Helen returned to her chair, but the words on the page blurred. She couldn’t focus. The phone rang again, insistent, she let it ring four times, five. Six. Finally, bothered by the persistence, she answered, “I told you, Mrs. Hayes, please don’t hang up.” This time, it was a woman’s voice, calm and professional. “I’m FBI agent Dana Truit.
I understand this is difficult to believe, but we have indeed recovered the aircraft. The Navy wasn’t pranking you, ma’am. We need you at the base.” Helen felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. I thought I’ll come. Thank you, Mrs. Hayes. Do you need transportation? No, I’ll manage. Helen hung up and moved mechanically to get ready.
She chose a simple navy dress and comfortable shoes, her movements automatic. As she walked out of her home toward the train station, a familiar car pulled over. The window rolled down, revealing the weathered faces of Patricia and Donald Maddox. Helen. Patricia’s voice was thick with emotion. Are you heading to Port Holston Naval Base, too? Helen nodded, unable to speak.
She recognized them immediately, despite the years, trans parentents. Their son had been the bass guitarist in Crimson Fireline. “Come with us,” Donald offered, opening the back door. Helen gratefully accepted, settling into the leather seat. Patricia turned to face her. The Kleins are on their way, too. Derek’s aunt and uncle.
His parents passed 2 years ago. And the Marinos, Ricky’s cousins, will be there. His parents died of old age already. The drive took a few hours, filled with tense silence punctuated by Patricia’s occasional sniffles. Helen stared out the window, watching the California coastline blur past.
When they finally arrived at Port Holston Naval Base, the security was overwhelming. Navy personnel, FBI agents, local police, forensics teams, and what appeared to be expedition scientists. Agent Dana Truit met them at the gate, her badge gleaming. She was younger than Helen had expected, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. Thank you all for coming.
I know this is difficult. She led them across the base to an open field. Helen’s breath caught when she saw it. The exact jet plane from Malcolm’s photographs. Her husband had taken pictures with their film roll camera before the band took off, wanting to memorialize what he’d called their shooting star career.
He developed those photos for memories and police evidence. Now the plane sat before them, a ghost from the past. Rust streaked its once white fuselage. Seaweed hung from the wings like morning shrouds. The red stripes that had once been so vibrant were now faded to brown. Dr. Martinez, the lead expedition scientist, stepped forward.
We were on a deep sea ecological expedition with no AA exploring hydrothermal vents. Our sonar picked up unusual metallic reflections. When our submersible camera confirmed it was an aircraft at 12,000 ft deep, we immediately contacted authorities. He gestured to the plane. The Navy and FBI collaborated to retrieve it using a heavyduty marine crane from our research vessel.
The wreck was surprisingly intact, door sealed, windows cracked inward. It’s remarkable how well preserved the vessel body is. Helen’s eyes found several body bags arranged respectfully on tarps near the plane. her heart clenched. “Is that?” Agent Truit nodded grimly. “That’s why we need you here for identification,” Dr. Martinez added.
At extreme depths with low oxygen, cold temperatures, and little disturbance, bodies decompose much slower. “It’s plausible they’re still identifiable after 19 years underwater.” Patricia Maddox gripped her husband’s arm. Please, we need to see. The officials exchanged glances before carefully unzipping the first bag. Patricia’s whale pierced the air.
PART2
Trent, my baby. Even after 19 years, the red leopard pants were unmistakable. Trent Maddox, the bass guitarist who’d always dressed flamboyantly, was identified immediately. The second bag revealed Derek Klene, his leather vest and distinctive belt buckle, confirming his identity.
His aunt and uncle collapsed against each other, sobbing. The remaining bags contained men none of them recognized. Not the pilot, not flight attendants. They were dressed in expensive suits, now deteriorated, but still suggesting wealth. The boys were supposed to meet with an international record label and producer, Helen said quietly. Some distributor.
These men might be part of their company. My husband was the band’s manager, but he rarely shared details with me back then, but I believe he had shared everything to the police. Officer Rodriguez, who had handled the original missing person’s case, confirmed her account. Malcolm Hayes became violent and was diagnosed with acute mental illness shortly after the disappearance.
He was released 5 years later and returned to a life of seclusion. We tried reaching out to him but he refused to come. The forensics team moved in photographing and examining. One technician looked up sharply. Gunshot wounds. All victims show evidence of gunfire. Agent Truit’s expression hardened. Then something very bad happened in the air.
They were most likely killed up front. The absence of the pilot suggests the plane was set to autopilot, and he parachuted out. Helen felt a spark of desperate hope. Zayn and Ricky’s bodies aren’t here. Maybe there’s a chance they’re still alive. It’s possible, the agent conceded. No one has seen them, but we’re changing this from a missing person’s case to a criminal investigation.
The press arrived like vultures. Cameras and microphones thrust forward. A reporter positioned herself before the plane, speaking rapidly to her camera. Crimson Fire Line. Zayn Hayes on lead vocals. Trent Maddox on bass. Derek Klene on rhythm guitar and coowwriting. Ricky Moreno on lead guitar. Many locals remember them from small bar shows.
They were beginning to find success selling their music when they vanished. The families were interviewed one by one. When Helen’s turn came, she stood before the cameras, her voice steady despite her trembling hands. I had lost all hope, she admitted. But with this new evidence, I pray the police will find something more about my son.