“Anything about Boston?”
“No.”
“Anything about the Operations Executive being onboard?”
“No.”
“Anything about my inspection schedule?”
“No.”
The CEO watched.
She believed the woman might be telling the truth.
Might.
The Senior Flight Attendant added:
“But I know something else.”
The CEO leaned forward.
“What?”
The woman looked toward the cockpit.
“Someone asked me about you last week.”
The CEO’s expression changed.
“Who?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“Crew?”
“No.”
“Corporate?”
“I thought so.”
“Where?”
“Employee lounge in Los Angeles.”
“What did he ask?”
The woman swallowed.
“Whether executives ever travel under ordinary passenger profiles.”
The CEO felt cold again.
“What did you say?”
“I said sometimes.”
“What else?”
“He asked whether senior executives receive cabin alerts.”
“And?”
“I said not always.”
The CEO stared.
The attendant looked ashamed.
“I thought he was from systems.”
“Why?”
“He had a corporate badge.”
The CEO asked:
“What color?”
The woman frowned.
“Black.”
Executive-level.
“Photo?”
“Yes.”
“Name?”
“I didn’t read it.”
“Description?”
The Senior Flight Attendant gave one.
Male.
Mid-forties.
Dark hair.
Glasses.
Small scar near the left eyebrow.
The CEO did not recognize him.
But the Operations Executive did.
From twenty feet away, he heard enough.
He turned.
“Say that again.”
Airport security told him to stay where he was.
The CEO looked toward him.
“You recognize the description.”
The Operations Executive went pale.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
He stared.
Then whispered:
“My former chief of staff.”
The CEO’s stomach tightened.
The man had resigned six months earlier.
Abruptly.
Official reason: personal opportunity.
Unofficial reason: conflict with the Operations Executive over procurement controls.
The CEO remembered him.
Competent.
Quiet.
Resentful.
Access-heavy.
Too much access.
She looked toward the security officer.
“Find out whether his credentials were properly terminated.”
The officer nodded.
The Operations Executive said:
“They were.”
The CEO looked at him.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”