Chapter 21
“Paige, Graham, can you come to the cockpit?” Turner, TLC’s pilot, asked over the intercom.
They both unbuckled and sidestepped to the front of the C-12 they’d chartered to fly them from Ukraine to Germany.
Devon brushed his thumb over Addison’s cheek. “Addy, wake up.”
She inhaled and yawned. “Have we landed?”
“Soon.”
Paige and Graham returned to their seats.
“We’re being met,” Graham said.
Addison sat upright. “By who?”
“Some ambulances and the U.S. Air Forces Europe Commander,” Graham said.
“This should be interesting,” she said.
The small plane landed with a screech as the tires touched down on the runway.
“German customs and immigration is getting on first,” Turner said over the intercom.
Addison looked at Graham, wide-eyed. “Our passports.”
“I have them,” Paige said. “I sent all our information ahead. Everything is in order—this is just a formality.”
The plane stopped, and the engines shut down. Harrison exited the cockpit and opened the plane’s door, lowering the steps, then moving back out of the way for the German officials to board.
“Guten tag. Sprichst du Deutsch?”the first man asked.
“Ich spreche ein bisschen,”Paige said.
Paige handed over the stack of passports while answering questions in a mix of broken German and English. In the middle of their conversation, a three-star general boarded, followed by an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. It was getting crowded on their little plane.
Graham stood from his seat and reached around Paige with his hand outstretched. “Lieutenant General.”
He took his hand and shook it. “Colonel Graham.”
“Just Mister Graham now,” Graham said. “Thank you for meeting us—that wasn’t necessary.”
“Unfortunately, it was. I’m here to escort you to Ramstein Air Base for debriefing.” His name tape said Bucton.
“Excuse me? For what reason?” Graham asked.
“It’s neutral territory. Between the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the CIA, the FBI, and the CENTCOM Commander breathing down my neck, it was the best solution I could come up with.”
“I’m going to the hospital with my brother,” Addison said.
“We’re all going to the hospital,” Graham said. “It’s as neutral as the base is.”
“There’s no cleared facility at the hospital,” General Bucton said.
“We’re civilians—you don’t need a cleared facility to debrief us,” Paige said.
“The Fosters and Drake are still active duty. As such, we have jurisdiction.”
