Riley heard.
Her face reddened.
Then she placed her heel directly on top of the briefcase.
Nina froze.
The heel pressed against the lid.
“Remove your foot.”
Riley leaned slightly.
The case shifted.
A sharp metallic sound came from the latch.
The silver seal tore halfway through.
Nina’s eyes dropped to it.
For the first time since boarding, genuine alarm crossed her face.
“Stop.”
Riley mistook alarm for weakness.
She pressed once more.
The seal snapped.
The sound was tiny.
Almost nothing.
To Nina, it sounded like a gunshot.
She stared at the broken strip.
Her entire closing process had just changed.
Behind Riley, Jordan Ellis entered first class.
Jordan was fifty-two, broad-shouldered, gray-haired, and calm in the way people became after decades of solving problems in confined spaces at thirty thousand feet.
He had been handling a catering discrepancy near the galley when a junior attendant whispered that Riley had “something happening” in row two.
Jordan approached.
“What’s going on?”
Nina did not look at him.
Her eyes remained on the broken seal.
Riley answered first.
“Passenger refuses to stow luggage.”
Jordan looked toward the case.
Then the cabin.
Then the still-open boarding door.
“We’re still boarding.”
Riley’s posture stiffened.
“She’s being disruptive.”
Jordan looked toward Nina.
“Ma’am?”
Nina finally lifted her eyes.
“Your employee placed her shoe on my case after I asked her twice not to touch it.”
Riley interrupted.
“I moved it because—”
Jordan held up one hand.
He looked at the damaged silver strip.
“What is that?”
“Tamper seal,” Nina said.
His expression changed.
“Was it intact before boarding?”
“Yes.”
Riley scoffed.
“She’s making a ridiculous issue out of a sticker.”
Nina turned toward her.
“Your shoe broke it.”
Riley’s face hardened.
Jordan stepped between them slightly.
“Riley, move away from the passenger.”
“She’s refusing crew instructions.”
“What instruction?”
“To stow the case.”
Jordan glanced upward.
“No bin space.”
“Then gate-check it.”
Nina’s head turned instantly.
“No.”
Riley gave Jordan a triumphant look.
“See?”
Nina reached for the case.
“Under no circumstances will this case leave my possession.”
Jordan crouched slightly, careful not to touch it.
He saw tiny text printed along the broken strip.
AUTHORIZED CUSTODY SEAL
Not normal luggage.
“Ma’am, is there anything hazardous inside?”
“No.”
“Restricted materials?”
“Confidential commercial documents and encrypted devices.”
“Any batteries?”
“Two certified secure signing devices, both within cabin allowances.”
Jordan nodded.
“That can stay in the cabin.”
Riley stared at him.
“You’re taking her side?”
Jordan looked toward her.
“There aren’t sides.”
“There are procedures.”
Riley laughed sharply.
“Oh, please.”
Passengers were openly watching now.
A businessman in 3C was filming.
Two people farther back had phones raised.
Riley saw them.
Instead of becoming more careful, she became angrier.
She pointed toward Nina.