Chapter One
Terry Hunter slouched in his chair at the LAX departure gate, waiting to board his 11pm flight. The uncomfortable plastic chairs were in stark contrast to the luxurious, First-Class-lounge leather arm chairs in which he, his wife Carla, and their good friends, Ross and Linda, earlier enjoyed the pre-flight hospitality.
The upside to their late-night departure and fourteen-hour flight would be their 7am arrival in Sydney, Australia, well-rested, courtesy of their first-class airbeds.
International travel was nothing new to Terry. Running a global on-line enterprise often required regular international travel to source new suppliers and products. Yet in all his travels and business successes, this would be his first opportunity to venture down under to Australia.
To pass the time waiting to board, Terry scanned the other passengers seated around him in the rows of plastic chairs. Most of them, regardless of age and gender, were focused on a laptop, tablet or cell phone, presumably availing themselves of the airport’s free Wi-Fi, as a time distraction, while they waited.
Terry noticed the flight attendants had gathered around the door to the plane’s air-bridge, setting up, ahead of boarding. Terry nudged his good friend Ross. ‘Looks like we may be boarding soon…’ he said, with weary excitement.
Ross lifted his chin towards the six men, all dressed in dark suits, waiting next to the departure lounge counter. ‘This looks interesting,’ Ross said. ‘What do ya think...? Security, or feds?’
‘Dunno…’ Terry said. He continued to regard the men. ‘They look more like feds to me… They have that secret service type of intense glower,’ Terry said. ‘All that’s really missing are the dark glasses.’ He chuckled at his own comment.
‘Wonder what’s goin’ on,’ Ross said. His curious gaze remained fixed on the men. The men’s collective body actions were giving nothing away.
‘Maybe they’re waiting to grab someone on an arriving flight, as they disembark,’ Terry said.
‘Mmm…Maybe.’
The female flight attendant announced their flight had commenced boarding. First class passengers were called forward for priority boarding.
Terry gently woke Carla. She sat upright in her seat, while her resting brain woke. The dark rings under her reddened eyes were a reminder she was up well passed her usual bed time.
Ross woke his wife, Linda. They scooped up their carry-on luggage and moved to present their boarding passes for scanning.
Ross and Linda moved through first. They stopped at the air-bridge door and waited while Terry and Linda scanned their boarding passes.
Terry handed up his boarding pass with a smile to the attractive flight attendant. She returned his smile, then paused ahead of scanning the pass. Her frowning eyes lifted to meet Terry’s curious gaze.
‘Is everything alright…?’ Terry asked. The flight Attendant didn’t answer. ‘Is there something wrong with my boarding pass…?’
Ross approached the scanning podium. ‘What’s the hold up here…?’ Ross asked.
The flight attendant held a hand up to Ross. ‘Please stay back over there, sir.’ She jabbed a firm finger towards the air-bridge door. Ross held up placating hands, as he reluctantly complied with her direct instruction.
A stern voice from behind Terry announced, ‘Terry Hunter…’ Terry turned towards the voice.
‘Yes...?’
One of the dark suit wearing men, whom he earlier watched, held up an FBI identification wallet to Terry. Terry’s eyes flicked from the ID to the five other people wearing suits, gathered two steps behind.
‘My name is Supervisory Special Agent Johnson from the FBI…’ he announced routinely. ‘I require you to come with me please, sir.’
‘I can’t. I’m sorry…’ Terry said. He gestured towards the air bridge. ‘I’m about to catch a flight to Australia with my wife and friends…’
The words had hardly left his mouth when someone from behind grabbed Terry’s arms and forced them behind his back. He glanced over a shoulder at the FBI agent in the process of applying handcuffs to his wrists.
‘What the hell is going on here…?’ Terry protested. ‘Why am I being handcuffed? This is ridiculous.’ His wide eyes moved to Ross. ‘Is this you…? Are you doing this…?’ he asked.
As Terry’s agent, Ross often played the practical joker, so arranging such an elaborate prank before they flew out would not be beyond Ross and his network of connections.
Carla approached Agent Johnson. ‘What do you think you’re doing? Release my husband immediately,’ she insisted. ‘You have no right to do this.’
The Agent held a hand up at Carla. ‘Stay back ma’am,’ Agent Johnson ordered. Carla froze on the spot. His intense glower was intimidating.
Terry’s questioning eyes flicked to Ross. Ross held out his arms. ‘I have no idea, Terry…’ Ross said, ‘Seriously. I don’t know what’s going on.’ The concern etched across Ross’ face was evidence enough for Terry. This was for real.
‘Terry Hunter…You are under arrest for murder,’ Agent Johnson said. He took a firm hold of Terry’s bicep then read Terry his rights.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me…’ Terry said. ‘Please tell me this is a joke…’
Johnson led Terry away from the departure gate. The five escorting FBI colleagues followed closely behind.
‘Whom am I supposed to have murdered…?’ Terry asked anyone listening. ‘This is crazy.’
‘We’ll discuss it further back at our office,’ the agent said. His tone was matter of fact. ‘Do you understand your rights as I have just read to you?’
’Of course I do… But I don’t understand why you are doing this.’ Terry attempted to glance back over his shoulder to Carla. The firm grip of Agent Johnson limited his upper body movement. He called to his wife. ‘Carla…! Carla…!’ his voice was a mix of fear and desperation.
Carla sobbed while Linda comforted her. ‘What should I do…?’ She yelled back as Terry was led away.
‘Call Duane…’ Terry yelled back over a shoulder. ‘Tell him I’ve been arrested by the FBI … He’ll know what to do.’
Carla, Ross and Linda’s stunned expressions watched Terry being led away by the six federal agents. Their much-anticipated business trip-cum-holiday to Australia would now have to be put on hold.
Ross scanned the waiting passengers in the departure lounge. Many were filming Terry’s assisted departure on their cell phones. That was not good for Terry.
As soon as they all realized who they just witnessed being arrested, most of that footage would appear on social media sites, if it hadn’t already, and probably TV screens across the country.
Ross rubbed a concerned hand through his hair. ‘What the hell just happened…? What could he possibly have done to warrant his arrest by the FBI?’ Ross asked Carla, albeit rhetorically.
Linda stood with a comforting arm around Carla. Carla held a scrunched-up tissue to her nose. She aggressively shook her head in response to Ross’ question. ‘I don’t know.’ Her voice was broken with grief.
Ross suggested Carla and Linda catch a cab home to Carla’s, while he would attend at the FBI field office in LA, to try and find out what was going on.
