Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as told by Christian

Chapter 13

Local Date: 17-JUN-11

City: CASTLE ROCK

State: WA

Airport Name: PORTLAND HELIPORT

Event Type: INCIDENT

Mid Air Collision: NOT A MIDAIR

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Aircraft Damage: SUBSTANTIAL

Aircraft Make: EURCPT Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Aircraft Model: EC-135

Aircraft Series: EC-135-P2

Airframe Hrs: 1470

Operator: GEH INC

Type of Operation: AIR TAXI/COMMUTER

Registration Nbr: N124CT

Total Aboard: 2

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Aircraft Weight Class: UNDER 12501 LBS

Number of Engines: 2

Engine Make: TURBOM

Engine Model: ARRIUS 2B2

ENVIRONMENTAL/OPERATIONS INFO

Primary Fight Conditions: VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

Secondary Flight Conditions: WEATHER NOT A FACTOR

Flight Plan Filed: YES

PILOT IN COMMAND

Pilot Certificate: COMMERCIAL PILOT

Pilot Rating: ROTORCRAFT/HELICOPTER

Pilot Qualification: QUALIFIED

Flight Time Total Hours: 1180

Total in Make/Model: 860

Total in Last 90 Days: 28

EVENT REMARKS

ON JUNE 17, 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 14:20 PT, AN EC-135, N124CT, OWNED AND OPERATED

BY GREY ENTERPRISES HOLDINGS INC, HAD A MAJOR INCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS

STABLE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY PITCHED AND THE #1 ENGINE FIRE-LIGHT

ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT SECURED THE #1 ENGINE WITH THE FIRE BOTTLE AND ATTEMPTED

TO RETURN TO SEA-TAC ON THE REMAINING ENGINE. #2 ENGINE FIRE-LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE SOUTH-EAST CORNER OF SILVER LAKE.

ON LANDING THE PILOT DEPLOYED THE SECOND FIRE BOTTLE AND SHUTDOWN AND

EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE PILOT DEPLOYED THE

ONBOARD PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER IS EXAMINING

THE AIRCRAFT ENGINES AND THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE DAMAGE IS

SUSPICIOUS AND MAY BE A RESULT OF MALICIOUS INTERFERENCE. THE NTSB WILL

REQUIRE FURTHER REVIEW.

In my office, Welch, Taylor, and I pore over the report. Welch’s grizzled face is craggier than ever in the

harsh morning light, his expression grim. “At the moment, the NTSB only suspects sabotage, but we

should proceed as if there was malicious interference. To that end, we’ve checked through all the

CCTV footage at the helipad in Portland and found no suspicious activity.” He shuffles in his chair and

clears his throat. “However, there’s an issue in the GEH hangar at Boeing Field.”

Oh?

“Two of the cameras were inoperative, so we don’t have complete coverage.”

“What! How did that happen?” What the fuck do I pay these people for?

“We’re endeavoring to find out,” Welch answers, his voice deep and gravelly like an old car exhaust.

“It’s a major breach.”

No shit, Sherlock. “Who’s responsible?”

“There’s a rolling shift system. So, it’s down to four or five people.”

“If they’re found to be negligent, they’re fired. All of them.”

“Sir.” He glances at Taylor.

“At present, we have no leads as to who’s behind this,” Taylor says.

“There’s going to be a forensic examination of the aircraft,” Welch adds. “My hope is that they’ll turn

something up.”

“I want more than fucking hope!” I raise my voice.

“Yes, sir.” Both men speak at the same time. Each of them looks contrite.

Hell. It’s not their fault. Grey. Get a grip.

I continue in a more measured tone. “Find out who fucked up at the hangar. Fire them. And as soon as

we have an idea of what occurred, I want to know. In the meantime, make sure the jet’s secured and

it’s safe.”

“Yes, sir,” Taylor says.

“We’re on it,” Welch growls. He’s pissed. He should be, this has happened on his watch. “The National

Transportation Safety Board is all over this and I expect they’ll brief law enforcement as their inquiries

continue and, if appropriate, invite them to investigate in parallel. I’ll circle back with the NTSB to

confirm this.”

“The police?” I ask.

“No. It’ll be the FBI.”

“Okay. Maybe they’ll find something. Where are we with backup close protection?” I ask Taylor.

“Both Reynolds and Ryan are available and will start today.”

“I want to keep Anastasia out of this. She doesn’t need the worry. And I want to see the shortlist of who

might be behind this. I have to say I’m at a loss.”

“My team is compiling a list of potential suspects,” Welch says.

“I’ll do the same.”

“Sir, now that this is on the FAA site, the press may pick it up and start asking questions,” Taylor says.

Shit. “You’re right. You can brief Sam now. I’ll get him up here.”

“Will do,” he responds.

If this is going public, I have to tell Ana, too.

How the hell did we come to this?

Sabotage!

I do not need this shit right now.

I leave the two men discussing likely suspects and poke my head out of the door. Andrea looks up from

her computer. “Mr. Grey?”

“Ask Sam and Ros to join us.”

“Will do.”

There’s a knock on my office door. It’s Andrea. “Would you like more coffee?” she asks.

“Please.”

On my computer screen is a list of all the acquisitions I’ve made since I started my company. I’m going

through each one to see if I can find any potential suspects. So far I’ve drawn a blank; it’s depressing.

Deep down I’m worried about Ana—if someone wants to hurt me, she could end up as collateral

damage. How could I live with myself if that was the case?

“Latte?”

“No. Black. Strong.”

“Yes, sir.” She closes the door and an e-mail pops up from my girl.

Tags:

Source: