Mercer turned toward him. "Watch what you're accusing me of."
"I'm not accusing you. I'm watching you search two civilians after a personal argument because you want something you can use if they file a complaint."
Mercer's voice became colder. "They already started building one."
"They documented what happened."
"They made sure my name went into the flight file!"
"Because you threatened them with a security report!" Mercer stared at Cole. "You accepted this seat."
Cole looked down at the seat number beside him. "I know."
"You didn't object when Holloway moved us up here."
"I know that, too."
"Then don't suddenly act like you had nothing to do with it."
Cole looked back at him. "I took a seat I shouldn't have taken. That doesn't mean I have to keep following you after you cross another line."
Mercer leaned toward him. "There is no line."
"Yes, there is."
"You think because you feel guilty now you get to decide policy?"
"No. Policy already decided this." Mercer gave him a hard look. Cole continued, "These systems are for official purposes. You don't get to search people because they embarrassed you."
"Keep your voice down."
"I am keeping my voice down."
Laura passed the entrance to first class. Both men stopped speaking until she continued toward the rear cabin. Mercer closed the current record, but did not log out. Cole noticed.
"You're done."
"I'll decide when I'm done."
Cole sat back, but his eyes remained on Mercer.
Several rows behind them, Laura stopped beside Maya. "Everything all right?"
"Yes," Maya said.
Grace looked toward first class. "Is he still filing things?"
Laura could not answer that. Maya asked a different question. "Has anything changed in the captain's assessment?"
"No."
"Any security designation?"
"No."
"Then that's all I need to know."
Laura moved on. Grace turned to Maya. "You really aren't going to ask what he's doing?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if he's doing something legitimate, there will be a legitimate reason for it. And if he isn't..." Maya looked toward the front of the aircraft. "...then the reason will matter more than the action."
In first class, Mercer opened another restricted search category. Cole saw it and sat forward. "That's enough."
Mercer did not look at him.
Cole lowered his voice until only Mercer could hear. "If you keep going, I'm documenting this myself."
Mercer finally turned. "You'd report another officer over a database search?"
"I'd report an unauthorized search if that's what this is."
Mercer stared at him. "You're choosing two strangers over your partner."
Cole shook his head. "I'm choosing not to put my name behind something I know is wrong."
Mercer held his gaze for several seconds, then returned to the screen. Cole stood.
"Where are you going?" Mercer asked.
"To make sure my name isn't attached to what you're doing."
Mercer watched him walk toward the front galley. For the first time since the dispute began, Cole was no longer arguing with him. He was preparing to create his own record.
Cole reached the front galley and asked Laura if he could speak with Captain Shaw privately. Laura studied his expression. "Is this about the seating incident?"
"It started there."
"What happened?"
"I need to speak to the captain first."
Laura picked up the cabin phone. After a brief exchange, she motioned for Cole to wait near the galley. Mercer could see him from seat 2A. He stood and walked forward. "Travis."
Cole turned. Mercer stopped a few feet away. "What are you doing?"
"Taking my name out of something I didn't authorize."
Mercer glanced at Laura. "Give us a minute."
Laura did not move. Cole said, "She can stay."
Mercer lowered his voice. "You're making a mistake."
"No, I made the mistake when I sat in that seat."
"You accepted an upgrade."
"I accepted somebody else's confirmed seat."
"Holloway approved it."
"That doesn't change what happened."
Mercer stepped closer. "You didn't have a problem with it until Williams started challenging us."
Cole shook his head. "I had a problem when I realized how the seats were obtained. I have a bigger problem now."
"With what?"
"You ran both women through restricted systems without a case."
"I told you why. Officer safety."
"Yes." Cole looked back toward the cabin. "They're sitting quietly. The crew has reported no threat. The captain hasn't classified them as a security concern. There is no investigation. What exactly are you protecting yourself from?"
Mercer's voice hardened. "You don't wait for a threat to become obvious before you check who you're dealing with."
"You checked."
"And I'm not finished."
"That's the problem."
Mercer gave him a warning look. "Watch how you talk to me."
Cole met his eyes. "I'm watching you."
Laura remained silent. Mercer glanced toward her, then back at Cole. "You think one uncomfortable passenger complaint means you turn on another officer?"
"This stopped being a passenger complaint when you started searching private records."
"You're using words you don't understand."
"I understand the policy."
Mercer folded his arms. "Do you understand loyalty?"
Cole did not answer immediately. Mercer continued. "We work together. We rely on each other. That means something."
"It does."
"Then act like it."
Cole looked toward seat 2C. "You want loyalty to mean I ignore what you're doing because I benefited from it, too."