Page 50 of Airborne
“Are you ready?” He handed her the piece of paper. “The first man sat in the economy section. He’s recovering better than most patients. Excellent physical shape prior to the virus.” He pressed in numbers. “Is Mr. Engels able to speak to Agent Lawrence?” He nodded at Heather and requested permission to record the conversation. With the man’s consent, Jordan pressed the Record and Speakerphone buttons.
Heather introduced herself and thanked the man for agreeing to talk to her. “Sir, I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I’m one of the lucky ones.” Mr. Engels’s weak voice alarmed her. Hadn’t Jordan claimed the man was recovering? “You apprehended the man who had a hostage.” His labored breathing forced him to pause. “As ex-military, I regret my dormant reaction when you needed me. My symptoms hit with fever, vomiting, and a nosebleed at the same time the hostage problem occurred.”
“You had yourself to manage,” Heather said. “As a passenger and an FBI agent, I have a stake in finding the responsible person.”
“You’re free of symptoms?”
“So far I’m fortunate. Doesn’t mean the memory of watching the virus unleash on the plane will ever go away.”
“The killer deserves the chair.”
She didn’t care how a federal court sentenced the person, only for justice to rule. “The FBI discovered someone had brought the virus on board in a container. Looks like the container was smashed and flushed down a toilet, but that’s all the info we can share at this time.”
Mr. Engels used an expression she never used. “And we inhaled the poison.”
“Possibly so. Do you remember anyone or anything suspicious?”
“Not at the moment.” He coughed. “I have a foggy recollection of what went on, but I’ll give it thought.”
“If you can help, would you let a medical person contact me?”
“Sure thing.”
“What can I do for you?” Heather said. “Is there family or friends I can contact?”
“My wife and kids would appreciate hearing from someone besides medical people or law enforcement. I mean you’re FBI, but you were on the flight.”
Jordan mouthed he had Engels’s phone numbers.
“I was told your wife’s number is available. I’ll call her this afternoon.”
“Thanks. She’s germophobic, and the virus thing is freaking her out.”
Heather finished the call and turned to Jordan. “Can his wife talk to him?”
“She’d have to make a request.”
“I’ll ask her. This could relieve some of the family’s stress, and perhaps he could talk to his kids.”
“We’ve encouraged communication to family and friends on Adam’s Island, and it helps morale.”
Over the next thirty minutes, Heather spoke to five morepatients—two men and three women. One man was Kirk Durgin, whom she’d seen boarding and again in business class. He expressed concern over his violin, and she promised to talk to the hospital about his possessions. He thanked her for offering to contact his wife. In the midst of their conversation, he developed respiratory problems and ended the call. A woman used the opportunity to rail against Heather for not having answers about Taversty’s or Chad’s suspected guilt. The others claimed appreciation for her call but had no information.
“Is it possible to talk to Frankie’s dad?” she said. “He has to be an emotional wreck while grieving the loss of his mother.”
“He calls the nurses’ station several times a day.” Jordan gave her Master Sergeant Franklin Dyer’s contact information. “Not sure he’s available now. In any event, you can leave a message.”
She pressed in the numbers, and Franklin Dyer answered with full rank. “This is Special Agent Heather Lawrence. I’m at Adam’s Island in New York with those quarantined from flight3879. I spent a little time with Frankie on board the plane. He’s a brave little boy, and we became friends. After your mother showed signs of the virus, I looked after Frankie.”
“Thank you. Crazy worried about my son. You must have been one of the last people to talk to Mom.”
“We didn’t chat, sir, but we exchanged smiles while waiting to board.”
“I took all she did for me for granted. Guilt’s a nasty poison. Seems to eat me alive. Thanks for calling. My leave has been approved and I will be at Jamaica Hospital late tonight. I’m told I can’t visit my son, but I can be persuasive. He’ll know I’m there.”
“Are you aware you can speak to him providing he’s up to it?”
