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Chapter 5

One week later

Mari stepped out of Jeremy Ackerman’s plane and breathed in the warm afternoon air. She’d dropped him off yesterday morning and he’d needed to stay longer than originally planned. Since Gary, her normal Friday client, had his own change of plans for their normal Friday drop-off and pickup, it had worked out well.

This “airport” was basically a strip of asphalt next to a couple cornfields along with a couple of hangars and a taxiway area, and was one of the smallest she’d been to. Though she owned one smaller than this where a certain branch of the military practiced their short field takeoffs and landings.

She loved that she got to quietly contribute in a small way to the men and women who served their country. Hell, she loved everything about flying and aviation. Because without this job she would have never known about this tiny place surrounded by acres and acres of green grass and crops. There were so many random areas in the country that were absolutely beautiful and that flying had given her a small peek into .

Leaning against the plane, she checked the multitude of weather apps saved on her phone, frowned at a front that looked as if it was moving in faster than predicted. For the most part she flew IFR—Instrument Flight Rules—but that didn’t mean she could fly into a thunderstorm. And that was exactly what they could be facing if they didn’t leave soon.

Tucking her phone away, she made her way to a small building she’d discovered was basically a little rectangle with a bathroom and a couple couches that faced a television on the screen. It was a place for people traveling to take a break, do their business, then leave after refueling. Nothing fancy, but it served a purpose.

Ackerman wasn’t inside, so she texted him again. Someone always dropped him off and picked him up in a hired car, and he’d told her he was here but…she didn’t see him.

She checked the closest hangar and found it mostly empty, save for two old Mooneys that looked circa fifties, which she wanted to check out when she had time.

She texted Ackerman yet again, letting him know about the impending storm on the Gulf Coast and headed to the next hangar. This one had the rolling door closed, but as she got closer, she could hear voices inside.

Shouting.

Frowning, she walked up to the half-open side door and paused.

“If you have a problem with what I’m doing, then maybe we don’t need you anymore.” The voice was male, but she didn’t recognize it.

“I didn’t say I have a problem. I just don’t like this new direction.” That was definitely Ackerman.

“Please remind me when I asked for your opinion. You acquire what I ask for, or you’re no longer useful.”

There was a long pause, then the clearing of a throat. “I guess I just don’t understand—”

“I don’t give a shit what you think. You’re a tool, so remember that,” the other man snapped.

A chill snaked down Mari’s spine at the guy’s aggressive tone. She backed away from the open door and as she did saw a small camera tucked away in the corner of the awning overhang. Instead of waiting to hear any more, she hurried back to the plane waiting on the taxiway. As she reached it, Ackerman stepped out of the hangar.

She pretended not to see him, instead looking down at her phone. Only when he was hurrying across the asphalt to her a few moments later did she look up. “You ready?” Whatever they had been arguing about, it wasn’t her business.

He eyed her almost cautiously. “Are we refueled?”

“Yep.”

He gave a tight nod. “In the future, after refueling, please wait in the plane. You don’t need to be walking around this property. Understood?” Ice dripped from his voice. And maybe a hard warning.

And yep, she understood perfectly. He was up to shit, and didn’t want her finding out. Damn, maybe Colin had been right about him. “Of course.” She nodded and slid into her seat as he did the same.

Even though she was rattled, she called on years of training as she prepped for takeoff. There was no actual tower, but she made the call into the ether announcing her takeoff for anyone potentially in the air about to land or just flying nearby.

Once they were airborne, she spoke over the headset. “I’m keeping an eye on the storm over the Gulf. We might have to divert if it moves in too fast.”

“That’s fine.” His words were clipped, the tension in him palpable.

For the rest of the flight he didn’t say a single word, which was more unnerving than anything. Instead he worked on his tablet, rustled around in his backpack for a while, then when he put it and the tablet away he simply sat like a statue next to her.

Thankfully, after landing he left almost as soon as the plane came to a stop. He didn’t even wait for her to park the plane, simply grabbed his bag and was gone once she got to the taxiway.

While she was grateful he’d taken his sour attitude with him, she couldn’t shake the chill that invaded her bones. Whoever she’d overheard him arguing with had sounded angry and even violent.

She hadn’t wanted Colin to be right about Ackerman, but he might have been. Dammit.

This morning she’d been sure this temporary arrangement was going to work out fine, even with Ackerman being prickly, but today had changed things.

And now she wasn’t sure she’d take his next flight request. She didn’t need his business and her instinct was telling her that she was better off without a client like him.