“Dash’s flight recorder went missing.”
“Damn. Why didn’t you say so? You can pay me in babysitting time.” An invitation to join her in the application pops up in my chat window, I click, and seconds later, a geeky male meme blinks out of my phone screen.
“Hello, Lanita, how can I help?”
I speak as fast as I’m able. “An MD600 was pulled out of the New York Harbor and put onto a barge this morning. I need to find the person who stole its black box.”
Thick black glasses circle the character’s scrunched eyes as he virtually types on his keyboard. Then, he disappears, replaced by a video. In it, an NTSB agent ducks under the wet, dripping bird as a tugboat tows the barge to shore. When he comes back out, he’s carrying a bright orange cube which he quickly hides in a toolbox.
“Stop there.” My heart thumps and after rewinding a few times, I’m certain the thief is Keller. “Thank You. Goodbye.”
Sam whistles through her teeth. “Do you recognize him?”
“Yeah. I met him earlier today. He’s the one who told me the flight recorder was missing.”
“No way. You want me to have my cousin Joey beat the truth out of him?” Her offer is tempting but her husband would never forgive me.
What I plan to do could get us all arrested. “No, I got this. Bye. And thanks. I’ll pay you back for Jason as soon as I can.” I check the time. If I hurry, I can arrive back at Jersey City before their end of day.
~ Chapter 7 ~
Dash
Sipping the last dregs of my coffee, I walk across the street and toss my cup in the waste bin near the café door. I bet Landy thinks I should apologize, but how is this my fault? One moment she’s hot and the next cold. She’s driving me bloody bonkers. Now, I’m a goddamn stalker but have managed to convince myself it’s for the best of reasons.
I don’t want her snooping around in my business. It’s too damn dangerous.
Keeping one eye on her apartment building, I lean against the sun-warmed door of my rental SUV. When her Uber arrives, I will follow. This will no doubt annoy the hell out of her. She’ll like me even less when she learns I mirrored her phone in the hospital and have listened in on her conversations. No matter what, I’m screwed.
Using her GPS signal, I track her through the Lincoln Tunnel. In Jersey, I find an alternate route to the hangar and park nearby. Seconds later, fists clenched, she jumps out of a blue Toyota, and stomps toward an NTSB employee.
I wait and watch as their voices grow heated, wondering if I should butt in. Suddenly, the man punches her in the face. What the fuck? I race to her aide but by the time I arrive, the guy is unconscious, facing the puffy clouds in the clear blue sky.
“Landy, stop!” With the wind howling and the forklift beeping, she must not hear me shout.
After she jumps back in the car and taillights disappear, I turn back to the man she may have killed. Thank God, he rolls over, groans, and sits.
As he rubs the back of his head, an older man walks over to him and squats on his heels. “Hey, Alfonso, you alright?”
“Crazy bitch ex-girlfriend.” Wobbling, the injured NTSB worker stands, brushes off his jeans, and glances down the empty street.
His pal follows his gaze then pulls a phone from his back pocket. “You want I should call the police?”
“Nah. I’ll handle it.” The younger one spits out blood, curses under his breath, then narrows his eyes at me. “What the fuckyoustaring at?”
“My helicopter.” I point to my MD600 sitting on the tarmac behind him. “I was wondering if you’ve learned anything?”
The young asshole’s going to have one hell of shiner. “Nothing yet. They’ll call you with an official report but don’t hold your breath.” He snickers and the older guy joins in.
“Honestly, sir. These things take months, even years.”
“I’ve heard that, but I’m worried about lawsuits. Can you tell me if the black box was found?”
The gray-haired man shakes his head, no. “Not yet. The boss thinks it’s still underwater but don’t worry. They’ll find it.”
Not likely.I bite my tongue. Obviously, the friend doesn’t know it was stolen but Keller’s shifty gaze says he’s guilty as hell.
“Well, guess I’ll have to wait… you should put ice on your eye. Gonna be a nasty shiner.” Throwing him a wave, I head back to Brooklyn where I knock on Landy’s door. “It’s me. Let me in.”
