"Call the gate supervisor."
Rebecca hurried toward the galley.
Maya watched her leave.
Then she looked down at her boarding pass.
Seat 2A.
Confirmed.
Paid in full.
Everything was exactly where it belonged.
Except the truth.
David Mercer had been flying for business for almost twenty years.
He had seen passengers argue about overhead bins.
He had witnessed disputes over seat assignments.
Once, he had watched an intoxicated traveler refuse to sit down during takeoff preparations.
But he had never seen anything like this.
The woman beside the window wasn't shouting.
She wasn't threatening anyone.
She wasn't refusing to follow safety instructions.
She was asking why she had been singled out.
And somehow, every question seemed to make the captain angrier.
David lowered his phone slightly.
"Ms. Washington?"
Maya turned.
"Yes?"
"I hope you don't mind, but I've been recording."
"I noticed."
"I started when the captain raised his voice."
Maya considered that.
"Would you mind keeping the original recording?"
David blinked.
"Of course."
"Without editing it?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
He hesitated.
"Do you think you'll need it?"
Maya glanced toward the galley.
"That depends on what happens next."
David nodded.
Then he asked, "Can I say something?"
"Certainly."
"I've been sitting here since boarding. Nobody asked me to prove how I paid for my seat."
Maya looked at him.
"I noticed."
He shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry."
She gave him a small smile.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
David looked toward the captain.
"Maybe not. But I almost pretended I didn't see anything."
Maya's expression softened.
"You're not pretending now."
David nodded.
He raised his phone again.
At the front of the aircraft, Sarah Bennett was reviewing the departure checklist.
Sarah had worked for Atlantic Crown Airways for sixteen years.
She had dealt with medical emergencies, mechanical delays, and frightened passengers.
She respected the chain of command.
But she also understood that professional authority required judgment.
Rebecca approached her quickly.
"I need the gate supervisor."
Sarah looked up.
"What happened?"
"Passenger in 2A is refusing to cooperate."
Sarah frowned.
"With what?"
"Ticket verification."
"Is there a problem with the ticket?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"No."
"Is she in the wrong seat?"
"No."
"Then what's happening?"
Rebecca folded her arms.
"She keeps questioning me."
Sarah studied her.
"Questioning you about what?"
"Why I needed to verify her reservation."
Sarah glanced toward first class.
Maya was sitting quietly.
Captain Arrington stood beside her.
Several passengers were watching.
One had a phone raised.
Sarah felt a knot form in her stomach.
"Rebecca, did she refuse to show her boarding pass?"
"No."
"Her identification?"
"No."
"Did she threaten you?"
"No."
"Did she use abusive language?"
Rebecca looked away.
"No."
Sarah lowered her voice.
"Then why did you call the captain?"
Rebecca's eyes narrowed.
"Because she was being disrespectful."
Sarah waited.
Rebecca continued.
"She kept asking why I was questioning her."
"Was there a reason?"
"Of course."
"What was it?"
Rebecca opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Sarah stared at her.
The silence answered more than Rebecca realized.