Chapter 14 - The USB Drive

Daniel sat down hard.

For the first time, I saw him lose control without anger covering it.

He looked at the windows.

At the cockpit.

At the luggage compartment.

At me.

Then his hand went to his pocket.

The USB drive.

Valery saw it too.

“Daniel,” I said.

He stood and walked toward the lavatory.

Valery blocked him.

“Remain seated for descent.”

“We’re not descending.”

“We will be soon.”

“I need the restroom.”

“No.”

He laughed.

“You can’t legally stop me from using a bathroom.”

She held his gaze.

“Sit down.”

Something in her tone worked.

He returned to his seat.

But as he passed the galley, he dropped the USB drive into an empty paper cup.

I saw it.

So did Valery.

Daniel sat.

Valery picked up the cup like trash and carried it behind the curtain.

A minute later she came back without it.

Daniel’s eyes followed her hands.

“Where’s the cup?”

“What cup?”

His face hardened.

I nearly smiled.

He had spent our marriage making me doubt what I saw.

Watching someone do it back to him felt almost beautiful.

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

“Mrs. Mercer, this is Special Agent Lena Ortiz with the FBI financial crimes unit.”

Daniel heard enough to stand again.

I turned away.

Agent Ortiz said, “Your brother contacted counsel, and counsel contacted us. We’ve had an open file involving Adam Blake for nearly seven years.”

I looked at Valery.

Her eyes widened.

“Seven years?”

“Yes. We believe he has used at least four identities.”

Daniel crossed the cabin.

“Hang up.”

I backed away.

Agent Ortiz continued.

“And Mrs. Mercer, whatever you do, do not let him destroy the storage device he’s carrying.”

I looked at Valery.

She had already hidden it.

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Valery glanced toward the service cabinet where she had placed the cup. Her face stayed neutral, but I saw the smallest nod. It was ridiculous how quickly trust could form between two women who had met less than an hour earlier. Daniel had spent years building intimacy with secrets. Valery and I built ours with one shared fact: we both finally believed what we had seen.

Private Jet Story - 20 Chapters