“The small plane?”
“The Cessna that crashed yesterday? Surely you heard about it.”
“Yeah. That was the test I authorized you to try.”
“Yep. I have them set up right over here.”
Cat looked to where he was pointing and each monitor had the same display up, part of the screen showing the direction the plane was moving, superimposed over a satellite map, and the other part of the screen showing the main control systems of the aircraft. In front of each screen was a joystick and throttle, with a set of rudder pedals on the floor.
“Nice setup. I trust the controls didn’t cost too much?”
“You’ll never believe that part. They’re flight controls for PC flight games. They’re rather easy to set up and configure with the system we have here, and they’re not too overly expensive. Should we try one?”
“The plane heading north? Where is it headed?”
“That one’s headed for Chicago.”
“How many on board?”
“Only 124. Lot of empty seats on that one.”
“Let’s see what this system can do.”
“Rise and shine, kid,” Walter said, standing by Franklin’s bed.
“What time is it?”
“Almost 9:00. I got breakfast ready.”
Franklin yawned and stretched his arms.
“Thought I smelled something.”
“Well, you gonna get up and join the real world, or not?”
“Yeah…give me a minute.” He let out another slightly exaggerated yawn.
“Must have been a heck of a date.”
“It was okay.”
“Just okay?”
“Maybe more than okay.”
“Well, get out here before your bacon gets cold.”
A minute later, Franklin was starting into a heaping pile of bacon.
“What did you kids do all night? Wait a minute. I’m not sure I want to know.”
“We behaved ourselves, if you’re so dying to know.”
“All I know is I never saw you all day. Off to your test, and then off to wherever kids your age go on dates these days.”
“We went to the gym.”
“To the gym. That’s a new one on me.”
“We shot hoops until they closed the place and we had a milkshake at UDF. You weren’t here when she dropped me off. Maybe I should ask what you did all night.”
“It was rather routine. Broke up some drug deals. Found a couple lost dogs. Stopped two muggings, put out a house fire on the west side, and stopped a sad fellow from jumping off the Roebling Bridge. Did you guys have fun shooting hoops?”
“Gramps, it was a blast. Didn’t seem like a date or anything…just like hanging out with a friend.”
“That’s how it always starts, if you’re lucky. There will be plenty of time for the other stuff. Don’t rush that. You’re young. Best if you wait for the other stuff, anyway.”
“Other stuff?”
“You know, stuff guys your age are always thinking about? You got time for that. You want my advice, that stuff’s for married folk. Just get to know her real good for now.”
“Oh…I gotcha. Yeah…those things cross my mind sometimes. I kinda blocked it out when I was…before I met you. Don’t think you got a chance for that when you’re on the streets. Didn’t think I had a chance a couple days ago either. Now…Kendra…I don’t know. She’s something else. Don’t know why she hangs out with me.”
“She’s able to see beyond the baggage…wait…what was that?”
“What was what?”
“I hear something.”
“You’re always hearing things.”
“It’s a far off rumbling sound. Ah…it’s your stomach. You’d best get another biscuit.”
“If you insist, but you’re the one who needs to eat like a pig.”
“I’ve been munching while I was cooking. Plus, I need to get going soon.”
“Where you heading now, after you’ve been up half the night?”
“Chicago, gonna be on some talk show.”
“What time you gotta be there?”
“Not for a couple hours, but I’m gonna head up early. Got my nice clothes in a bag, but might need to make sure everything’s presentable.”
“That’s cool. I gotta watch that.”
“The DVR is set, in case you have other things to do.”
Jerry Owens was looking forward to a couple off days in Chicago. Any time he could get some days off was good, but having time off at home was even better. He just had to finish this short trip, take a cab home, and kick back. He leveled off at cruising altitude and addressed his co-pilot.
“Brett, you care to hold down the fort for a sec? I gotta pee.”
“Sure, Jerry. Didn’t you go before we boarded?”
“Yeah…bit too much coffee.”
“Told you to take it easy. Older you get, that stuff just runs right through you.”
Jerry returned a couple minutes later and sat back down.
“Feel better?” Brett Egan asked.
“Much. You need to get up or anything?”
“Nah, I’m good. I can probably wait until we land.”
“Suit yourself. Lucky it’s such a short flight.”
“You got any plans? You live there, right?”
“Yeah, Arlington Heights. Not far from O’Hare.”
“Just gonna kick back for a bit?”
“Promised to take my kid to the Cubs game, got seats down by the dugout for tomorrow.”
“Sounds nice. You a big fan?”
“He’s more of a hockey fan, but he still likes going to games with his old man. Gotta enjoy that while he’s still young enough to be seen in public with me.”
“I hear you. Mine’s seventeen now. Hanging with your dad’s not cool. I miss when he was younger.”
“Give it a few years and you’ll be cool again. My oldest is in his twenties and all of a sudden I’m smarter.”
Walter wasn’t in too much of a hurry. Even though he was used to being able to fly, he still got a huge kick out of it. He liked nothing better than taking it easy just above cloud level. He had never flown on planes much, so the view was still a novelty, but this way was far better than looking out a window. He looked above him and saw a passenger jet passing, heading in the same direction. He flew up to that level and matched the plane’s speed until he saw several passengers staring out the window and taking pictures with their phones.
