Chapter Two – The Aftermath
Nurse Heidi Horst looked up from the file she'd been studying in the lab as her husband appeared in the doorway and gave him a rueful smile.
Their facility was top of the line and their moto was to offer top notch service to any injured person at the resort. They even had machines capable of x-ray and CT flown in from Geneva where Franz still worked occasionally. Doctor Horst was a highly respected man amongst colleagues and Heidi was considered to be one of the best nurses to graduate in her class. The unlikely couple had met up in the capital of Switzerland while being employed at the same renowned hospital. However, after being tired of doing the same thing for years without any real challenges Franz suddenly bought a large three story building at an Alpine Resort. Together with Heidi, and with the help of some carpenters, he managed to open a practice at the resort not long after the purchase. Despite the distance to Geneva some of Franz' old patients insisted on coming up to the little village for a follow up or a quick check up rather than change to a local GP. After being able to hire both doctors and nurses to their practice Franz had the opportunity to work in Geneva twice a week if he wanted to but he really didn't feel the need so he'd settled for a couple of days a month. They'd created a lifestyle that suited them well, away from low cut budgets, jealousy and a stressful environment.
However, the flight accident had caused a dreaded scenario that neither of them had considered even in their wildest fantasies. The pressure and the stress that they had left behind at the renowned hospital suddenly hit the little practice with full force, almost crushing them.
It was chaos outside, reporters appeared everywhere, vacationers crowded the streets since they couldn't ski and an addition of over one hundred people had just fallen out of the sky. The resources of the little police station not too far away from the resort was spread thin trying to keep the reporters and tourists away from the airplane.
The resort was popular this time of year and the Hotel was almost filled to the brim even before the Airliner crashed down the mountainside.
Heidi and Franz and their colleagues had tried to bring some order into the chaos and, together with the rescue workers, they'd managed to divide the passengers into categories depending on injuries. Amazingly a lot of people seemed to be no worse for wear even though several sported cuts, bruises and contusions. A helicopter had been ferrying off passengers of the ill-fated aircraft for hours but the number of people remaining seemed to be constant nevertheless.
"How's it coming?" Franz asked his wife as she labeled a sample of blood that would leave the practice with several others when the helicopter arrived on its next run.
"It's crazy, Franz," she complained lightly with a slight weariness in her voice. "There are so many people, it's even more crowded here than it was at the hospital when that tragic bus accident happened all those years ago."
"We're doing fairly well then," he said shortly. "Our staff are doing a marvelous job too."
Heidi nodded. "I just wish all those reporters would leave us alone," she said in a subdued voice. "It's not exactly helping the poor passengers involved in the accident."
OOOOOO
Nursemaid Wendy Thomas, an exchange student from Utah, glanced up as a man approached the desk just inside the entrance door. Tired of all the reporters trying to nestle themselves in one way or another she sighed and then nonchalantly fixed her eyes on the newcomer. "I'm sorry, sir. No reporters are allowed," she said dismissively.
The lean and slender man who appeared to be in his early fifties huffed as he reached into his worn leather jacket's pocket to retrieve a badge.
"Flight Investigator," he said succinctly.
Wendy rose an impeccable eyebrow before scrutinizing both him and the badge before her. "Well, Mr. Davies," she acknowledged. "Doctor Horst mentioned he'd got a call from you and that you were to be expected."
"Good," he said and put on a non-committed smile as he pocketed the badge. "I've seen the wreck, not much to salvage I am afraid. My team is setting up their gear as we speak. I do hope the police would be able to get the site clear of onlookers. Now, I'd like to see the pilots."
"With all due respect, Mr. Davies. They are not up to meeting you at the moment," she said sternly.
"I realize that you don't have many flight accidents up here so you do not understand our procedures but I didn't ask to see them. I demanded to see them," he finished.
"Is there a problem here?" A voice asked from behind the Investigator.
Davies whirled around and gave the doctor a questionable glance as the man approached him.
"I'm Doctor Horst, I run this practice in cooperation with my wife," he said and nodded toward the nurse trailing behind him with a box in her hand.
"Henri Davies, Flight Investigator," he said by way of introduction. "As I tried to explain to your nurse, I need to see the pilots."
The doctor nodded, hands on his hips. "Yes, I realize the importance. The question is if you realize that the flight crew has just survived a major accident?"
Davies nodded and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the doctor.
"It's been a long day for all of us and it's near midnight. We've preformed every test that you required and most of them have been sent away for analysis. You'll have every answer you want in the morning."
"How did they appear?" Davies asked, changing tactic.
"If you're asking if they seemed to have anything to hide or appeared nervous I'll have to disappoint you," Doctor Horst replied.
"What is wrong with you?" Heidi asked, unable to stay quiet any longer. "Everyone survived a terrible accident here not long ago. Several people saw it come down. Even on the radio channels they said they saw large holes at the underside of the aircraft. If your theory is pilot error then you might want to reconsider."
"I didn't say that," Davies protested. "I have to investigate the incident objectively. Like I mentioned before, had you listened, there are procedures to be followed."
"It appears I arrived just in time," another man's voice cut in, the tension in the air palpable. "My name is Geoffrey Alton, I represent the union," he said, looking from the investigator to the doctor and nurse. "Mr. Davies knows the proper procedure even though he doesn't seem to respect them at the moment."
The union representative and the flight investigator glared at each other briefly.
"Mr. Davies is most certainly considering the accident to be the outcome of a possible pilot error, which is a serious allegation to throw around. He and his team should be here to gather facts. In my mind there is no doubt that it was piloting skills that prevented this from turning into a disaster with 109 deaths," Alton said.
The lead investigator huffed.
"The problem with Mr. Davies in particular is that he assumes things without basic facts to back them up. Several months ago we closed an investigation on a particularly tragic accident which could have been avoided had the captain not deviated from his responsibility-" he trailed off and turned to focus on the medical personnel present. "I am afraid I can't discuss it further with you due to confidentiality but my point is that Mr. Davies choses to go for human error when he can."
"In that case I was right. You say pilot error is a serious allegation, Mr. Alton but to even suggest I'm not objective when filing a report from an accident site is ridiculous," Davies returned angrily.
"My apologies," he said quickly. "It's just that some statements upsets me more than others. The Concorde F-WTSC leased by Federation World Airlines was captained by two skillful pilots on this tragic trip."
"Other skillful pilots have made errors that has brought aircrafts down intentionally or not intentionally," Davies said, his voice softer than before.
The doctor and nurse shared a solemn look.
"You see, I'm not judging people or their actions prematurely," Davies reasoned. "I'm after the facts, the truth, about the so called accident. The Concorde manufacturer is going to demand it, Federation World Airlines is going to demand it. The passengers on the flight, the insurance companies, the general public-"
The union representative shook his head sadly. "Even though this accident took no lives, someone is going to be held responsible," he explained.
Doctor Horst sighed as he tiredly raked a hand through his thick hair. "I get the picture," he said. "Now, I'll allow both of you to see them in the morning. All of them. The flight crew is upstairs, residing in our bed and breakfast section together with two members of the cabin crew. The other three members of the cabin crew are staying at the hotel."
Davies resigned. "Very well. How are they?" he asked gently. "Some of the accidents I have to investigate are gruesome, most are actually. I have to keep reminding myself that this one had a happy ending."
"The members of the cabin crew are sporting various cuts and bruises from the rather rough landing," Horst explained.
"I saw the deep marks made by the aircraft," the flight investigator said solemnly.
"The flight engineer is doing fine, and considering the circumstances I'd say they all are. However, both captains are slightly hypothermic, their core temperature too low for my liking. There are various cuts and bruises, a soreness to muscle and tissue. Nothing of it should be considered uncommon given the nature of the accident. Amazingly nothing appears to be broken, there are no internal injuries that demands attention nor are there any concussions," the doctor finished.
"Our advice to you is to get a few hours of sleep," Heidi said kindly. The Hotel and guest houses around here are full due to the massive increase in, should I say, visitors lately. However, you're most welcome to stay here. We have one room left."
The tough Flight Investigator chuckled, his weathered face crinkling at the edges of his eyes at the offer. "I appreciate the offer but I'll head back to the accident site and see if anything important can be salvaged. I'll be back in the morning," he said and turned to leave.
Geoffrey Alton, the union representative and former pilot, watched Davis exit the building and then turned to Heidi. "Consider the room taken then," he let on lightly.
OOOOOO
Maggie Whelan was brought out of her light slumber as the helicopter landed at the Innsbruck International Airport. She was hurting, her head was sore and throbbing. Kind medics at the crash site had seen to her, gently stitched up her head wound and applied a bandage over it. She didn't have a concussion but the headache was severe enough and did nothing to help her think.
At first she'd stubbornly planned to fulfil her mission and go to Moscow but then she reconsidered and decided to head back home instead. The world had gone mad around her and everything had started when one of Kevin's employees had been murdered in her home. He didn't know that she was actually dating his CEO when he came to bring her evidence of foul play, he came to her because she was a famous reporter. When Kevin Harrison had met up with her in Paris to discuss the matter he had appeared calm but she was beginning to understand he had been anything but.
She gingerly exited the helicopter and was lead toward a regular airliner by a kind man clad in a black suit coming from Federation World Airlines. She hesitated, fear gripping her as she came to stand outside the aircraft.
"It'll be all right ma'am," the man assured her gently.
Maggie forced a smile on her lips as she tightened her grip around her portfolio. She took a deep breath and walked onboard.
A sleek, good looking flight attendant smiled at her and greeted her kindly before reaching behind her to shut the cabin door. "Thank you Paul, we've been cleared for take-off, Captain Wellington is already annoyed at the delay in departure so you better get the service people to release us," she said.
The name of the man that had guided her to the aircraft brought her back to the events of the day before.
"Maggie," Joe said with a large grin. "I haven't seen you since the accident in Salt Lake."
She couldn't help but to smile at the largely built, kind man in the captain's seat as her eyes settled on the younger man to his right. Oddly enough he also had four stripes on his shoulders.
"This is Captain Paul Metrand," Joe said as he nodded toward his co-pilot. "Paul, this is Maggie Whelan."
"Hello Maggie, I'm a big fan of yours," he said charmingly in a French accented English as he turned toward her.
"Excuse me ma'am, can I help you to your seat?" the flight attendant asked kindly. "We're just about to take-off."
Sheepishly Maggie realized that she was standing just inside the door and nodded. "Yes, yes of course. I'm sorry, I was…caught up in something," she explained.
"That's all right, you must be shocked, considering the accident. It's all over the news. I'm glad you're still considering flying with the Federation," she said with a smile. "Please come this way."
Maggie collapsed in her given first class seat and closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing for a moment. The flight attendant gently strapped her in and gave her shoulder a light comfortable squeeze.
Within a minute the airliner was rolling, accelerating down the runway until it broke contact with the ground and lifted. The Boeing 757 trembled slightly in the turbulent air before leveling out on her designated flight height and course.
Maggie jumped as the loudspeakers crackled before a voice came over the link.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Captain Wellington speaking, welcome aboard the Federation World Airlines Flight 137 from Innsbruck International Airport to Dulles International in Washington. We apologize for the slight delay but estimate that we'll be able to cut our flight time a bit shorter due to good weather conditions over the Atlantic Ocean. Our estimated time of arrival will be nineteen hundred hours. Enjoy your flight."
Maggie chuckled ironically. Due to the time zones she would arrive at almost the same time as she left. She opened her eyes to stare out through the window just as the aircraft climbed over the storm clouds. The sun shone bright outside highlighting the aluminum colored parts of aircraft, temporarily blinding her. When she could see again she was mesmerized by the vivid colors of the horizon. She stared at it for a long time, not able to tear her eyes away.
"Ma'am I'm sorry to bother you but I was wondering if I could get you anything?" the flight attendant asked kindly as she reappeared at her side.
"I don't know," Maggie began.
"Think about it for a moment and push the button when you're ready," she suggested. "It's on the house."
The news anchor nodded, appreciating the gesture. She waited till the attendant had walked down the aisle and opened the portfolio. It was time to really scrutinize Kevin Harrison's business arrangements.
OOOOOO