Once they boarded their new jet, Scott activated the electrical power, checked ATIS (automatic terminal information service), and called Clearance Delivery. After he copied their instrument clearance and read it back to the controller, Jackie was ready to start the right engine. She placed the throttle in IDLE detent, placed the fuel switch in AUTO, and pushed the START button. Scott called Ground Control for permission to taxi.
While they taxied to the active runway, Jackie exercised the thrust reversers and set the flaps to 12 degrees. Scott started the left engine and completed the takeoff checklist, including computing their V-speeds, and then called the tower for permission to take off.
After they were cleared, Jackie checked the panel for anomalies and taxied onto the centerline of the runway She rolled her eyes toward Scott. "You ready to rock and roll?" she asked with a grin.
"Flog it."
Jackie pushed the throttles into the takeoff detent. The AlliedSignal TFE-731 turbofans rapidly spooled up, and the rudder was effective almost immediately. The lightly loaded G-100 accelerated almost like a fighter plane. Jackie eased the yoke back at Vr (rotation speed) and placed the nose smoothly in the takeoff attitude. When the jet was safely airborne, the landing gear was retracted, followed by the flaps as the airspeed increased.
The airplane quickly reached 200 knots and Jackie reduced power to level off at their assigned altitude of 3,000 feet. Once cleared to continue their ascent, she set the throttles in the climb detent. Flying at precisely 250 knots, the jet was climbing over 3,000 feet per minute through 10,000 feet.
She glanced at Scott. "Pinch me."
"I feel the same way, keep waiting to wake up."
"Think Til just hand-fly it."
"You re the chief."
The Fort Worth Center controller cleared the G-100 on course and directed them to climb to 35,000 feet.
Scott keyed the radio. "On course and up to three-five-oh, Fifty-seven Golf Alfa."
After Jackie leveled the plane at 35,000 feet, she watched a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 pass over them going the opposite direction at 37,000 feet. She could not remember a day in her life that had been punctuated with such contrasts. The images flashed through her mind like a slide presentation, ending where it began, with their demolished rental car engulfed in flames. She forced her thoughts back to the present. "What's our plan for dealing with Zheng Yen-Tsung?"
"It may not have been him."
"If it wasn't him, we had better find out who it was, like ASAP."
"Gulfstream Nine-Five-Seven Golf Alfa, climb to and maintain Flight Level three-nine-zero."
Scott keyed the radio. "Up to three-nine-oh, Fifty-seven Golf Alfa."
While Jackie initiated a gradual climb, he organized their charts for Monterey. "Let's see how much information Hartwell and Jim Ebersole come up with, and then we can formulate a sound plan."
She tweaked the altitude select to 39,000 feet. "The sooner, the better."
They were handed off to Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center near Clovis, New Mexico, and then switched to Los Angeles Center north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Lost in his own thoughts about the car bombing, Scott looked out the side window and took in the beauty of Lake Powell and its surrounding vistas. They remained silent as the jet raced the setting sun. The Gulfstream was slowly losing the contest.
The activity in the cockpit increased when they neared the restricted air space north of Edwards AFB. Los Angeles Center rerouted N957GA down a jet airway to an intersection east of Monterey and then cleared the G-100 for the approach to Runway 28-Left at the Monterey Peninsula Airport.
Located at the southern end of Monterey Bay, the historic city is well known for its Monterey Jazz Festival. It is also a favorite retreat for artists and writers. Monterey formed the background for several novels, including John Steinbecks Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row.
With the airport in sight, Jackie canceled IFR and made a visual approach to a soft landing on the trailing link main gear. She taxied the plane to the Monterey Jet Center, a popular quick-turn fixed base operator for corporate jets en route to Hawaii or Asia. The friendly professional staff helped them secure the airplane for the evening and provided them with a complimentary crew car.
After checking into the Monterey Plaza Hotel, Scott and Jackie refreshed themselves and went to the Duck Club Restaurant for dinner. The sun was dipping below the horizon when the couple left the restaurant. Hand in hand, they strolled along Cannery Row, finally stopping at a park bench. They sat down and took in the view of Monterey Bay while the shimmering sun disappeared.
"You've been unusually quiet this evening," Jackie noted, leaning next to him. "What's on your mind?"
"How close we came…"
"Same here — can't shake it."
He cast a lingering look at the tranquil bay. "If we assume Zheng Yen-Tsung was the bomber, either he was personally tracking us or someone was feeding him information about our whereabouts."
She turned to him. "I don't want to think about it tonight, okay? We need a distraction."
"Yeah, enough of this," Scott said, rising to his feet. "Let's go find some entertainment."
Carrying a heavy load of jet fuel, over 9,100 pounds at the threshold of the takeoff roll, N957GA was wheels-in-the-wells the next morning at 7:32 A. M. Pacific Time. Scott had filed an instrument flight plan from Monterey nonstop to Baltimore Washington International. Prior to takeoff, he had made arrangements for a rental car at Signature Flight Support, BWTs fixed base operator.
The 2,130-nautical-mile trip would be a breeze for the Gulfstream 100, especially with an assist from the jet stream. There were thunderstorms brewing over Kansas and Nebraska, but they would not develop fully until later in the day.
After a couple of altitude holds for conflicting traffic, the G-100 was cleared to climb to 41,000 feet. When they leveled off at their cruise altitude, Scott set the power for.82 Mach and studied the avionics suite in the state-of-the-art cockpit.
"Would you like some coffee?" Jackie asked, unfastening her seat restraints.
"Sure, thanks."
She stepped into the passenger cabin, went to the galley, fixed two cups of the Monterey Jet Center's freshly brewed coffee, and handed one to Scott. Returning to the cabin, Jackie sat down in the four-seat club arrangement and fastened her seat belt. She lifted a lightweight table from the enclosure in the sidewall next to her seat.
Unfolding the table, she energized one of their new laptop computers and brought up the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Web site. Jackie scrolled down the front page and read only part of the article about the car bombing near Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth before she unsnapped her seat belt, grabbed the laptop, folded the table, and headed for the cockpit.
"Are you ready for some good news?" she asked.
Scott eyed her distrustfully "I'm always suspicious of good news this early in the morning."
"I just checked the Fort Worth paper. The policeman who was shot is going to be okay."
A smile flashed across his face. "That's good news — great."
"One round grazed his cheek and the other went through his left shoulder. He's resting comfortably, and the doctors expect him to make a full recovery."
Scott drank the last of his coffee. "We need to see if he can ID Zheng Yen-Tsung from the photos we have."
"Good idea."
"Anything about the investigation — who rented the car or why it was blown to kingdom come?"