Lena's phone was still recording from 3A.
Samuel Reed sat with both hands folded, eyes forward.
Victoria Langford stared out the window of 1A, pretending the tray with Maya's name had never existed.
Clare moved through the cabin, collecting glasses with tight, mechanical motions.
When she reached Maya, she stopped.
"Tray table up for departure."
Maya looked at her phone, then at Clare.
"I can hold it."
"Tray table up," Clare repeated. "And all electronic devices secured."
Lena leaned forward.
"Phones can stay on airplane mode during taxi and takeoff."
Clare turned.
"I wasn't speaking to you."
Maya picked up her phone and held it in her hand, keeping the camera low.
With her other hand, she lifted the tray table into place.
"There. Compliant."
Clare stared at the phone.
"You are still recording."
"I am still documenting."
"You were instructed to stop."
"And I was threatened with police for recording. That is part of what I'm documenting."
Clare's face went red.
For a moment, it looked as if she might reach for the phone.
Lena moved first.
"Do not touch her phone," Lena said.
Clare froze.
The warning was quiet, but it had force.
Clare looked around and realized at least three other passengers had their phones out now.
She stepped back, but her voice stayed sharp.
"You people are making a routine service issue into something ugly."
Samuel Reed looked at her.
"No, ma'am. You did that when you took the cup."
Clare walked away before she could answer.
Maya pressed her shoulders into the seat and tried to slow her breathing.
Her body felt wrong now.
Not collapsing.
Not yet.
But unstable.
The glucose tablet had helped for a few minutes.
The stress was burning through it faster than she liked.
She had one hand around her phone and the other pressed lightly against her thigh to hide the tremor.
Lena noticed anyway.
"Do you have a meter?" she asked.
Maya nodded toward her bag under the seat.
"Front pocket."
"May I?"
Maya hesitated only a second, then nodded.
Lena unbuckled, reached forward carefully, and pulled the small case from Maya's bag.
Clare saw her from the galley.
"Ma'am, sit down. We are taxiing."
"I'm checking a passenger with a medical condition."
"You are not authorized to provide medical care."
Lena looked up.
"Then authorize safe food."
Ethan Cole stepped out from the front galley before Clare could respond.
He had a printed report in one hand.
Now Maya saw her name at the top.
"Miss Ortiz," Ethan said. "Return to your seat."
Lena stayed low beside Maya.
"I will as soon as I make sure she is not about to crash."
Ethan's voice dropped.
"You are creating a second compliance issue."
Lena opened the case.