Power Play
Contents (84)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- Acknowledgements
For my niece, Ellie.
For you, anything is possible.
‘Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power’
– ABRAHAM LINCOLN
ONE
Three minutes . . .
David Webb and Jim Nelson turned their heads at the sound of four knocks. Webb instinctively glanced towards the cockpit door. Nelson did not, his eyes instead flitting to the small monitor to his left.
The screen showed two stewardesses. One was facing the door, while the other faced out onto the First Class section of the Pan-Atlantic Airlines Flight PA16. Standard security protocol for the few seconds that the plane’s control centre would be vulnerable.
‘It’s Jade,’ Nelson said.
He unclipped his safety harness as he spoke. Climbing to his feet, he took the few steps to the rear of the cockpit and released the one-way lock.
Jade Cox’s smile greeted Nelson as he opened the door. It came as no surprise. She was always happy, or at least it seemed that way to him. He had to concede, though, that he was perhaps not the best witness. In Nelson’s eyes, Jade could do no wrong.
He stepped aside, giving the young flight attendant enough room to enter. It was no easy task in the already cramped space, and was made more difficult by the fact she was carrying a large tray. But Jade had a practised routine and she manoeuvred her way around Nelson as he closed the cockpit door and returned to his seat.
‘I hope you’re hungry, Jim,’ she said with a smile.
Two minutes . . .
Nelson glanced down at the foil-covered dishes on the tray Jade had placed on his temporary table.
‘Looks great,’ he said, looking back up at Jade. ‘Whatever it is.’
‘You got one for me?’
David Webb’s voice was gruffer than Nelson’s. The sound of an older man.
‘Of course, Captain Webb.’ Jade’s tone was less familiar with the senior officer, but just as pleasant as she placed a second tray in front of him. ‘Here you go.’
‘What’s that?’ Webb was examining the dessert doubtfully.
‘Treacle pudding, Captain.’
‘Treacle pudding? Is that another English thing?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And here was me thinking we were on an American airline.’
‘We flew out of London, David.’ Nelson interrupted. He knew that Webb’s abrupt manner could make the younger crew uncomfortable. Whether the captain intended it or not. ‘We’ve got to cater for the Brits we’ve got aboard.’
‘I doubt our guest back there would agree with you.’
Webb motioned towards the cockpit door as he spoke. It was unnecessary; Nelson knew exactly who his captain was referring to.
Dale Victor. A candidate for the Republican nomination for the next President of the United States of America. And already the runaway favourite to win that race.