8-Trust Factor

The sun had already dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the bay. Jeff and I had escaped from the restaurant to get some fresh air. We found ourselves down by the ferry docks. We leaned on a metal railing, weathered into hues of red, orange and brown rust by the salt air. I still held Sonja’s business card in my hands, twirling it between my fingers. 

“Jeff, be straight with me. What’s your gut feeling on all of this?”

I had known Jeff for over ten years before we started our business partnership. I trusted his judgment as much as I trusted his instincts. He had a knack for getting others to agree to things like no one else could. It invariably worked out to everyone’s mutual benefit. Our business had grown exponentially because of his insight into people. I was really curious what he thought about this “new” opportunity.

“Well, this one certainly has me thinking. In our line of work we never do anything without a detailed risk assessment or after action analysis. And that’s always strictly related to what we know best. Aircraft operations.”

He paused, but I could tell he had more to say.

“And I agree with what you asked Sonja—why us? Sure, we are good at what we do, but there are any number of other operators we personally know who are just as professional as we are. In some cases, I would wager even more-so.”

“Do you  think she is being straight with us? I know there is more to this. And how will this commitment affect our day to day business operations?”

“ Who knows. She is with the US Navy after all. I don’t suppose people working on clandestine intelligence operations will reveal all their cards at once. Concerning our business, right now the aircraft ferrying side of things is entering a quiet phase. The last major delivery was the A320 I brought in earlier today with Kelsey. She and her team will be meeting with the receiving Juneyao Airlines pilots tomorrow to sign the aircraft over.”

With everything that was going on, I had forgotten all about Kelsey and her team of engineers. As well as being a fully type-rated Airbus 320/321 pilot herself, she managed operations at our SkyHarbour maintenance facility. This facility primarily focused on aircraft pre-delivery inspection services on used aircraft being purchased by domestic and foreign airlines; just like the one she and Jeff flew in earlier today.

“We don’t have any other scheduled ferrying jobs at the moment,” Jeff continued. “So we have the flexibility to hold off on acquiring any new contracts. Although I personally would not wait any more than two months.”

“So you think we should take this offer from Sonja and her mystery men?”, I said looking directly at Jeff. He rubbed the back of his neck before answering.

“I have to admit, I am a bit intrigued, She did say we’ll just be flying aircraft. Still, I feel we need to get more details before making a final decision. I take it you are more inclined not to accept her offer.”

He said it as a statement, but I heard the query behind it.

“Honestly? I don’t know. Like you I am concerned about all of the unseen variables, especially given the potential for ending up outside the boundaries of what we are familiar with. And we can’t just drop off the face of the earth business-wise. Kelsey is no fool. She will definitely know something’s afoot. Also we aren’t shutting down the regular maintenance side of our business; I don’t care how many so-called security protocols are involved”

“Who is shutting us down?”

Startled, I turned to my right and saw Kelsey walking up to the railing where Jeff and I were leaning. She pointedly looked at me and Jeff, her original question lingering in the air.

“No one is.” replied Jeff, saving me the embarrassment of fumbling for an answer. Her piercing gaze continued as we shifted like two schoolboys caught red-handed in a cookie jar.

“I see,” she said, skepticism written all over her face. “So, the pretty blond woman and her two shadow puppies have no connection to this ‘not shutting down’ conversation we are clearly not having right now?”

Both Jeff and I stared at Kelsey with a mixture of  shock, admiration and a smidgen of fear. We always knew she was sharp as a tack, but her uncanny ability to figure out the most abstract and seemingly unrelated facts never ceased to amaze us.

“How did you..?” but Jeff interjected before I could finish.

“Tell us what you know Kelsey.”

I looked at him and suddenly realized he had already figured out she knew more than we originally thought she did. Kelsey  chuckled in amusement.

“Seriously? You two are hilarious. First off, I was flying right seat beside Jeff when he called you on the sat-phone while enroute to Ketchikan. He mentioned something about you receiving some sort of package. It was none of my business, but even with the notable increase in ‘volume’ of that conversation, I assumed it was a personal call. After Jeff and I landed, we parked on stand and completed shutdown procedures. Then he was off like a shot, mumbling something about an urgent meeting with you. I deplaned with our inspection crew to do a final external check of the aircraft and noticed two men following Jeff into the customs area of the terminal.”

Jeff and I glanced at each other as Kelsey  continued.

“So after completing our inspection and clearing customs, we took the ferry over to this side, since we are all booked into the same hotel. As I entered the hotel lobby, I saw the same two men from the airport exiting the hotel with the blond woman. After checking in I went up to shower and change and then I went looking for the both of you. I checked in with the front desk for your room numbers and tried calling you, but there was no answer. So, not seeing you anywhere on the hotel grounds, I considered calling your cell phones, but thought, screw it—I am off shift. So I decided to go for a stroll and just happened to be passing the ferry docks. And here you both are.”

By now the sun had fully set and the now illuminated adjacent street lights cast diamond-like reflections on the water, along with triangular cones of light on the area of the docks where we now stood. The normal daytime sounds of coastal birds now gave way to the drone of crickets and the soft lapping of waves against the wooden pylons supporting the boardwalk around the pier.

“So, I will ask again. Who or what is shutting us down? It’s kind of obvious all of this, whatever this is, is connected to your three friends.

“First off , they are not my friends,” I said a bit too forcefully. “And no one, or thing, will be closing us down. It’s….a complicated matter. And to be honest, I’m not sure how much I can say about it.”

“ We do have a decision to make’” Jeff said glancing at his watch. “In less than 36 hours.”

Kelsey leaned against the railing and folded her arms, still giving us that expectant look.

“We have to tell her Wayne,” Jeff said. “She has every right to know. Besides, there is no way we can even think about engaging in this crazy operation without her.”

I looked over at Jeff, now silhouetted by one of the distant lights on the pier.

“Yeah, I know, I know.”

For the next few minutes Jeff and I shared with Kelsey from our individual perspectives, a synopsis of what transpired over the preceding 24 to 48 hours. Kelsey  listened without interruption until we had finished.

“So, when do we start?” she responded in a matter-of-fact tone.

Frowning, both Jeff and I glanced at each other, then looked back at her.

“We haven’t made a decision as yet,” I replied. “And more importantly, what do you think of all this? Surely you have questions or concerns?”

“I only have one question. But first, here’s what I think. I know you both take great care in everything you do. The safety record of your companies is just one confirmation of that. And I trust you both implicitly with any decisions you make. So, understanding you just met these people, my only question is…do you trust them?”

I turned and looked at Jeff who raised his eyebrows. Taking a deep breath, I responded.

“I guess it’s time we found out.”

==========

From the hotel’s third floor lounge, Sonja watched as the three Sky Silk employees emerged from a darkened sidewalk leading up to the well-lit front entrance of the hotel lobby. As they  reentered the building, she reflected on the  background check which she also completed on SkyHarbour’s Maintenance and Operations Manager. That piece of knowledge had been purposely held back in reserve. Neither Jeff nor Wayne had been told that Kelsey Barrow had also been thoroughly vetted for this operation. If they eventually decide not to participate, then none would be the wiser. But, if they do agree to come on board, then Kelsey’s depth of knowledge and logistical experience would be indispensable. Knowing how Wayne and Jeff operated, it wouldn’t be surprising if they already filled Kelsey in on the details. They worked as a single unit and from what could be determined from their background checks, all three were cut from the same cloth of integrity.

Once again Sonja found herself not a little amazed at the level of conscientiousness and integrity of  all three company principals. Kelsey was definitely cut from the same cloth as Wayne and Jeff. She noted with interest that Kelsey’s annual salary was actually twice that of her two superiors. During the initial review of Kelsey’s tax returns, Sonja discovered she also regularly made annual charitable contributions, but what was even more intriguing, these annual donations accounted for more than half her total net salary. Most of those donations were directed to several Haida communities located along the northern coastal regions of British Columbia. All of which did not come as any great surprise, given Kelsey’s mother was indigenous Haida…a K’uul Jaad Matriarch of the Raven Clan no less.

Under different circumstances, she would've loved to get to know their individual personal stories in a less formal manner. For now, given the time constraints everyone was working under, their ultimate decision to join the ARGON initiative…or not, would be the priority. That would be the deciding factor on how best to move forward. As far as Sonja was concerned, all of it seemed to hinge on Wayne. There was something about him beyond his obvious skillsets and altruistic nature. Anyone meeting the three of them for the first time, would within a short spine of time recognize the intense loyalty and friendship they shared among themselves. What would be less evident, would be the depth of their generosity and care for other people—especially those less fortunate and far removed from their own lifestyle. But with Wayne, there was something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It was something barely discernible behind his eyes.

As the three Sky Silk employees entered the lobby, the front desk clerk on shift signaled for them to come over. As soon as they approached the desk, she held up a sealed message slip and said:

“Hi Folks. A message was left for all of you”.

Wayne reached over and took the slip of paper from the desk clerk and noted that all three of their names were written on it in neat, handwritten script, asking them to meet Sonja tomorrow at 11am in one of the conference rooms just off the side of the main lobby. That is, if they had decided to come on board. With raised eyebrows he handed it to Jeff.

“So, it seems our host is also interested in Kelsey,” Jeff replied, passing the paper to her. Kelsey thanked the desk clerk and guided the men away from the counter and out of earshot.

“What do you make of this,” she asked, looking from one man to the other.

“Given how thorough their background investigation into us has been,” mused Wayne, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they also vetted you Kelsey. Like Jeff said, there is no way we can even consider this undertaking without you.”

“And, yes, just to make things clear, I think we should go ahead with this. Admittedly, I still have some reservations, but who wouldn’t with something as crazy as this.”

Jeff nodded. “They must know about Kelsey’s logistics group as well. I don’t see how they expect us to operate without an established team. I suppose some of these questions will be answered when we meet tomorrow.