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Lisa thanked her, then sat down at the desk and inserted the flash drive into the computer, thankful it was an older model with USB-A ports. She had more experience working with the Windows operating system but knew enough about the Mac OS to create a hidden folder and transfer the contents of the flash drive for safekeeping. She would still hide the flash drive in her roller bag’s secret compartment, but she felt more comfortable knowing she had duplicated the information onto Jenn’s computer. Just in case.

Once complete, she ejected the flash drive, tucked it back into her pocket, and opened Safari to navigate to her web mail. She thought back on what Shen Yu had told her, before crafting a carefully coded email to her boss.

Wish you were here. Jenn and I have been touring the city. The cherry blossoms are so beautiful, and I can’t wait to show you my pictures when I return. Miss you.

Lisa

“Are you done yet?”

“Almost.” She sent the email and logged off, then closed the MacBook. Turning to Jenn with the biggest smile she could muster after one of the longest and most emotionally draining days of her life, she graciously accepted the offered wineglass.

“Here’s to a wonderful layover,” Lisa said.

“I wish Andy were here to see this,” Jenn replied.

“Who’s Andy?”

Jenn wiped at the corners of her eyes before replying. “My boyfriend.”

“Is he back home in…” She couldn’t remember where Jenn had said she was from.

“San Diego? No, he’s in Japan.”

“Japan?”

“He’s in the Navy.”

Lisa understood all too well the challenges of being with someone in the military, so she remained silent and watched the sun setting behind the neighboring buildings from the twin chairs Jenn had arranged to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. As much as she couldn’t stand the perkiness of the younger woman, Lisa had to admit it was a rare and beautiful moment. Especially in her line of work. She finished her glass with a silent toast to Shen Yu and, without having to fake it, yawned and made her excuse to leave. Reluctantly, Jenn relented and gave her one last hug.

“Breakfast?”

She nodded. “But not too early.” She hesitated for a moment before saying what had been on her mind. “Can I give you some advice?”

Jenn gave her a confused look. “Sure.”

“Take some time off and go see your boyfriend.” Jenn looked as if she was about to protest, but Lisa cut her off. “Trust me. You won’t regret it.”

Jenn’s eyes glossed over as if imagining their reunion. “Thank you.”

With a knowing smile, Lisa left the other flight attendant’s room and scanned the empty hall before turning toward hers, trying to fend off her own memories and the mental fog that came with hours spent trapped in a steel tube miles above the earth. Between her long duty day and the glass of wine, it would have been too easy to forget she was isolated and become complacent. But she understood the risks.

All her senses were keenly attuned to her surroundings. Behind her, a door opened and closed, followed by the soft plodding of feet on carpet moving closer.

Two… no, three people.

Because the elevator was in the opposite direction, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and she was immediately alert. She pictured the approaching threat in her mind, a picture that became clearer as she inhaled the faint scent of body odor, poorly masked by cheap cologne. Her eyes twitched at their shadows cast onto the walls on either side of her, and she braced herself for what she suspected was coming.

But above it all, she choked back the sour taste of fear and prepared for a fight.

She slowed her pace while pretending to reach into her back pocket for her room key, but instead slid her hand to her waistline where she had concealed the nonmetallic G10 knife. She felt more than heard the first one reaching for her, and she quickly drew the blade and spun to face him.

His eyes locked onto hers with a startled look, but she quickly registered that he wore the uniform of the People’s Armed Police. Without hesitation, she plunged all three inches into his chest and saw his grip relax on the syringe he had been about to stick into her neck.

She withdrew the blade as the syringe fell silently to the floor. In that instant, adrenaline flooded her body and her training kicked in. She shoved the uniformed man into the closest of the remaining two, then subtly shifted her weight onto her back leg and prepared for the coming attack.

Her mind swam with questions that were better left for later. Who are they? What do they want?