Page 46 of Shared By the Pilots

“Thanks, Rita,” I said. “Taylor, can I talk to you?”

He shared a look with Rita. “Uh oh. Sounds like I’m in the dog house,” he said with his charming Texas twang. “You going to give me a public lashing, or should we go someplace private?”

I led him outside to the tarmac, where the sound of jet engines drowned out all other noise. Taylor ran a hand through his sun-bleached hair and said, “If this is about working for Excelsior, tell old Bernie he can stop barkin’ up my tree. I’m not interested. Got plenty of legitimate business. In fact, I’m fixing to take a nice couple on their honeymoon for the next three days. We’re puddle-jumping from Jamaica, to Turks and Caicos, then over to the Virgin Islands.”

“This isn’t about offering you a job,” I said, looking around to make sure nobody was nearby. “It’s about Excelsior. Why don’t you think their business is legitimate?”

He snorted. “Cause it’s not.”

“What do you know? What specifically? Don’t be all vague about it. I want you to tell me what’s going on.”

Taylor leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. His handsome face was more smug than I had ever seen it. “Oh, so now you’re keen on listening to what I have to say?”

I hesitated. How much could I say to him? “It’s possible that I’ve come across some suspicious behavior that I cannot explain.”

“Let me guess,” he said. “You brought up your concerns to your pilot boyfriend and he says you’re overreacting. Maybe you told your friends about it, too, and they don’t think there’s anything to worry about. So now you’re here, wasting my time, hoping I’ll confirm whatever it is you think is going on.”

I let out an annoyed sigh. “Can you just tell me what’s going on?”

“Honestly?” he said. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on. But I’ve heard whispers from other pilots, some who have worked for Bernie in the past. Everyone knows something shady is going on. If you ask me, it’s only a matter of time before the cops come down on Excelsior’s whole operation. You ought to get out while you can.”

“It’s a good side gig,” I argued. “The pay is better than what I make at Gulf Airlines, and the work is easier.”

Taylor spread his hands. “Then what are you talkin’ to me for?”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

“Tell you what.” He reached into the pocket of his bomber jacket and came out with a faded business card. He wiped away some dirt with his thumb, then handed it to me. “If things ever get too spicy working for Excelsior, and you’re stuck down in Cancun or Cabo or wherever else they do their business, you give me a call and I’ll get you out of there.”

I blinked at him. “You would do that for me?”

“If I don’t have anything better to do.” Suddenly he put on a bright smile and walked past me. “There’s the happy couple. Leo, Kristi, I’ve got your winged chariot all gassed up and ready to fly.”

I watched him lead the honeymooners toward his plane, a little bit dazed by the interaction. Then I went back into the terminal to retrieve our two passengers for the flight.

“Which ones are they?” I asked Rita at the desk.

“They’re the two men who… actually, here they come now.”

She pointed toward the lounge, where two men were exiting. One of them was wearing baggy cargo pants, and a fisherman’s vest over a T-shirt. He looked innocent enough, and wore a big smile while gazing around the terminal.

The other man was the one from my previous flight. The man I was suspicious of.

25

Veronica

The man with the thick gray hair and the turtle tattoo was wearing sunglasses today, even though we were indoors. His name didn’t matter on the first flight since he was alone, but today I made sure to note it: Alan Broussard.

“Glad you’re flying with us again, Mr. Broussard,” I said, covering up my surprise. “Right this way. We have the same pilots as last time, so it should be a smooth flight.”

He nodded, but said nothing as he and his companion followed me out onto the tarmac. The storage compartment was open on the side of the plane, where I could see that his luggage had already been loaded. It must have been as much luggage as last time, because the storage compartment barely had enough room to allow the hatch to close.

Be cool,I told myself while I served them drinks. Broussard ordered a Diet Coke, while his partner requested gin.These are two completely normal passengers. Nothing suspicious at all.

But after we took off, I couldn’t help but let my curiosity run wild. They looked shifty. They sat next to each other on the empty plane, and spoke in hushed voices.

They’re totally smuggling drugs!

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