### **Hijack: A Novel of Survival and Redemption**
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#### Prologue
The distant hum of engines filled the cabin as Flight 762 soared through the night sky. Passengers slept, read, or watched movies, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking among them. In seat 17C, Jack Thompson adjusted his wristwatch, counting down the minutes until everything changed.
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#### Chapter 1: The Flight
Jack Thompson boarded Flight 762 from New York to London with a sense of unease. A former FBI agent turned private investigator, Jack was accustomed to reading people. His keen eyes scanned the other passengers: the business executive engrossed in paperwork, the newlyweds holding hands, and the mother soothing her crying infant. He noted four men, seemingly unconnected, but each with a similar, nervous demeanor.
Jack settled into his seat, his instincts on high alert. He exchanged pleasantries with the elderly woman beside him, Mrs. Patel, who was visiting her grandchildren in London. As the plane reached cruising altitude, he watched the men closely, noting their subtle signals to each other. They were planning something, and Jack's gut told him it wasn't good.
Midway through the flight, Jack noticed one of the men, seated near the cockpit, repeatedly glancing at his watch. Another man, in the middle of the cabin, adjusted something under his jacket. Jack's training kicked in, his mind racing through possible scenarios. He discreetly took out his notebook, jotting down details that might be crucial later.
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