Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(15)

He didn’t plant bugs, or listening devices, or explosives. Could the guy just be worried about this wife?

Either way, Zach wanted him out. Fast.

His entire body at the ready, he cursed the situation. If he hadn’t been forced to come back for the truck, he’d never have returned home, never would have had to deal with anyone.

He opened the sliding glass door, escorted Brad into the yard, and flipped on the light.

“I saw it come on earlier,” Brad commented. “Maybe—”

“I was having a beer after a long trip and contemplating the hot tub,” Zach countered just as he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. He shifted and drew Brad’s attention.

His neighbor sighed in frustration. “Jenna and I had a misunderstanding. I don’t want her to do anything rash. You have kids?”

“No. Too busy traveling,” Zach muttered, aching to get rid of the nosy guy. “I wish I could help, but I’m off again tonight. I won’t be back for a while.” He wanted anyone who asked to get the word he was gone. He didn’t need more unexpected visitors.

For the next few minutes Brad searched every inch of the backyard. Finally, he strode to the pool house and tugged at the door. To Zach’s surprise it didn’t open, and the blinds had been closed. Interesting.

Zach never locked it.

Brad’s jaw tightened and he extended a stiff hand. “Thanks for the help.”

Reluctantly Zach shook it, still not certain of the man’s motives. He trusted his gut, and instinct said Brad Walters had something to hide. “I hope your wife and son are safe.”

“Me too,” Brad commented. “Can’t be too careful. So many crazies out there these days.”

Still on guard, Zach escorted his neighbor out and through the front gate. He reengaged the locks and strode back to the bar. He snagged his beer, took a long, last swallow, and grabbed a prepaid cell phone out of the bottom drawer. Four other phones lay scattered there. He pocketed another. He couldn’t be too careful.

Zach headed to the pool house, where he’d seen the flash of movement. Anyone climbing over that wall had to be extremely determined. He tested the door. Unlocked now. A bottle of water lay on its side and a towel was crumpled in the corner. He raised the terry cloth. Droplets of red. The glass had done its job.

A five-year-old alone hadn’t been this quiet.

“I hope you’re OK, lady,” Zach muttered. “And not crazy.”

He tapped on his phone to access the Internet. Soon he had confirmation. Brad and Jenna Walters lived behind him. They had a five-year-old son. Brad worked for a computer corporation as a salesman and troubleshooter.

He traveled a lot. Sometimes to sensitive countries. Strange, that hadn’t shown up in the preliminary investigation. Zach didn’t like the gaps in the Company report.

The entire visit could have been a surveillance activity.

Except anyone in the business would be too smart to bring their work this close to home. Unless the money was that good.

Zach tapped a few more buttons.

Still nothing unusual being reported out of Montgomery Field. Theresa would have planted a Zach Montgomery story if he’d been safe, which meant he had a target on his back.

It made getting out of La Jolla and to the cabin more imperative than ever.

He didn’t know if Brad was a player. For all Zach knew, Walters’s gorgeous wife was helping him. This entire situation could be an elaborate setup.

If it wasn’t…Zach unfolded a thousand dollars out of his wallet and placed it in the pool room. He didn’t like Brad, had a bad feeling about him. If Jenna Walters wasn’t involved, and she came back, the money would give her a choice.

Knowing he’d done all he could to help—if the woman was innocent—Zach locked down the backyard.

He had one chance to survive. Get to Colorado. Find the traitor, and pray to God he could save his life without anyone else sacrificing theirs.




Jenna mentally thanked Brad for distracting her neighbor.

One thing in the last eighteen months she could thank him for.

She held on to Sam as she pulled him into a pantry off Zach Montgomery’s kitchen. The place was spotless. All canned items aligned. In alphabetic order for goodness’ sake. Dry items together. Everything in perfect order. Did he even live here? Ever?

She’d heard the actor say he planned to leave town for a while. Maybe they could stay here now that they were inside. Once Brad left she could sneak back into their house and grab their money and clothes.

Except for the security system…how could she get around that? She rubbed her temple, fighting off the dejection. There had to be a way.

Sam tugged on her lightweight sweater. “Can we say hi to the Dark Avenger? He looks nice.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” she said softly.

“What’s ‘d’ceeving’?”

What your father turned out to be. The perfect gentleman. A man who would love her forever.

A killer.

She shivered slightly.

“A liar.”

Sam stuck out his lower lip. “The Dark Avenger never lies!”

“Shhh,” she said, kneeling down. “I’m sure you’re right, Junior Avenger. Just like you never lie, right? Say…when I ask you to clean your room?”