Chapter 5 - THE WRONG PERSON
Erin stepped between Maya and the officers.
"She was the one who got hit."
"We have a report that she threatened another passenger."
"That's a lie," three people said at once.
Victor adjusted his jacket. "She identified herself as a federal official and intimidated me. I feared for my safety."
A teenage boy in 3A raised his phone.
"I recorded everything."
Victor went still.
The boy's mother touched his arm. "Show them."
The video played loudly in the cabin: Victor's voice, the slap, his words - learn your place - and Maya sitting perfectly still.
One officer looked at Victor.
"Sir, stand up."
"Excuse me?"
"Stand up."
Victor's expression hardened. "Call airport director Samuel Reeve. Now."
The officer ignored him.
Maya crouched beside seat 2B and lifted the cushion.
The black drive was gone.
She looked toward the jet bridge.
A man in a Meridian maintenance jacket was walking away quickly.
"Erin," Maya said, "what's his name?"
Erin squinted. "I don't know. He wasn't on our arrival team."
Maya took off running.
Behind her, Victor shouted, "Stop her!"
The maintenance worker glanced back.
May you like
The officers replayed the teenager's video from two angles because another passenger had recorded from row five. Victor's lawyer had not yet arrived, but Victor was already building a defense out loud. He said Maya had 'menaced' him. He said her refusal to lower the shade was deliberate provocation. Erin finally snapped. 'She was sitting in the seat she paid for.' Victor looked at her with pure disbelief, as if an employee had become furniture and then suddenly spoken.
Then he ran too.
