Rick Mofina - Free Fall

The fourth book in the Kate Page series, 2016

Buffalo, New York

Youre not going to die today.

Kayla repeated her prayer as the boarding call for her flight at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was announced. Her thoughts raced as she clutched her boarding pass and ID while inching through the line to Gate 20. After the gate agent had cleared her, Kayla felt Logans reassuring hand on her shoulder as they walked along the jetway to their plane.

Youre gonna be fine, he said.

She offered him a weak smile. Drawing on the advice shed absorbed from her motivational books and recordings, she fought her fear of flying by repeating her mantra.

I can do this. Ive faced worse.

The jet was a new-model regional aircraft with eighty-six passenger seats, and todays flight was full. Their seats were in the fourteenth row on the left side. Logan took the aisle. Kayla took the window.

After theyd stowed their bags overhead Kayla buckled her belt and continued battling her anxiety by attacking her scariest thoughts.

This plane is not going to crash. Im safe. My boyfriends with me.

Logan took her hand in his and tried to calm her.

Remember how important this trip is? Just think about that.

Kayla nodded, concentrating on the reason why she had to get on this plane: because her dream was within her grasp. Tomorrow morning in New York City, shed be interviewed for a position with a rising new fashion designer, Maly Kriz-Janda. The house had offices in London, Paris and Milan. It had recently opened a Manhattan office and was hiring new designers.

The jets door was shut and locked. An inboard chime sounded followed by an announcement.

Flight attendants, prepare for departure.

The attendants ensured the overhead bin doors were closed and seats and trays were up as the plane pushed back from the gate. The cabin lights flickered as the engines came on and the plane taxied out.

Logan, the wings are bouncing.

Its okay. Theyre built to flex like that. Its normal.

As the attendants gave safety demonstrations about seat belts, flotation devices and emergency exits, for use in the unlikely event Kayla heard the hydraulic moan of the flaps as they were adjusted by the pilot. The plane turned then stopped for several moments. As the engines whined louder another chime sounded.

Attendants, prepare for takeoff.

The knot in Kaylas stomach tightened as the plane began rolling down the runway, slowly at first, gaining speed then accelerating faster, the ground blurring beneath them. Kayla struggled to control her breathing as the jets nose rose before she heard a thud when the weight lifted from the landing gear and the plane left the ground.

The thrust was overwhelming as the force of the climb pushed her into her seat. Kayla heard the groan and bump of the landing gears retraction. She squeezed Logans hand, shutting her eyes for a moment. Somehow, she found the strength to peek down at the earth, the expressways, buildings and suburbs rapidly shrinking below.

I can do this. I can do this.

As the plane leveled off, Kayla took a deep breath to calm herself, and the flight attendant made a series of announcements about keeping seat belts fastened, using electronic devices and the upcoming in-flight refreshment service.

Howre you doing? Logan asked.

Kayla nodded stiffly, smiling, still gripping his hand as he lowered his tray with his other hand.

Im getting some tomato juice, he said. What about you?

A diet cola, whatever they have.

Not long after theyd received their drinks there was another announcement.

This is Captain Raymond Matson with First Officer Roger Anderson. On behalf of our entire crew, welcome aboard EastCloud Flight Forty-nine Ninety. Very shortly well reach our cruising altitude of twenty-seven thousand feet. Everythings looking good. We have no weather ahead of us and no traffic jams at LaGuardia, so we expect a very smooth flight arriving on time. We should have you in New York at the gate in about an hour and ten minutes.

There you go, Logan said. Itll be over before you know it.

Kayla nodded and sipped her drink.

As the flight cut across Upstate New York, she tried to relax by focusing on the opportunity awaiting her in Manhattan. Shed studied fashion at Buffalo State where a professor, impressed with her designs, had done all he could to help her get noticed.

But nothing had happened.

After graduating Kayla had found a full-time position selling womens clothing at the mall in Cheektowaga, the Walden Galleria. While she was uncertain about her aspirations and her future, she was grateful to have a job so she could start paying off her student loans.

Then, three weeks ago, everything had changed when, through her professors help, Kayla was short-listed for a position with Maly Kriz-Janda in Manhattan. Theyd loved Kaylas designs and the position involved flying to Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto for major conferences with North American retailers. Kayla wanted the job with all of her heart and had begun working on overcoming her fear of flying. But her expected call for an interview never came. The other candidates had been stronger.

Heartbroken, Kayla had soldiered on at the mall. Then, last week, her professor had learned that the two candidates ahead of her had dropped out of the running. One had accepted a job at Versace, and the other had gone to Givenchy. Two days ago, Maly Kriz-Janda had called Kayla, requesting she be in Manhattan for an interview as soon as possible. Theyd pay all expenses-flight, hotel, meals and cabs.

Logan was thrilled for her. Shed asked him to go with her because shed never flown before, and was terrified. Hed agreed, using his sisters points to cover his flight.

What if I get the job? Kayla had asked him. Id have to move to New York City. What would happen to us?

Logan, who was still in law school, had told her not to worry.

Ill look into applying and transferring to a school there, hed said. But dont think about that. Well cross that bridge later.

Logan was good to her and she knew it. She took comfort in having him beside her now on what was her first-and maybe the most important-flight of her life.

Hey, smile, he said, pointing his phone at her. Im making a documentary of your first flight.

Kayla waved.

Im really doing it. Im flying. Im nervous but Im doing it.

Then she turned to her window to take in the view below.

Its so pretty down there. Where are we?

I think were over the Catskill Mountains, Logan said.

Oh, Ive got to take a picture.

Kayla held up her phone to the window but it flew from her hand and her seat belt cut deep into her as the plane suddenly rolled hard, the right wing tipping toward the ground as if the jet was flipping over.

Bodies bumped over seats as people not belted were tossed to the right wall, along with laptops, backpacks and purses amid shrieks and loud bangs as items thudded and hammered in the overhead bins. The service trolley crashed into passengers in the right rows, spilling hot coffee and raining down cans of soda and juice.

The jet froze with its wings in a twelve-and-six-oclock position.

Kayla clawed at Logan, locking her arms around him as people screamed, cursed and prayed.

Then the plane lurched hard to the left with the left wing pointing directly to the earth. Again, bodies flew through the cabin, slamming against other passengers, the wall and the overhead luggage bins. The bin doors opened and luggage tumbled like boulders along the left row. Logan reached out to grab an older woman whod fallen into them but she slipped from his grip as the jet suddenly rolled right until it was almost level.