The Ghost Pattern

…28

Alex stood in the doorway, watching Blake from a distance. He’d been up since before dawn, skipping breakfast and avoiding company. He sat on the edge of a lounge chair, hunched forward, clasping his hands absently. He rocked back and forth, almost imperceptibly, and probably wasn’t even aware he was doing it. He must have been sick with worry, and she couldn’t make it better, not yet anyway.

She approached him quietly, and gently touched his shoulder.

“Blake?”

He turned toward her, watching her intently with sunken, bloodshot eyes surrounded by black circles.

“I need your help,” she continued. “We tried… we tried anything we could think of, to gain access to newer satellite imagery. We reached out to several satellite operators. We even tried hacking into one. Then we tried leasing a damn satellite. Nothing worked, so we need you to step in.”

“Me? What can I do?” He stood with difficulty, strained to straighten his back, and then rubbed his eyes furiously.

“Bring in the big bucks and that influence of yours. Can you get us satellite time? Do you know anyone who has a few? And, if not, can you buy us a couple?” Alex spilled her questions in rapid fire, not giving him the chance to answer.

He stood quietly for a couple of seconds, his eyes drilling into hers with increasing force, radiating strength, determination, and confidence. Then he spoke, “Consider it done.”

“Blake, it’s 55 million dollars apiece, these things,” she added hesitantly.

“Then let’s see how soon we can get a couple up there.”

He took out his cell phone and speed-dialed a number from the phone’s memory.

“Yeah, get me the earliest appointment with SatX’s CEO. We’ve met. Yeah, today, now, ASAP. Then set up, right after that, a conference call with DigiWorld.” He listened for a moment to what his personal assistant had to say, then continued, “No, I don’t care about their calendars. It has to be today.”

She smiled. That was the Blake Bernard she remembered: powerful, decisive, aggressive, going through walls when he had to. Together, they’d find that plane, no matter where on Earth it was hidden, and they’d find the 441 souls onboard. Together, they’d find Adeline.