news, and didn’t feel overly concerned. They were used to living in New York, where there were frequent alarmist news reports. Upon learning about the two flight attendants who had gotten sick, they did feel some concern. But they were “go with the flow” personalities, used to the life of military and commercial pilots, and there was always something to talk about when their husbands came home from a flight. John’s wife, Dee Dee, had been a flight attendant back when they were called stewardesses, and nothing fazed her. She had carried many a barf bag in her flying days and handled more than her share of in-flight emergencies, from unruly passengers to dangerous turbulence and several emergency landings.
Captain Wesley still had that feeling of foreboding, an instinct he had learned when flying as a military pilot. Something wasn’t right, and the fact that both Terry and Maggie were seriously ill was not a coincidence. But it would be business as usual as he pushed his negative thoughts aside. He was eager to get this “baby” back in the air, heading home.
He asked his copilot. “Okay, Allen, what do you think? The dispatcher says we are cleared to go. Your opinion?”
Allen, in his easygoing manner, said “Why not? Nothing to indicate that we stay. I’d like to get home tonight if possible.”
John nodded. “Agreed.” But he couldn’t shake his uneasiness.
Allen turned to the doorway as the two FAs arrived, chatting about their first flight to NYC. They were fresh faced and bubbly, and the other crew members were waiting in the forward galley to greet them. After quick introductions, it was decided that the two novices would work in the rear cabin, with Justin and Jackie. Mary Ann, the more experienced of the crew, would man first class.
Captain Wesley and First Officer Allen met the two new girls as they passed the cockpit. Soon after, the gate attendant came out and got clearance to start boarding, and it was “standard operating procedure” at least for now.
Flight 943 nonstop to LaGuardia was scheduled for departure at 1:00 p.m. EDT. It was 12:30 p.m., and boarding would be starting momentarily.
Captain Wesley, without saying a word to Allen, picked up the mike and buzzed the gate agent, who answered right away.
“Yes, what is it, Captain? You ready for boarding?”
“No, don’t let anyone on the plane. Scrub the flight. This plane is going into a service holding area. I won’t put any of our passengers or crew at risk until we know fully what we are dealing with.” Allen turned, looked at John, shaking his head, negative.
“What the fuck?” thought Allen.
“What should I tell the passengers?” asked the gate agent, irritated..
“You can tell them that there is a mechanical problem and reschedule them on another flight, or tell them anything you want. But as captain, I have full responsibility for the safety of my crew and passengers, and it is my call. Got it?” He looked at Allen and could see he had Allen’s support.
“I don’t know if we have a problem, but if we do, I don’t want to find out about it at thirty thousand feet.”
“You got it, Captain,” said the agent.
John’s next move was to notify operations. They weren’t going to like it, but tough shit. He told Allen to tell the crew what was going on. An overnight in Miami wouldn’t be considered tough duty. John wanted to check on Terry and Maggie, anyway. He would check with the tower about where he could park the plane. It should go into an isolated holding “box” or other secure area of the airport.
Things could go from bad to worse fast, and he had to listen to his gut. It had gotten him through some dicey moments when flying C-130 transports in the air force. He wasn’t going to ignore it now.
.
40
Suzy and Max spent that May Saturday morning making love in his king-sized bed at his spacious brick townhouse in Georgetown. She didn’t stay at his place as often as he stayed at hers, but she felt comfortable in his home. She had left many of her personal belongings there, from a spare blow dryer and toothbrush, to sexy lingerie and gym clothes. He belonged to a gym, where they enjoyed working out together. Suzy did her light weight workout, and Max had a more strenuous workout, lifting heavy weights to maintain his trim military physique.
She had awakened Max that morning with feather light kisses to the back of his neck.