Free Missing by L C Lang Page A

of us.”
    All four walked back to the other plane. They unloaded three large cases and a portable generator. While the air temperature was comfortable now, it would be dark in the plane, and the temperature would fall. The generator would allow them to have lights on inside, so they could work, and allow them to keep warm if needed.
    They carried the supplies into the plane. Matt took out two small Klieg lights out of one pack and plugged them into the generator. There was enough gas in the generator for ten hours of work. He wondered if it would be enough. Then he clipped the lights to two seats, one on each side.
    Matt sat his briefcase on a seat, and then pulled out the seating chart.
    “ The first thing we need to do is to make sure there aren’t any bodies on the plane.”
    “ Don’t smell any,” Pearce said.
    Matt glanced over at Damon Pearce. He was in his early forties, five foot seven, had thinning light brown hair, and had gained a few pounds since he had gotten off the more physical side of the job.
    “ I don’t either Damon, but let’s check anyway. I don’t want any surprises. Besides, maybe we can find something that isn’t supposed to be here.”
    “ Like what?”
    “ I don’t know. Then again, how many times have we had to check a plane sitting on a remote runway in Canada?”
    Damon nodded and smiled. “You do have a point.”
    “ We need to check everything first, then we’ll dust. I’ve got a seating chart, so we know where everyone was supposed to be sitting.”
    “ If there were only six passengers, could they have changed seats?” Colin asked.
    “ Possibly. They were supposed to all be sitting in the first class section, but since we don’t know what happened on the plane, we are going to have to dust the whole plane. Colin and Sean, I would like you two to check for any luggage left, anything in the galleys. Then, start the dusting. Dust the handles on the door too, inside and out. Damon and I will check the cockpit, then go to the back of the plane, and start dusting, meeting you in the middle. Okay, let’s get started.” He paused a moment and sighed. “We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”
    Everyone pulled out latex gloves and put them on. Taking his flashlight out again, Matt went down the aisle, scanning the seats on both sides as he went down the length of the plane. He found no one, dead or alive. As he walked back towards the front, Colin and Sean Conroy were checking the upper luggage holds. So far, it didn’t look they were finding anything. Damon Pearce had gone up to the cockpit. He came out shaking his head.
    “ I haven’t fingerprinted it yet, but it looks clean. Not even any debris. Looks too clean.”
    Matt nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that too. Oh, can you find a way to get into the cargo hold? See what is down there?”
    “ Sure can. I have a brother who flies commercial planes and he told me how to access the cargo hold from inside the plane. Sure beats going outside to get in.” He pulled a flashlight out of one of the packs.
    Matt nodded. “Sure is. Let me know what you find.”
    Damon walked past him towards the back of the plane. Matt watched as he opened a panel in the floor and began his downward descent.
    Mark looked at the layout as he walked the length of the plane. There were two sections. The first class was in the immediate front. There were two bathrooms in the front, along with a galley for the first class passengers. Four bathrooms divided the economy section from the first class. In this section was another galley where the food was prepared for those in this section. Just then, Colin and Sean came into the economy section.
    “ Sean, have you found anything?”
    Sean was the youngest one here. He was twenty-six, six foot tall and muscular, with short cut blond hair, and deep set blue eyes, and a brand new rookie.
    He shook his head. “Not a thing. You said all of them were sitting in the front section?”
    “ Yes. All of them. The