Chapter 1

Jonathan woke up, his head was pounding and his eyes were blurry. He felt like he was trying to work through a thick fog. His brain seemed out of sync. He shook his head, hoping he was going to kick into gear.

“You, OK?” Asked Nathalie. “You were out for the whole flight.” She reached the overhead locker for her carry-on bag. He looked at her slightly dumbfounded. He definitely did not feel all right. “Er yes, I…” He faltered.

“Are you sure? You don’t look it.” Quickly she applied some lipstick and brushed her hair. Jonathan tried as hard as he could, but he just could not get his brain to catch up. “Just don’t know what happened. I don’t usually fall asleep on a flight, not like that.” He combed his fingers through his dark hair. “Do you mind if I get my bag?” He asked.

Nathalie moved out of the way so he could reach up for it. Lucy wandered passed and smiled briefly at her. “Thank you, Lucy!” Said Nathalie. Lucy nodded, “A pleasure.” She replied before going back to the front of the cabin.

Jonathan rifled through his bag, he checked the front pockets, he checked inside the bag again, then his combat trouser pockets. Nathalie watched on, witnessing his stress rising. “Excuse me.” He said to her.

“Sure, no problem. Have you lost something?” She asked. “Maybe I can help you!” Jonathan’s fury was rising, he was struggling to keep it together, whilst trying to focus through the brain fog, he was experiencing. “I’m good thank you.” He told her.

Nathalie turned to see Lucy coming towards them again.” Is everything OK here?” She asked. Jonathan stood up having checked under his seat and the chair pockets in front of where he had been sitting. “No, it’s not alright!” He started and then realised he was losing control very quickly.

Lucy inhaled and remained calm. Years of experience of dealing with difficult passengers had put her in good stead for any situation. “What seems to be the problem?” She asked. Nathalie smiled, wishing she could have an ounce of her composure.

Jonathan inhaled deeply counting to ten. He did not trust himself to even speak right now. Very slowly and very deliberately he said, “I’ve lost my passport!”

“Your passport!” Both women exclaimed together. He clenched his fists by his side, noted by both of them. “My passport. Yes.” He responded as if he was dealing with five-year-old children instead of grown women.

“We will have to ask you to wait until everyone has deboarded the flight and we can look then Sir.” Lucy offered. Jonathan was not satisfied with the response. He wanted immediate action. “What if someone has taken it?” He demanded.

“Why would someone want to take your passport Sir?” Asked Lucy patiently. “Did you have it on your person during the flight or in your bag overhead?” Jonathan was not quite sure if he heard the faint sound of condescendence in her voice. He brushed it off putting it down to his own irritation.

“It was in my bag overhead.” He responded. Nathalie gently placed her hand on his arm. He looked down at it, he did not need her sympathy vote right now, and he needed his passport. He had a car waiting and a life that needed addressing. He did not have time for this. His temper was about to erupt.

“Right.” Said Lucy. “You will still need to wait until everyone is off Sir. We have to follow procedure.” She paused before adding. “I hardly think anyone would try to have stolen your passport Sir. You would have seen someone getting your bag out.”

“I fell asleep. I didn’t see anything.” His words were slow and steady. His eyes narrowed. He felt like there was a conspiracy going on between the two women. His insane thoughts were running wild. He tried to be rational, they did not know each other, and they did not know him. Nothing was related. He breathed slowly and deeply trying to gain control. The fogginess was not lifting. He felt as if he had been drugged.

“I see.” Responded Lucy and smiled sweetly. He wanted to take the sickly smile off her face. Nathalie stepped in swiftly, sensing that Jonathan was on the brink of eruption. “Listen why don’t you let Lucy do her job. The sooner everyone is off the plane, the sooner the cleaners can get to work, and it’s highly likely it’ll be found.”

He knew when he had to concede, even he had to accept that somebody stealing his passport onboard a flight in business class was extremely unlikely. He began to doubt himself, perhaps he had not actually done the pocket up properly on the bag. Nathalie had after all distracted him. Maybe it had come out somehow when she had taken her bag and coat down.

They could see him beginning to relax a little. “Absolutely. You’re right; it’s probably come out when you were rummaging around in the overhead.” Nathalie raised an eyebrow. “I shouldn’t think I’ve been any part of you misplacing your own passport.” She shot at him and turned her back on Jonathan. “Lucy thank you for looking after me on board today. Wishing you a safe return flight.” She took her bag and began to walk to the exit.

Jonathan watched her back as she squared her shoulders and felt like he had gone back four years in time. No way! He shook his head and quickly stopped what he was thinking. He had a more pressing matter to attend to right now. Nathalie stopped to say something to the steward on the door and looked as if she was passing him something. His line of sight was blocked.

“Sit down Sir.” Demanded Lucy not liking his accusation either, bringing him back to the situation. “If we can’t locate it, then you can go to the holding area and someone within the Terminal can assist you with the procedure for lost passports.” His irritation began to rise again, this was out of his control and he was having a difficult time controlling himself.

Nathalie passed through to the other side swiftly. Her long legs in motion received many admiring glances. She was confident in her stride, strong and sexy and she knew it. She made her way for the Costa Coffee bar, ordered a cappuccino, and waited. It would not be too long before she saw him again. Patience had come late to Nathalie and it was a fight for her all the way to obtain it, but she had and it was fast becoming her best friend.

“Sir, someone has just handed your passport in.” Lucy smiled demurely at Jonathan. “Handed it in?” He asked disbelievingly. “So, somebody did take it then!” He stated coldly.

“I could not say Sir. I am not sure we could start accusing people on the flight. It’s more than likely, in my experience it fell out from your bag and was accidentally picked up by the other passenger sharing the overhead.” She paused. “You can go to the Gate and retrieve it. Wishing you a safe journey to your final destination.” She turned and left without waiting for him to respond.

He was not often left standing with nothing to say and nobody there to listen to it. As he walked down the steps of the plane, he tried to think of who else was sharing the overhead. His mind still was not thinking straight and he just wanted to go back to sleep. He would soon be out to the other side; his relief was slow coming as he still seethed at the whole situation.

The one and only person who he could not blame for this happening was of course himself.