Page 212 of Renegade
Evelyn stopped typing, glanced out the window. “I don’t see anything.”
“Where are the F-16s?” Caroline asked.
“Give me two minutes. I have to use the restroom.” Evelyn left and Caroline slid into her seat near the window. One of the F-16s flanked Air Force One off its tail. She glanced across the aisle, but couldn’t see the other one.
Just then, the F-16 banked hard right, creating significant separation from the 747. The other F-16 appeared from below and joined the first. To Caroline’s horror, a missile hit the wing of one of the F-16s and it began spiraling downward.
Four unmarked jets flew nearby, one flanking each side of Air Force One, while the other two went after the F-16s.
“Ohgod.” She rushed over to one of the attendants. “We’re being attacked by enemy fighters.”
The flight attendant glanced out the window. “Sit down, buckle up.”
She hurried back and sat as Evelyn rushed down the aisle, took her seat. The President had emerged from the conference room and stood in the aisle, surrounded by several people.
Caroline tapped her ear pod. “Grey, we’ve got a problem.”
“Go,” he replied.
“Four unmarked jets have engaged the F-16s in combat. One of the F-16s is down.”
“Where’s the second?” he asked.
“It moved away from us and it’s fighting two of the four jets by itself.”
“Hello, this is Captain McAnter.” The captain’s confident cadence did nothing to calm her. “We have a situation. I need everyone in their seats. Buckle up. Stay calm. If you are a person of faith, pray.”
A woman in the back started screaming, but she was quickly subdued.
“Austin, talk to me.” Grey’s velvety voice hijacked her attention. “What’s happening?”
She stared out the window, then gasped as the jet was stuck. “The second F-16 was hit, the pilot ejected. The four foreign jets have us surrounded.”
“Fuck.”
Air Force Once banked left, slowly turning in the morningsky. “Ladies and gentlemen,” said the captain. “We’ve been directed to head east, so I’m making the necessary adjustment.”
“Ohmygod, we’re being hijacked!” someone cried out.
Dread filled Caroline’s soul, her stomach roiled, and her pulse jumped to triple digits.
“Remain calm,” said the pilot. “We don’t yet know where we’re going. Sit tight and we’ll let you know something soon.”
Silence filled the giant Boeing jet. People started praying, someone was sobbing.
“Grey,” Caroline murmured. “We’re being hijacked.”
“I’m on it,” he said, his voice as steady and confident as she’d come to expect from him.
GREYSTONE
Greystone made a call.
“Greystone, now’s not a good time,” Evelyn said.
“Caroline told me. I need a police escort to Joint base Anacostia-Bolling.”
“Where are you?”
