Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(10)

“Camelot three-two-nine, descend to twelve thousand feet, turn left, heading three-two-zero,” the voice sounded through his ear.

Zach entered the change in direction and let the autopilot do its thing. He had about fifteen minutes to figure out how to land the plane.

He’d flipped through the section for the fifth time when his earpiece crackled.

He tossed the manual into the copilot’s seat and waited for the handoff to another controller.

“Camelot three-two-nine, Los Angeles Center. Contact SoCal approach on frequency one-two-four point three five.”

Zach confirmed, and on the new controller’s instruction, he descended to three thousand feet.

He scanned the horizon for the private airport. Just where it was supposed to be. He narrowed his focus, shoving aside any uncertainty. He wouldn’t let them kill him. Not like this. “This is Camelot three-two-nine. Airport nine o’clock. Ten miles.”

“Camelot three-two-nine, clear for the visual approach twenty-eight right. Contact Montgomery tower one-one-nine point two.”

After he was cleared to land, Zach pulled the throttle to reduce air speed and extended the flaps. He lowered the gear handle and aligned the plane with the runaway. Steady. Not too slow.

His memory trailed back to the first time he’d flown. The first time he’d landed with Ace by his side. His dad’s buddy had been a military pilot. He’d flown scads of Libya missions back in the day. Knew his stuff.

Zach could almost hear the guy’s final advice in his mind. You’re a natural. If you doubt, trust your gut, kid. It’ll never fail you. Don’t think. Do.

Trust his gut.

Zach eased the yoke back to stop the descent.

Don’t think. Do.

The runway loomed closer and closer.

The ground rose to meet him.

Zach held his breath.

The gear hit hard.

His body jerked. He clutched the wheel. The plane bounced, pulling to the right. Zach gripped the yoke tighter and added a bit of power. Finally, the Gulfstream slowed and settled on the tarmac.

Zach’s head fell back against the seat.

His heart restarted.

A good landing is one you walk away from. Ace’s voice filtered through his mind.

“Amen.”

With a long, slow sigh, Zach steered toward an out-of-sight hangar. His hands and legs shook with each move of the pedals and tiller. Adrenaline. He used to love the feeling.

Not quite so much these days.

He shut off the engines, set the parking brake, and threw down the headset. Now for a little talk with the captain before anyone realized that the plane that just landed ended up in the wrong hangar.

He shoved aside the sliding door separating the cockpit from the cabin and stared at the man tied up in the seat.

Make that two dead bodies.

Something white foamed from the captain’s mouth. In his hand he held a small syringe. Zach strode to the body, sank down, and studied the captain, his face screwed in agony. Who had so much power the guy would kill himself in such a horrible way?

Clearly, the same someone who wanted Zach dead.

He checked the identities of the pilots, storing them in his memory, then rifled through the electronic equipment and clothes in his duffel. He shoved it aside. Nope. He’d leave everything here. He needed to disappear. And he needed information.

He emptied his wallet of cash, then scanned his passport and driver’s license looking for anything unusual, even a microdot that could track him. Nothing.

He stuffed them in his pocket. “Welcome home, Zach.”




Perched in the tree at the back of her large yard, Jenna peered at the embedded glass protruding from the top of the cinder block wall. Zach Montgomery didn’t want visitors, that was for sure. She eased her jacket off and swung it over. She pressed her hand down, testing the cushion. Enough to protect Sam. She shifted her weight and surveyed the actor’s yard. The automatic strobe lights illuminated the huge swimming pool holding center stage. A quick scan revealed a hot tub, tennis court, half a basketball court. All a playground for an overgrown boy.

Not different from most of the actors in this neighborhood. Their big breaks usually came with big purchases. Cars, boats, houses.

A lot of them lost everything soon enough.

She’d thought she’d been so lucky, falling for a man with money who had a normal, but very well-paying job.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Sam tried to wriggle away.

“Don’t move, honey.”

“I don’t like it up here,” he said with a frown.

“You see that swimming pool? The Dark Avenger swims in that pool.”

Sam’s eyes grew wide and his mouth opened in awe. “The real Dark Avenger?”

“The one and the same.”

Sam had happened upon the B-movie about six months ago and had become obsessed with the superhero.

Jenna hadn’t known having a neighbor who was famous might come in so handy. Even though Zach Montgomery hadn’t hit it big recently, he still worked in the movie biz and was gone for months at a time.

At a cocktail party just last week, a neighbor told her that Zach had been seen in the tabloids with his newest young starlet, all comfy-cozy on location in Turkey.

Sam leaned forward. “Is the Dark Avenger home? Can we meet him?”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Guilt flashed through her at the false enthusiasm, but Sam just gave her a big grin.