Missing in Flight

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT MAKAYLA

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

M AKAYLA

As they start their descent over New York, the nose of the aircraft dips. Makayla’s restraints keep her from being able to lift her window shade, but through a window on the other side of the plane, she can see that it’s still dark outside. A flash of lightning in the distance illuminates the rain-streaked window.

She’s gone over her time at Anchorage Airport several times in her head. She remembers everything: feeding Liam, then having to hurry to her gate. Rubbing his back by the window while he watched planes take off. She has no doubt Liam was with her. Up until the moment when she came out of the lavatory.

She stares at her phone in her hands. How could she have forgotten? She hurriedly unlocks the device with her fingerprint and opens her recent photos. There it is. A selfie of her and Liam in the food court at Anchorage Airport after she’d taken him out of her wrap. She meant to send it to Jack, but Liam had taken so long to drink his bottle that she rushed to the gate and forgot about it.

It might not convince anyone besides herself that Liam is on this flight, but it does prove that he was with her not long before boarding.

A new message pops up from Cori. I’m sure you must be terrified. But I have good news! The CEO got in touch with someone at the airline, and they are going to contact your flight and have them undo your restraints. I can’t believe how they’re treating you after Liam was taken while you were in the bathroom.

Makayla sets down her phone without replying. She prays they contact the flight soon and she’s not stuck here until they land. Her eyes fall to Cori’s text again before her screen goes dark.

Then it hits her. She doesn’t remember telling Cori she was in the bathroom when Liam went missing. Her face grows hot. Had she forgotten?

She starts to scroll up through their texts, then stops, replacing her phone on her lap. I had to have told her, and there’s nothing wrong with my memory. The hours since Liam went missing feel like a blur. Doubting herself isn’t going to help find Liam.

She leans into the aisle, craning her neck to see what Chad and Jemma are doing. She can’t see Jemma’s bulky husband sticking out from his aisle seat anymore. Something about Jemma, and her coming up to speak to her, gnaws at her. If she was truly concerned and wanted to help, why not show Makayla the dog inside the pet carrier?

Makayla turns to the young woman across the aisle. “Hey.”

The girl meets Makayla’s eyes while keeping her head resting against her seat back.

Makayla flicks her head toward the rows behind her and lowers her voice. “What’s that couple doing?”

Pink Headphones heaves a sigh and twists around. She looks back at Makayla. “Which couple?”

Makayla works to keep her frustration from showing on her face. Could this girl be any less aware of her surroundings?

“The only couple that’s seated behind me. They’re three rows back.”

The girl looks again. “I don’t see them. All the rows behind you are empty.”

Panic hits her like a tidal wave. “What?” She strains to see behind her. “Where did they go?”

The girl shrugs.

“Did they take the pet carrier with them?”

The girl shrugs again.

Makayla leans back in her seat, her mind spinning. They wouldn’t take the carrier on a walkabout of the cabin if it really had a fussy dog inside. They made such a fuss about not disturbing his precious sleep. It would still be there, under the seat.

So, if the carrier is missing from the row, that means she is right and the couple has Liam. This is her chance to find out.

“Hey. Hey! Unbuckle me.”

Pink-headphone girl shakes her head.

“Please! Help me.”

“I can’t.”

“Then go look and see if the pet carrier is there, under the seat.” Makayla waits with pleading eyes for the girl to respond.

She purses her lips. “Okay, fine.”

Makayla holds her breath while the girl gets up from her seat and retreats down the aisle. She steps into Jemma’s row and crouches down.

“Well?”

No response.

Makayla lifts herself an inch off her seat, trying to see what’s happening. “Is the carrier there?”

With a sinking feeling, she worries they took the carrier with them. Then what are they doing with Liam? Hiding him somewhere else?

An even worse thought enters her mind. Oh, no. Please, God—no. The young woman must’ve found Liam ... and it’s too late. How else would Liam not have made any noise through all of this?

“Hey! Can you hear me? Is it there?” But she’s not sure she can bear the answer to her own question.

As she waits for a response, her thoughts run wild. An image of the young girl pulling Liam’s limp, lifeless body from the carrier fills her mind.

After what feels like an hour, the girl reappears in the aisle, holding the pet carrier in front of her. Her eyes are huge, a mix of shock and horror. The door to the kennel hangs open as she approaches Makayla. It’s empty inside.

Then Makayla sees it. In the girl’s other hand is a small dog.

“I found this.” When she lifts it closer to Makayla’s face, Makayla sees that although the dog is very lifelike, it’s not real.

Makayla’s jaw drops. “Unbuckle me! Now! ”