Avery lowered the towel.
“That is becoming very obvious.”
Margaret stared at the champagne stain on Avery’s suit.
Then the bag in her hand.
Then the crew.
“I would never have—”
She stopped.
Avery’s eyes sharpened.
“You would never have done what?”
Margaret knew immediately that every possible answer was worse than silence.
Avery continued.
“You would never have thrown the owner’s handbag?”
Silence.
“Would never have taken the owner’s seat?”
Nothing.
“Would never have hit the owner?”
Margaret looked toward Daniel for help.
None came.
Avery said quietly:
“The problem is that you thought you were doing it to someone who couldn't matter.”
No one in the cabin moved.
Then the aircraft door reopened.
Two airport police officers entered.
Behind them came a Meridian corporate security manager who had apparently sprinted from the terminal.
Margaret whispered:
“This doesn't need to become dramatic.”
Avery looked at the officers.
“It already did.”
The police removed Margaret from the aircraft at 6:04 p.m.
Before she left, she demanded her attorney.
Then her husband.
Then someone named Bradley Walsh.
The third name mattered.
Avery wrote it into her leather notebook.
Bradley.
Daniel had reacted to that name.
So had Melissa.
Avery noticed people who tried not to react.
She always had.
Margaret was escorted up the jet bridge while passengers watched in absolute silence.
At the door, she turned.
For one second, Avery thought she might apologize.
Instead she said:
“You know I’m a Crown Meridian member.”
Avery almost admired the absurdity.
“Congratulations.”
“My family spends hundreds of thousands a year with this company.”
“Then perhaps we should have sent a thank-you card.”
Margaret stared.
A police officer gently directed her forward.
She disappeared.
Avery looked toward Captain Hale.
“How long until we can legally depart?”
“Police need witness statements.”
“How long?”
“Minimum thirty minutes.”
Avery nodded.
“Then we wait.”
The captain hesitated.
“Corporate says you ordered a ground hold.”
“I ordered operations not to release us until the security issue was resolved.”
He smiled faintly.
“That is a ground hold.”
“I know.”
Avery looked around the cabin.
Passengers had begun murmuring.
Some were frustrated.
Most were fascinated.
One man had recorded part of the encounter.
Avery approached him.
“Sir.”
He looked guilty.
“Yes?”
“I won’t ask you to delete anything.”
He relaxed slightly.
“But please provide a copy to police before posting it.”
He stared.
“You're not asking me not to post?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I wanted privacy after something public happened, I should have purchased an island.”
The man laughed nervously.
Then nodded.
Avery turned toward Melissa.
The flight attendant looked shaken.
“Walk with me.”
Melissa followed her toward the galley.
Avery lowered her voice.
“Why were you afraid of her?”
Melissa froze.
“I wasn't.”
Avery waited.
Melissa looked down.
Avery said:
“You were.”
Tears appeared suddenly.
Melissa glanced toward Daniel.
He deliberately looked away to give them space.