Tom snorted. “Sure. It’s down in the back. I’ll explain everything when you get back. Go.”

David got up, rubbing his sore joints and limbs. He hobbled past the woman to the back of the plane, with Tom’s assistant in tow.

“Leave the door open,” said the henchman.

David didn’t acknowledge him. The command pissed him off. Apparently they weren’t totally on the same team. But he still wasn’t sure what was going on, and didn’t want to risk any sort of physical punishment to a disobeyed order. He urinated and washed his hands, then splashed some water on his face. He headed back to sit in the seat across from Tom. His body sank into the plush leather chair.

Tom was on the white phone connected to the seat. He had a grim look.

The woman held out her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Brooke Walters.” She gave him a polite smile.

David didn’t know what to say. He held out a limp hand and looked at her like she was a mad woman.

“David Manning.” He said.

Tom spoke over them on the phone. He said, “So it’s confirmed? He’s gone? Okay. Understood. Yes, we’re airborne. Walters and one from In-Q-Tel. No. We had to go with someone else. Manning. Yes, I’ll explain later. Yes. That’s everyone on the list. Yes. Yes. Okay. I’ll talk to you then.” He hung up the phone and looked over at David, letting out a deep sigh.

David closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. He then looked directly at Tom, and asked, “Tom, what just happened?”

Tom tilted his head and stared back at him. David could smell stale tobacco on his breath. There was an opened pack of Marlboro reds on the table.

Tom said, “We kidnapped you. Sorry about that. It had to be done.”

The woman seemed to shrink into her seat.

David said, “I realize that. Why? What reason could you possibly have?”

Tom stared up at him, his face shifting into a tired frown. He glanced at the big guy and said, “Can you give us a minute?”

The henchman nodded, went to the back of the plane, and sat down. Tom waited until he was out of earshot before speaking. He took out a paper folder and read through some of the papers.

“Says here you’re an Annapolis guy. Just like your dad. And your brother and sister went there too. Wow. I see they were big athletes while they were there. And you did…sailing. Ladies must have gone crazy when you told `em that, huh? Still, that’s quite the Naval Academy legacy, huh?” David found it surprising that Tom had worked in the same office for the past couple of years and knew nothing about him. It fit with his reputation as being completely self-involved.

“What is that you’re reading from?”

“Your file.”

“My file?”

“So your dad was an Admiral?”

“Is an Admiral. Could you please tell me what this is all about?”