Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The First David Job│ Part 2

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Next Day

The air in the hangar was crisp and heavy with the hum of machinery. Nate and Eliot paced the waiting area, their movements sharp and calculated.

"Six," Nate said, glancing at his watch. "Three minutes before they arrive."

I grinned, adjusting the ID badge on my suit's lapel. "Gotcha, boss."

With a quick brush of my jacket, clipboard in hand, I stepped forward just as two pilots disembarked from the plane, heading toward the building. My stride was purposeful, my expression set.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where in the hell do you think you're going?" I said, voice sharp enough to halt them in their tracks.

The lead pilot blinked at me, clearly caught off guard. "I-I'm sorry?"

I tilted my head, giving him a pointed look. "You are the pilot for this plane, right?"

"Yeah, uh, right," he stammered.

"Well, then," I snapped, "get back on that bird. We got work to do."

The pilot exchanged a confused glance with his copilot. "Work? W-what are you talking about?"

"Spot inspection," I said matter-of-factly, clicking my pen and jotting something onto the clipboard with exaggerated precision. "FAA. Now, listen up. I want to see this plane's TCAS, VRSM, and 8.1 FM spacing in operation to make sure it's fully functional and in compliance with the new FAA regulations."

"New regulations?" the pilot asked, clearly panicked.

Without missing a beat, I scribbled something furiously. "Pilot unaware of latest regulations," I muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"Oh, the new regulations! Of course!" he said quickly, nodding like his life depended on it. "Please, come this way. I'll take you right up."

I waved him off dismissively. "Oh, no, no. It's cool, it's cool. I don't need to go up. Just taxi me around the building."

"Taxi?" The pilot's face twisted in confusion. "I thought you needed to get up in the air?"

My pen paused, then scribbled furiously again. "Uncomfortable with female authority figures," I stated dryly.

The pilot practically flailed in his haste to fix the situation. "Ma'am, please don't write that."

I shot him a sharp look. "Oh, I will write a letter to your mama if I feel like it."

"Right this way, please," he said quickly, gesturing for me to follow. His voice pitched higher in panic. "It's in order. I-I promise. This way."

As he muttered something about me being a "hard-ass" to the copilot, I caught the copilot trying to grab their bags.

The pilot barked at him, "Screw the bags. Let's go."

I followed them away from the plane, my clipboard tucked close as I discreetly reached for my comms. Keeping my tone low, I said, "Hardison, the plane's clear. Go time."

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Airport Exterior

A sleek black car pulled up to the waiting area where Nate and Eliot stood, watching with practiced nonchalance. Ian Blackpoole stepped out first, exuding the air of a man who expected the world to cater to him. Moments later, Maggie arrived in her own car, stepping out with calm poise.

"Ian," she greeted.

"Maggie," Ian replied with a polite smile.

Hangar