Ten minutes later, Sam settled into a wide, plush leather seat at the front of the aircraft. The cabin was exceptionally quiet, spacious, and completely free of manufactured drama. He slid his laptop pouch safely into the massive overhead bin with room to spare, chuckling to himself about the wildest security mix-up of his career.
As the plane finally began to taxi down the runway, a different flight attendant approached his row, offering a warm, genuine smile. “Welcome aboard, Detective Jenkins. The station manager briefed us on your evening. Can I get you a full, chilled bottle of water to start your flight?”
“That would be perfect. Thank you,” Sam replied gratefully. He accepted the cold bottle, took a long, deeply satisfying sip, and leaned his seat back as the heavy engines roared to life. He watched the sprawling airport lights fade into tiny, glowing dots below him as the aircraft climbed smoothly into the night sky, finally carrying him home.