His gaze followed an older Bolivian woman wearing a beautiful green and blue shawl as she too gracefully made her way to the rear of the plane to wait in line.  It was then that Joe noticed something.

On the opposite side of the cabin, those at the rear were easier to see, at least without him having to completely twist around in his seat.  Which was precisely what he did when Rickards realized he couldn’t see the man who had just gotten up.  Instead, he was on Joe’s side of the cabin and aisle waiting for a lavatory before a door opened and he stepped inside.

It wasn’t until the second man finished and returned to his row on the other side of the plane that Rickards’ interest picked up.  Particularly when the second man nodded to a third before lowering himself back down into his seat.

Now the third man rose, walking to the rear of the plane and making his way through several people, positioning himself in a short but growing line for the same lavatory.

Rickards’ eyes returned to the first two men sitting over ten seats apart.  Both were now still with heads down, reading.

Without a word, Rickards slid down in his seat and angled his head until he could see the back of his aisle directly behind him in the reflection of his video screen.  He watched quietly… when something else peculiar happened.

Patiently waiting in line for the same lavatory, the third man was given the opportunity by a fellow passenger to take another when one of the other restrooms was vacated sooner, at which point, the young man, well-dressed and smiling, shook his head and remained where he was.

Several minutes later, when he too finally emerged and returned to his seat, Rickards noticed once again that another passenger was signaled.

In a calm motion, Joe reached up over his head to push the attendant call button, then slunk back down in his seat, watching the fourth man repeat the same routine.

The attendant arrived promptly and smiled, simultaneously deactivating the light while she lowered her head and greeted him in accented English.

“I need to speak with your air marshal,” said Rickards.

The attendant cocked her head with a look of confusion.

“I am sorry?”

“Law enforcement,” whispered Rickards.  “Your officer on board.”

“I’m sorry, sir.  We do not have–”

“I know you do,” Rickards said, cutting her off.  “Now get him.  Wake him up if you have to.  Now.”

The attendant stared at him with her mouth open and stumbled back a step before whirling and quickly walking away.

When the fourth man finally returned to his seat, he, in turn, nodded to a fifth, who rose just as the others had and headed for the rear of the plane, again waiting in line for the same restroom and after a few minutes, disappearing inside, securely locking the door behind him.