Chapter 6 - Imani’s Story
I called Lila the next morning. “Can I speak with Imani?” “She agreed to provide her account to the investigation. I can ask whether she’s comfortable speaking with you separately.” “I don’t want to interfere. I want to thank her.” At breakfast, I told Marcus about the message. “Another passenger?” “That’s what Imani says.”
Later, Imani called from her own phone. Her voice was cautious until I thanked her. “I should have spoken up last year,” she said. She described an older passenger who had boarded with a first-class ticket. Rachel had told him to wait at the front while she checked. Imani verified it with the gate agent, and he was allowed to sit. He had looked humiliated. “I reported that Rachel should have checked the pass first,” Imani said. “I was told the issue had been resolved on board.”
“Do you know why she doubted him?” “Rachel said he looked lost. He didn’t.” “I saw you on that video,” she said. “I thought about him. I didn’t want another report to end with ‘resolved on board.’” “It won’t end there for me,” I said.
A reporter had left a message asking for an interview. I decided to write my own statement. I wrote about the seat, the ticket, and how easily Denise verified it. I wrote that Marcus was my son, but the first thing he said after Rachel’s explanation was that our relationship should not matter. I posted the statement without naming Rachel beyond the name already visible in the video. I asked people not to contact her or her family.
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As I set the table, Marcus came in carrying Samuel’s letter. “I’ve read this three times,” he said. “I think I need to tell Zoe about the last conversation Dad and I had. I’ve let her believe we never argued.” “Tell her what you can,” I said. “She’ll understand that you loved each other through it.” “Will you stay while I do?” “Of course.”
