Airplane Psychology
Hitomi sat across from Alana’s sleeping form, watching her sadly. The younger woman held herself together until they got onto the jet, then let go and cried herself to sleep. Hitomi covered her up with a blanket, then sat back watching. She shook her head and grimaced. She felt for Alana, knowing that eventually C.J. will find a guy. Though different, both situations held strong parallels. Not for the first time, Hitomi thought to herself that she needed to move on. She didn’t want to feel like her friend undoubtedly did.
She put it out of her head and picked up Alana’s report. The toy parade originated from a small toy museum’s warehouse. That would be the first stop once they got to the Windy City, after they got to their hotel. The news report they found online didn’t give them much information, and they didn’t find much beyond that. Hopefully, the toy museum’s curator could fill in the blanks.
A light above the cockpit pinged to life and the speaker crackled, “We’re making the approach into O’Hare, Miss Onoe. If you would wake your companion and buckle in for landing.”
“Sure thing. Thanks for the ride, Chuck.”
“Not a problem Miss Onoe.”
Hitomi smiled. She’d known the pilot for years, and he’s never called her anything but ‘Miss Onoe’. It was kind of cute. She didn’t need to wake Alana, who sat up at the pilot’s voice and stretched, rather distractingly. Don’t even, Hitomi scolded herself. Alana blinked sleepily and gathered up the blanket, smiling gratefully, but still a bit sadly and stowed it in a nearby cabinet. “Buckle up?”
“Yep. I called ahead while you were sleeping and got us a small suite close the the toy museum. I figure we check in before we start snooping.”
“Sure. I must admit, Jerry and I“, her voice caught slightly at Jeremy’s name, but she moved passed and Hitomi ignored it, “haven’t done much in the way of actually questioning people. We’re generally mop up.”
Hitomi grimaced, “Yeah well, I wish Buck would let others run snoop missions. Though I understand he’d rather wait until the teams are properly trained, but you and Jerry have been more than.”
Alana considered this for a moment, “It’s consistent if you think about it. Rather than put more than necessary in danger, he relies on you two. No matter how capable his other agents may be, he is reluctant to put then in the line of fire.”
Hitomi laughed, “You’re the psychologist.”
Alana smiled, “Yes. Well, I suspect it might be rather more complicated than even that.”
The two lapsed into silence as the jet landed smoothly at O’Hare, the pilot coming out of the cockpit once they were stopped to show them out. He just reminded them to let him know when they were ready to leave, and Hitomi nodded.
Quickly, they checked into their hotel and dropped their stuff off. Hitomi grabbed something from her kit and tossed it to Alana.
“What’s this?” She peered at the small leather folio. It contained an ID badge. “Interpol?”
“Yep. We’re Interpol agents investigating the parade.”
Alana glanced at the picture. “Glasses? This is a year or two old.”
“Sorry,” Hitomi shrugged. “I grabbed the first picture I saw for the badge.”
“Oh, okay. Let me just take out my lenses then.” It didn’t take long. They both straightened and smoothed out their suits and headed out the door.
She put it out of her head and picked up Alana’s report. The toy parade originated from a small toy museum’s warehouse. That would be the first stop once they got to the Windy City, after they got to their hotel. The news report they found online didn’t give them much information, and they didn’t find much beyond that. Hopefully, the toy museum’s curator could fill in the blanks.
A light above the cockpit pinged to life and the speaker crackled, “We’re making the approach into O’Hare, Miss Onoe. If you would wake your companion and buckle in for landing.”
“Sure thing. Thanks for the ride, Chuck.”
“Not a problem Miss Onoe.”
Hitomi smiled. She’d known the pilot for years, and he’s never called her anything but ‘Miss Onoe’. It was kind of cute. She didn’t need to wake Alana, who sat up at the pilot’s voice and stretched, rather distractingly. Don’t even, Hitomi scolded herself. Alana blinked sleepily and gathered up the blanket, smiling gratefully, but still a bit sadly and stowed it in a nearby cabinet. “Buckle up?”
“Yep. I called ahead while you were sleeping and got us a small suite close the the toy museum. I figure we check in before we start snooping.”
“Sure. I must admit, Jerry and I“, her voice caught slightly at Jeremy’s name, but she moved passed and Hitomi ignored it, “haven’t done much in the way of actually questioning people. We’re generally mop up.”
Hitomi grimaced, “Yeah well, I wish Buck would let others run snoop missions. Though I understand he’d rather wait until the teams are properly trained, but you and Jerry have been more than.”
Alana considered this for a moment, “It’s consistent if you think about it. Rather than put more than necessary in danger, he relies on you two. No matter how capable his other agents may be, he is reluctant to put then in the line of fire.”
Hitomi laughed, “You’re the psychologist.”
Alana smiled, “Yes. Well, I suspect it might be rather more complicated than even that.”
The two lapsed into silence as the jet landed smoothly at O’Hare, the pilot coming out of the cockpit once they were stopped to show them out. He just reminded them to let him know when they were ready to leave, and Hitomi nodded.
Quickly, they checked into their hotel and dropped their stuff off. Hitomi grabbed something from her kit and tossed it to Alana.
“What’s this?” She peered at the small leather folio. It contained an ID badge. “Interpol?”
“Yep. We’re Interpol agents investigating the parade.”
Alana glanced at the picture. “Glasses? This is a year or two old.”
“Sorry,” Hitomi shrugged. “I grabbed the first picture I saw for the badge.”
“Oh, okay. Let me just take out my lenses then.” It didn’t take long. They both straightened and smoothed out their suits and headed out the door.
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