Chapter 8 - Beneath the Private Terminal
Martin followed Ethan toward the emergency stairwell leading below the private terminal.
Two security officers came with them, while Director Crane remained behind to coordinate the runway lockdown. The terminal above shook as aircraft 417 rolled across the pavement, its engines growing louder with every second.
The countdown showed seven minutes.
At the bottom of the stairwell, Ethan found a rusted steel door marked with faded yellow paint.
PROJECT 417 — AUTHORIZED ACCESS ONLY.
He inserted the brass key.
The lock resisted at first, then released with a heavy click.
Cold air rushed through the opening.
Beyond the door stretched a narrow underground corridor lined with old electrical pipes and abandoned maintenance equipment. Dust covered the floor, but fresh footprints crossed it.
Someone had entered recently.
Martin raised his flashlight.
“Stay behind me.”
Ethan ignored him and followed the footprints.
The corridor ended at a large storage chamber beneath the taxiway. Hundreds of sealed crates stood in rows, each marked with serial numbers and aircraft manufacturer codes.
Martin opened the nearest crate.
Inside were turbine blades wrapped in protective film.
At first glance, they appeared new.
Ethan picked up one blade and examined the edge beneath his flashlight. A thin crack ran through the metal near the mounting point.
“These are defective,” he said.
Martin opened another crate.
More damaged components.
Some had been repainted. Others carried false inspection stamps.
The hidden warehouse contained enough illegal aircraft parts to affect hundreds of planes.
One security officer activated his radio.
“We found the storage facility. Request evidence teams immediately.”
Only static answered.
Then the lights went out.
A mechanical grinding sound echoed above them.
The ceiling trembled as aircraft 417 moved directly over the chamber.
Ethan checked the countdown.
Five minutes.
At the far end of the warehouse, a red indicator began flashing beside a steel support column.
Martin approached it carefully.
A series of explosive charges had been attached to the foundation.
The sabotage device inside Flight 782 had been a distraction.
This was the real demolition plan.
If the charges detonated while aircraft 417 passed overhead, the taxiway would collapse, destroying both the warehouse and the plane.
One officer ran back toward the corridor.
The steel entrance door slammed shut before he reached it.
Magnetic locks activated throughout the chamber.
They were trapped.
A speaker crackled above them.
A distorted voice filled the warehouse.
“Samuel Hale should have stopped searching.”
Ethan looked toward the ceiling.
May you like
The voice continued.
“His son should have learned from his mistake.”
