Missing in Flight

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO MAKAYLA

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

M AKAYLA

The curtain flings open to business class. Makayla drops her phone on her lap and lays her forearm across it. Derek appears with the blond first-class flight attendant. He holds a bottle of water and two small packets in his hand.

He steps toward her. “How many ibuprofen do you want? There’s two in each of these packets.”

The first-class attendant lingers behind him, eyeing Makayla.

She hates to accept anything from the man who’s keeping her from looking for Liam, but her head is screaming at her. And she needs to be as well as possible so she can find her son—even though there’s nothing she can do from her seat.

“I’ll take three.”

Derek tears open both pill packets and drops three tablets in her palm. He opens the bottle of water but keeps it at his side.

“I can loosen the strap around your arms so you can drink this easier,” he says. “But only if you agree to cooperate and not try to get up.” He glances at the attendant standing behind him. “Otherwise, you won’t be able to take these.”

“I’ll stay seated.”

Derek leans forward and loosens the seat belt across her arms by only an inch before handing her the water bottle. She tosses back the three pills and chases them down with a large drink. The moment she swallows, Derek tightens the strap, cinching her arms against her ribs.

When he goes to take the bottle from her, she tries a different approach.

“Do you think you could take the restraints off?” She fights to keep her voice soft. “I’m sorry about earlier. I know you guys are doing everything. You don’t need to restrain me. I’m not going to get up again until you say it’s okay.” She plasters a slight smile on her face.

“Sorry, you’ll be restrained for the remainder of our flight. It’s our policy for unruly passengers.”

Her heart plummets to her feet. “Did you ask Britt about the pet carrier?”

“Yes,” he says without missing a beat. “She checked it.”

Makayla knows this is a lie. Britt hasn’t come up from the rear of the plane since Derek went to the front. Unless he called her through the intercom, but she doubts it.

“Please, let me go!” Makayla reaches for Derek’s arm with her zip-tied hands, but the seat belt around her arms keeps her from being able to move her hands beyond her armrest. “I’m not hurting anyone. The only person who’s in danger on this plane is my son. My baby . Please.” She chokes back a sob.

Derek purses his lips. “I’m sorry,” he mutters before striding toward the rear of the plane.

Makayla screams in frustration. “Nooooo!” Her cry morphs into a wail and then a sob. The crew already thinks I’m crazy. And her outburst just proved they did the right thing by restraining her.

Makayla makes sure both flight attendants are gone before lifting her phone. She has a missed call from Jack, and she’s glad to see her phone is on silent. Derek might’ve taken it away. That means Jack got her message. She can feel Derek’s eyes on her from a few rows back. Instead of calling, she sends Jack the text she was about to send before Derek appeared.

There’s a couple seated a few rows behind me. She glances at her seat number. I think they’re in row fifteen. They have a pet carrier and I have a horrible feeling Liam might be inside it. They won’t let me look. Call the FBI and get them to demand the pet carrier gets checked, even if the crew says they already did. And let me know that you got this!

A new message pops up from Cori. Okay, Fletcher’s awake. He’s calling the CEO now.

Makayla inhales a deep breath as she sends a reply. They’ve restrained me and won’t let me look for Liam! And no one else is looking for him either!

She holds her breath as three bubbles appear below her message. Cori’s response comes seconds later. What!!?? They can’t do that! Hang in there, I’ll tell Fletcher.

Thank you.

Cori sends another message. I’m shocked and furious for you. Don’t worry, this will all get sorted out. Liam can’t be far, and he will be found!

Makayla rests her head against the seat back after reading Cori’s texts. She doesn’t doubt either of those two things. But she’s terrified that Liam won’t be alive when they do.