The Airline Fired a Single Dad—Hours Later, a Jet Lost Both Engines
Chapter 7
Paul Danner’s death changed everything.
The federal investigation expanded overnight.
Marcus was placed under protection.
Ava stayed with Marcus’s sister for two days.
She didn’t understand why.
Marcus didn’t tell her.
He simply said there were grown-up problems to solve.
At the center of the investigation was the contaminated connector.
Investigators discovered that Danner had purchased specialized seals two days before the Flight 611 maintenance event.
The purchase was made with a company card.
But the card belonged to another technician.
Marcus recognized the name.
“Sam Keller.”
Rebecca frowned.
“You know him?”
“He worked under Gerald Knox.”
“Was he involved in the maintenance?”
“No.”
“Then why would his card be used?”
Marcus stared at the records.
“Because someone borrowed his credentials.”
The investigators questioned Keller.
He claimed he had never bought the seals.
Then they checked his access logs.
Someone had used his badge after midnight.
At the airport.
Near the fuel maintenance area.
The security footage was incomplete.
But one camera caught a figure.
Tall.
Dark jacket.
Cap.
Walking toward the maintenance hangar.
Marcus watched the footage repeatedly.
“Can you identify him?”
“No.”
Then he noticed the way the man walked.
A slight limp.
Marcus froze.
“There.”
“What?”
“He’s limping.”
“Does that help?”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Gerald Knox.”
Everyone looked at him.
“You’re sure?”
“Three years ago, he injured his right leg skiing.”
The investigators checked.
Medical records confirmed it.
Then Rebecca received a call.
Gerald Knox had left the country.
His destination was unknown.
Marcus stood.
“Then he’s running.”
“Maybe,” Rebecca said.
“Why would he run if he’s innocent?”
The investigator answered.
“He wouldn’t.”
Federal agents issued a warrant.
But Knox was already gone.
Daniel Price remained.
He suddenly requested immunity.
That got Marcus’s attention.
The investigators met with Price.
Marcus was not supposed to attend.
He attended anyway.
Price looked exhausted.
“I didn’t sabotage the plane.”
Rebecca asked,
“Who did?”
Price hesitated.
“Knox.”
Marcus watched him.
“How much did you know?”
Price looked away.
“I knew about the supplier payments.”
“So you knew.”
“I didn’t know about the sabotage.”
“You knew Knox was altering maintenance records.”
Price said nothing.
Marcus leaned forward.
“You knew I was warning everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Then why fire me?”
Price swallowed.
“Because Knox said you were becoming a problem.”
Marcus felt something cold move through him.
“You were afraid of him.”
Price nodded.
“He had information on everyone.”
“What information?”
“Financial records. Affairs. Bribes. Anything he could use.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“Because I was a coward.”
Marcus stared at him.
Price continued.
“Knox wasn’t working alone.”
“Who else?”
Price looked toward the investigators.
“There was someone above him.”
“Who?”
Price began to shake.
“Gerald reported to someone on the airline’s executive board.”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Name.”
Price whispered it.
Marcus stared.
It was Amelia Grant.
The airline’s chairwoman.
The person who had personally approved Gerald Knox’s appointment.
The person who had publicly praised Marcus’s work for years.
The person who had signed the company’s largest supplier agreements.
Elena looked at Marcus.
“This goes to the top.”
Marcus nodded.
Then Price added one final sentence.
“They didn’t just want to sabotage Flight 611.”
“Why?”
“Because Flight 611 was carrying someone they wanted dead.”
The room went silent.
“Who?” Marcus asked.
Price looked directly at him.
“You.”
