Lockout

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CIA, Langley, Virginia (5:45 p.m. EST / 2245 Zulu)

At the top of the intelligence food chain, patience is seldom a virtue, Walter Randolph thought, as he punched in his aide’s secure phone number.

“You promised updates, Jason.”

“I was just getting ready to call, sir. I’ve been on the line with our air force command post at Lakenheath in the UK. Their two F-15s had to break off. The Pangia flight wouldn’t, or couldn’t, follow them back to London.”

“Explain, please.”

“The lead pilot said the pilot of the A330 was gesturing and acting like he was going to follow their orders, but the aircraft never altered course. He said there were others in the cockpit when he first flew alongside, but they beat a hasty exit. Logically, if the pilot won’t follow the F-15s, even though he’s signaling that he intends to, that might indicate that he can’t follow.”

“In other words, intimidation. Did the rest of the aircraft look normal? Did the fighter report on that?

“Yes, sir. There are lights throughout the cabin, and faces visible in most of the cabin windows.”

“Where are they?”

“Southeast bound over the English Channel headed for France. The French are already scrambling fighters to intercept.”