Spiral (The Salzburg Saga Book One) (3 page)

His mind focused as he continued his check. As far as he was concerned, nothing beat the workmanship of the Challenger 605. Challenger planes focused on luxury and comfort. He'd been piloting them for several years and had never tired of them. There was more headroom and cabin volume and the windows were larger. He ran a hand over the flight deck, fully equipped with dual controls for both the lead and copilot.

For the hundredth time since he’d ended his call with Frank, Parker Drayton popped into his head, and Jake’s lips twisted cynically.
So Drayton was Frank's new number one client,
he thought. He couldn’t do about that.
Jets by
Gwynne
had built a formidable reputation over the last twelve years, aligning themselves with the biggest airports around the world, and attracting even bigger corporations to fly with them. It had the monopoly on excellent aircraft fleets and pilots. Jake was one of those pilots, but since his call with Gwynne, he’d wished that he wasn't. Though his colleague, Buzz, didn’t deserve to pilot number one jets and have responsibility for number one clients, for the first time Jake resented his own skill and experience. There had been no way to get out of doing this job. He outranked Buzz, Frank had thrown Buzz a bone, but Buzz, being Buzz, had royally messed up. Consequently, he’d lost this number one job and it had been given back to Jake.

He consulted the list he held. He’d checked the landing gear already. Challengers used retractable twin-wheel tricycle type landing gear, each unit fitted with Dowty shock absorbers. Satisfied that he'd covered everything, he tucked the list away. Time to get Ben so they could clear with flight dispatch, check the luggage had been stowed properly, and then choose a route, altitude and speed limit.

A few minutes after Ben had left to get the stewardess, Emily, and ask the airport staff to assist with boarding the passengers, a knock sounded on the jet door. He went to open it.

A young girl waited there, an excited expression on her face as she all but vibrated with enthusiasm.

“Let me guess,” Jake said with a grin. “Hazel?”

“That’s me.” Hazel grinned at the tall man in front of her. He had to be at least six-three. He had thick dark brown hair that brushed the back of his nape and slate gray eyes. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. She read his name badge: E. J. RUSH. “You're Jake?”

“Bingo.” He offered his large hand and she shook it.

“What does the ‘E’ stand for?” She indicated his name badge on the front of his shirt.

He looked down at it, and to her surprise, unclipped it, slipping it into his side trouser pocket. “It’s my first name, but I never use it. I go by Jake. Ben said you wanted to look around the jet?”

She peered over his shoulder, eager to see inside the jet. “If it’s no trouble.”

“I can spare about five minutes, and then we’ve got to start boarding.”

“Got it. I appreciate you letting me take a peek.” As he stepped aside, she hurried inside, eyes wide and awestruck. “This is my first time on a Challenger. I’ve only ever read about them. I’ve never actually been in one. This is so great.” She immediately came to an abrupt halt, her mouth forming a perfect ‘o’ as she took in the splendor of the cabin. "Oh wow...”

Jake tried to look at the interior of the jet from Hazel’s eyes – a newbie's eyes – but couldn’t. Though he fully appreciated the wonder that was the Challenger 605, his eyes were now trained to see different things, his ears attuned to certain sounds.

Hazel smiled as she admired the rows of cream leather seats. Each row had its own footrest, television, music stereo set, and drink cabinet. Wooden engravings ran alongside the walls of the jet, the contrast of teak and cream sublimely perfect. At the back stood a sparkling granite fitted kitchen and three adjacent doors next to that which she knew would be bedrooms.

She turned and saw that Jake was checking his radio. “This is a Challenger 605.”

He looked up. “Sure is.”

“Dimensions?”

Jake eased a hip against a row of seats. "It's a standard nineteen square meter cabin."

“Which seats up to nine people?”

He smiled. “That's right. You sound ready to become second in command, kid.”

She drew a deep breath. “I hope so.”

He arched a brow. “So you're studying a BEng in Aviation Engineering?”

She looked away. “No. I'm reading
Maths
and
Modern Languages
at the moment. I'm in my second year. My sister won't let me get started on the BEng until I complete this degree. She says maths and a language are a good safety net in case piloting doesn’t work out.”

Jake tried not to wince but wasn’t sure he succeeded. “A big deal to do two degrees. You don't mind?”

She shrugged. “I understand where she’s coming from.”

Not many people would be that flexible, he thought with a soft smile.

As if she’d heard his thoughts, her eyes darkened a little. “Neen – that’s Nina, my sister, taught me how to be flexible. Our parents were killed in a robbery when I was four. Neen had to support our brothers and me. They were only seven and twelve themselves. Nina was seventeen.”

Jake hissed between his teeth. “Seventeen?”

Her expression saddened as she ran a hand over the soft leather of one chair beside her. “Neen wanted to be a gymnast. She used to take lessons before our parents died.” It saddened her to remember it. She often wondered how often Nina lamented, or if she did at all. She never referred to it, but maybe it was too painful. “But she had to quit when our parents died. She worked to keep us all together so the system wouldn't separate us. She's used to looking after people.”

Saddened himself, Jake nodded and checked his watch. As much as he’d like to talk to the young girl more and avoid having to come into close contact with Drayton, time was getting on. They needed to brief the airport. With some regret, he gestured for Hazel to walk back to the door of the jet. When she obediently preceded him toward the exit of the jet, he slanted her a thoughtful glance. “Looking forward to the skiing trip with Parker Drayton?”

She pouted. “I'm not coming. It’s a networking business trip, but Parker organized it with skiing so that his sons would enjoy it, too.” She carried on, not noticing how Jake’s shoulders had stiffened. “They like to ski apparently. Who doesn’t?”

Jake had stopped, and now he stared at her. “Drayton’s bringing Hugh and Justin?”

“Mmm,” she responded, and then noticing he had stopped, she did so, too. “Is everything all right?”

With an effort, Jake took a fortifying breath and nodded. “Of course.” Forcing his legs to move again, he reached her and led her out of the jet. He’d had little time but to merely skim over the job brief Gwynne had emailed him that morning as he’d rushed around trying to get to Gatwick. Darn it. But even if he’d known, he’d have agreed to do the job. Could he have called Gwynne and opted out of this job with a lame excuse such as he’d changed his mind?

No.

But he would have been more mentally prepared.

This was becoming more and more complicated. But he’d be fine. After all, all he had to do was dump them in Salzburg then return home.

A straightforward job.

“We’ll be taxiing in ten minutes, sir.” Ben spoke loudly over the hailing breeze of the wind as he stood with Parker outside the jet. Everyone had already boarded, only Parker and his sons remained standing outside. Justin looked bored, and Hugh, hung over.

“Good.” Parker smiled at the copilot before looking over at his sons as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. “You can go up and get comfortable if you like.” He turned back to Ben as Justin and Hugh trudged up the ramp and onto the jet. “What's the captain like?”

“Jake?” Ben gave an easy smile. “He's one of the company’s best, sir.”

“So I’ve been told.” Parker lit his cigarette and took a drag. “He hasn't come down to introduce himself.”

Ben looked toward the cockpit. “I can ask him to if you like?”

“Please.” Parker blew out smoke. “I always like to meet those whose hands I’m putting my life into.”

As Ben signaled toward the jet, and then made his way up the stairs, Parker savored the cigarette. He’d promised himself that this would be his last smoke until they returned from the trip. He didn’t want to smoke around his business associates. So that meant three days without nicotine; he planned to make the most of this last one.

Jake cursed under his breath when Ben signaled to him from outside the window. Ben didn’t need to do more than signal. After working closely together for almost five years, they had their own code of communication.

Parker Drayton wanted to meet before takeoff. It was a request made by only the most pedantic of clients. Jake told himself that he shouldn't be surprised that Drayton was included in that category.

Leaving the cockpit, Jake entered the cabin. As usual, before takeoff, there was the flurry of activity and excited chatter among the passengers. Jake kept his face impassive when Hugh raked him with a derisive glance from where he lounged in his seat.

I have zero interest in you either, buddy
, Jake thought and almost bumped into Ben as the other man entered the jet and headed to the cockpit.

Drayton should have looked relaxed, Jake thought as he descended the steps toward the older man. Instead he saw anxiety in Drayton’s light brown eyes.

“Jake?” Parker asked when Jake stood in front of him.

“Yes.” Jake held his hand out and briefly shook Parker's hand.

“Frank told me that you’re one of his best,” Parker said with a polite smile.

Jake kept his expression bland. “That was kind of him.”

Parker blew out smoke. “Well, I wanted to speak to you before we took off. Firstly, to thank you for your quick response to the change of plans this morning. Gwynne told me that you were on annual leave?”

“Don't mention it,” Jake said, but Parker continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

“Secondly, I wanted to suggest that you're more than welcome to join us for a few days for skiing after we arrive.”

Jake drew back, surprise colliding with disbelief. “You're kidding?”

On a laugh, Parker tossed his finished cigarette to the ground, extinguishing it under the heel of his boot. “Consider it a gesture of appreciation.”

“Isn’t this a business trip?”

Parker grinned. “Of course, but you wouldn’t be in the way. I’ve factored in
some
leisure time. All work and no play…” He chuckled.

It was out of the question of course. He had no desire to spend more time than necessary with the Draytons, but the generous offer did surprise him.
Jets by Gwynne
occasionally took skiing events with clients. But only in order to gain additional business, not to perfect their curves. “Thanks, but I’ll be heading straight back to London after I’ve dump– I mean after I’ve dropped you all off in Salzburg."

“Well, no need to decide now.” Parker gave a dismissive wave. "Just think about it." He started toward the jet. “The chalet we’re staying in has ten bedrooms so there's room. And after all…” Pausing on the fourth step, he grinned over his shoulder at Jake who remained on the ground. “’I believe in working hard and playing even harder.”

CHAPTER THREE

Nina placed her glass of Bollinger down and looked around the luxurious jet, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with Justin or Hugh. Unlike Parker, who was always engaging, his sons took pleasure in being difficult and immature.

She frowned when Angela sank back into the chair beside her, her usual dewy walnut complexion tight with strain. They hadn’t even taken off yet and already Angela sat tense. “You okay?”

Angela took out her inhaler, took two puffs and then said, “I will be once we get there.”

Nina eyed the inhaler. “You’re struggling to breathe right now?”

Angela gave a deep sigh. “I struggle to breathe when my feet aren’t on firm ground. Period. It’s why I leave the travelling to you and Neil.” She began to slip the inhaler back into her clutch bag, paused, and Nina’s concerned deepened when Angela slipped it inside pocket of her trousers instead.

“We’ll be there in less than two hours,” Neil soothed from across the aisle.

“I’m counting on it.”

“Can I get you anything, Mrs. Akra?” Their stewardess, Emily, appeared. Efficient and helpful, her smile was genuine and warm. She wore a smart pink and white uniform, and her curly brown hair bounced on her shoulders. Her dark blue eyes ran over Angela’s face with concern.

Angela attempted a smile. “No I’m fine, thanks. Will we be departing soon, do you know?”

Emily smiled. “Yes. The captain is set to announce takeoff any minute now. Please let me know if you need anything.” Then with an understanding smile, she headed toward the galley.

As if on cue, the captain’s voice came over the speakers then. “Good morning, this is Jake, your captain, speaking. Welcome to the flight to Salzburg….”

Nina tuned him out as he went through the usual routine of asking them to put on their seatbelts, and while Emily ran through the mandatory emergency evacuation procedure, Nina switched her phone to flight mode and scrolled through her messages. She hadn’t received anything from Alex, and told herself that she shouldn’t be surprised.

“Here we go,” Neil said with a grin.

Nina slipped her phone back into her bag and then met Shayna’s smile, but Angela groaned and closed her eyes.

Jake scanned the horizon. Beside him, Ben programmed in the codes for up-to-date weather and air traffic reports. Clear blue skies had been predicted all the way to Salzburg, and Jake was pleased. If he had to break his annual leave to do a job, he wanted the job to be easy. He radioed the ground control to obtain clearance. “Gatwick ground, Challenger 605 uniform, at the old tees, request taxi twenty-three for departure.”

Ground control came back immediately with confirmation clearance, as did the airport communication, much to Jake’s relief. “Challenger 605 cleared for takeoff, runway twenty-three. Enjoy your flight,” they offered in their standard spiel.