Patricia's voice was colder now.
Naomi touched her arm.
"It's okay."
Patricia shook her head.
"No. It isn't."
Naomi looked at her.
"I'm tired."
"I know."
"I just want to sleep."
Patricia's expression softened.
"Then let me get you on your plane."
Madison interrupted.
"Ma'am, please don't interfere with security procedures."
Patricia turned.
"Security procedures?"
"Yes."
Patricia stared at her.
"Do you know who owns this aircraft?"
Madison hesitated.
"Dr. Brooks says she does."
Patricia almost laughed.
"She doesn't need to say it."
Patricia pointed toward the jet.
"That plane was purchased through Brooks Medical Holdings."
Madison said nothing.
"NeuroCure's founder is Naomi Brooks."
Still nothing.
"She holds the patents behind their neural regeneration platform."
Madison's confidence was beginning to disappear.
Patricia continued.
"And she has personally donated over a hundred million dollars to medical research."
Naomi sighed.
"Patricia."
"What?"
"I'm really tired."
That broke the tension for a moment.
Patricia smiled.
"Fine."
She looked at Madison.
"But this should be over."
Madison looked toward the aircraft.
Then toward Carlos.
"Are you recording?"
Carlos froze.
"No."
Madison's eyes narrowed.
"You have your phone out."
Carlos slowly lowered it.
"I was checking a work message."
Madison stared at him.
Carlos knew better than to argue.
But he also knew the recording existed.
And he knew exactly why he had made it.
Because something about the situation felt wrong.
The Wrong Person to Humiliate
Captain Daniel Williams arrived at the terminal five minutes later.
He was not related to Senator Patricia Williams despite sharing the surname.
He had been Naomi's regular captain for years.
The replacement crew had come from Platinum Air Services because Daniel and his team were still on mandatory rest following the London flight.
Daniel walked toward the aircraft.
He immediately saw Madison.
Then Naomi.
Then Carlos.
"What happened?"
Naomi smiled weakly.
"Apparently I'm trying to steal my own airplane."
Daniel stared at Madison.
"I'm sorry?"
Madison straightened.
"We had an authorization discrepancy."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Who reported it?"
"I did."
"On what basis?"
Madison hesitated.
"The passenger's identification didn't correspond with the corporate registration information."
Daniel took a breath.
"Did you contact operations?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"I was handling it."
Daniel looked at Naomi.
Then at the registration number.
Then back at Madison.
"You realize Dr. Brooks is the beneficial owner of the aircraft?"
Madison nodded slowly.
"I understand that now."
"No."
Daniel's voice hardened.
"You didn't understand it five minutes ago."
Madison's face reddened.
Daniel took out his tablet.
He pulled up the ownership records.
He showed her.
Naomi Brooks.
Brooks Medical Holdings.
N847NB.
Everything matched.