Chapter 4

Laura gave a cold little snort and pulled both children behind her.

"Naturally. We raised them right."

The search ran on past twenty minutes.

Every bag in the holding area was opened. The aircraft was checked section by section.

Nash and the police stood with their heads together, and the air kept getting heavier.

Sophie leaned toward Ryan's ear and said it at just the volume that carried.

"They don't actually think we brought something on board, do they?"

The two of them doubled over laughing until there were tears in their eyes.

Then the announcement came.

"We apologize for the disruption to your travel.

"Following a joint inspection by airport security and law enforcement, we can confirm there are no dangerous items aboard the aircraft."

The holding area erupted.

Ryan suddenly bolted out into the middle of the floor with his phone up over his head, shouting.

"Happy graduation!

"Happy graduation, everybody!"

The whole room stared at them, blank.

Sophie was right behind him, screaming it, her face flushed.

"Remember the name, people — Clearwater High, senior class, incoming Hartwell freshmen!

"Follow us!

"We just gave a whole plane a surprise turnaround. Is that a flex or is that a flex?"

Ryan ran up to Nash and put the camera right in his face, laughing so hard he was crying.

"Happy graduation! Having fun there, buddy?

"Look at the state of all of you. You actually thought we had a bomb!"

Sophie stood in front of me, giggling.

"This is what being young is supposed to look like.

"Wild. Unrepeatable. This is our one shot at it.

"You never had a youth like this, Claire. That's exactly why nobody wanted you."

Laura couldn't stop smiling.

"These two little monsters.

"All this just to celebrate graduating."

Daniel looked openly proud of himself.

"That's my kids for you. Creative.

"Everybody else takes a group photo, has a meal, and that's graduation.

"Mine got an entire airport to celebrate with them.

"Look how happy they are. If you're not a little wild at that age, when are you?"

When Ryan had had his fill he put the phone away and clapped Nash on the shoulder.

"All right. We've had our fun.

"Get us back in the air. We've still got Hawaii to get to."

Nobody moved.

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"What? Don't tell me you're actually angry.

"It's not that big a deal."

Sophie waved the tablet at them.

"Fine, fine. We made you all do a bit of extra work.

"But it's graduation, come on.

"Tell you what, I'll thank you in the edit. Get the airport a bit of exposure, bring you some business. Happy now?"

The hall stayed dead silent. Still nobody spoke.

For the first time, the smiles on both their faces slipped.

Then, from outside, came fast, even footsteps.

Armed tactical officers came through the doors and had the area surrounded in seconds.

The cuffs came down and both of them went to the floor.

Muzzles level with their heads.

Laura screamed and was shouted down immediately.

"Quiet! Anyone who moves gets treated the same way!"

Ryan roared from the floor.

"I'm a Hartwell student—"

One of the officers spoke, cold and flat.

"You fabricated and deliberately spread a terror threat. You caused mass public panic.

"You forced an emergency diversion and severe disruption of airport operations.

"That's a felony. You're being taken into custody."

Nash walked over to Daniel and Laura with a long printed sheet.

"The diversion cost for this flight. Compensation for stranded passengers.

"Losses on the cancelled onward flights. Escalated security costs.

"The preliminary total is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

"Sign to acknowledge receipt, and wait for the civil filing."

In that moment the blood went out of Daniel's and Laura's faces.

On the floor, Ryan and Sophie finally looked afraid.