Thomas looked about him in the plane.
He hadn't really paid much attention to who else was there with him, so lost in his thoughts he had been.
Apart from a couple of officials from the embassy, who he guessed were there to look after him, or at least keep an eye on him, were two other men.
The first was a well dressed man, with a short fade haircut and a bulky, muscular build which showed in his face. Thomas imagined that in later years the man's face would sag if he didn't keep in shape and would be indistinguishable from Droopy Dawg.
The man saw Thomas staring at him. "Something funny?"
Thomas jumped out of his skin at being caught out. "Huh? No. No. Not at all. I...I was just looking around."
"Well if you could avoid looking in my direction it would be better for you."
Thomas noticed that "Dawg's" hand was bandaged with some blood seeping through.
"I'm sorry." Thomas knew he should probably leave it there, but his curiosity got the better of him. "How did you hurt your hand?"
He suspected he knew what the answer would be. They were both on the same plane, being rushed out in the aftermath of a terrorist attack he had a hand in. The question that tugged at Thomas's furtive mind was why Dawg was here and injured.
Dawg seemed to consider whether he should answer or not "I was in Cairo following a terrorist suspect. We never realised until too late that he was carrying a bomb," Dawg nodded his head toward the back of the plane.
Thomas glanced over his seat and saw the second passenger who wasn't from the embassy. His head was bandaged and he seemed to be asleep.
"We got caught in the blast as we followed him into a Coptic church." Dawg closed his eyes and turned his head away.
"I'm sorry" was all Thomas could come out and say.
"You should be. You will be." Dawg turned his head, his eyes boring into Thomas'. "I know who you are. What you did. You will be sorry."
Thomas turned away before the guy could continue. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat for a minute, still wondering if Dawg was watching him.
What was he? A spy? International Police? They had been onto them! How much did they now of his involvement?
In the end he stood up, looked around and went to move a few rows down, closer to the embassy officals.
As he got out of the seat, Dawg grabbed his arm. Thomas looked down at him in absolute fear.
"We're going to get to know each other very well in the next few days, Thomas Carter."
"L-let go!" He was never very good at hiding his fear.
"No-one here really cares about you, scum. We're just doing our jobs. Me? I'm really looking forward to my part of the job once we're away from the airport."
Dawg let go of Thomas' arm as he continued on down to his new seat. He saw contemptuous smiles on the faces of the officials.
Had they always been there? How could he have not seen their hate for him.
Did they know their embassy had been the original target? There's no way!
Maybe they just hated him for killing innocent people. Or for fighting for a cause they didn't agree with.
"um...excuse me?"
One of the officials looked at him his initial sneer quickly covered by his professional attitude.
"Mr Carter?"
"Where am I actually going? I thought I was meeting my father." Dawg's words had set him thinking, fuelled by his natural paranoia.
"You will be meeting your father at the airport, but following that you will be taken to a secure location...for your own safety." The official couldn't help let slip a knowing smile as he mentioned the reason for Thomas' impending custodial period.
"For my safety? That man over there just threatened me."
"Mr Carter, that is one of our top security agents in Northern Africa. I'm sure he just wants to ask you a few questions about what happened today." This time he managed to keep a straight face.
"He's going to interrogate me isn't he? You know torture is illegal don't you! I've got friends in Amnesty International!" Despite his protestations the official seemed unconcerned.
"Really! What a coincidence! My Uncle is on the board of directors. Look, if you offer your co-operation freely then I can't see a reason to worry. Just tell them what they want to know and you'll be fine. After all, I know you want to serve your country as much as possible considering all the trouble its gone to to keep you out of harm's way."
The sarcasm did not go unnoticed. Thomas slumped back in his seat as the official went back to what he was doing.
He had no friends on this plane.
His future depended on his father.
He hated that.
----------------
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