Page 3 of Final Approach

“Now!” The assailant’s scream propelled the passenger to her feet. He pressed the knife against her skin, nicking it. A trickle of blood slid down and disappeared into the collar of her T-shirt. She squeezed her eyes shut but made no sound.

Kristine edged toward the assailant while motioning to Andrew to go to the left. He nodded his understanding and moved in accordance.

The hijacker swung the knife in front of him, keeping everyone at bay, then pressed the weapon once more against the neck of his hostage. “Stay away. I need in the cockpit. Someone open the cockpit door now or I’ll—I’ll slice her open! I will.”

The woman bit her lip. Kristine caught her gaze and tried to convey she needed to remain calm. The woman stayed quiet, but her fear was a tangible thing.

Kristine didn’t blame her.

Andrew moved in sync with Kristine, edging closer to the hijacker.Slow, calculated steps. Each second stretched into an eternity while her mind raced, planning her next move. She had to end this before anyone else got hurt. Her mother’s death flashed in her mind. Had her mom been as afraid as this hostage? Kristine could see the woman’s tremors from her position in the aisle, but she was trying to be brave, to be strong.

“Sir,” Kristine said, “no one can open the cockpit. You know that.”

His eyes swept the sea of passengers. Some who were on their feet. He was looking for someone. His gaze locked on one of the passengers and tears trickled down his ashen cheeks.

“Th-then she dies!”

“No!” Kristine held out a hand. “Wait. Tell me. Once you get the cockpit door open, what do you plan to do?”

“Take control and fly where I want to go.” His eyes flickered, and Kristine had a bad feeling he wasn’t telling the truth.

“You can fly a plane?” She would play along for now.

He snorted. “Of course not. The pilot will.”

Andrew had settled into an empty seat so when the man swiveled his head to look in his direction, Andrew looked like any other passenger. When the guy turned his attention back to Kristine, she caught Andrew’s movement from the corner of her eye. He stood and moved closer. Nathan was ready to act as well. James, Kenzie, and Cole were waiting for her signal, but right now, no one had a clear way to stop this man without possibly hurting someone else.

The hijacker held the knife out in front of him once more, briefly removing it from the woman’s throat. “Stop moving!”

Kristine froze and he swept the knife back beneath the woman’s chin.

“I’m sorry. I have to do this. It’s time.”

TIME FOR WHAT?Andrew wondered.

“Time for what?” Kristine said.

“Time to do what I ask,” the guy said.

Kristine took another step forward. “Where do you want to go? What’s your plan?”

He shoved the knife toward her. “Stop!” Then back to his victim’s throat. “It’s not your business. All I need is to talk to the captain. I’ll tell him where to go.”

“What’s your name?”

“It doesn’t matter. Stop moving!” The knife swept out and back one more time.

Kristine stopped. “What are you going to do?” She took one more small step toward him.

Come on,shift and give me a clear shot.Andrew silently willed the man to move. But he was being surprisingly clever in his positioning.

“Hey! Put it down!” The yell came from several rows back in the main cabin.

Kristine shot a glance over her shoulder and Andrew caught movement in his peripheral vision. A passenger from the back raced up the aisle to tackle another passenger. Kristine’s attention momentarily shifted to the commotion.

The man holding the other passenger on the floor of the plane looked up. “He was heading toward you! I had to stop him!”

“Stay there,” Kristine ordered. “Both of you!”