Claire Realized Noah Had Taken the Wrong Suitcase — Then Airport Security Asked Who Told Him to Pick It Up
Chapter 6 — Adrian Cole
There was still another problem.
The suitcase Noah had been tricked into carrying belonged to Adrian Cole.
Airport staff located him near the lost-baggage desk.
He had been searching for his suitcase for almost half an hour.
When security returned it, Adrian looked relieved.
Then Ramirez asked him to come to the office.
Adrian listened to the story.
His expression changed.
“They used my bag as a switch?”
Ramirez nodded.
“It appears so.”
Adrian looked toward the identification card Claire found.
“That shouldn’t have been there.”
Claire frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian normally kept the card inside his wallet.
Not in his luggage.
He checked his coat.
His wallet was there.
But the identification card inside the suitcase was a duplicate employee ID.
Adrian worked for a transportation-security contractor.
Someone had apparently planted the duplicate card beside the zipper.
Ramirez frowned.
“Why plant your ID?”
Adrian stared at the suitcase.
Then understood.
“So if the wrong person got caught with my bag, it would clearly lead back to me.”
Claire looked at him.
The plan had two parts.
Steal Noah’s suitcase.
And make Claire and Noah appear to have accidentally taken someone else’s.
If anyone asked questions immediately, the situation would look like a simple baggage mix-up.
Adrian’s visible identification made that explanation even easier.
But the security cameras had captured the switch.
And the black SUV was already being tracked.
