Chapter 7 - The Photograph from Seven Years Ago
Ethan placed the photograph on the steel table.
Martin’s face changed immediately.
Director Crane tried to take it, but Ethan pulled it away.
“When was this taken?”
Martin stared at the image.
“Seven years ago.”
“You worked with my father?”
Martin slowly nodded.
“We were part of a private investigation team.”
Crane interrupted.
“That project was confidential.”
“My father is dead,” Ethan said. “Confidential doesn’t matter anymore.”
Martin looked toward the dark runway beyond the hangar doors.
Seven years earlier, several aircraft engines had suffered unexplained failures after receiving replacement components from the same supplier. Samuel Hale discovered that the failures were not accidents.
The replacement parts had been deliberately manufactured with hidden weaknesses.
A criminal network was selling defective components, then profiting again when airlines paid for emergency repairs and replacements.
Samuel documented everything.
Before he could deliver the evidence, his workshop exploded.
The investigation disappeared with him.
Ethan looked at Crane.
“You were part of the team.”
Crane’s jaw tightened.
“I was assigned by airport management.”
“And did nothing after he died.”
“I protected this airport from scandal.”
Martin stepped forward.
“You buried the report.”
Crane pointed at him.
“You agreed to remain silent.”
“I agreed because you told me Samuel’s family would be targeted next.”
Ethan’s hands tightened around the photograph.
Before anyone could continue, a security vehicle radioed from the private terminal.
Aircraft 417 had begun moving.
Its engines were starting without clearance.
The control tower attempted to stop it, but the pilots were not responding.
Martin grabbed the radio.
“Block the taxiway!”
A second voice cut through the transmission.
“We can’t. The aircraft is carrying government delegates. The private terminal staff say they received authorization directly from Director Crane’s office.”
Everyone looked at Crane.
He appeared genuinely shocked.
“I gave no such authorization.”
Ethan examined the photograph again.
Behind the four men stood a maintenance building marked with the number 417.
It was not the aircraft number.
It was a project code.
He turned the photograph over.
His father had written an address and two words.
PROJECT 417 — UNDERGROUND STORAGE.
The brass key from the silver case had the same number engraved on its side.
Ethan looked toward the airport map.
The address pointed to an abandoned storage facility beneath the private terminal, directly under the moving aircraft.
The saboteurs were not trying to destroy the plane in the air.
They were trying to move it over something hidden underground.
Martin understood.
“If the aircraft reaches the marked section of taxiway…”
Ethan finished the thought.
“They can destroy the storage facility and make it look like an engine explosion.”
The countdown reached eight minutes.
Outside, aircraft 417 rolled slowly toward the sealed section of the runway while security vehicles raced after it.
Ethan grabbed his toolbox and the brass key.
Martin caught his arm.
May you like
“Where are you going?”
“To open whatever my father died trying to protect.”
