Chapter 21
**James pov**
James roused from his thoughts as his car parked near his private jet. He opened the door and strode purposefully towards the stairs leading to the jet. Before he could step a foot on them, he turned back and checked for the presence of any media.
"All three? Is it necessary?", James posed it to Tank, once he scanned the area.
"The matter implies us to take every measure Mr. McKenzie", Tank replied compliantly.
"Do what you must, Tank. But don't interfere with my work", James warned his mind running the possible outcomes of this crisis.
Once safely boarded on his jet, James called his chief lawyer. He has an entire team working for the company. He consults himself with talking to the head of the team.
"Luke, I presume you have been following the news? Very well. I want your team to ready the paperwork’s keeping in mind all the scenarios"
"I need clear specifications, Mr. McKenzie"
James took a long sigh tired of spelling out simple things in these situations to the professionals who should have been prepared.
"Think about the worst-case scenario and ready the insurance papers for the plane. And... a document stipulating an amount of -", Luke gasped at the amount James uttered, but before he could protest James went on, "-to the families of those in the bomb disposal unit in case the bomb blasts before it is diffused. Am I clear?"
"Ye...yes Mr. McKenzie. But as your lawyer might, I remind you of the fact that you are not under any obligation to donate such a large amount to those families. They know the risk and they are doing their job", Luke, ever the lawyer tried to reason by sprouting practicality.
"Do what I say, Luke. What I do or not do with my money is my concern alone. And another thing", James thought about another possible scenario.
"Yes Mr. McKenzie?", Luke waited for another unreasonable demand from him.
"I want you to prepare the papers in case this is a hoax. For this incitement of fear caused among people, possible property damage, defamation, and restitution for the costs of the disruption. Add whatever you can come up with. Make it so tight that the person behind it will remember until the day he dies", James said thinking that if this really is a hoax one then god also can't help this person from him.
"You are asking to file for class E felony?", Luke questioned just to be sure he is hearing right.
"Was I not clear earlier Luke? Prepare and send them to the Seattle branch. I'm on my way", James ordered.
"Yes, of course, Mr. McKenzie. Consider it done", Luke assured him. After all, he is getting paid in six-digit numbers to do these things.
James then called the Seattle Times chief editor. He didn't give him time to greet or enquire about the situation. James bulldozed his threat by saying, "Your journalist is running a story on one of my properties. If I encore any loss because of this, I will sue you for defamation. Publicise the facts the people must know, not the possible faults that our team MAY have done. Any sign of bad-mouthing about my company and I will drown yours. I hope it's clear to you", James stated.
"Yes, sir. Pretty clear", the editor gulped before he put the phone down. That was one hell of a scary guy.
James switched off his phone once the jet started to take off. Five long hours. He won't know what is happening there until he lands. He believed Philip to check the security cameras and hoped he shouldn't have to spell this basic thing out too.
James jet touched the runway at 7:40 pm. He was restless and didn't catch a wink though he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep once he landed and until the issue resolved. He checked his phone for any missed calls or messages but they are none. He noticed his mobile is low on charge. He must charge it up once he reaches his hotel, James filed away that thought.
Once safely landed, James walked towards the security room with his bodyguards fanning around him fully alert. He barged inside the room without knocking to find it empty. Tank called the security team of Seattle for the whereabouts and related it to James.
The open lounge area is in chaos, brimmed with police officers and passengers. Three police officers surrounded a man who appeared to be one of the passengers. James tried to approach the ensemble but Tank stopped him.
"Sir, it's better if the police handle it. We are not sure what's happening"
"That's the reason to approach them, Tank. Now step out of it"
"But sir-"
"Do you think the police will allow the crowd to stay here if there is any threat?"
"But you are not public sir. You are a well-known figure and a click from one of their phones when you learn the facts may cause some unnecessary damage we don't want", Tank reasoned.
"Very well, bring them to the main office. I will be with Philip until then", he pointed to a chubby man who was rushing towards them to greet.
"Mr. McKenzie...Mr. McKenzie, we didn't expect you to arrive so soon"
"Not here Philip. Your office. Now"
"Yes sir. Right away sir. This way", Philip guided feeling better about the situation now that the threat is averted.
"Why are there passengers still waiting for Philip?", James asked, cutting right to the point.
"How? Of course. The crew is announcing as we speak sir. Everything is under control. The bomb squad has already left after checking the plane thoroughly"
"And the man?" James questioned with outward calm
"He was the one who made the hoax call sir. He is...was one of the passengers. He was running late and tried to delay the flight, sir. The police traced the caller to the airport. And the security here checked all the mobile phones, sir. Once it got traced it made it easy for them to identify him".
Tank just then entered the door along with his team and the ensemble James pointed out before. The ensemble consists of a man in handcuffs with three police officers.
James stalked towards the man and grabbed his collar, raising him a few inches from the ground through his strength alone.
"You thought to delay a flight with a prank call? Was it fun, to see the panic on those people's faces? To see the risk these law enforcers took? To watch the media making this a circus? Have you any idea what it cost? To those passengers, their families, to me? Did you get the thrill when their families learned they might never see them? There were children, old people on that plane. Some of those passengers needed that flight to land on time. All this stress, tension, the cost of tickets and time is on you. Some of these passengers may never board a plane because of the trauma your selfishness caused. Why? Tell me why you did this?", James shook him like a leaf as the police officers grabbed his arms to remove his hold.
"Sir, you cannot harm him".
"Let the police do their duty".
"Sir, please unhand him".
"I... I wanted to meet my girlfriend. That's it! The plane was about to leave and I needed time to reach the airport. I never thought this would happen, I swear. I never realised it would become such a big issue. I'm sorry", the man cried as he said it.
"You mean to say...my company may take a hit in stocks due to your urge to meet your girlfriend? You played with my company's reputation! You are finished, you get that? Say goodbye to that girlfriend. You will see nothing but prison bars for a long time. I will make sure of that", James left his collar and turned back fearing he may smash his face.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. Sir, please, I will not do this again. Please! Please!", the man begged as the police dragged him away.
What a mess! James thought as his phone started ringing.
"James McKenzie" , James answered his phone absentmidedly.
"Ja...James... James...it's paining", Agatha said faintly. Her voice breaking down as she felt pain in her head.
"Agatha... Agatha. What happened? Talk to me. Agatha!", James shouted a new kind of tension gripping his heart.
"Jame-", the voice was cut as Agatha laid unconscious on her floor, her phone in hand.
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Author's note:
This incident actually happened 2 years back where a man called the police with a hoax bomb threat. He did this to delay his flight so that he could meet his girlfriend who lives in London.
