Free Grace Takes Off by Julie Hyzy Page B

handle built into a wall directly
     in front of Bennett that separated the seating area from the front entrance. With
     a smooth, almost inaudible
whisk
, she pulled another seat out from the wall. It wasn’t as soft and cushy as the reclining
     models, but it would serve its purpose if Bennett and I chose to have a private conversation
     en route.
    Just as she folded the seat back into the wall, we heard a ruckus coming from outside.
     Men were shouting, or more accurately, shouting insults at one another, each voice
     trying to outblast the others, it seemed. I stood to see what was going on, but Evelyn
     waved me back. “Sounds like SlickBlade is here.” She started for the door to welcome
     them, but before she disappeared around the corner, she turned and winked. “Buckle
     up.”

Chapter 8

    BENNETT’S FROWN MATCHED MY CONCERN. I whispered, “I hope they don’t plan to carry on like that for the whole flight,” but
     he couldn’t hear me over the din of the approaching argument. From what I could tell,
     it was mostly good-natured, but there was no disputing that it was loud.
    “I think Evelyn sold us a bill of goods,” Bennett said. “They haven’t been inside
     arranging passage for one of their group, they’ve been drinking. Heavily, too, from
     the sound of it.”
    At that, a man stumbled through the doorway, grasping both sides of the wall that
     separated the passenger cabin from the front of the plane. “Hey,” he slurred, leaning
     forward, “who are you?”
    The guy was younger than I’d expected, twenty-five, tops. Tall, wearing a midnight-black
     wig that skimmed his shoulders, he had to be sweltering hot in his black leather pants,
     black T-shirt, and matching leather jacket, rife with chrome zippers. He didn’t wait
     for us to identify ourselves. He raised his head, apparently focusing on the seat
     behind me, and I could tell he was trying to gauge how hard it would be to reach his
     goal. Clearly, it took all his effort just to remain upright.
    A set of male hands clapped his shoulders from behind. “Easy there, Jeff. We’ll get
     you settled.”
    The guy behind Jeff poked his head around. “Hello,” he said. All I could think was
     that these two patronized the same wigmaker. Their faces were completely different,
     but their hair was identical. “Don’t mind my friend here. He’ll be asleep inside of
     five minutes.” To Jeff, he said, “Easy does it, buddy. One foot in front of the other.
     Yeah, there you go.”
    I watched the two men navigate an unsteady path between us, and found it curious that
     the helpful friend had a pair of drumsticks poking out of his back pocket.
    Bennett leaned forward, sending me a look that communicated his intense displeasure.
     I held up both hands in supplication. What could we do? We were the guests in this
     situation. If Bennett didn’t have a commitment for the next day, we could have begged
     off and tried to secure alternate transportation. But that was not an option.
    The next through the door was a giant of a man. Tall and muscular, with a creased,
     pockmarked face, he was at least thirty-five years old, maybe more. He had sweat-flattened
     dark hair that curled at the nape of his neck and a vaguely familiar face. He wore
     expensive jeans and carried his black wig down by his side like a briefcase. The glittering
     diamond stud in his ear had to be at least two carats. He was flanked by two women,
     who were having a discussion between themselves, chatting and gesticulating in front
     of him as though he weren’t there. The women were dressed more appropriately for the
     weather in skimpy pastel tops, pale capris, and high, strappy sandals.
    The passage wasn’t wide enough for them to come through as a threesome, so the big
     fellow allowed the two women to enter first. They gave us a passing glance, but didn’t
     miss a beat in their conversation.
    Their companion smiled at me, then at Bennett. “Hi, I’m Adam. But most