At 7:42 p.m., Flight 708 reached cruising altitude.
The cabin lights dimmed slightly.
Passengers began settling into their seats, and the flight attendants prepared the evening meal service.
Daniel approached Evelyn.
"Ms. Carter, would you like something to eat?"
"Just tea, please."
"Of course."
He hesitated.
"May I ask if you're comfortable with the situation now?"
Evelyn offered a small smile.
"I'm perfectly comfortable."
Daniel nodded.
"Security has been informed about the incident. The captain is aware as well."
"Thank you."
"Would you like us to move you to another seat?"
Evelyn considered the question.
Then she shook her head.
"No. I believe I'll remain here."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Understood."
As he walked away, Evelyn noticed Richard watching them.
She waited until the flight attendant disappeared behind the service partition.
Then she opened her notebook again.
The photograph of the warehouse remained tucked between two pages.
She removed it and examined the image carefully.
The building was located near a military logistics facility in Virginia.
Three weeks earlier, an anonymous source had sent her the photograph along with a series of financial records.
The records suggested that equipment listed as damaged or missing had actually been transferred to private storage facilities.
Some of those facilities were operated by companies connected to Richard Whitmore.
Evelyn had been preparing to present her findings to a federal oversight committee.
Now the main subject of her investigation was sitting less than two meters away.
She reached for her phone.
There was one contact she could trust.
General Marcus Bennett.
He had served with her during her military career and later became one of the few people who knew the full history of Operation Silent Harbor.
She sent him a brief message.
Possible Northstar connection aboard Flight 708. Whitmore is here.
She waited.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then her phone vibrated.
Are you safe?
Evelyn replied:
Yes. No immediate threat.
Another message appeared.
Do not confront him. We are tracking the investigation. Call me when you land.
Evelyn typed:
Understood.
She put the phone away.
But she had barely closed her notebook when it rang.
The incoming call was from an unknown Washington number.
She answered quietly.
"Hello."
A familiar male voice spoke.
"Colonel Carter?"
Evelyn straightened slightly.
"Speaking."
"This is Deputy Director Samuel Price. I apologize for contacting you during your flight."
Evelyn glanced toward Richard.
"How did you get this number?"
"General Bennett informed me of your message."
"Then you know the situation."
"Yes. And I need you to listen carefully."
Evelyn waited.
Price continued.
"Whitmore's company has been under investigation for several months. We have reason to believe the operation is larger than originally suspected."
"How large?"
"We're still determining that."
Evelyn looked toward the service partition.
"Is there something I should know about the passengers traveling with him?"
There was a pause.
"That's precisely why I'm calling."
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Go on."
"One of our analysts identified a possible connection between Whitmore and a former military intelligence contractor. That contractor was removed from a classified program after a security breach."
"Name?"
"Martin Hale."
Evelyn's eyes moved toward Richard's phone.
She remembered the message.
Do not approach her. Do not discuss Northstar. I am contacting security.
She lowered her voice.
"Where is Hale now?"
"According to our latest information, he is at an undisclosed location. We believe he's coordinating the transfer of several classified files."
Evelyn looked down at the photograph.
"Then I may have a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"Whitmore just contacted someone named Martin Hale."
The line went silent.
Then Price spoke again.
"Colonel, are you certain?"
"Absolutely."
"Do not let him know what you know."
Evelyn looked across the aisle.
Richard was staring directly at her.
She ended the call.
A moment later, the cabin intercom chimed.
The captain's voice filled the aircraft.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a minor operational matter to address. Our flight crew will be checking a few details with passengers. We appreciate your cooperation."
Evelyn slowly put her phone away.
She knew that announcement was unusual.
She also knew that someone on the ground had just become aware of her presence.
And that someone was almost certainly not working alone.