Focusing again on her twitching fingers, she began to type the email address she and Beau saw in the PNR. Then she added a couple more addresses to the Bc portion of the email. The First Class CEO in Seattle, a friend who was a station manager in another city for her airline, and one to her own station manager even though she wouldn’t see it until she left the area. Best to let more people know what is going on, and cover our bases, she figured. Who knows when they will get them, but at least it will be some type of a trail.
TO: [email protected]
Subject: HELP
She only hoped he checked his email as often as she checked hers, especially considering the recent events in which they found themselves. She summed up who she was, and who was with her and that his name was pointed out to her in someone’s PNR when she pulled up the flight manifest. She tried to give a quick synopsis of their predicament and asked if he knew what was happening and why. And to please follow up with the FBI and let them know that Beau Harleyman, one of their agents, was with her, but they would be sending an email with similar information to the FBI in hopes that someone would read these emails in time to help them.
After she reread it, she sent it and drafted another email for Beau to finish to those above him at the Bureau. He stood there waiting before clearing his throat and asking, “Are you going to take dictation, or are you going to let me sit there and type it myself?”
“Oh,” Jahnni said as she realized she was hogging the space, “just pull up a chair.” When Beau squinted at her, she realized he wanted to type his own email so she stood up and gave him the chair. Hope was mixed with fear while she waited for Beau to finish his email. She thought to herself, here goes. I hope we made sense. She looked at Beau when he seemed finished and he nodded. She nodded ascent also and he clicked SEND.
Chapter 13
Foiled Plans, Again
Jahnni sketched a map for Beau. He studied it for a bit, looked out the window that faced the bagwell, then set it back down. Jahnni herded them out of the FC bagwell office and pulled the door shut behind her.
She paused and offered a thought, “Maybe we should consider just waiting back in the bagwell office and locking the door. Shouldn’t we wait for a reply to the emails? If we leave the lights out, and stay close to the floor, we can just wait for this all to die down and someone can rescue us.”
“No. We can’t wait that long. We don’t know how long until they will get it, if they get it, and by then, we could be out of here. We are heading to the door you said connects to the baggage carousel and exiting the area,” Beau answered. “First though, if you want, you guys can wait in there and I can just poke around out here looking for my bag. With them rummaging around earlier, I need to see if it was my bag or Pop’s bag they had.”
“No can do, Tonto. You cannot have access to all those bags. It’s another security breach if I allow it,” Jahnni insisted.
“Wait. Are you saying that you don’t trust me? You think I’m hiding a bomb in my back pocket or something?” He shook his head slightly.
“Well, no. Of course not, Beau. I’m just saying, that we may be in a bad situation, but it doesn’t give me permission to throw caution to the wind and let people gallivant around the airport in a secured area,” Jahnni snapped back.
“Good Lord Jahn, we are in this together. What possible motive could I have to even be interested in someone else’s luggage?” He stood there with an exasperated look on his face. Then he raised his eyebrows while he waited for an answer.
“Look, just stop,” she said as she held her hand up in front of her like a stop sign. “You are so used to calling all the shots that you aren’t looking at this from my perspective. I have a security clearance that...”
“Oh,” he said as he interrupted her, “and I don’t have any sort of special government clearance... which I might add allows me to carry a weapon into a secured area and onboard an aircraft? So... do you have that kind of clearance? Hmmm?” He paused as he turned his head a little sideways and tilted his chin up at her. He continued, “Besides, technically, I AM in charge now. I just depend on you because you know the layout of the airport.”
Jahnni glared at him for a moment then answered in a calm, but terse tone, “Not that you don’t have a valid point about a broad sense of security, but the point I am making, Batman, is that this is my job. This is where I work and this is where the airport expects me to follow every protocol accurately, when possible. I’ve already broken enough rules to get fired, or arrested. When this is all over, you will walk away and still have your job. I might never be able to work in the airline industry, or even get a security clearance for any type of job that needs one, ever again. You will probably leave here after today and forget all about me... I mean us... I mean this.” As she opened her arms to add the group situation into her meaning she insisted further, “I can’t lose this job. Besides, don’t think I don’t understand that you are trained for all this. We need you, and you need us because we know the airport. I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job, as much as I am being... torn about where the line is between what measures I should have followed and what ones I won’t be crucified for breaking.”
Beau stared at her for several seconds, processing everything she said. He then calmly and succinctly answered her in a low, reassuring tone. His lips curled up at the corners and dimples popped into his cheeks when he smiled and summarized, “I see your point. I was looking at the whole picture and not your internal struggle with your responsibilities. I assumed because we were sitting in the carts before, that it made them more accessible for me in your eyes. I also assumed that you would know that you could trust me, but I see now that you are indicating that it isn’t about trust as much as it is about our different expectations of security procedures as this drama has unfolded. And... that you are trying to walk the line... with what is expected of you in your position concerning security directives... but also to keep us safe while trusting me to do my job. I shouldn’t make assumptions. But, I would hope that you would understand that my security clearance does give me clearance to do whatever is necessary to do my job. On the clock or not. And by the way, not to push any buttons, and not to make light of your job, but during this emergency, I trump you.”
Jahnni held her breath as she realized that this lug not only knew his job but he knew how to communicate clearly. It made her, once again, a little weak-kneed although she was seeing that she needs to try to let go of the things that don’t matter right now. “Okayyy,” she cautiously mumbled, “I’m sorry that we didn’t understand each other, but as long as we can work together, we will get out of this safely. And I won’t lose my job... if possible... if they believe me... and we don’t get shot in the process.” She locked the door as they walked away from the RAC room.
Jahnni followed Beau as he walked cautiously around some carts, weapon in hand, leading them out of the bagwell. I still think we should have waited in the RAC ROOM, but I guess it wouldn’t get us out of here fast enough, she thought. The half-filled carts were only a few feet away. No one talked until they came to a corner that Beau stopped to look around.
“You know Jahn, I’ll never forget about this.” He looked behind himself at her, and gently touched her shoulder. He blinked slowly, searching her eyes as he started to say more, then paused. “What I mean is, I’m sorry we misunderstood each other. When this is all over, I’ll never forget about any of this... or you.”
For a moment, Jahnni was stunned. She tried to break every word and every letter down to understand his exact meaning. Was he being polite? Was he just being nice? Did he want to let me know that he will never forget about this airport drama? Or is it me? Maybe he wanted to be friends? Or maybe...?
“Jahnni, I don’t feel so good,” Samantha whispered. I think I need to sit down for just a bit before we go any further. Please?” She looked at Beau for permission since he was leading the way now.
Beau nodded and they jumped into some
nearby carts to stay hidden while Samantha rested. Everything was silent except for the usual whirring and banging from other bagwells that didn’t get shut down. Jahnni looked over at Crutch to see how he was doing, but he seemed calm, once again biding his time by playing his handheld game. Mr. Tropopoulis sat stoically with a soft smile on his face while his eyes took in every nook and cranny of the walls and ceiling. Beau watched the entrances to the bagwell they were in, glancing back and forth at them. He looked at the closed door that led out to the planes but after a contemplative look, nodded to Jahnni.
“Can we raise those doors? Will that get us out of here any faster?” Beau asked.
“I don’t think I can override the lock,” she answered him.
“That’s probably not an option anyway,” Beau added. “I’m not sure that being anywhere near a plane during this emergency would be a safe idea with possible snipers and other law enforcement around in the distance.”
Samantha moaned as she suddenly remembered her hot date that she wasn’t going to go on. “Man!” she whispered loudly, mostly to Jahnni, “I was so excited to go out with that guy again! There is probably no way that his flight made it in before all this happened. And we had so much fun together last week. It was like, what is it called? Serendipity. Ya, that’s it. It was like we just clicked. Like meeting him was meant to be. I am majorly bummed!” After she paused, she added, “Carter. Carter Laurent Mercier. He’s French. You have no idea how he melts me.” Then she sighed as she stared up in the air.
Jahnni took in Samantha’s admission of her disappointment. Maybe she finally met someone she wasn’t willing to toss away because of some manufactured slight or imperfection. Jahnni knew all too well that it was probably Sam’s way of convincing herself that the wrong one’s were truly the wrong ones. I hope this Carter guy is going to be worth it and treats Sam well.
Jahnni suddenly sat up straighter, narrowed her eyes in deep thought and said, “I wonder if they remembered, or had time to lock the bag belt door at the ticket counters?”
“You mean the opening that your bags disappear into when you check in?” Beau asked eagerly.
“That would be the one,” Jahnni replied as she shook her head yes very slowly. “In fact, I actually had to climb up it once when a trombone got stuck.”
Beau beamed as he added, “I’ll climb up and lead Crutch and Pops out of here. They can explain everything to the first official person they see. We three can stay down here, find my bag, then we’ll climb out too. That way we won’t feel like mallards on opening day hanging around while we head to the carousel door.” Then his stomach let out a hungry sounding gurgle.
Crutch looked at Beau and added sheepishly, “Sounds like you could use a BK Whopper about now. I’m trying not to think about being hungry, but sometimes it’s hard cuz my stomach keeps reminding me too.”
Beau’s hand touched the front of his shirt then answered Crutch, “In due time, kiddo. We aren’t going to starve.”
Who could think of eating at a time like this, except a kid? Jahnni said to herself as she reached over and patted Crutch’s knee. “Soon, sweetie. I promise.”
Jahnni looked at Beau and explained, “I can’t send Crutch out there without me or Samantha. He must be with one of us always. And I certainly don’t want to split up. Officially, I also can’t let anyone stay down here rummaging around screened bags, much less wandering around unaccompanied. I know... I know... I remember the last conversation we had. But think about it. I can’t leave anyone down here. I need to decide who to bring up first if it’s open.”
The route wasn’t exactly obvious from where they sat and she knew that Samantha had never had reason to climb the belt routing. The maze would have to be crawled, and hopefully, the exact belt they needed to crawl on was turned off or they wouldn’t be able to crawl fast enough to traverse it. Jahnni envisioned someone like Mr. Tropopoulis trying. It would be like walking ‘up’ a ‘down’ escalator, especially with the rollers. She thought about it and decided that maybe they did need to split up somehow.
“Sam, if I take Crutch up first, I’ll have to stay with him. Can you help Beau and Mr. Tropopoulis?” Jahnni whispered, then added in surrender, “and help Beau find his bag, I guess?”
“Sure. Will it be obvious where to go?” Sam asked. “Are we going to wait a little bit and then follow you up the belt to the ticket counter?”
Jahnni nodded yes, “Once I get around that bend up there, you’ll barely be able to see me up higher, at the top. I’ll wave before I go around the bend. We’ll have to climb over the diversion arm that sends the bags to the CTX instead of shooting them directly to the bagwell carousel for loading. Give us enough time to have a conversation with the police, maybe 10 minutes, I suppose, and then head up. By then, I will have them waiting for you guys. So, you’ll be safe.”
She peeked out from the cart she was sitting in, scanned the area and listened for footsteps. Seeing and hearing nothing other than the whir of belts that were still rotating and the clanking that haunts the bag-well, she climbed out and went over to the wall and punched the big red stop button. Then she froze. She thought she heard something. Uhhh... it was probably the belt shutting down, she decided. Everything seemed silent now.
She carefully climbed onto the carousel belt and walked over to the opening that normally shot the bags down. She grabbed the corners of the framed opening and hoisted herself up. She glanced up and her eyes followed the path of the overhead belt to gauge the distance then looked down at the rest of them sitting in a couple carts. She motioned for Samantha to send Crutch up. Samantha hesitated and pointed to Mr. Tropopoulis. She made hand signals like she would keep Crutch next to her, but motioned she felt Mr. Tropopoulis should go first because of his age. Beau nodded in agreement. Leaving Crutch with Sam was fine and since they were with an FBI agent that seemed safe. She backed down the short distance she covered already.
Mr. Tropopoulis cautiously traversed the same path that Jahnni just climbed and grabbed the metal edge with one hand, and extended the other hand to Jahnni. She pulled him up and onto the upper belt. She glanced back at Sam and understood Sam meant she should get Mr. Tropopoulis to the top, and then Sam would follow with Mr. Harleyman and Crutch in a few minutes. When Sam shrugged her shoulders, and shook her head like they weren’t going to look around, Jahnni took that to mean Beau and Sam must have decided that just getting out was more important than a scavenger hunt looking for his bag at this moment.
They began to crawl on their hands and knees up the long rubber belt. They’d gone about five feet when Jahnni heard the definite sound of a slide release on a gun. They both froze. She slowly turned and looked over the metal sides of the belt and saw that the two ‘uniforms’ were pointing their weapons at her and Mr. Tropopoulis.
Jahnni saw in the corner of her eye that Beau moved like he was going to jump out of the cart, but he must have second guessed his decision. She assumed it was because he could see that they were pointing their guns at their heads. She knew he couldn’t chance it. He probably doesn’t trust them to not shoot us by accident. Maybe they will take us upstairs to the police and we can tell them the whole story. Or, if we don’t come back soon, Sam can chance it and take Beau and Crutch to crawl up the belt and out to the ticket counter themselves. Beau could explain everything.
Chapter 14
Do I Know You?
“That’s far enough lady! You two can just scuttle back down and come with me,” the portly cop said. “Is there anyone else with you?”
“Oh, my family decide not to come on this trip,” Mr. Tropopoulis offered loudly with a friendly smile, as if he was being interviewed by a friendly source. “It is just me and Janie here trying to find our way out of airport basement place here. See Janie! These nice police people will help us now!” Mr. Tropopoulis was obviously playing a part, but Jahnni was sure that it was very convincing to the uniformed guys with the big guns pointing at her face. The chubby cop and the tall skinny cop l
ooked at each other and nodded before turning back to Jahnni and Mr. Tropopoulis.
“Whatever, old man. Just get down here. Now!” The tall skinny cop shouted as he waved the gun in his hand back and forth at the wrist, motioning the direction she was to take.
Jahnni paused to think, then she motioned that they were coming down. When they jumped, and slid onto the lower belt, they were each grabbed by the arm and told to walk. Jahnni’s eyes darted to Beau, squatted behind a pile of bags in a cart with his gun pointed towards the men behind her. She nodded her head no, back and forth very slowly and slightly, hoping that he would not do anything to spook the guys with the guns pointed at them. The fear coursing through her was second to the fear she felt for Crutch. Then she moved her eyes to Sam and Crutch, then up at the top of the bag belt. She barely moved her eyebrows, asking if he understood. Again, she moved her eyes to look at Sam and Crutch then up at the top of the belt. She hoped he understood to take Samantha and Crutch out after they were taken away. She felt a gun near the back her head and could see out of the corner of her eye that Mr. Tropopoulis had one pointed at his back.
“Where are you taking us? I imagine we’ll be able to talk to someone and explain everything…so waiting and staying calm is what everyone involved right now should do,” she said to Mr. Harleyman while seeming to speak to her new captors. “What is happening here at the airport anyway? We have been trying to find a way to get upstairs. I was, uh, giving my grandpa a tour of the bag-well and the education offices. Everyone was evacuated while I waited for him by the bathroom. You know... weak bladder and all at his age,” Jahnni sputtered.
“Ya. Well, no one belongs down here right now, so you need to go see the boss,” the skinny cop croaked out in a low baritone voice as his Adam’s apple bounced with every word he spoke. She had glanced at his badge and saw Charlie Benson on it. She thought his voice didn’t match his looks.
You're Clear Page 9