“Keep moving!” I yelled over the turbines, steering them along the painted safety lines.

Behind us the maintenance door crashed open and the lead operative spilled out onto the tarmac, jacket flapping in the jet wash, pointing at us. He didn’t chase on foot.

He sprinted for a white airport security vehicle parked by the baggage tugs.

He was going to block the runway.

I reached the boarding stairs and half-threw Nathan up into the arms of my flight attendant, Sarah, who stood at the top of the airstair in open shock.

I hoisted Noah next, his small body shaking as he looked out at the sun-bleached airfield. Maren scrambled up behind them and caught my hand, and I pulled her into the cool cabin, the sudden air conditioning making all of us shiver.