CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE ANNA
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A NNA
“It’s looking like we’ll be tossed around quite a bit coming into Manhattan,” Miguel says over the intercom. He casts Anna a wry smile. “This will be good experience for you just before your captain upgrade training.”
“Pacific Air 7038, cross CYPER at flight level one eight zero and contact New York Center now on frequency one two five decimal three two five,” Boston Center commands over the radio.
Miguel replies to Boston Center as Anna reaches up and sets eighteen thousand in the Flight Control Unit panel on the glareshield. The airplane starts a gentle descent as the autothrust system reduces the engine power to idle.
“That was close. I thought they were going to hold us up high, like they usually do,” Anna says over the interphone.
“Yes, then they expect you to make the altitude restriction at CYPER. We should put those ATC guys in the simulator and let them see how they like it!” Miguel jokes, looking over the latest weather report for LaGuardia. “They’re reporting heavy rain at LaGuardia, so I think we should select medium on the autobrakes,” he adds. “As soon as the nose gear touches down, you may have to add more braking.”
“Okay.” Anna reaches up and pushes the “MED” button on the autobrake selector, causing a green “ON” light to illuminate.
Again, the airplane lurches from the turbulence, and Anna’s shoulder harness digs into her collarbone. The flight attendant call buzzer sounds.
“I’ll get that,” she says, seeing Miguel is busy setting up for the approach to LaGuardia.
“This is Anna.”
“Anna, it’s Britt. We need permission from the captain ASAP to restrain Makayla Rossi, the mother of the missing infant.”
Anna’s brows knit together. “ Restrain her?”
Miguel shoots her a look of surprise.
“You need to hear this,” Anna tells him.
Miguel reaches down and turns up the volume knob on the flight attendant interphone.
“She isn’t complying with our instructions to stay seated, posing a risk to herself and other passengers. She’s been continuing to search the plane amid all this turbulence and throwing accusations at some of the other passengers. Just now, we were trying to get her back to her seat, and she elbowed Aubrey in the nose. There’s blood everywhere. It might even be broken.”
Anna winces. They still have a ways to go before landing—a long time to endure the pain of a broken nose without any medical treatment.
Miguel’s eyes widen. “Okay, yes. Go ahead and restrain her if you’re sure it’s necessary. And can you ask if we have any medical professionals on board that could look at Aubrey’s nose?”
Anna imagines the mother, hands zip-tied together in her seat while her baby is missing. Whether it’s due to a memory lapse or not, she must be terrified.
“Yes, and believe me, it’s necessary. She’s become violent, and she won’t stop. She’s causing a major disturbance.” Britt breathes a sigh into the line. “We’ve been dealing with a lot back here.”
Miguel frowns, holding Anna’s gaze.
“I understand,” he says. “I just want to make sure you aren’t taking undue measures. She has lost her baby.”
“Well, we don’t even know that for sure,” Britt says, her tone sharp.
“Okay. Go ahead. If you’re sure that it’s necessary.”
Anna stares at Miguel after Britt hangs up.
“I don’t like that they’re restraining her.” Miguel frowns. “But we can’t have anyone getting hurt either.”
“No, we can’t,” Anna agrees, feeling oddly relieved. “I get that we have to protect our crew and passengers, but I can’t say that I blame that woman for freaking out. I mean, her baby’s missing.” At least in her mind.
Although with Makayla Rossi restrained, they shouldn’t have to worry about things getting out of control in the back, and they can focus on getting this plane on the ground.