11X felt a chill sitting in his office. When he had opened his wallet to look for a password to a computer program, he has caught sight of his ticket. American Airlines Flight 11 for Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Reading over the itinerary brought back memories of the meeting that led him to this airplane trip. A man who only identified himself as "Rod" had approached him as he sat alone on the bench waiting for his bus to work.
"How did Rod know I took that bus?"
But he strongly suspected what he could not prove for certain. Rod's appearance of casualness, his command of facts about 11X and his quick disappearance after their brief conversation led 11X to become convinced that Rod had done this sort of thing before. And that Rod had been following him.
"The ticket is already paid for in your name," Rod told him.
Rod had done all of the talking. He had told 11X he knew about his mistress and went on to name her, how long their affair had gone on and her term of endearment for him. 11X could only sit there and stare back in shock.
"We could tell Josie but we know you don't want that. She will never know about her if you will take this plane flight. Just act normal and your handler will identify himself at the end of the flight and assist you."
"Oh, and don't worry. Your boss knows it's a business trip to Los Angeles." Then Rod was off to wherever he came from.
He wondered now, two weeks later, as he decided when he would leave for Boston Logan Airport the following morning, who "we" referred to. He also pondered not showing up before dismissing that thought. If Rod could find him at the bus station and tell him so much about himself and get the ticket under his name, then he could find him if he failed to make the flight.
And the boss knew something. He couldn't help but think that getting his job some years before was all a big set-up and he was simply now a pawn in some game he did not understand.
He had to turn these thoughts off before Josie returned to the bedroom from reading a story to their 3-year old son, Jakob. 11X had already kissed Jakob goodnight and said he would be gone but he would be back soon. But questions kept coming up:
"Is this our last goodbye?"
He thought again about Rod's comment about the "handler" and how the handler would "assist" him. If he got to come home, would all really be well? And what about his mistress? Who would make sure she didn't talk?
He knew people like Rod had ways to make sure no one talked. He just hoped it wasn't the permanent way.
He heard Josie's footsteps and set the alarm clock for 5:30 A.M.
He stepped off the bus and walked toward the airport entrance. He couldn't ask Josie to get up to give him a ride. He couldn't risk blowing the cover that this flight was not about business, but about some indiscretions he had committed.
He also didn't want to get into a conversation in which Josie might ask where he was staying in Los Angeles. Rod had only said his handler would take care of him.
So when he first told Josie of this flight, he had simply said that his employers were handling the arrangements. And she had seemed satisfied.
Gate 26. To the right. He found the check-in counter and received his boarding pass. He noticed some other passengers waiting at the gate and his mind started racing again: "Who else is here because of Rod or someone like him?"
Trying not to look suspicious, 11X sat down in a seat and pulled out his Sports Illustrated magazine and started reading about his beloved Boston Red Sox' chances at catching the New York Yankees in the baseball race.
A plane taxied on the runway toward Gate 26 and came to a stop. 11X and the group that had formed near him stood up and went through the usual procedures.
Children and elderly people got to go on first, then first class, then coach. 11X went on board the Boeing 767 and found his seat. After putting his luggage above him, he sat down and thought about the Red Sox some more.
After all passengers had boarded, he waited for the usual warnings about wearing seat belts and what to do in an emergency. Instead, as the plan began to taxi again, a man in a blue suit put down his cell phone, stood up and addressed the passengers and crew:
"Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a change in plans. All of you will now report to Gate 19 and join the passengers of an under booked flight, United Flight 175, which is about to leave for Los Angeles.
American Airlines and United Airlines have a reciprocal agreement so just get off the plane in a minute and go directly to Gate 19 and board that plane."
The passengers around him started to get their bags together. As soon as the plane stopped, the door opened and everyone, including thepilot and crew, filed out the door and walked back into Logan Airport. They made their way to Gate 19, where the United crew welcomed them.
Each Flight 11 passenger got their new seating assignment on board the plane. The woman in front of 11X said someone had said to the man in front of her that they needed to take off soon but didn't say why. The plane was still but the speed in which passengers were being told of their new seats confirmed the urgency. Everyone was also told not to use their cell phone as a safety precaution.
After some delay, 11X got his new seating assignment and walked down one of the aisles. He looked up and could not miss seeing her..
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