## PART 2 — THE MAN WHO WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE
“Victoria, stay with me.”
Ethan Carter kept two fingers against the side of her neck, feeling the pulse beneath them stumble like a runner losing his footing.
Fast.
A pause.
Fast again.
Wrong.
Everything about it was wrong.
Victoria’s gray eyes drifted toward the ceiling of Flight 2247, and Ethan leaned closer.
“Look at me.”
Her gaze returned reluctantly.
“There you go. Keep those eyes open.”
The flight attendant, Diane, hurried back carrying the aircraft’s emergency medical kit and portable oxygen bottle.
Her hands trembled badly enough that the plastic mask rattled against the cylinder.
“I’ve got it.”
“Good. Set it here.”
She dropped to her knees beside him.
“What’s happening?”
“Possible unstable arrhythmia. Maybe something more. We need to keep her oxygenated
