Page 45 of Shared By the Pilots

“That’s not what happened,” I quickly said. “And I can take care of myself, although it’s good to know you have my back if I ever need help.”

“Are you worried about Excelsior?” he asked. “Single-passenger flights aren’t uncommon. I wouldn’t let it bother you unless it becomes a trend.”

“I was worried about that at first, but no. It’s about the passenger’s luggage.”

Luke blinked. “What about it?”

“Isn’t it strange that he brought so many bags to Cabo?”

“People over-pack all the time. Especially the kind of rich guys who can afford to fly private.”

“But he brought them down to Cabo, unloaded them, then loaded them for the return flight,” I insisted.

Luke shrugged. “I’ve seen people transport furniture and other stuff on private flights. Sometimes it’s cheaper than paying for international shipping. And if the goods are delicate, like porcelain or fine china, then a private flight is safer.”

“The suitcases were full on the way back,” I said, lowering my voice. “Maybe even more full than on the way down there.”

“Why are we whispering?” Luke asked.

“Because…” Was he really going to make me say it? “What if it’s drugs?”

“Drugs?”

“Drugs!” I hissed. “What if he’s smuggling drugs into the country? And we aided him?”

“If he were smuggling drugs,” Luke said skeptically, “why were the suitcases full on the flight down?”

“Because they were filled with stacks of hundred dollar bills? I don’t know how drug smuggling works.”

“Hundred dollar bills…” Luke shook his head and chuckled. “Veronica, that’s crazy. You’ve been watching too many TV shows.”

“How am I the crazy one here?”

I paused as our waitress returned with my drink. Luke asked for the check, and she walked away.

“Just because someone flies on a private jet doesn’t mean they’re allowed to do whatever they want without consequences,” Luke explained. “Their passports are still scanned and their trips are logged. There are video cameras everywhere at the private terminal, both here in Houston and down in Cabo. Everything he’s doing is being recorded. If he’s smuggling drugs, he’s not very good at it.”

“Then what’s up with the suitcases?”

“Hell if I know. But I doubt it’s anything nefarious.” He patted my hand on the table. “I’ve been doing this a while, Veronica. You don’t need to worry. Nothing illegal is going on, I can promise you that.”

His comments reassured me that evening, but I started wondering about it again the next day. I kept picturing the luggage being unloaded, then loaded again—especially considering how carefully the passenger was handling the bags. And then there was Taylor’s cryptic warning about working for Bernie Langston…

“Every flight is tracked and recorded,” Dex said when I brought it up to him the next day, on a direct flight to Seattle. “If smuggling drugs via private planes was so easy, it would happen all the time. You would never see drugs moved across the land border.”

“I am inclined to agree with my fabulous flight friend,” Adam said. “This sounds like the plot of a bad thriller. Real life is never that exciting.”

“I wouldkillto have some drug-smuggler-related excitement in my life,” Dex groaned as he removed the coffee pot from the cubby in the forward cabin and added it to the top of the drink cart. “Or any excitement at all, really. If some passenger pinched my ass, I would thank them for breaking up the monotony.”

“Just enjoy the private gig for what it is,” Adam insisted, giving my back a quick little rub. “You’re lucky to have it, and you don’t want to ruin it by making wild accusations.”

I knew they were probably right. And for a few days, I was able to stop thinking about it.

Until my next Excelsior flight on Thursday.

When I walked into the private terminal, I immediately groaned. Taylor Hawkins was leaning on the check-in desk, chatting up Rita. Before I could dart into the lounge, Rita waved enthusiastically at me.

“Two passengers on your flight to Cancun today,” she told me. “They’re both in the lounge. You’re paired up with Captains Dricksen and Cox today. They’re already on the plane.”

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