as passengers one and two. Elias and Renee Morgan. Confirmed for Seats 1A and 1B."

Keller glanced down at the documents for barely a second. He did not scan the verification barcode. He did not check

the registration number. He did not request identification or consult the manifest.

Instead, he laughed.

It was a short, dry sound, carefully calibrated to humiliate. It carried across the quiet tarmac far enough for the captain,

standing near the base of the airstairs, to hear it. The four flight attendants standing nearby kept their hands formally

clasped in front of them, their eyes averted. Not one of them stepped forward.

"You expect me to believe you two chartered a Gulfstream?" Keller asked, his tone dripping with unconcealed

mockery.

Renee's expression remained perfectly still, her voice dropping into an icy, measured register. "That is precisely what

these legal documents state."

"People print fake confirmation slips off the internet every single day," Keller retorted, crossing his arms.

"Then verify them through dispatch," Renee replied calmly.

Keller's eyes narrowed into hard slits. "Don't you dare tell me how to do my job, ma'am."

Elias kept his gaze fixed past the officer, watching the captain stationed at the foot of the aircraft stairs. The pilot

looked away much too quickly, his shoulders tensing. That instinctive reaction spoke volumes. In aviation safety,

ignorance looked confused and inquisitive; guilt looked away and avoided eye contact.

"Officer," Elias said, keeping his tone carefully level, "what specific assignment brings you to this private aviation

terminal today?"

Keller's jaw tightened. "Routine security detail."

"What exact security concern prompted your presence at this aircraft?"

"You did," Keller snapped without missing a beat.

A faint, humorless smile touched the corner of Renee's mouth. "How remarkably convenient."

Keller stepped closer, invading their personal space. "Look, I'm going to ask you once to turn around before I make

this difficult for you."

"You haven't asked a single reasonable question since we walked out here," Renee countered, unyielding.

Near the airstairs, one of the flight attendants shifted her weight uncomfortably, but a sharp look from the captain

silenced her instantly. Fear had a distinct texture and sound, even when no one spoke a word.