Free Ghost Watch by David Rollins Page A

Blair. The word “interesting” just about covers it. You’ll find out why soon enough. As I’m sure you’re aware, we’re running a little behind schedule. Apologies for that. A certain party arrived late and delayed our departure.’
    I didn’t have to work hard to figure out who that party might have been.
    ‘The UN helicopters will be here in about twenty minutes. We need to clear the ramp so they can land, and you should introduce yourself to everyone. Is there a place we can do that?’
    ‘The hut,’ I said, motioning toward the terminal.
    ‘Excellent.’
    ‘How many personnel are still on the plane?’ I asked.
    ‘Twenty-two.’
    Just then, Leila stomped over, storm clouds on her face as dark as the ones above us. Despite her mood, I decided that all those magazine covers hadn’t done her justice. Her olive skin was almost poreless; her eyes the color of emeralds under polished glass; the proportions of her lips and nose, flawless. The only problem I could see was that she knew it.
    She ignored me and said to Travis, ‘I didn’t come here to get drenched and catch a cold. My people and I are going inside.’
    ‘This is Major Cooper,’ said Travis. ‘He’ll be—’
    Leila walked off before he finished his sentence.
    ‘Interesting,’ I said.
    Travis nodded. ‘You got it.’
    A few heavy droplets of rain broke up the party. An umbrella appeared over the first lady’s head, and she made for the limo. With a final wave, the president followed in her footsteps, motioning at the nanny to saddle up his children. As soon as his car door shut, the honor guard beat a retreat for the truck, along with their submachine gun-carrying buddies. The man who delivered the red carpet rolled it back up and threw it in the trunk. Moments later, the convoy was heading to the far corner of the field.
    I walked over to Cassidy and West and exchanged the usual pleasantries. We all shook hands.
    ‘Let’s get everyone in the terminal,’ I said. ‘Have you briefed them on how we do things?’
    ‘No, sir,’ said Cassidy. ‘We thought we’d leave that up to you. You know, save on the confusion.’
    ‘Okay. Once we get our dignitaries secured, we can come back for the personnel still on board.’
    Cassidy and West nodded.
    ‘Send Duke to eyeball the terminal. There’s not much to it, and no one’s home. I’ve already had a look around.’ I glanced over their shoulders and saw that Leila and her troop were already halfway across the ramp. ‘I’d hurry if I were you.’
    ‘Roger that,’ said West, summing up the situation.
    I went up the stairs into the 767 and was met by a dried-out, petite blonde flight attendant.
    ‘Mind if I use your PA system?’ I asked her.
    ‘Everything okay?’
    ‘Yep. Just keeping everyone informed.’
    She pulled the handset off its cradle and showed me which button to press.
    I thumbed it and said into the mouthpiece, ‘Thank you for your patience, folks. You’ll be disembarked from this aircraft in about five minutes and escorted by your security team to the terminal building. Please collect your belongings and be ready to move.’
    I went back onto the stair’s landing. It had stopped spitting. The clouds were teasing us, though the far side of the airfield was covered in a heavy gray mist of rain. A small jolt moved the aircraft. I looked down and saw that a tug had attached itself to the nose wheel.
    Cassidy and Rutherford had left the terminal and were jogging across the apron toward the aircraft. Perhaps I was being overly cautious with all this escorting, but I didn’t know this place and losing al-Eqbal was a good lesson, especially for al-Eqbal.
    I went back inside the aircraft. ‘Do you mind?’ I asked the attendant again, motioning at the handset.
    ‘Please,’ she replied.
    I told the passengers to make their way to the forward exit and stood back on the landing. They filed past as I did a head count. Almost all of the staging crew were male, and even the ones