pitts so she could take him up.

  “If I’d known it was Adam Hamilton, ace pilot with the Thunderbirds, war hero, and COO of Hamilton Aeronautics in the back seat, I would have paid more attention and taken a photo.” Rob shook Adam’s hand with vigor.

  “If you want a photo, by all means.” Adam looked at Sky.

  She nodded, impressed by his kindness to her old friend, and retraced their steps, sandwiched between the two men. She posed with Adam in front of the Pitts, feeling the weight of his arm, as he wrapped it around her shoulder and murmured into her ear, “Say please.”

  The teasing word combined with the feel of his warm breath stirring the tendrils of hair on her temple and the hard press of his body along her side sent slivers of apprehension through her bloodstream. Why did this near stranger make her feel so unsettled, so warm, so wary, and almost intoxicated? She pulled away, with a bright smile for Rob and a quick goodbye tossed over her shoulder at Adam, and headed for Bully Boy.

  “Fly safely, Sky.” Adam called out. He was still standing at the side of the runway, when she lifted into the air.

  ****

  Adam walked out of the hotel, the new logos for Sky Dancer in his hand. He’d had them designed at Hamilton’s and overnight expressed to Tahoe. He planned to meet Max and apply them that morning. His phone vibrated. He lifted it from the inside breast pocket of his leather jacket. When he answered, his father’s voice, as always, gave him a moment of pleasure, a sense of reassurance.

  “Hi, Dad, what’s up?”

  “Adam,” warm affection came over the phone, “I’m sorry to drag you away from Tahoe, when it sounds like it’s speeded up your recovery in some magical way, but I need you here.”

  “Sure, Dad. You sound serious. Do we have trouble with the FAA over the crash? Is the insurance company refusing to pay out?”

  “I’d rather not talk about this over the phone. When will I see you?”

  “Did you send the plane?”

  “It’s on route now. ETA for Tahoe thirteen hundred hours. Can you make that?”

  “I’ll be on it.” Adam’s brain was clicking through possibilities like a religious man saying his rosary. “Dad, whatever it is, we’ll sort out the problem together. Don’t worry.”

  “I know, son. We make a great team, always have.”

  Hearing the gravity in his father’s voice, he spoke from the heart. “Good news. I’m not dependent on a cane anymore
. My leg is a lot stronger.”

  “That’s great, Adam. Like I said, Tahoe has had some kind of healing influence on you.”

  “And not just physically, Dad. I had a flashback about the crash. I’ll tell you my theory when I get there.”

  “Keep it till then. I’ll be waiting in my office. Fly safely.”

  Adam tucked the phone away, smiling at the words. Since the age of sixteen, he hadn’t left the house without being given that gentle reminder. He considered the words a blessing.

  With a quick glance at his watch, he saw he had little time before his flight. His strategy to loiter at the hangar, until Sky took her lunch break, and tackle her again on the subject of her grandmother was in jeopardy. Sliding into the rental car, he headed for Stravinski Aviation. With luck, he’d catch her between students.

  She spent the greatest part of her day in the air. He admired her work ethic, respected her skill as a pilot, and had underestimated the chemistry between them. The disinterested attitude she’d adopted acted like a glacier to a climber—a challenge he would conquer. He knew heat smoldered under the thin overlay of ice. He’d felt her response, believed his passion would melt through her shields like fire, burning deep into her core. But he was obligated to help Gita, and the two goals conflicted at some level he couldn’t quite grip.

  Before, he’d seen Sky’s refusal as sheer mulishness; now, he sensed some underlying fear held her back. He could no longer bulldoze over her reluctance. He wouldn’t hurt her. Yet, somehow, he must reconcile these new protective feelings toward Sky with the promise he’d made Gita.

  Max came out of the hangar when Adam’s vehicle crunched up the gravel road. He walked right up, waiting until Adam rolled down his window. Max looked around, as if he was meeting with a secret agent, and then leaned down. “Had the control cable on the left rudder studied by an old colleague of mine. He’s an FAA investigator and has access to a lot of technical test equipment. He confirmed our suspicions. The cable didn’t break from metal fatigue. It was cut, and a few of the metal threads feathered to look like they broke.”

  “Damn.” Adam sat back, his hands fisted around the steering wheel. “Have you confirmed where Daniel was when it happened?”

  “Yeah, the sheriff checked for me. He was on a flight east to Boston.”

  “So, someone else wants Sky dead or at least out of commission.” Adam fisted his hands.

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Max hunched lower, talking out of the side of his mouth. “Is it possible you’re the target? Maybe someone thought you were flying the Tiger Moth instead of going tandem in my friend’s Pitts.”

  “Jesus, where did you come up with that,” Adam challenged Max, even as an anxious feeling grew in his gut. Was it possible? What he’d recalled of his crash, during his flight with Sky, had birthed questions he wanted answered. And now his dad’s call about something he wouldn’t talk about over the phone added to his building concern.

  “You were booked for an early morning slot, remember? Sky rescheduled last minute.” Max pointed out.

  “Yes, but no one other than Sky and me knew I was going up.”

  “Well,” Max looked discomfited, “Sky told me, and a few of my friends were around when I asked for the Pitts. They probably passed it on. Then there were the controllers on duty, the sky boss, and the ground crew. A hefty number of people had the earlier flight time but wouldn’t have known of the change. Worth looking into anyway.” He checked behind him again.

  “Surely with that many people in the know, there couldn’t have been a mix-up around which plane and which pilot, since only Sky would fly the performance,” Adam argued.

  “Yeah, I’m just reaching, ’cause I don’t want my girl in danger.”

  “I sure hope you’re wrong. I’d hate Sky’s life endangered because of me. I’ll dig deeper, until we have answers.”

  “I suspect we’re under surveillance, so act normal.” Max stepped back, grasped the handle, and pulled the door open.

  Adam shook his head. If someone was watching, they’d be as suspicious as a canine on the way to the vet. Max was the worst actor ever. Nursing his left leg, Adam stepped out onto the tarmac, insuring it would take his weight for the seconds before his good leg was under him.

  “I brought the logo.” He called after the retreating Max, scanning the surrounding countryside for the flash of sun on binoculars. Walking into the shade of the hangar, he unrolled the transparency.

  Max peered at it over his shoulder. “Nice. Elegant. The stylized edge of the airplane forming part of the lettering is sharp and smart. It’s a good logo for a company.” He walked across the hangar and came back pushing a creeper with his foot.

  Adam noted the action. “I thought we could let Sky take a look at it to see if she likes this rendition. I can’t change a lot, but size or background color, I can alter.”

  Max was already shaking his head. “Sky is resigned, for my sake. She knows your logo goes on the plane she flies. But she won’t take part in this.” He waved his hand in the direction of the rolled logo, but Adam knew he was the source of Sky’s withdrawal.

  “I’ve learned over the years it’s better to present Sky with a done deal. The less said about her sponsor the better. I’ll give you a hand fixing it on the plane.”

  “I studied photos of the aerobatic flyers. The logo always seems to be on the underside of the wing. Top of logo closest to prop, right?” Adam pulled off his leather jacket.

  “That’s right, so the spectators on the ground can read it.”

  Adam lay down on his back, thankful for the padded, vinyl-covered creeper. Using the easy multi-directional casters, he wheeled himself under the wing.

  Max pulled the two transparencies apart, handing the first one to Adam. “I’ll give you the center mark in a sec.” He pulled a tape measure out of his pocket and measured off the length of the wing. “Right here.”

  “Is Sky instructing?” Adam moved the creeper left a few inches, accepted the tape measure, and centered the logo front to back on the wing. Resting the tape on his stomach, he peeled a corner of the transparency back, lay the logo flat against the wing, and peeled off the top. Rubbing carefully to push out any air bubbles, he waited for Max’s answer.

  “She’s finishing up with her last student this morning. She’s taking Sky Dancer up after lunch. You sticking around to watch?” Max took back the tape and moved to the starboard wing.

  Adam wheeled himself around the landing gear and under the port wing. He measured and applied the second logo. “Wish I could, I bet that’s quite a show. But I’m needed back in Houston, and I’m flying out as soon as I’m done here. I hoped to speak to her before I left.”

  The sound of an aircraft engine split the air, as the Cessna flew over the hangar, banked, and came around in a low circuit, lining up with the runway.

  “Not bad.” Adam massaged his thigh as he stood, watching the Cessna bounce once, slew a foot sideways, then straighten out.

  “Yeah, Sky gets the best out of them. This one has her minimum thirty-five hours and will probably go for her license this month. She says she’s been waiting forever to turn seventeen, so she can apply.”

  “I remember that feeling.”

  “They didn’t have regulations like that when I started flying. My dad took me up in the Tiger Moth and taught me everything he’d learned fighting the Germans. When I signed up for Vietnam, I was already a qualified pilot with hundreds of hours. Still didn’t have a license.” He angled his hand at the side of his mouth and mock whispered as a huge smile cracked his face, “Course they caught me in the end, but they needed my skills so much they just handed one over.”

  A tall girl climbed out of the cockpit and dropped onto the ground. Sky followed her out. As she stood silhouetted against the hills rimming the airfield, Adam soaked in her slender grace. He figured he’d know her anywhere, just from her elegant posture, the queenly tilt of her head.

  “Max, did you see my landing?
It felt so good. Come on, I want to fill in my flight log.” The enthusiastic teen all but danced across the hangar, coming to a halt in front of Max, so she could tug at his arm.

  “Great job,” he congratulated her, letting her drag him toward the office.

  Sky sauntered into the hangar and took in the creeper positioned under the wing of her plane, the plastic sleeve that had held the lettering, and Adam.

  “I would like a word with you if you have the time?” Adam asked, tucking his hands in his pocket and pulling his elbows back, presenting open, non-threatening body language. He kept his voice quiet, polite.

  Sky dropped onto the creeper and slid under the wing.

  “Talk away,” she said, her voice muffled under the metal structure.

  “Evasive, as ever.” Adam hunkered down until he could see her face. The muscles in his thigh screamed as the angle stretched them. He clasped the leading edge of the wing and balanced.

  “I’m heading back to Houston.”

  Sky’s glance tracked across the logo above her and locked on Adam’s face. Her lips widened in a genuine smile, her small teeth gleaming in the shadow of the wing.

  Now I have her attention. Now I see her smile, because I’m leaving. And what a smile. The power of her curving lips swooped into his soul and out the other side, like a F18 in a roll. He felt like his heart was in a Hammerhead stall. Without thinking, he thrust his body upward. Standing, he moved away, absorbing the loss of his emotional equilibrium as he hid his erection. If she’d fired a missile at him, she couldn’t have done more damage. Pain knifed through his leg. He stifled a groan. Shock burst through his mindset. He bit back a curse. His jeans were so tight he gritted his teeth.

  The sound of the creeper rolling over cement drew him clear of his mental chaos and into the moment. With a graceful pivot, Sky stood and moved in front of him.

  “You’re leaving for Houston. You want a word with me…” She waved her hand indicating he should continue, amusement turning her blue eyes even lighter. They glowed within the frame of her creamy complexion, making her look as soft and dewy as a soap commercial.