Bernard Bajolet tapped his phone once more, wondering how to start the conversation. The number was already typed on the screen, but he hesitated to start the call. He pressed the button, and the call went through.
“Mademoiselle, good afternoon, my name is Bernard Bajolet, we work together with your husband,” he began.
“Yes, yes, monsieur Bonjour,” came Audrey’s voice.
“I don’t want to worry you, but I have information that the plane Jean-Pierre was on has disappeared from the radar.”
Audrey was silent. She stood at a loss in the middle of the kitchen, and her heart sank with fright and bitterness. Monsieur Bajolet was also silent for a while.
“I understand,” he began. “Please, Audrey, keep my number, I will let you know all the news. They haven’t found the plane, which means,” he hesitated, “that there is hope.”
The last words sounded unnatural and rude. He tried to correct himself, but stopped and decided not to continue to make her feel better, but to tell her the facts.
“The plane disappeared about two hours ago over the mountains in Nepal. The weather there is very bad right now, but a hiking rescue team has been sent there. They need time to get there.”
Bernard Bajolet was walking in a small circle the whole time he was talking, but suddenly he froze and, nodding, said:
“As soon as there is news, I will call you.”
“Okay,” the young woman said in a suppressed voice.
Audrey put the phone away and looked at the screen. It was counting down the time of the call. The seconds kept running: 43, 44. Suddenly, the numbers froze – Bernard Bajolet hung up.
Audrey looked around the kitchen. She looked at the refrigerator, at the table. There was no way her thoughts could break the dam of shock. “I have to call Madame Julie.” She picked up the phone and began searching for the number of Jean-Pierre’s mother, but there was no way she could do it. The letters began to blur, and her breathing became labored. She felt herself being pinned to the floor. She closed her eyes and held her breath, shaking her head from side to side. Then she gathered her strength and went to the room, opened her computer, and went to a news site. “Flight 274 Paris-Tokyo has gone off the radar. Circumstances are being clarified,” read Audrey.
Her instinct and habit triggered from the awareness of the threat, the fear, and the pain. She grabbed her phone and dialed Jean-Pierre’s number – ‘out of range’.