Free Fly by Wire: A Novel by Ward Larsen Page B

glow to spin oblong shadows over a scuffed linoleum floor.
    A young man came in with two pots of coffee. He set them on the table, along with a fancy assortment of china cups and saucers and silver spoons. Davis didn't hesitate. It was a nice blend, thick and smooth. He hoped it was a sign of things to come. If this had been an NTSB affair it would have been Folgers in a Styrofoam cup. Plastic lid and stir stick included.
    Bastien had been buttonholed by a reporter in the hangar, and so the rest of the group began to mingle. Davis walked slowly through the room, nodding here, checking a credential badge there. He wasn't sure who or what he was looking for -- he was just trolling, his eyes dragging a line. Then the hit came.
    It was the company name on the badge that first drew his attention-- CargoAir. Then the man. He was small with a compact build, almost certainly of Middle Eastern extraction. Egyptian or maybe Lebanese. His jet black hair was cropped short, showing the first few threads of gray at the sides. A bushy moustache hovered over his mouth like an awning. He stood away from the crowd, shoulders sagging and head bent down, like his entire body was subject to some great weight.
    Davis went over and held out a hand. "Jammer Davis."
    The dark eyes came alight, quick and intelligent, even though the rest of the man still lagged -- it was like two bright searchlights reaching out from a deep fog.
    "Hello, Mr. Davis. I am Dr. Ibrahim Jaber."
    Davis shook a hand that disappeared in his own. "Good to meet you," he said.
    "I understand you will be in charge of the Human Factors Group, Mr. Davis. You may find yourself a very busy man." Jaber's voice was every bit as dull and heavy as his body language.
    "Yes, I think Monsieur Bastien will see to that. But I suspect we'll all be busy."
    "Indeed," Jaber agreed. "You must have extraordinary expertise."
    Davis cocked an inquisitive eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"
    "You are the only foreigner on the formal investigation team."
    "Really? So the other group leaders are all French?"
    Jaber nodded and gave Davis a rundown on the room. He pointed out three men and a woman who were set to lead other groups. All were engaged in animated conversation, and many were clearly friends -- not necessarily a good thing, Davis knew. Friends had trouble criticizing friends, and sometimes in an investigation you had to do exactly that. Six months from now, they might not be so close. They might be taking swings at one another.
    Davis said, "Have they all done crash work?"
    "Of course. Their backgrounds are a mix, as you would expect -- government and corporate. But all are experienced investigators ."Jaber was about to say something else, but the words were cut off by a retching cough.
    "That sounds bad," Davis remarked.
    I've been a touch under the weather," Jaber replied. "It is nothing, So in what capacity are you here?'
    "I will act as the chief CargoAir consultant, working closely with the Systems and Design Group." He made a sweeping gesture across the room. "Most of those you see here are like myself, technicians brought in to help understand what has happened."
    "And the whole whirlwind is headed up by Monsieur Bastien," said Davis.
    "Indeed. A very capable man."
    Davis paused, then said, "Good. I like capable people." He sipped his coffee. "So tell me, Dr. Jaber, what is your usual job at CargoAir?"
    Jaber also held coffee. His cup was full, like he hadn't touched it. "I am the chief project engineer for the C-500."
    Davis' head tilted to one side and he pursed his lips. As if he was impressed. "So this is your baby."
    The engineer's sharp gaze went awry. His English was good, but the metaphor had caused him to stumble. Then he smiled. "Yes, yes. I am the father."
    Davis was trying to figure out why such a senior person would be present at this stage of the investigation. Usually a company would send a lower-level representative, someone whose diplomatic skills outweighed their use