Bring me your mother's phone or your sister becomes the 12th child the system loses. The blade rested inches from Nia's shoulder. The phone, the custodian repeated, slided across the floor. Zuri held it with both hands. If you hurt her, you get nothing.
His grip tightened around Nia. You are 11 years old. Do not confuse one lucky discovery with control. Zuri looked at her sister, not the blade. Nia's thumb moved across Mr. Button's paw.
Seven stitches, four down, seven back. She was frightened, but she was also counting. Officer Hayes stood 3 ft away with empty hands. Peter blocked Celeste from moving. Clare pressed herself against the galley wall while Captain Cole quietly warned officers outside not to rush the door.
The custodian pulled Nia toward the jet bridge. "Place the phone on the floor and step back." "Why do you need it?" Zuri asked. "Because it belongs to your mother." "That was true." Simone had used the silver phone during her investigation. After her death, Aunt Relle gave it to Zuri because it contained family photographs. Zuri never knew it also carried the final key to case 417.
The files are already open, she said. Not the master record. Peter's face changed. Simone copied the approval pages before the crash. The custodian looked at him.
She copied everything. The missing pages had not been destroyed or taken from the black cases. Simone never placed the only versions there. They were encrypted inside her phone. The bracelets, transmitter, and travel files were designed to expose the false handoff system.
But the device in Zuri's hands could identify the person who authorized it all. Give it to me, the custodian said. And both girls leave with their aunt. Zuri glanced at Celeste. Is that what he promised you?
Celeste's silence answered. He promised Clare that the accusation was an exercise. He promised Valerie that the false guardian record was legal. He promised Rusk that the crash report would disappear. Now he promises to release Nia.
The custodian moved the blade closer. Your sister does not have time for a speech. Neither do you. Police locked the airport. Police follow records.
I create them. His confidence revealed what his disguise had hidden. He was not trying to escape unseen. He expected to replace the record of what everyone had witnessed. Zuri looked at the seat screens.
They still displayed the list of 11 children. Case 417 is connected to my phone. Correct. So if I open the master record, every screen will show it. You cannot open it without both sisters.
Zuri had guessed that the two cases required them together. Simone would protect the final archive the same way. Then you can't open it after taking my phone either. For the first time, he hesitated. Nia noticed.
So did Officer Hayes. The custodian needed the phone and both twins alive. His blade created fear, but using it would destroy the access he wanted. Zuri unlocked the screen. A prompt appeared.
Complete case 417. Second subject required. Let Nia stand beside me, Zuri said. We open it together, then you take the phone. You will send the record.