This is what I managed to unearth. He placed the folder on the table. David Harley did indeed serve in the Air Force, but he was discharged for a breach of discipline and a conflict with his superiors. The details are classified, but through unofficial channels I learned that the matter involved abuse of authority and rude treatment of subordinates. After that, he worked for a while with small charter companies. He didn’t stay long anywhere; conflicts abounded. There’s also information about his alcohol problems and how he came to us.
Victoria glanced through the documents. The regional manager at Nisa, Antonio Duboa, hired him without thorough vetting. Formally, all the paperwork was in order, the license was valid, but the references from previous employers were lacking. Pedro shook his head. Either they weren’t requested or they were ignored. Besides, Hartley and Duboa are friends. They spend time together frequently. We need to investigate. Victoria closed the folder. But I need facts, not rumors. I’ll go to Nisa myself. I’ll see what’s going on there. Victoria, that’s not your job.
Pedro frowned. “Send an inspector.” “Pedro, this is my company,” she said, looking at him firmly. “And if something bad is happening there, I want to see it with my own eyes. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the field. I need to understand how our flights really operate.” So, Victoria made the decision that would change her life. She decided to fly to Nisa incognito, not as the airline owner in a business suit and security detail, but as an ordinary passenger. She would buy a ticket on the flight commanded by Captain Harley and see how he really behaved.
Sofia was against it. Victoria, this is crazy. What if something goes wrong? What if they recognize you? No one will recognize me. Victoria was already thinking about the details. I rarely appear in public. Most employees only know me from corporate photos where I’m in business suits and have my hair done. I’ll wear jeans, a sweatshirt, my hair in a ponytail, minimal makeup. I’ll look like an ordinary tourist. Besides, I’ll be flying under my mother’s maiden name, Grant.
Victoria Grant is a common name. No one will connect the dots. But why all the fuss? Come officially, conduct an inspection. Then everyone will be on high alert, Victoria explained. Harley and her team will be angels. I won’t see the real picture. I don’t need to see them in their natural environment. Sofia sighed, realizing it was impossible to convince her boss. Fine, but at least take Pedro with you, so he can fly separately just in case. Victoria agreed. It was a reasonable compromise. Three days later, Victoria was at the Hidro airport terminal, feeling uneasy.
She was dressed in simple blue jeans, a gray hoodie, and white sneakers, her blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, almost no makeup on her face, a small backpack slung over her shoulder, and in her pocket, her passport in the name of Victoria Grant, which she had obtained a year ago for private travel, using her mother’s maiden name. She really did look like an ordinary young woman flying to the French Riviera for a break. Pedro was sitting elsewhere in the waiting room pretending to read the newspaper, but Victoria knew he was watching her closely.
When boarding for the flight to Nisa was announced, Victoria joined the line with the other passengers. Her heart was beating faster than usual. It was a strange experience being a passenger on her own plane, yet remaining incognito. At the check-in counter, she handed over her ticket. The employee, a young woman in her early twenties, didn’t even look up at her; she simply scanned the boarding pass and wished her a pleasant flight. Victoria smiled to herself.
The plan was working. She boarded. Her seat was in the middle of the cabin by the window. Victoria settled in, fastened her seatbelt, and looked around. The cabin looked clean and new. This was one of the latest Airbus A320s to join the airline’s fleet six months ago. She remembered how she had been personally involved in the negotiations with the manufacturer. Flight attendants began circulating through the cabin, checking seatbelts and helping passengers stow their luggage.
Victoria watched them attentively. The girls were polite, smiling, and professional. So far, everything met the company’s standards. The plane filled up. Next to Victoria sat an elderly couple, a husband and wife in their sixties, clearly British and heading off on holiday. They were chatting amiably about what they would visit in Nisa. The engines roared. The captain’s voice came over the loudspeakers. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is Captain David Hartley. Welcome aboard Asure Wings flight to Nisa.”
Estimated flight time, 2 hours 10 minutes. The weather in Nisa is sunny, 24°C. Please make yourselves comfortable and have a pleasant flight. The voice was even, professional, nothing special. Victoria leaned back in her seat, trying to relax. Takeoff was smooth. The plane gained altitude. It entered cruise control. The flight attendants began serving drinks and light snacks. Victoria ordered coffee. The girl brought it with a smile. She placed a cookie and a napkin on the tray table.
