“Adrian,” I say, voice low but steady, “we need to talk.”
He swallows, the seat vibrating under his weight, and his tongue seems to search for a lie.
“It’s just business,” he stammers, eyes flicking to Vanessa, then back to me.
“Business?” I lift the envelope from my lap, the investigator’s photos spilling out—pictures of his hand on a hotel key, a shared dinner, a kiss caught in soft lighting.
His face drains further, the denial cracking like ice on a window.
“I… I didn’t think—” he begins, but the plane shudders, a sudden jolt that rattles the overhead bins.
The cabin lights flicker; a low moan rises from the engines as the aircraft lurches.
“Turbulence,” the intercom crackles, “please remain seated.”
But the shaking intensifies, the horizon outside the windows warping, and the captain’s voice turns urgent.
“We’re making an emergency landing. Brace for impact.”
