– You are…
– No.
I didn’t finish.
I didn’t have to.
Suddenly, an elderly stewardess, who had been standing at the cockpit door, approached us.
She looked at my pass.
And then at me.
– Pan Reed?
– No.
She smiled.
– The captain is waiting for you in the cockpit.
There was absolute silence in the cabin.
The man in 2C looked like he wanted to disappear into his seat.
The woman who was recording the entire incident lowered her phone.
Allison stood still.
“Mr. Reed…” she said quietly. “I didn’t know.”
I looked at her.
– That’s exactly the point.
I didn’t say it with anger.
I said calmly.
“You didn’t know who I was. You only saw a man you didn’t think belonged in seat 1A.”
Her eyes glazed over.
– You’re right.
I nodded.
– I hope next time you will check your card first.
I turned to reach for my briefcase.
Then the senior stewardess said:
– Mr. Reed, there is one more thing.
I looked at her.
– The captain asked me to give you a message.
– What?
The woman hesitated.
– He said we had to change the flight route immediately.
I frowned.
– Why?
She looked towards the cockpit.
– We received information about a security threat.
There was an immediate tension in the cabin.
People started whispering.
Someone asked what was going on.
I got up.
– What threat?
The stewardess looked me straight in the eyes.
– I don’t know.
She hesitated.
– But the captain said he wanted to talk to you.
I headed towards the cockpit.
Before I could step through the curtain, Allison spoke behind me.
– Mr. Reed…
I turned around.
