Page 46 of Final Approach (Lake City Heroes #4)

TWENTY-FOUR

Kristine groaned. Where was the train that hit her? Twice. Her head was going to explode if she didn’t find some Motrin. But she couldn’t seem to move.

The roar of an engine reached her. She knew that sound. A plane. Wait. What? How—

Her father.

She was in one of the reclining seats and lying on her side. She tried to sit up, but the nausea was intense. “Gonna be sick,” she mumbled just in case anyone was listening.

“Bathroom’s right behind you.”

She lay for a moment trying not to heave. There was no way she could get up and make it to the bathroom.

A cold cloth settled across her throat, then a second one on her forehead and that helped. Her stomach settled slightly.

“There’s a bowl next to you if you need it, but I recommend making it to the bathroom.”

She blinked and the ceiling came into focus. Yep, definitely a plane.

She didn’t answer. Didn’t move. And thankfully, didn’t hurl.

The feeling passed, but she was desperately thirsty.

As though he read her mind, he pressed a bottle of water into her hand.

She drank in sips, making sure the liquid was going to stay put.

It did and now she wanted to close her eyes and go back to sleep.

But since she seriously believed her father was going to kill her, that wasn’t happening.

She just needed to figure out what the plan was, and if he was going to kill her, why was she on a plane?

Was he going to drop her out of the aircraft with a faulty parachute so her death could be ruled an accident?

But talking required more effort than she had at the moment, so she stayed silent.

One other thing registered. They weren’t moving.

She was on a plane, but they were still on the ground.

Biting off a groan, she turned her aching head to look out the window. It was dark outside. They were on the tarmac. The engine was running but the pilot wasn’t in the seat.

Kristine rolled her head once more to see her father sitting in the chair across from her, reading his iPad like he was sitting at the local café with all the time in the world on his hands. “Where are we going?”

“To my own little hideaway where we can live out the rest of our days in peace.”

Okay, she was done talking. She had to figure out a way to get off this plane. The steps were down, the gun wasn’t in sight, so she could just walk off, right?

She started to stand and something clanked.

She pulled with her right foot and found she was chained to the table post. Long enough to reach the bathroom behind her, but she wasn’t going anywhere else until he let her or she managed to get out of the shackle around her ankle. “You’re sick,” she whispered.

He raised a brow. “We’ll have to work on your manners.”

“Dad, you seriously can’t think you’ll get away with this.”

“I will. And as soon as Emily’s released from the hospital, she’ll be joining you. And eventually Ethan.”

“How can you afford all this?”

“Easy. Your mother’s life insurance paid out two million, and I made some wise investments over the past few years.

I live simply but comfortably. And you will too.

” He set aside his iPad and leaned toward her.

“The island is very nice. I’ve built a home there where you’ll have your own private suite.

It’s filled with books and games and various ways to entertain yourself.

And when Emily and Ethan get there, it will be even better. We’ll be a happy family once more.”

He was living in some twisted fantasy world, and she hadn’t recognized how much he needed help.

He glanced at his watch. “Vinny should be here soon and we’ll be on our way.”

“People will look for me.”

“I’m sure, but they won’t find you. Especially since your phone is now smashed to bits in the men’s bathroom with no way to still track you.”

His icy certainty chilled her to the bone. “Dad, you were a cop. You arrested people for kidnapping and other bad stuff. Do you not see that you’re doing the exact same thing you put people in prison for?”

He grunted. “It’s not the same at all. I’m simply protecting my kids from a world gone mad.”

“No, by doing this, you’re a part of that world gone mad. Please, it’s not too late to stop this and get help.”

He slapped a hand on the table. “Shut up. You say one more thing like that and I’ll assume you’re past the point of redemption.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “Stupid pilot,” he muttered. “What’s taking him so long?”

She sat back. There was no reasoning with him. None. And that was downright terrifying. So, since she couldn’t talk sense into him and she had no idea if Andrew had gotten her message, she had to find a way to get off this plane before it took off.

ANDREW PULLED INTO the small airport’s parking lot and ran inside the hangar. There was one plane on the tarmac, engine running. A man hurried toward it and Andrew guessed he was the pilot. He went after him, using his badge to get past security. “Hey, hold up a second,” he called to the pilot.

The man glanced back, his eyes went wide, and he broke into a jog to hit the steps. Andrew ran as fast as he could and managed to jump onto the bottom step just as it started to retract into the plane. He bolted up them, stumbled, and fell into the plane with a grunt.

“Andrew!”

Kristine’s cry mobilized him and he rolled to his knees, only to freeze when he found himself facing the barrel end of a gun. The hand attached to the weapon belonged to Kristine’s father. The pilot stood at the entrance to the cockpit gawking at both of them.

“What do you think you’re doing?” her father demanded.

Andrew rose to his feet, hands held so the man could see them. “I wasn’t sure at first. It’s crystal clear now.”

The man gestured with the gun. “Sit down, and if you make me mad, I’ll shoot Kristine.”

Andrew walked into the cabin and took the seat next to Kristine.

Her body heat soaked into him and he gazed at her.

“Got your message. Backup’s on the way.” He made sure to speak loud enough that her father heard.

Andrew looked out the window to see blue lights flashing in the darkness.

Talk about perfect timing. His hand itched to go for his gun.

Greg saw the approaching law enforcement and looked at the pilot. “This is your fault. You took too long to get us going! Get this thing in the air. Now.”

“But—”

“Do it or I shoot one of them. Understand? And if that doesn’t work, I’ll make sure you’re dead before I’m caught. But if you get me to Norfolk safely, I’ll make sure there’s a bonus in it for you.”

The pilot didn’t say another word. He went to the cockpit and took his seat, put his headphones on, and started taxiing. Seconds later, they were in the air.

Greg looked at Andrew and Kristine. “Now, we have about an hour and fifteen minutes to figure out how this is going to play out.” He looked at Andrew. “Give me your weapon and don’t play dumb. Give it to me or Kristine will suffer.”

Andrew slid his gun across the table to the man, who took it and shoved it into his waistband. Then he sighed and frowned. “I don’t think having you along will be beneficial to what I need to happen with my children, so you’ll have to be disposed of.”

Andrew blinked. “Disposed of. Like I’m not a living, breathing human? Like I’m the trash you need to take out?”

“No, of course not. It’s all regrettable, of course, but you know too much, and you and I both know that you’re going to do whatever it takes to bring me in.”

“What if I said a life with Kristine was worth more than putting you away?”

Greg paused, tilted his head as though he didn’t quite know what to make of that question. “You mean if I let you two live, you’ll forget about all of this? That I was in part responsible for an entire planeload of deaths? And almost was again?”

Andrew shot a look at Kristine, and white lines around her mouth told him how hard she was biting her tongue. Andrew searched for words while realization dawned for Greg.

“Oh, you didn’t know.” He shot an approving look at Kristine. “You didn’t tell him. Interesting.”

“Only because I didn’t have a chance,” she shot back.

The approval darkened, but he stilled, listened, then scowled.

“We’re going down. Why are we descending?

” His yell reverberated off the cabin walls and he turned slightly so he could still keep Andrew and Kristine in his line of sight, but hollered to the pilot, “What are you doing?” He glanced out the window and cursed.

“We’re going the wrong way! Don’t you dare land this plane back in Lake City! ”

“I’ve been ordered to do so, sir.”

“No!” He slid out of the seat and aimed his gun at the pilot.

“I’d rather be dead than face prison!” He pulled the trigger just as An drew launched himself at him.

Greg turned the weapon back toward Andrew, but it was too late.

Andrew moved in, close enough to hit the man in the Adam’s apple with the palm of his hand.

Greg gagged, lost his grip on the gun, and clutched his throat.

Andrew whipped out his cuffs and handcuffed the man to the seat leg. He could stay on the floor.

“Andrew, get me loose. Now!”

Kristine’s frantic cry whipped him around. “What?”

“Never mind. Go hit the autopilot switch or we’re going to crash!”

It registered that they were going down pretty fast. He ran to the pilot, who was slumped over the controls, blood pouring from a wound in his back. “Where is it?”

“I don’t know! I’m not familiar with this—”

“Found it.” He flipped the switch and the plane slowed, then leveled out.

He checked the pilot and found a pulse. The man was just unconscious.

He’d hit his head on the window when the bullet slammed into him.

He pulled him out of the seat and into the cabin, where he laid him on the floor.

Then he treated the wound as best he could, packing it with one of the blankets in the overhead bin.

“Hang on, buddy, we’ll get you help as soon as possible.” He returned to Kristine. “You’re going to have to fly this plane.”