Chapter 314

Waking up with Vicky this morning wrapped in my arms kept me grounded in this life I am now in. It's been almost a week without Jenny in my bed and I missed her so much even though I swapped partners night to spend equal time with all my mates. I missed the all of them equal, the hugs the intimate touches even more I missed feeling the babies move in her big belly when I held her close.

Today finally came, Monday the day to go home. It started like the five previous mornings, waking up to a little mischief to end in a searing shower, followed by packing and breakfast to finish our visit this embassy. When we finally caught up with Vance and Josh at the plane we discussed a plan of attack for today's activities.

Whatever happens today it depends on what transpires in the next few minutes –will we go to the last embassy together or will we split up? We will find out when I see if Jakes jet is ready to be picked up now or later today. If it's ready now, we will fly back to Dubai for the plane and split up or go to the embassy as a team then go get the plane. After I checked my emails the decision was made for us, the plane was ready – we were going to Dubai

When we landed in Dubai, I transferred my clothes to Jakes plane and Vicky and I went our separate ways.

Vicky and Josh would fly in the JBG plane to Riyadh and pick up Bob and Linda Jackson. Then they would fly to Madrid Spain and wait for us to meet up there. We would refuel both planes there and then fly home. If all the timing was right we would arrive at Morton about 7 AM Tuesday.

The information was that the bodies would arrive at Dover between 11 and noon. This would give Vicky and me some family time before going to the base.

The reason Vicky and I split up was the rules required two to fly a plane of that class, a pilot and a copilot so that's what we were going to do act as copilots. Vicky and I could fill that function for the airport security cameras at least. Once the plane was airborne it could fly on auto-pilot, once the information was programmed into the computer anyhow. The pilot could take off and land the plane by himself so the copilot was just a backup.

It was a little white lie we did, but it was the best we could do today. I did not want to tie up two of our pilots for three or four days on commercial flights getting the plane back to Morton Field. We were going to be short as hell on pilots again after having to supply four more to the embassy security division.

I emphasized that I wanted both Josh and Vance to rest during the day as much as possible.

Abdul-Hakim Mohammad and his son met us at the plane with a hand-full of paper work. Most of it was to do with warranty and copies of the inspections and sale receipts.

Thirty minutes later we were in the flight line waiting our turn to take off. I was in the co-pilots seat trying to concentrate on everything Vance was telling me.

Jack did the same thing on every flight we flew with him. If there was an experienced co-pilot on the flight, Jack had us change places with the co-pilot. If it was an inexperienced co-pilot, then I would crouch between the seats and he would coach both of us.

I was surprised as hell when Vance - after engine run-up and equipment checks at ground control's instructions - said, "Pull it onto the runway and stop at the white line. Leave your hand on the throttles."

"November 397 Golf, this is the tower, you are cleared to take off."

"Tower N397G Roger, we are cleared to take off," Vance said.

Vance put his hand on mine, "Steady acceleration to full throttle," as he pushed the throttles and my hand to the throttle stops.

"Now put both hands on the yoke, maintain it in the neutral position. Do you see the air speed indicator on your panel? Use the glance method - don't stare at it - look mostly at the planes position on the runway keep it on the white line please. Now call out the airspeed as we go," Vance said.

"60 knots, 70, 80."

"Do you remember what I said rotate speed was?" Vance asked.