Flight 880 to Switzerland --

The passengers on the plane began to scream as soon as the lights went out in the plane’s cabin. The plane started to shake as it passed through the turbulence the pilot has warned them about.

Calm down, Kassie Tom told herself. Turbulence. That is it. Nothing more.

The steel tube jerked around. The passengers were thrust from one side to another

“Only turbulence.” Greg was talking to her. She couldn’t see him in the darkness, but he sounded calm.

“I know,” Kassie replied simply.

And with that, the lights flickered back on. The plane began to level off as well. The passengers calmed down, and the screams morphed into light chitchat. The stewardesses came back from their station to comfort those who had been bothered by the incident.

Greg turned to her. “Well, there’s nothing like –”

The pilot cut in with a message. “We have passed through the turbulence zone. We apologize for any trouble we may have caused. There was a slight surge of power in the plane and blew one of the fuses. The power has been adjusted at the backup fuse if being used.”

Greg continued. “There is nothing like a turbulent plane and complete darkness to make you enjoy life a little more.” He smiled as Kassie, and say back in his seat.

They continued across the ocean.

Presence Memorial Hospital --

Gillian Evans was pacing around in the hospital lobby. She shook her naturally red hair as she went from chair to chair to the table with magazines. (Mind you, most of the issues were older than her mother.) She continued walking the triangle.

“M’am?” The deep voice of a male doctor came up from behind her.

Gillian twirled around. “Is she alright?” The doctor was obviously in his late thirties. He stood calm, and Gillian couldn’t judge anything from looking at his face. He stood there like a statue.

The doctor nodded. “Mrs. Torres is coping well under the circumstances. She is not yet able to eat solid food, so she is hooked up to an IV.”

Gillian’s body flooded with relief. She remembered when she had rushed to Iris Torres’ house the night before. She could remember the paramedic’s words perfectly. “You’re too late.” That had scared her to death! It turned out, in fact, she had been too late to see her; she had already been brought to the hospital.

“Thank you, doctor.” Gillian gave him a smile and walked down the hall. Gillian wore a sleek red button-up blouse that fit her perfectly. She wore a figure-hugging pair of jeans. It was a hospital, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look good.

Stabbed… Gillian thought. My friend was stabbed.

She neared Iris’ room, took a deep breath, and went inside…

Jake and Kassie’s Home –

Jake Geary woke up. He jotted his eyes around his surroundings, but he didn’t recognize the usually white ceiling and striped walls.

He was on the couch.

Jake lifted his head off the pillow. He wore an ash T-shirt and green, flannel pants. He pulled himself up and he sat on the edge.

Jake had been unable to sleep in his big bed without Kassie. With her gone to Europe, he couldn’t sleep right. He would reach over while sleeping… and grab nothing!

Jake stood up and got ready for his day at work. It was a Monday, and the weekend didn’t seem like a break at all. He was an orderly at Presence Memorial Hospital. He had been working there for a few years, but his passion lay in being a doctor.

“I’ve got a busy day,” Jake said to himself.

King Estate: Guest House --

Adam King woke up with a start. He had a throbbing headache and it had been preventing him from having a descent hour of sleep all night.

He looked over at the bedside clock and immediately woke up.

“Ten in the morning?” he exclaimed. “I slept right through my alarm.”

He then groaned when he realized he has to have breakfast with his parents. He liked his mother, but his father was a genuine snob. Take all the stereotypes you’ve ever heard, and cram them into a pile. That pile would be his father.

Mateo’s Home --

“Rise and shine!” Mateo Consuelos was always in a good mood in the morning, and he hoped Skye Lore would be as well. He was, after all, waking he up.

He peeked through the door of the guest room, but there was no one on the bed.

“Skye?” Mateo called into the room, peeking his head in further. “Where are you?”

No answer. Then –

“How are you doing?” Skye said, popping up beside the door from inside the room. She had placed emphasis on the “How” when she spoke to scare him. He jumped slightly, but then quickly hid his surprise.

“Dean is making breakfast,” Mateo started, opening the door. “Good old-fashioned homemade pancakes – from the box.”

Skye was surprised. “Dean? Pancakes? I’ve been with him only a few hours, but I could never image that.”

Mateo shrugged. “I haven’t seen him for a while, so maybe he likes pancakes.” Mateo entered the guest room. “Or maybe he wants to use it as a truce. You know, for you two to get off each other’s cases.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Skye looked of a Mateo with a sly smile on her face. “The things I said were feelings. They feel true.”

“They still are just feelings,” Mateo insisted. “And I know that my brother isn’t the greatest, but he certainly wouldn’t shoot anybody.”

“You sure?” Skye was already dressed, and exited the guest room passing around Mateo. “Do you know what your brother does for a living?”

Mateo chased her down the hall to the kitchen. “I… I think he’s a pharmacist.”

Skye stopped down the hall. “Pharmacist? That’s a good one. A pharmacist couldn’t afford a house like this for his own brother.”

Mateo grabbed Skye’s arm as they reached the kitchen. “What are you trying to prove?”

“Nothing.” Skye entered the kitchen and sat down at the table; Mateo followed. “I can just tell these things about people.”

“Like what?” Mateo asked, trying to keep the conversation from his brother at the stove.

“Like your brother is in big trouble.” Skye looked at Mateo. “And he is going to get caught.”

Kassie was awakened by the sound of the pilot’s voice coming over the paging system.

“We are now ready to land in Bern, Switzerland. We hope you enjoyed your flight, and have a good time.”

Greg poked Kassie slightly. “That pilot spends more time making conversation with up than flying the plane. I’m surprised we haven’t flown into the Alps. He’d take all those innocent mountain goats with us.”

Kassie shifted uncomfortably when Greg said that.

“I am so sorry,” he said. “I forgot about what happened to your father. It’s the reason you’re here in the first place, too. Sorry again.”

“That’s fine,” Kassie said, and then smiled. “How could I be mad at you? I knew that you meant no harm.”

The plane began its descent through the clouds.

“I hope you have luck with your father,” Greg said.

Kassie nodded. “I hope you’re successful in your business venture.” Kassie paused, and then continued. “I’m glad you were here on the plane with me.”

The plane continued its descent.

“Iris?” Gillian asked softly as she entered her friend’s hospital room. “How are you feeling?”

Iris looked up at Gillian. “Like I’ve been stabbed three times.” Iris’ face was pale, and she had needles in her arm that were being used to feed her intravenously. Otherwise, she looked so-so.

Gillian pulled up a wooden chair and propped it at Iris’ bedside. “I… How did it happen?”

Iris closed her eyes, and then opened them. “You were listening, weren’t you? We were on the phone, and then I was attacked.”

Gillian nodded, the event still fresh in her mind. “Have you talked to the police?”

Iris nodded. “They were waiting for at my room. I received surgery during yesterday evening till 11PM. The doctors let me rest, and the police were here at 8 in the morning to get a statement and account of the events leading up to the – crime.”

Gillian leaned closer to Iris. “What did happen when you were at work?”

Iris’ eyes widened. She remembered the note she received at her work. The one that told her “they” knew what she did.

“Nothing much.” Iris couldn’t tell her best friend about the note. Nor could she tell the police. “Adam and I were working. Adam had to leave. Soon afterwards I left myself since I didn’t want to work. I drove home, but didn’t notice anyone following me. I got home. I got a ring at the door. Before I could answer it you gave me a call. I never answered the door afterwards.”

Gillian shook her head. “This probably would have never happened if I hadn’t been setting you up with Giovanni.”

“And my answer is still no,” Iris insisted, not wanting to argue like the night before. “And he’s going out with your mother, anyways.”

“Have you seen him?” Gillian exclaimed. “He is too young for her. My mother needs someone her own age.”

“Anyways… I have made up my mind.”

“But…” Gillian stopped herself. “Very well, but you’re making a mistake.” Gillian thought for a moment. “Back to last night, where was Adam?”

“He left work.”

“You know,” Gillian spoke. “Adam seems kind of suspicious. He leaves, and then you leave. He could have easily followed you. Adam could be your attacker.”

Jake arrived at the hospital. He signed in and began his rounds.

“This meal is delicious!” Adam exclaimed, sitting around a giant table with his parents. “Give Henderson my finest applause.”

Julian King shook his head at his son. “Henderson is paid to do what he does. And he better make is delicious, or else there would be no point in keeping him.”

“My husband, the crab.” Constance King sat next to her husband, looking at him in disgust. “One minute he’s Mr. Charming, and the next 27 years later he’s a pig.”

“My dear wife,” Julian cooed. “You have everything you want in this life. Money, power, and a son.”

Adam tried to ignore his parents. “Henderson,” he called out, and the servant came into the room. “Could you turn on the radio?”

Henderson gave a nod and went to the den to turn on the stereo system.

“Thank you.”

Julian turned to his son. “I know this isn’t my business to pry, but I was wondering if you have met anyone to be the new King heir? You must come to a function we’re holding tonight. Heaven help us if you’ll ever find someone at that torrid place you work.”

“You own ‘Natural Exposure,’ dad. And I love advertising.” Adam paused for the radio.

“…and in final news, Iris Torres, a local woman in Presence, was stabbed violently last night in her own home. Police have received a statement and are following a yet-unnamed lead suspect…”

Adam’s mouth opened wide. “No…”

“What is it, dear?” Constance asked. “Did you know her?”

Adam nodded. “I was with her last night.”

Dean came to the kitchen table with a plate full of warm, steaming pancakes.

“Enjoy these. They are made with the finest of wheat and buttermilk. They melt in your mouth and fill you that feeling of home. The better batter.”

Mateo smiled, forgetting about what Skye had told him. “You read that off the box.”

“Mr. Batter helps make every morning a special morning.” Dean smiled at his brother.

Mateo snatched the mix of the counter. “I can see you reading it.”

Dean laughed at Mateo and sat down at the table. Skye was at his left, and Dean seemed bothered by her presence.

“How did you sleep?” Skye asked Dean. “Any bad dreams? If you did, I hear dreams are a mirror of real life. Anything bad happing in your life right now.”

Dean got up and grabbed Mateo by the arm and grabbed him to the far doorway.

“She’s crazy!” Dean says. “I know you rescued her from the ocean, but this is one ‘fish’ you could have tossed back.”

“That is a terrible thing to say.” Mateo looked back at Skye who was starring at them.

“She is hallucinating,” Dean continued.

“Is she, Dean?” Mateo questioned. “You are positive there is absolutely no grounds for this?”

“A wacko!” Dean exclaimed.

Mateo heard Skye get up from the table and exit the kitchen.

Mateo turned back to his brother. “You see what you did. I can’t believe you come strutting to my house, barge in, insult my guests, and drive them away.” Mateo stared deep in Dean’s eyes. “I think Skye may be right. Maybe you did shoot someone.”

Kassie had reserved a room at the airport in Bern. This would give her easy access to the manager and the airport itself.

Kassie pushed her blonde hair from her eyes as she pulled her bags into the room. It was a half-decent room that would fit her well for the night. She dragged her bags to the center of the room. She stood up and took a deep breath.

She was going to question the airport manager very frankly about her father. She wanted details about her father’s dead. And if the body will ever be found.

The manager is going to answer my questions, Kassie thought, brushing her long, golden hair behind her ear. They will explain why my father died, and what they could have done to prevent it.

“Adam?” Iris exclaimed. “Never. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met.”

“So you have never done anything to him that might make him act out?” Gillian asked. “It is just the way you said it. The circumstances point to him, and if you told this to the police, they might place him on their list of suspects.”

Iris was shocked. “It isn’t possible. I know him too well.”

Gillian looked at her friend. “Do you want me to call your mother? I know you’ll need family around with you at a time like this. Do you have her number?”

Iris shook her head. “No. I… don’t know where my mother lives.”

Gillian looked confused. “You mother? You don’t know where she lives?”

“No.”

Gillian got up from her seat. “I need to call in the Beach Hut to say I won’t be coming in today. Too much has happened.”

“Don’t let me be the cause of you missing work,” Iris insisted.

“Hey, it’s a good excuse for me to skip working at that hell hole of a job.”

Gillian got outside the room. She looked up and down the corridors. She saw a familiar face walking down the halls towards her. It was Jake.

Jake will be perfect, Gillian thought. He will get me the information I want.

“You’re falling for her tricks if you believe anything she says to you,” Dean pointed out to Mateo. “She is trying to get your attention. ‘I have lost my memory.’ ‘I have feelings about people.’ ‘You shot someone.’ It is all so far fetched. You are probably so desperate for a woman you’re searching the loony bins.”

“She is perfectly sane,” Mateo insisted. “She is only like this around you. I don’t know why…”

===

Meanwhile, Skye was in the living room, listening in on their conversation.

“Dean has done something. I can feel it.” Skye walked to a chair in the room with a jacket hanging on the edge. “I wish I knew about my life before yesterday.”

She grabbed the coat and examined it. It was Dean’s coat. Skye fished around in the pockets for evidence. Her eyes opened wide as she felt something cool.

“Bingo.”

Skye pulled out a black gun from the pocket. She smelled it.

Suddenly, Skye had an image flash in her head. If was of fire burning; burning so bright and hot that is even warmed her. It flashed through her head for only a second.

She looked back down to the gun in her hands. She then placed her finger on the trigger. She got the same flash a second time.

She raised the weapon, poised to use it…

“I’m going to visit Iris,” Adam told his parent after breakfast had been completed. “I need to pay her a visit.”

Julian shook his head. “Don’t get too attached to these locals. God knows what primitive influences they could thrust on you. And those public hospitals are like cages.”

“You are such a snob,” Adam mentioned before getting up. “I can’t believe it.”

Adam walked from the dining room to the living room. He picked his coat up from the couch and made his way to the door.

The doorbell rang.

“Henderson!” Adam could hear his father yell for the servant.

“I’ll get it, father!” Adam yelled back.

“What will people think?” He was so pathetic, really.

Adam opened the door and saw two police officers on the front porch.

“May I help you, officers?”

“Are you Adam King?” one of the asked.

“Yes, I am. Is there a problem?”

The first officer reached around Adam and cuffed his hands together. The other watched over the procedure.

“You are under arrest for break and enter and the assault of Iris Torres. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do could be used against you in a court of law. If you wish to speak to your attorney…”