Free The Last Hostage by John J. Nance

the copilot, and--"
     
    "We know, Annette. Tell me what's going on up there at the moment.''
     
    "... but now I'm going to have to reach over and pull a specific circuit breaker that will..."
     
    "I will in a second, but I need to find out something. Did we leave a passenger behind in Durango? If we didn't, then I know who the hijacker is. Otherwise it was someone on the ground. Do you know?"
     
    "... cut off the telephones for now."
     
    Annette pressed the handset tightly to her ear, listening for an answer.
     
    "Hello? Judy, did you get that?"
     
    The captain's words had been slow to penetrate, but suddenly the fact that he'd cut off her call in midsentence penetrated her consciousness and she felt her heart sink as she slowly dropped the handset to her lap.
     
    A cockpit call chime echoed through the cabin, and Annette jumped from the seat and moved to the forward entry door to lift the intercom handset.
     
    "Yes, Ken?"
     
    "Where were you, Annette? I've been ringing for you."
     
    She could imagine the hijacker listening to every word. Her phrasing would have to be very nonthreatening. "I've still got passengers to take care of, Ken, and they're scared to death."
     
    "Collect all the portable cellular phones on board, Annette. Now."
     
    "What?"
     
    "Portable cellular phones. All of them. That's what he's ordering."
     
    "It'll take a while, Ken."
     
    "Just do it. He's irritated enough as it is. When you have them, call me. And Annette. He's got a little pen-like thing up here that vibrates if anyone is using a cellular, so caution everyone not to try holding back. If anyone keeps a cell phone and tries to use it, he'll know it immediately."
     
    CNN Headquarters, Atlanta. 11:30 A.M. MDT, 1:30 P.M. EDT.
     
    The secretary to the vice president of news programming left her desk and opened the door to her boss's office.
     
    "Julie?
     
    I apologize for breaking in, but could I talk to you for just a second?
     
    It's urgent."
     
    Julie McNair nodded and excused herself from an immaculately groomed young man sitting in front of her desk, then followed her secretary to the outer office, pulling the door closed behind her. "This better be good."
     
    "It is,"
     
    the secretary began, "and I hate to interrupt a job interview, but you remember the applicant from Phoenix two days ago?"
     
    Julie thought for a second. "Chris someone, right?"
     
    "Chris Billings.
     
    He's on line three insisting that I get you on the phone instantly because-"
     
    "That won't make him any points."
     
    The secretary raised her hand. "Wait. He says he's in the middle of a major breaking story. He's on an airplane."
     
    Julie pointed to the phone. "I'll take it."
     
    The secretary punched up the line and handed it over her desk. "Okay, Mr. Billings, what's up?" "I'm hijacked."
     
    "Say again?"
     
    "I'm in a commercial aircraft, and we've been hijacked. The flight is AirBridge Ninety." He filled her in on the basics and Julie McNair's eyes widened as she leaned over the desk, grabbed a pen, and scribbled a note on the back of an envelope: Get the control booth-tell them stand by to go live this line.
     
    The secretary read the note and nodded as she dashed from the office.
     
    "Okay, Chris. You say you're calling on a seat phone?"
     
    "Yeah, and it'll cost a fortune, but-"
     
    "Don't worry, we'll pay the bill. I'm going to put you on live." Billing's voice interrupted her.
     
    "Forgive me, Ms. McNair, but we have to reach an agreement on something first."
     
    His words stopped her for a second as she wondered why a job applicant who wanted to be a CNN correspondent would demand money up front for a story. He should know they didn't pay money for stories.
     
    Besides, this was a perfect opportunity for a live audition. "Ah, what agreement would that be, Chris?"
     
    "Have you hired anyone yet for that news position?"
     
    "No."
     
    "Good.
     
    I want that job. I'm good, I'm the best applicant you have, I'm sick of Phoenix