Page 28 of Cruel Dreams

“Thanks.”

Even after twenty-five years of marriage, Kagan’s voice is full of affection, and I blink back tears. How lovely it would be to find a love that would last a lifetime.

Lark speaks, assumably answering her phone. “Hello?” There’s a rustling, like maybe she stood up. I try to imagine it, though it’s difficult because I can’t recall ever seeing a picture of her. A grown-up Zarah enters my mind. Bronzed skin, dark hair and eyes.

She’s silent, listening, and then, “Yes, I saw it. I wish you wouldn’t do this. Do you know how many lives you’re destroying?”

This is the phone call we’ve been waiting for, and we’re already several minutes into the recording.

Her voice drops to a whisper, and I have to remember we aren’t listening to a recording of only her speaking into the phone, we’re listening to the entire plane. Other noises drown her out, a crinkling like Kagan is opening a newspaper or bag of chips.

The pilot’s voice surprises me—he’s muttering under his breath.

I swallow hard.

“You know how wrong this is. I see it as a gift you accidentally sent me that email. I was meant to talk you out of these deals. The money isn’t worth it. Think of what you’ll do to your family if they find out.”

Her voice is soft, almost tender. The Blacks and the Maddoxes were very close families, and it’s sad the Maddoxes were so trusting. Kagan had no idea what Clayton was capable of. He had no idea that six months after his death, Ash would sell his daughter for millions. Kagan died thinking Ash loved Zarah and that they would have a future, and in turn, he’d been building a legacy for their children.

I rub my eyes and try not to cry.

“No. I’m not going to join you or condone any of this violence.” She says something else, lowering her voice even more, and the recorder couldn’t pick it up. There’s a burst of static and then, “No, you won’t change my mind. Kagan’s thinking of our kids, and what you’re doing will destroy what he’s planning. Inviting war into our homes...I can’t let you do that.”

She’s silent, listening to Clayton, and she ends the call saying, “I’ll give you time to reconsider. If you still don’t agree, I’ll go to the proper authorities.”

There isn’t anything on the tape for two minutes...I count on the wall clock mounted above the table. I’m beginning to think that’s the end but suddenly Lark shrieks and Kagan shouts, “What the hell is happening?”

The pilot starts mumbling. It’s difficult to hear him over Lark’s and Kagan’s screams, but I pick out the words, “I’m sorry, Jessie. I’m sorry for everything and please kiss Lynn for me. I love you so much. Goodbye.”

My heart slams against my ribs, and a cold sweat covers my body.

A loud crash bashes in my ears.

The recording stops.

Tears run down my face.

Max slides his glasses off and wipes his eyes.

Patty places a box of tissues onto the table and I gratefully blot my cheeks.

“It’s always difficult to listen to the last few moments of someone’s life. I’ll never get used to it,” she says, her voice watery.

Max sniffles and clears his throat. He regains his composure faster than I do. “There wasn’t a flight attendant on board?”

“No. There was one scheduled, but she didn’t show up and they departed without her.”

“What did you declare as the cause of the crash?”

Patty shrugs. “Weather. Spatial disorientation. It was storming that day and the pilot panicked. We found the box, retrieved the recording, and then the FBI swooped in. They took everything and we didn’t hear anything further. Another plane crashed not long after that, and the Maddox tragedy was swept under the rug. There wasn’t more we could do or were allowed to do. We moved on, and five years later you’re sitting here with a dead woman.” She crosses her legs and glares at us.

“I want to give you something because you didn’t have to let us listen to that,” Max says, “but I don’t know how much I’m at liberty to say. We needed the conversation between Lark and the person on the other end of her phone call.”

“Who was she speaking to?”

“Clayton Black.”

Patty deflates. “I guess that’s it then. Kagan Maddox spoke to his business partner, his wife spoke with Clayton Black, andthe pilot was turned upside down in the storm. If the FBI had a reason to bury this, we’ll never know.”

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