Chapter 2 - The Grounding of Flight 409Thirty miles away, under a heavy blanket of rain, the private tarmac of Teterboro Airport lit up with flashing warning lights.
A sleek Gulfstream jet, its twin engines whining as it began to taxi toward the active runway, suddenly shuddered to a halt as two heavy federal security SUVs roared across the wet concrete, blocking its path.
Inside the cabin, Elena Vance—the woman in the expensive beige coat who had walked away from Gate 28—panicked as the intercom crackled.
"Passenger Elena Vance, remain in your seat. Federal and private security authorities have jurisdiction. Do not attempt to open the cabin door."
"Damn it!" Elena hissed, slamming her handbag onto the leather seat. Her fingers flew across her phone, dialing an emergency alias. "They intercepted us. They’re at the tarmac!"
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The heavy cabin door hissed open. Rain lashed into the doorway, followed by the heavy, echoing thud of wet boots.
Elena turned around, her breath catching in her throat as Vance stepped into the aisle. His dark trench coat was wet with rain, and his eyes were cold as surgical steel.
