“I lost a challenge,” I shrugged.
“Wait a minute. You lost a challenge to that tiny little girl?” Charlie chirped. “I could lift her with one hand.”
“It was more of a mental challenge. Never mind that.” I looked over the pilot’s shoulder. “I need to learn how to fly one of these.”
“You should. I always recommend it to my clients in case something was to happen,” the pilot answered. “I can fly with you when you’re ready.”
“Let’s talk more about that mental challenge,” Charlie chirped again. “Did she outsmart you?”
“I’m not talking about this anymore,” I laughed. “She tricked me, that’s all.”
“I like her.” Charlie stood and walked to the door. “Come on, let’s have a drink.”
We went back to the main cabin. I poured us both a drink, then handed one to him. We sat, each sipping our drinks.
“What did you do to Charlie?” Bond startled me. “I’m not complaining, I just need to know how you got him to not talk.”
“That joke never gets old for you, does it?” Charlie fake laughed. “Do we all know the plan for New York?”
“I was going to ask you that same question, actually.” I looked around him to the cockpit and the pilot in our room pouring himself a water. “Um, whose flying?”
“Oh shoot, I forgot I was the pilot.” Him and Charlie laughed. “Relax, it’s on auto for a bit.”
“That’s cool. Can it land by itself too?”
“No, you still need a pilot for that.” Charlie answered.
“Alright so, Yury and his crew are gone. They all boarded a plane three days ago back to Russia.” Bond poured himself a drink. “I feel pretty good about her not being found but, to be on the safe side, one of us will be with you at all times.”
“You gotta let our lovebird newlyweds have some privacy, though,” Charlie said.
“No, it’s fine, we’re not real newlyweds. It’s all just an arrangement.” I stood and paced. “I want to show her around New York over the next week.”
“I figured as much. We’ll be available.” Bond sat in one of the seats and reclined. “I’m going to take a little nap while we’re in the friendly skies, though.”
Without another word, Bond closed his eyes. Charlie shrugged then hit recline on his seat. I found myself looking at two large men sound asleep wondering if they knew when to wake up to land.
Man, I wish I could fall asleep that fast. I suppose if they’re not worried why should I be.
With nothing else to do, I dropped into a seat, set recline in motion, and drifted off as well.
“Mr. Hawthorne,” a distant voice called out, “Mr. Hawthorne.”
I sat straight up. The bad dream I was having didn’t help with how startled I was either.
“Mr. Hawthorne, I’m sorry to wake you, but the pilot wants to see you,” the stewardess said.
“Thanks, let him know I’ll be up there in a few minutes.” I sat up and stretched.
My watch said we’d been in flight for two hours. There was no noise coming down the hallway and the guys were sleeping, so I stood and stretched even more.
I thought she said the pilot wanted to see me? What’s going on here, they’re sleeping.
“You wanted to see me?” I peeked into the cockpit. “Are you the actual pilot? You can fly this alone?
“I’m the pilot. I thought you knew that earlier.” He nodded for me to come in. “Who’d you think was flying this thing?”
“Oh, the comedy crew let on it was them and we were in auto pilot all this time.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “They got me.”