Chapter 6 - The Jet Turns Toward Montreal
The pilot confirmed the new flight plan.
Montreal.
The request had come through Cross Meridian’s aviation office.
Authorized under Adrian’s credentials.
Adrian had authorized nothing.
Marcus unlocked the cabin door and contacted the cockpit.
Claire watched him carefully.
She still did not trust him.
Neither did Adrian.
The pilot agreed to divert instead to Burlington, Vermont, where local
authorities could meet them.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Julian.
Adrian said, “Answer it.”
Marcus put the call on speaker.
Julian’s voice sounded relaxed.
“Adrian. Feeling better?”
Nobody spoke.
Julian laughed softly.
“So Claire is there.”
Claire’s skin went cold.
Adrian asked, “What did you put in my medication?”
Julian ignored the question.
“Marcus, you had one job.”
Claire looked at Marcus.
Marcus closed his eyes.
There it was.
Proof of a relationship he had not admitted.
Adrian’s voice became quiet.
“How long?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Six months.”
Claire backed away.
Marcus immediately raised both hands.
“I was feeding Julian information.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
“Because he has my sister.”
Silence.
Marcus explained.
His younger sister, Hannah, had worked at one of Cross Meridian’s
clinics.
She found billing records tied to Northstar.
Then she disappeared.
Julian contacted Marcus.
Cooperate, or never see Hannah again.
Adrian looked devastated.
“You should have told me.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Like Evelyn trusted you?”
Adrian had no answer.
Julian’s voice came through the phone.
“Touching.”
Then he said:
May you like
“Claire, if you want your mother alive tomorrow, make sure that plane
lands in Montreal.”
