CHAPTER EIGHT MAKAYLA
CHAPTER EIGHT
M AKAYLA
As the captain’s voice comes over the loudspeaker, Makayla stares at Liam’s empty bassinet.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you are already aware, an infant has gone missing aboard our flight. We have notified the authorities on the ground, and they’ve requested our crew inspect everyone’s luggage. Flight attendants will be coming through the cabin in just a moment to conduct this search. Your cooperation is appreciated.”
She leans forward, cradling her head in her hands. If Liam is inside someone’s luggage and not making a sound, then he’s ...
“If you have any information regarding this infant’s whereabouts, we ask that you come forward immediately. Thank you.”
A flight attendant passes her seat, and Makayla reaches for her arm.
“Britt?”
She turns.
“I can help search the luggage so it goes faster.” If Liam’s inside someone’s suitcase, he will be running out of air. If he hasn’t already. The thought makes her lightheaded.
Britt outstretches her palm. “No, I need you to remain seated.”
“What about the cargo hold? Down below? Has that been searched?”
Britt shakes her head. “He can’t be down there. The only access to that part of the plane is through the cockpit.”
Makayla unbuckles her seat belt. Learning there’s somewhere they haven’t yet checked causes a flicker of hope to pulse through her. “We can’t know for sure unless we check. I want to see it.” She starts to get up.
“No, you can’t.” Britt steps forward, blocking Makayla’s access to the aisle. “We don’t allow passengers into the cockpit during the flight. It’s against our security policy. There’s no way your baby could be down there. Like I said, the only access is through the cockpit, which has been secured since takeoff.”
Makayla’s chin quivers as she lowers herself to her seat. “Can you at least ask the pilots to check?”
“We’re already doing everything we can.” Britt’s expression softens. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
Makayla nods as a sob escapes her lips. Britt continues toward business class, and Makayla reaches for Liam’s blanket inside the bassinet. She lifts it to her cheek. As the familiar lavender scent hits her, tears escape her eyes.
She leans into the aisle, craning her neck. In the back, Derek and another flight attendant open overhead bins. Derek withdraws a backpack from the compartment and rests it on an armrest to unzip it. He reaches inside before replacing it in the overhead storage space.
Makayla scans the faces around her for a hint of guilt, or a shifty gaze, someone who meets her eyes and looks away too quickly. She searches for anyone who appears too intent on their phone. Anything that could indicate they took Liam. But none of the surrounding passengers return Makayla’s stare.
She faces forward and rests her head against her seat. It feels as if the plane is spinning. Hearing voices in the cabin in front of her, Makayla leans again into the aisle, peering through the opened curtain to business class. Britt removes a duffel bag from above the older woman’s seat, rifles through it, and returns it to the overhead bin.
When Britt gets to her row, Makayla is dizzy. After peering beneath her seat, Britt opens the compartment above Makayla’s head. The flight attendant’s eyes fall to the diaper bag next to Makayla.
She points to it. “Can I see inside that, please?”
Makayla’s jaw falls open. “That’s my bag.”
“I know. We’re searching everyone’s luggage.”
The young woman across the aisle watches Makayla intently from between her pink headphones as Makayla slides the diaper bag across her lap, opening it so Britt can look inside. Britt leans forward, pulling the bag open wider before she digs around inside.
She offers Makayla a sympathetic smile before searching the overhead compartment across the aisle. “Thank you.”
Makayla feels numb as she replaces the diaper bag on the seat next to her. Did the flight attendant really think she’d hidden her own child inside her bag? Seeing his burp cloths beside his rattle in the shape of a moose hits her like a thousand knives slicing into her heart.
Her chest heaves from the sob she’s unable to contain. The crew says they’re doing everything, but then, why can’t they find him? And what are the authorities on the ground going to do? Help them when they land in a few hours? They need to find Liam now .
“Do you want me to take her out of the carrier?” she hears Jemma say from behind her. “I’m more than happy to. Just can’t guarantee I’ll be able to coax her back in there. She might howl, but she’s completely harmless.”
Makayla reaches for her phone, realizing Jack has no idea what has happened. In the background, Jemma’s husband continues to talk about the dog, and she wishes he would just open the carrier and stop talking.
“She hates this carrier,” Jemma’s husband says. “Howled for an hour after we put her in there. Our vet prescribed her an antianxiety pill. What’s the name of it again, Jemma?”
Makayla calls Jack through her internet messaging app, but it rings four times before going to voicemail. She hangs up and tries again, willing him to answer. Jemma’s talking again, so loudly Makayla can hardly think.
“... Anyway, she fell asleep by the time we got to the airport. Surely, it’s worn off by now, and I mistakenly put the rest of the pills in my checked bag. We tried traveling without it on the way to Anchorage, and she howled for half the flight. Even bit me when I put her in the kennel. But I understand. You need to check everywhere. I just hope she doesn’t cause too much of a disturbance.”
“No need to open it,” Britt says. “I can see her inside the kennel.”
Makayla’s head is pounding by the time it goes to voicemail again.
“Jack, call me as soon as you get this. Liam is—” Her voice breaks. She puts a hand over her mouth. After a long breath, she lowers her hand. “He’s gone , Jack. And we can’t find him anywhere. Oh, God.” She sniffs. “I don’t know how this could’ve happened. Please call me.”
She hangs up and closes her eyes, tears spilling onto the sides of her face. When she opens them, she checks the time on her phone. It’s the middle of the night in New York. Jack must be asleep. He leaves his phone on silent at night so that he’s not disturbed at all hours by his clients.
Or is there another reason he isn’t picking up? Makayla forces the image of Sabrina—her fitted dress clinging to her size-two waist with her hand on Jack’s shoulder as they laugh together, their faces inches apart—from her mind.
A new message from Cori appears on her screen. I’m up feeding Aurora and remembered what I meant to tell you yesterday! I just found out my friend Zoe who owns that yoga studio by your condo is getting divorced. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow—you won’t believe what her husband did! It’s so crazy. A row of wide-eyed emojis. How’s your flight?
Makayla sits up straight and looks around the cabin. Britt is now in the last row of this section, and there is still no sign of Liam. She isn’t sure if she feels better or worse. Where could he be?
Makayla swallows and types a reply to Cori. Liam has gone missing on the plane. A tear escapes her cheek and falls onto the screen. I’m really scared.
Three dots appear below her text as Cori types a reply. Seconds later, her message appears. What?!! How is that possible?
Makayla’s thumbs tremble as she taps a reply. I don’t know. But he’s gone, Cori. I feel like I’m going to throw up.
Another text. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find him. Could one of the crew have picked him up, trying to console him or something? Or a passenger seated around you?
No. The crew knows he’s missing, and we’ve searched everywhere. They just made an announcement and are searching everyone’s luggage. I can’t believe this is happening.
OMG! I’m so sorry! I wish I was there with you. I’m sure it’s hard, but try to stay positive. I know you will find him. Let me know if there is anything I can do. I’ll stay awake until I hear you’ve found him. Hang in there—hugs!
Makayla lowers her phone, wishing she could share in Cori’s optimism. But how can I when Liam is nowhere to be found? She surveys the young woman who she asked to keep an eye on Liam while she went to the bathroom. She’s reclined in her seat and refocused on the screen in front of her.
Makayla studies her. After what happened, how could she be so carefree? He isn’t her child, but still. The young woman’s gaze darts toward Makayla as though she can feel Makayla assessing her. She looks back at her screen, but Makayla doesn’t look away. How could she not have seen someone take Liam from his bassinet? And had she really not known that I was asking her to watch Liam?
She had the perfect opportunity to take him if she wanted to. But if she did, then where is he?