Flying Too Close to the Sun by George Jehn (novels for beginners .txt) 📕

dime scheme. There was nothing further she could do, so Christina grabbed her flight bag and drove home. She paced back and forth, glass of wine in hand, totally stressed out, afraid of a seizure. Would the police knock on the door at any moment?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The heavyset guy helped gather the contents and handed them to David, who stuffed them back inside the suitcases. “Thanks for the help. I try to be careful whenever I drive over that spot,” David stammered, pointing to the bump, “but sometimes I forget.”

“That doesn’t seem to be a very smart location to put a speed bump.”

“It’s not a speed bump. It’s there is to keep the water out.” Changing the subject, David asked while pointing to the man’s badge, “You work for the airline’s security department?”

The man shook his head. “No, I’m with the Feds. I’m here to check on an incoming shipment,” pointing to the jet.

“Well, thanks for the help. I really appreciate it,” David replied, not wanting to seem overly interested.

“At least now someone will be happy to get their belongings back,” the man said with a smile as he strolled off.

After what seemed like an eternity, Christina finally heard David’s car pull up and park outside. She yanked open the door. “What happened? I saw the big guy come over to you and—.”

“Thanks very much. Why the hell didn’t you warn me?”

“I tried. But you couldn’t hear because a plane took off. Are you okay?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he answered with a smug smile on his face. “He believed me when I said everything fell off my cart. He was wearing a federal government badge but I couldn’t make out the department. He said he was checking on whatever was on your plane.”

“I was afraid he collared you.”

“He actually helped me pick the stuff up.”

“You better back off, ‘cause if that fellow worked for the airline..? It’s not worth it over a lousy few bucks,” Christina reiterated with a frown.

Ignoring her comment, David changed the subject. “What the hell’s on your flight? First there’s the guard. Then, the armored truck and now there’s this guy checking. All of these people wouldn’t be involved unless...”

“I haven’t been able to come up with anything. It’s probably top secret,” she interrupted. After another pause a pensive Christina added, “But you have to stop with the bags.” David said nothing. “Did you hear me?”

“No way.” David hesitated a moment and added, “Well, maybe after a few scores?”

“You’ll get caught,” Christina insisted.

“Then don’t do the lookout thing.” If she wasn’t involved he didn’t have to share anything.

“Fine. I won’t.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Erik’s eighteen payments were calculated at $1965.33 per month, including interest. After receiving notification he again called the bank, hoping they would push back the starting date or lower the monthly amount.

The manager stated, however, in what sounded like a recording, “We’ve been more than tolerant for well over two years. Per your request, we rearranged the financing so you could settle up over a longer period and also moved back the starting date. I’m sorry, but nothing more can be done.”

Erik could picture this guy probably sitting at a big desk on his fat butt, not caring what effect something like this would have on Erik’s life. Since assistance from his parents was kaput, maybe Carol would help? He didn’t want to ask, but pondering his dilemma, saw no other alternative. As the looming first month’s deadline neared, he approached her, nerves on edge.

“I’ve got a serious problem. It’s so bad it could cost me my job at the airline,” he timidly informed her.

Erik hesitated. “I took out a loan to pay for my initial flight lessons because back then everyone, the bank included, believed pilot jobs were easy to come by. But then a recession hit and most pilot jobs flew off into the sunset for a while. I haven’t started making enough yet to repay it and they’re demanding I begin next month.” He gulped. “I read the airline’s operations manual and if I default and management learns, they’ll fire me for fiscal irresponsibility. I’m hoping to come up with some money in the near future, but could you help me a bit, maybe with the first and second installments? I’ll repay you. I promise.”

“How much?”

“It’s just under two-thousand per month.”

Realizing this situation was not good, the following day she withdrew all the cash from her savings account, money she’d put away from various babysitting jobs. But it contained a bit less than the first month’s payment. Erik put up the rest so at least now he had some breathing room.

.     .     .

Prior to their next flight Christina approached Erik in the noisy, purely functional operations office and whispered, “I want to fill you in on the rest of the details. Let’s chat in the cockpit again tonight. We’ll manufacture some excuse for not grabbing a bite with Woody.”

After the second landing in Boston, Woody asked if Erik and Christina would be joining him for dinner.

“I have to stop in the ladies’ room first,” Christina replied.

“And I have to call my girlfriend,” Erik lied.

“Don’t you folks like me anymore?”

“Not like you?” Christina smiled and added with a wink, “I’ll be there shortly.”

While walking across the ramp, Woody eyed Christina and Erik still in the cockpit, apparently immersed in conversation.

Erik inquired, “What’ve you cooked up?”

“I can’t tell you if—”

“I’m in. It’s final.”

“Okay. A while back I discovered we transport cash in our cargo compartment on the nine o’clock LaGuardia flight.”

A nervous Erik began drumming his leg with his fingers like a tap dancer, now having an idea of where this conversation might be headed. “How did you find out? Whose money is it?” he interrupted, recalling his mother’s favorite saying when it came to money. “The richest person isn’t the one with the most, but one who needs the least.”

“Ever wonder why we’re always delayed on the final LaGuardia leg?”

“We’re waiting for connecting pass—”

“That’s just the standard