Flight to Destiny (A Samantha Starr Thriller, Book 2)

by S. L. Menear

  “What do they expect from me? I have no idea where Poseidon’s Sword is hidden or if it exists. I found some clues at the Taj Mahal, Petra, and here, but that’s all.”

  “Lass, you have the power to activate the crystals that project the holograms.”

  “So does my mother, but they don’t know that.” I looked out the window as we approached Edinburgh Airport. “We’re almost there. I’ll miss you.”

  “Call me when you land in Florida.”

  We landed near Starr Corporation’s Citation X. Ross and I shared another kiss before he ushered us into the jet and checked on the pilots. Satisfied, he waved good-bye and walked across the ramp.

  Our two months together had solidified our relationship. My heart ached when I looked out the window and saw him standing beside the helicopter.

  It wasn’t long before we were airborne and headed to Florida. The children loved the soft leather seats with individual entertainment centers.

  “What’s the Starr Corporation?” Charlie asked. “I saw the name on the airplane.”

  “It’s an international aerospace company my father started. He invented several high-tech components for civilian and military aircraft. The company also has a space division that supplies parts for the International Space Station. After Dad died in a plane crash five years ago, my mother became the majority shareholder. The company’s fleet of corporate jets is available for our family’s private use.” I sipped on a mint iced tea.

  “Why didn’t you work as a pilot for your father’s company?”

  “I could have, but I wanted to earn my own way in the world.” I sunk back into the sumptuous leather. “Do you have any idea what you want to do after you finish with school and university? Maybe help your father run his shipping empire?”

  “I’m not sure, maybe a Special Forces soldier like Captain Sinclair. His missions are so exciting.” A dreamy look softened his face.

  “You definitely have the courage. You proved that last summer. And your combat skills are quite impressive for your age, but remember that job has a huge downside.”

  “What do you mean?” Charlie tilted his head.

  “I mean you might get killed. Plenty of good men die in combat. Sometimes it’s a matter of luck who lives and who dies.” I sighed. “I worry about Ross.”

  “Aye, but the same thing can happen crossing a street. You never know. Better to do what you love.”

  “My dear young man, you are wise beyond your years.” I toasted him with my glass.

  Emily checked the website for her Magic Club on her laptop. “Johnny, Sally, Kenny, and Dolly are in the chat room. They wished us a fun trip.”

  The flight attendant interrupted Emily’s Internet chat with a delicious prime rib dinner.

  After eating, we snuggled up with blankets and watched a Harry Potter movie. I dozed off at the end and woke in Orlando, Florida.

  Twenty-Three

  The Harry Potter theme parks in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando opened for us at dawn the next morning. We had both parks to ourselves until 9:00 a.m. No lines. No crowds.

  The park always opened early for VIPs and special tours, but this was the first time since their trip with Daniel that the park was restricted to our private use. Charlie and Emily wanted to see the new Diagon Alley in Universal first.

  “Ooh, it looks just like the street in the movies.” Emily’s face lit up.

  “Let’s stop at Ollivander’s Wand Shop. I want a magic wand.” I opened the door.

  Wand boxes lined the shelves of the cluttered shop from floor to ceiling.

  The elderly proprietor greeted us. “Welcome, young wizards and witches. How may I help you? A wand perhaps?”

  Charlie pointed at me. “We already have wands. Can you find one for her?”

  Emily giggled. “Trust us, no one needs a wand more than she does.”

  “That’s true. A magic wand might solve all my problems.” I stepped forward.

  “Well, my dear, in this store the wand chooses you. Let’s see if I can divine a match.” He pulled out a box. “Here, try this one. Top of the line.”

  I lifted the wand from the box and waved it. Boxes flew off the shelves, and one even exploded. Charlie and Emily cackled as smoke rose from the debris. The lights brightened, and boxes rattled on the shelves. After a blast of cold air whistled through, everything returned to normal.

  “Perfect. I’ll take it.”

  I glanced at Charlie and Emily, snickering and whispering.

  “Shall I wrap it for you?”

  “No, I’ll hang on to it. I might need it before the day is over.” I winked at the shopkeeper and pulled out my wallet.

  We continued along Diagon Alley to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, and Quality Quidditch Supplies. My favorite shop was the Magical Menagerie—basically a pet shop for wizards and witches. A live variety of beautiful owls, furry animals, and reptiles filled the cages.

  After a brief walk down Knockturn Alley, we strolled to our primary destination—the roller coaster inside Gringotts Bank. It was run by goblins reining tight control over the valuables in their subterranean vaults. I flicked my wand at the dragon atop the bank, and it breathed fire at us.

  “That dragon looks angry. We’d better go inside.” I led the way.

  “The goblins are glaring at us,” Emily said as we walked past the creepy bank tellers.

  We walked through the strange bank and boarded the rail cart that was supposed to carry us deep underground.

  I sat between the children as the ride descended on steep rails into the spooky depths and zoomed around sharp corners. Charlie maintained his manly composure while Emily and I squealed at each new thrill. Another fire-breathing dragon took us by surprise.

  “That was brilliant!” Charlie grinned as he exited.

  “It might be even better than the Forbidden Journey ride inside Hogwart’s Castle at the other park.” Emily bubbled with enthusiasm.

  I checked my watch. “Let’s head for Kings Cross Station and board the Hogwarts Express.”

  “Right, we’ll go to platform 9¾ and take the train to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. Let’s ride the Dragon Challenge roller coaster when we get there.” Charlie checked his map.

  “You’ll love it, Sam. The twin roller coasters are inverted and cross paths along the route,” Emily said.

  “Alrighty, let’s go.” I led them to the train station.

  It was a short ride to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Charlie led us straight to the giant roller coaster where we screamed with glee. The ride ended too soon for me.

  “Wow, I’ve never been on one like that before! Let’s go again after we take the ride inside the castle.” I handed them their backpacks and pulled on mine.

  “The entrance to Hogwarts Castle is this way.” Charlie forged ahead down the deserted street.

  We stored our backpacks in the lockers, as required by security, and entered the replica of the famous castle known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

  As we toured the castle, the realism amazed me. “It looks exactly like the one in all the Harry Potter movies. I feel like I’m in the real place.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling. As the wizards in the paintings spoke to me, I forgot about the terror I’d endured two months ago. The castle was ours.

  Our castle tour ended at the entrance to the Forbidden Journey ride. With me in the middle again, the locks clicked tight on our seats. The ride simulated following Harry on flying broomsticks as he out-maneuvered an angry dragon above the castle and then zipped us through the forbidden forest where giant spiders chased us. We flew through exciting scenes from the movies, as though we were inside the story with Harry.

  When the ride tapered to a stop, our seats swiveled to the exit platform. A giant man with a maniacal grin stood before us holding a weapon.

  Nicolai!

  We struggled to escape,
but our seats remained locked, trapping us.

  “I have waited too long for revenge. Now you are mine.” Nicolai laughed as he shot us with darts.

  His ugly, distorted face seemed to melt as I lost consciousness.

  Nicolai loaded his victims into a cart and closed the lid. He wheeled the cart down a maintenance ramp to the rear of a panel van, transferred the threesome, and sped out the maintenance exit.

  Thirty minutes later, he drove through the general aviation gate at the Orlando International Airport and pulled up to a private jet parked on the ramp.

  The forward entry door was open.

  He carried Sam up the airstairs into the cabin where the window shades were pulled down. He dropped her on a seat, rushed out, and slung a child over each shoulder.

  In a few seconds, they were aboard with the door closed. A catering truck pulled away from the aft door moments before the jet engines started.

  The private jet taxied to the runway and soon was on the takeoff roll. It climbed into the bright morning sky and turned toward the Atlantic Ocean and Europe.

  Twenty minutes later, Nicolai called Lord Sweetwater on a satellite phone.

  “We got away clean. Plan worked perfectly. We land in nine hours and transfer to boat under cover of darkness. I will call when we dock at island.”

  “Good job, Nicolai. I told you this would be worth the wait. Remember your promise. Do nothing to them until I arrive. I will pay you a bonus of five million pounds. You can enjoy your revenge and live a life of luxury wherever you choose.”

  “Da, I will wait, but not long.”

  Nicolai slid the satellite phone into his pocket and glanced out the small passenger window at the vast Atlantic Ocean.

  Dundee, Scotland

  Corporal Burns rushed into Ross’s office. “Captain, Sam and the children have vanished. The security guard who was overseeing their visit said they never came out of Hogwarts Castle. That was three hours ago. They’ve searched everywhere and can’t find them.”

  “Are they certain they didn’t leave on their own?” Ross asked.

  “Their backpacks are still in the castle’s lockers. They wouldn’t leave them behind.”

  “Bloody hell! I hope to God you remembered to reinstate the automatic tracking feature on her watch before she left Scotland.”

  “Aye, sir, I just checked. The watch is over the Atlantic Ocean heading toward Europe. No way to know if she’s still wearing it.”

  “Burnsie, get me the FBI in Orlando. Maybe a security camera at the airport shows her boarding a flight. Hurry!” Ross followed the corporal into the communications room.

  The corporal checked his computer for the local FBI field office in Orlando and dialed the number.

  After a brief conversation, he handed the phone to Ross. “Agent Robert Gosk for you, sir.”

  Ross explained the situation. “How quickly can you check if security tapes show a young blond woman, a twelve-year-old boy, and eleven-year-old girl boarding a private jet at the Orlando airport?” Ross listened a moment. “Right, I’ll hold.”

  Ross paced while he waited. “Burnsie, call Sam’s brothers. Maybe one of them will answer their mobile.”

  “Aye, Captain, calling now.”

  Ross listened to Agent Gosk before saying, “You’re sure? And the destination? Good work, sir. You may have saved three lives with your fast response. I’ll be there when they land.”

  Corporal Burns looked up from his phone. “Captain, I couldn’t reach Mike Starr. He must be on a SEAL mission. I have Matt on line two.”

  Ross punched the button. “Matt, someone took Sam and the children from the theme park in Orlando today. They’re on a private jet headed to Rome. Airport security cameras recorded a man fitting Nicolai’s description carrying Sam and the children onto the aircraft. They appeared to be unconscious.”

  “Oh God! Did he kill them?”

  Ross’s voice tightened. “If they were already dead, he wouldn’t have bothered taking them aboard.”

  “Damn it! I was afraid something like this might happen. Can you have your team on site before the airplane lands?”

  “Aye, we have plenty of time to coordinate with Interpol and local police before the flight is due. Air traffic control has been alerted to notify us if the flight changes destinations. I’ll be waiting for Nicolai when his jet lands in Rome.”

  “I hope it won’t be too late to save them. He has plenty of time to carve them up during the flight over the Atlantic.”

  “I don’t think he’ll do it in flight—too messy, and he’ll want them awake for the torture. He must have something special planned for his revenge and drugged them so he could move them easily.”

  “I hope you’re right about him waiting, Ross. I wish I could be in on the kill. I’m aboard ship, and we just weighed anchor. Send me an email after you nail the bastard.”

  “Count on it. Sam will never be safe as long as Nicolai is alive. He won’t get away this time.” Ross hung up and turned to Corporal Burns. “Burnsie—”

  “Already done. Interpol Agent Farinati in Rome on line one.”

  Ross arranged a joint op with Interpol and Italian police. He looked up when Derek entered the room.

  “Burnsie told me what happened. The team’s ready.” Derek looked determined.

  “Good. My next call is to the DSF to commandeer a military jet for us.” Ross glanced at Corporal Burns.

  “DSF for you on line two.” Burnsie pointed at the lighted button.

  Barnes was eager to help save Samantha and the two heroic Scottish children beloved by the British people. “Take the team to Edinburgh. I’ll send a C-17 for you. Save the children and Samantha, Ross. Bring them home to British soil. Leave the giant psychopath’s body for the local authorities.”

  “Understood, sir. We’ll solve the problem permanently.” Ross hung up.

  “Captain, the Lynx is ready when you are,” Burnsie said.

  “Right, I’ll suit up. Keep an eye on her watch signal. Make sure it agrees with the flight were tracking.” Ross jogged to the ready room.

  Five minutes later, the Lynx lifted off with Ross and his team bound for Edinburgh Airport. The C-17 landed forty minutes after the helicopter. His team left Edinburgh in plenty of time to beat the private jet to Rome.

  After his team disembarked at Fiumicino-Leornardo da Vinci Airport, Ross directed the C-17 to a nearby military air base. He didn’t want to spook Nicolai, who might flee if he saw a British military transport on the field.

  Ross shook hands with Agent Farinati. “Thank you for helping us on such short notice, sir. Nicolai’s a formidable opponent. Keep the cops out of sight and off their noisy radios. If he smells a trap, he’ll kill his prisoners.”

  An attractive Italian man with thick gray hair, Richard Farinati was eight inches shorter than Ross. Richard looked up at him. “Captain Sinclair, Interpol wants Nicolai alive so we can tie him to Lord Edgar Sweetwater. He may be our only way to close the link.”

  Ross gave Derek a meaningful look before saying, “I understand, Agent Farinati. We’ll do our best.”

  The SAS team selected hiding places around the area where the jet would be directed to park. A sniper was positioned on the roof of the general aviation terminal. The police hid inside the building.

  Ross checked his watch and whispered, “Five minutes to touchdown. I see landing lights in the distance. Hold fire until they exit the jet.”

  A few minutes later, a corporate jet landed and taxied to the ramp. An Interpol agent dressed as a ramp employee directed the airplane to park in front of the private terminal and chocked the nose wheels.

  Ross’s team waited while the pilots completed their checklist. The copilot opened the entry door and lowered the stairs. The cabin lights brightened, but the window shades prevented a view of the interior.

  The pilot donned his uniform jacket and hat and walked down the stairs carrying a small box. He stopped a few feet from the airplane when Agent Farinati a
pproached as a customs agent.

  Ross could hear Agent Farinati’s voice in his headset. “Good evening, Captain, are you ready to clear customs?”

  “Do you need to check this? It’s a package for SAS Captain Ross Sinclair. Have you seen him?”

  “Right this way. He’s waiting for you inside.” Agent Farinati escorted the pilot into the terminal.

  The copilot headed for the building too. The ramp was silent except for a passenger jet shutting down its engines on the other side of the airport.

  Ross heard Agent Farinati’s voice again. “Captain Sinclair, come inside.”

  Ross keyed his mike. “Derek, I’m needed inside the terminal. Stay on target. Nicolai’s waiting to see if the coast is clear.” Ross kept in the shadows and entered the building from the street side.

  Agent Farinati waved him into a side office with an angry expression. “Look at this.”

  Ross picked up the box which was designed to allow the lid to be lifted off without disturbing the gift wrapping.

  Please, not Sam’s eye. Ross inhaled and pulled off the lid. Sam’s watch was pinned in the center. Beside it, a tiny note mocked him: I win. Do svidaniya.

  Agent Farinati almost spat his words. “The pilot claims he was hired in Orlando to bring this box to Rome and give it to you. He swears there were no passengers.”

  Ross pocketed Sam’s watch, handed the box to the Interpol agent, and keyed his mike. “Derek, take command of the airplane. The pilot swears it’s empty. I’m on my way.” Ross rushed through the terminal to the ramp.

  Derek met him at the entry door. “The interior’s empty. Let’s check the cargo hold.”

  Ross walked with him and opened the cargo door. He felt a sick feeling of utter defeat when he looked inside.

  The hold was empty.

  Twenty-Four

  Rome, Italy

  Ross hit speed dial on his phone. “Burnsie, we’ve been duped. The jet was empty. Call FBI Agent Gosk in Orlando and ask him to look at the security tapes again. We need to know how they got off that airplane. Also, get a list of private jets that left soon after the one we tracked.”