As you might be able to tell, this was supposed to be a submission for a Valentine's contest, but I made a mistake with the email :p
This is an HB/Cabin Pressure crossover... hopefully you can enjoy even if you don't know what CP is. (If you don't, it's a radio play, go find it and listen to it!)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not the characters, not the book titles referenced. The story is, though. :D
"What do you mean, you can't?" Joe Hardy heard the whine in his voice, but didn't care at that moment.
"I mean I can't," Jack Wayne retorted cheerfully, "sorry boys, but your dad said I was off the clock, and now I'm not available. Course, I could give you a charter firm recommendation…"
The brothers exchanged a look at the sly tone the pilot's voice had taken on. Jack wasn't known for his practical jokes, but given the lack of flights and their need to get home to spend Valentine's Day with their girlfriends, they didn't have too much choice anyway.
"Go on then," Frank accepted.
Jack gave them the details, hanging up with a cackle.
"MJN Air," Joe read the sign over the small portacabin door. "I wonder what that stands for."
"My Jet Now."
Both boys jumped, spinning to face the owner of the enthusiastic voice, who turned out to be a man in his early thirties with a boyish face and wide grin to match.
"Where did you come from?" Frank asked.
He leaned in closer. "I can't tell you that. I was being a spy. A ninja spy. You're never supposed to know where a ninja spy is. But hey, you guys aren't very secretive," he looked almost disappointed.
"Uh… I'm Joe Hardy, and this is my brother, Frank. I don't know what you mean by secret, but… we are detectives."
"Right," the grin returned. "And detectives need to be able to follow people quietly, so that was what I was doing. I did well, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did," Frank couldn't help returning the grin.
"Arthur!" an authoritative voice called from inside the portacabin, "what are you doing out there? Let them come in, go and get the plane ready."
"Right mum," Arthur responded cheerfully, "bye, guys!"
"Bye," the boys chorused.
Bing Bong!
"Good evening and welcome aboard this MJN flight to Bayport," a posh British voice came over the intercom, "I'm Douglas Richardson, and I will be your co-pilot tonight. We have Miss Marple in the pilot's seat, and attending to you in the cabin, Jessica Fletcher and your steward for the flight… Scooby Doo."
"Heeey," Arthur protested.
"Shaggy?"
"Brilliant!"
"Do sit back and enjoy the flight."
Bing Bong!
Douglas turned off the intercom with a self-satisfied grin.
"Miss Marple?" Martin raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you liked being Miss Marple. Who was I to argue? You're no Sherlock Holmes."
"I'm surprised you didn't say you were," Martin muttered.
"Don't be silly. If anyone, I'm James Bond."
Martin snorted.
"Mystery books with "otter" in the title," Douglas announced. "The Case of the Missing Otters. The Mystery of the Flying Otter."
"Oh!" Martin exclaimed. "This is an easy one. Um…"
"The Sign of the Crooked Otter."
"Good one! Um… ooh! What Happened at Otter?"
"Hmm," Douglas responded. "Not bad."
The cabin door opened, and their boss, Jessica – Carolyn Knapp-Shappey – Fletcher entered.
"Nice boys, but so dull," she groaned. "So? What game are we playing?"
"Mystery books with "otter" in the title," Martin supplied.
"Oh. Well, let's see… The Otter of the Baskervilles!"
"Good one!" Douglas congratulated. "The Sinister Otter."
"So you've left them alone with Arthur?" Martin asked.
"They're teenagers. If they can't handle him, I'm sure I don't know who can."
"Hi!"
The boys looked up to see Arthur grinning at them, pushing along a refreshments cart.
"Shaggy," Joe grinned. "What's up?"
"Can I interest you in anything? Food, drink, movie?"
Bing Bong!
"The Vanishing Otters." Douglas said.
"The Melted… oh, no," Carolyn began.
"Um…" Martin struggled.
"Secret Otter on Flight 101," Douglas interjected.
"The Masked Otter!" Martin exclaimed.
"Very good!" Douglas and Carolyn congratulated him. "We knew you'd get it eventually."
"Hang on," Martin remarked, "why is the intercom on?"
"Oh, is it?" Douglas asked innocently.
Bing Bong!
"What was all that about?" Frank wondered.
"Oh, the chaps always play a word game during flights," Arthur explained. "Skip's usually not very good at them though," he added sympathetically.
"Miss Marple?" Joe confirmed.
Arthur grinned. "It involves a rich old man and his fancy whisky, which mum always buys and Douglas always steals, and Skip tries to stop him but he can't."
"Right," the boys drawled.
"So, you're heading home for Valentine's?" Arthur asked. "I bet you've got girlfriends."
"We do," Frank admitted. "Mine's called Callie, his is Vanessa."
"That's nice." He looked at the tray thoughtfully. "I'll be right back!" he announced.
"Jack knew about all this," Joe muttered, settling back in his seat to await the steward's return.
"Airdot," Carolyn, who had earlier introduced herself as CEO, corrected them. "I only have one jet, and you can't put one jet in a line. If MJN is anything, it is an airdot."
The boys laughed.
"Dare I ask what that silly boy is up to?"
"Valentine's Day gave him an idea," Frank supplied.
"Oh god," Carolyn groaned.
"Ow!" Arthur yelped in the galley.
"Arthur?"
"It's fine! Everything's fine! No need to come in, it's… it's a surprise!"
"I can't wait." She smiled at the boys. "Do you need anything? He's going to be a while. If I'm not mistaken, that was the sound of everything falling out of the cabinet on top of him."
