Ethan looked up with an earnest, welcoming smile. "I can check his reservation, sir."
Richard turned, waving his hand dismissively: "Don't waste your time."
"It'll only take a moment," Ethan insisted politely, leaning toward his terminal.
Richard’s face hardened into rigid irritation: "I said no."
Chapter II: The Phone Call by the Glass
The old man didn’t argue. He didn’t get angry, nor did he pull out a crumpled paper ticket to prove his point. A calm, knowing smile touched his eyes as he looked out through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass at the commercial airliner docked at Gate 7.
He reached into the pocket of his olive jacket, pulled out a sleek black smartphone, and dialed a direct private number.
Bringing the device to his ear, his gravelly voice carried with effortless, unmistakable authority: