Three Blackbirds by Garry Ryan

Author:Garry Ryan [Ryan, Garry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781774390849
Publisher: NeWest Press
Published: 2023-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Thursday, November 18, 1948

Mother was on the phone when Sharon walked into the office. It was just after eight. She was expecting to fly a group of tourists to Banff and Lake Louise. The look on Mother’s face was the first hint there might be a change in plans. He hung up the phone and looked at her from beneath those overgrown thatched eyebrows. “Yesterday morning, Vaughn Sherry flew west of Rocky Mountain House to pick up some hunters. He was due back yesterday afternoon. We’ve been asked to help with the search.”

“What was he flying?” Sharon pulled a map out of her bag.

“His Norseman.”

“Any idea what its range is?”

“About nine hundred miles.” Mother frowned at Sharon. “Did you ever fly one?”

She looked at the ceiling, shaking her head. “Nope. I’m trying to figure out if he would refuel on the way there or back. Any word on passengers?”

“Two and their gear.”

Linda walked in, stamping snow off her feet, and sensed the tension. “What’s the problem?”

Fifteen minutes later, Sharon and Linda had a plan. Sharon would fly with Robert and Lynetta. Linda would take Ernie and Walter. Mother would coordinate the operation from the office and update them with any new information.

Sharon looked at Ernie. “You said something about Vaughn Sherry being cheap.”

Ernie nodded. “So tight he squeaks.”

“Then it’s likely he would fly a straight line to save money on fuel.” Sharon put her maps into her green canvas bag.

“Makes sense.” Ernie stepped into the hangar to help Walter and Linda push Whiskey Alpha out.

Sharon moved to the door of Whiskey Papa, opened it, and set her gear on the pilot’s seat. Lynetta stepped forward wearing a heavy parka, snow pants, and leather mitts. “Where do you want me to sit?”

“I need one set of eyes on the starboard side and another behind me on the port side.”

Robert said, “I’ll take the back seat if that’s okay with you, Lynetta.” He wore a navy-blue wool coat and toque, ducking under the nose to get the opposite strut while Lynetta went to the tail. They pushed Whiskey Papa out the hangar door and parked it next to Linda’s aircraft before climbing aboard.

Ten minutes later, both planes were airborne. The sky was clear and blue. The sun reflected off the snow, but the temperature remained at ten below zero. Linda headed north and west to Rocky Mountain House while Sharon headed north to Penhold in case Vaughn Sherry had decided to refuel there.

Sharon unzipped her Irvine jacket as the cabin began to warm up. Lynetta leaned right to get a better look at the ground.

Robert tapped Sharon on the shoulder. “We’re looking for a red aircraft?”

Sharon glanced over her shoulder and nodded.

They landed at Penhold, topped up with fuel, and quizzed the attendant, who told them Vaughn had refuelled there yesterday morning because gas was two cents a gallon cheaper than Calgary.

Sharon took off again, heading west. On their right, Sylvan Lake was a flat frozen expanse of white. As they approached Rocky Mountain House, more and more of the ground was covered with evergreens.

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