CHAPTER 2
Caitlin sat in the office by the phone, hoping desperately for it to ring. Business had been slow and seemed to drag on eternally. Dom walked into the room, obviously in a good mood.
"I'll see you guys later. I got me a charter to Las Vegas."
She'd never seen him so excited about taking a charter, maybe that reflected on just how poor business was.
"You and String can take care of locking up right? Cause I don't know exactly when I'll be back. It's been a while since I've flown out to Vegas."
"Fine, go have your fun and leave us to do all the work," she teased.
Finally, it was time to close up. She trucked off to find String. A few minutes later, she found him dozing in a chair just outside the roll door.
"Hey, String," she called.
No answer.
She tried to gently shake him awake.
Still nothing.
'Man, he must be tired,' she turned to finish closing up before attempting to wake him again, the edge of her shirt brushing him lightly as she did so.
He jerked wide awake.
"Now you wake up," she rolled her eyes. "I could take off in a jet right next to you and you would sleep through it, but if I dropped a feather you'd wake up."
"Sorry. I'm not that bad though. It's just how it is; usually when someone is sneaking around is when there's a problem. If they draw attention to themselves you'd never suspect them."
"Like hiding in plain sight," she agreed. "I know, but you have to agree you take it to a new extreme, and it is kind of strange. Anyways, it's time to go if you want to help me close up."
After picking up Chance, String and Caitlin flew back to the cabin.
\A/
Saint John unlocked the side door to the hangar so they could all come in. The three of them spread out quickly finishing the necessary things to get ready for business, that is, if they had any today.
By one o'clock, there still hadn't been a single customer or phone call.
"When's Dom supposed to be back?" String asked.
Caitlin shrugged, but she had to admit, it did worry her that they hadn't heard from him.
"He should be back by now," Saint John answered.
"He did say he might stay awhile though," Caitlin rejoined.
"True. It's probably nothing." He could only hope that was really the case.
Ringing from the phone on the other side of the hangar interrupted their conversation.
Long limbed stride eating up the distance, Saint John was the first to reach it.
"Santini Air," he answered. "Uh-huh, ok. Hold on just a minute please." Saint John turned to the two who waited expectantly. "It's some movie production company. He said they've dealt with us before."
"Ok, what do they need?" Caitlin asked.
"That's the problem, they'd prefer someone they've dealt with, but since they're behind schedule, any of us that can do it will work. The stunt isn't an easy one though. They need us to take off a moving truck, show off a little fancy stuff before being supposedly shot, and taking a plunge towards the ground."
"Not easy, but doable," Caitlin commented.
The bad new is," Saint John continued, "that after this death defying drop you only have thirty, maybe forty feet to pull out."
String seemed to be working out the figures in his head.
"That's practically suicide!" Caitlin exclaimed.
"He said he'd pay double because of the short notice and the danger involved."
"I'll do it," String finally answered.
"I know we could use the business, but I think we should sit out on this one; it's just too dangerous," Saint John decided.
"I second that," Caitlin agreed.
"I'll do it," String repeated with even more determination. "I've worked with him before, we need the business, and I can do it."
Caitlin looked back at her soon-to-be husband with concern. He'd done the daily stuff and a couple of charters, but no stunt flying since his accident, and this one wouldn't be a good beginning stunt, she thought worriedly. "You sure? I mean, there will be other jobs and-"
He cut her off. "I said I'll do it."
"String, the money won't do us any good if we have to pay it all back in hospital bills." He hadn't even wanted to take on a Hughes 500 in their last mission and that was usually a piece of cake for him. This was a different kind of challenge, but certainly not any easier.
"I am doing it," he stated firmly, "and there's not much you can do to stop me." He turned on his heels and stormed off. 'What was their problem? No one ever questioned his flying ability, why start now?' He focused on the helicopter resting in front of him. If he was gonna pull this off, he'd need his bird in top condition.