Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2) Read online

  “Breathe, Mom.”

  Nate took a bite of potato. Mmm. Food always tasted better at his mother’s table surrounded by family. Nate was not a solitary person by nature. Since the accident, he had been spending too much time alone. Between recovering and trying to figure out what went wrong, there hadn’t been a lot of time to be social. It was time to change that.

  “Well?” Callie demanded.

  “Brett Walcott.”

  “Right,” Garrett nodded. “The assistant to an assistant. He left word with you that he saw something. Then he disappeared.”

  “I had that stunt set up exactly right. Between the time it took to get to the top of the cliff and when I jumped, something happened.”

  “It had to be during the delay.” Wyatt’s people had investigated. Right after Nate left the set, a fire broke out in one of the trailers. It turned out to be minor and luckily, no one was hurt, but it had the entire crew scrambling for almost an hour.

  Nate had his own helpers whose job it was to keep the status quo on all equipment until the stunt was finished. They admitted to leaving the airbag unattended while they helped with the fire. As a result, someone had time to make a small puncture at the base of the bag.

  The leak was slow but effective. As Nate approached from above, it appeared the bag had been moved. In reality, the loss of air pressure gave it that appearance. If Nate hadn’t been able to muscle his chute and land as close to the center as possible, chances were, he wouldn’t have been here to tell the tale. The bounce he took that landed him on the hard ground was bad, resulting in relatively minor injuries. His quick reflexes and some luck had spoiled someone’s deadly plans.

  Finding a witness had been almost impossible. Nate trusted his crew. They were lured away like everyone else. The only person willing to talk called Nate the day after he left the hospital.

  Brett Walcott was so low on the movie set ladder that Nate didn’t recognize his name. Assistant was pushing it. He was a gopher. He fetched coffee, jackets, lip balm. Whatever was needed, he was the man who made the run. It wasn’t a well-paying job.

  So when Brett saw his opportunity, he took it. He claimed to know who punctured the bag, and was willing to share the information with Nate. For a price.

  Nate had been around. He knew the drill. Brett agreed to meet him the next day. Nate agreed to bring twenty thousand dollars. It was a small price to pay; he would have doled out twice that amount to discover who wanted him dead.

  With Garrett along for backup, Nate drove to the drop-off spot in East Los Angeles. It was too much like something out of a bad action flick for Nate’s taste, but he wasn’t in a position to complain.

  They sat for three hours before finally giving up. Either Brett had second thoughts or someone got to him first.

  “Where has the weasel been hiding?”

  “In plain sight.” Nate set his fork on the now empty plate. “He’s been getting a tan in a high-end Mexican resort.”

  “You’re kidding?” Wyatt exchanged amazed looks with Garrett and Caleb. “All this time? How did you find out?”

  “A few days ago, I called Jack.”

  “Damn,” Wyatt said. “H&W Security is getting a lot of our money lately.”

  As far as the Landis family was concerned, H&W could do no wrong. The bodyguard their old friend Jack Winston sent to protect Jade had been worth every penny. She was safe and the danger that had plagued her for years was behind her. After that, Garrett wouldn’t begrudge Jack anything.

  “Turns out I should have called him right away. He turned it over to Alex Fleming, who tracked Walcott down in a matter of hours. The fool was spreading cash around like there was no tomorrow. That kind of behavior gets people talking.”

  “I assume you’ve booked a flight,” Wyatt said. “I’m going with you.”

  “I appreciate it, but there’s no need.” Nate laughed, shaking his head. “Our buddies at H&W provide an all-inclusive service. As we speak, Brett Walcott is on his way back to the States.”

  “How did they manage that?”

  “I didn’t ask, Dad. I was so happy with the results, I figured Jack and Alex could keep their trade secrets to themselves. I do know it involved Jack piloting a plane in and out of Mexico.” Nate sat back. He was full. With family. And he would soon have the answers he needed. “I will be heading to Spokane in the morning. Jack flew straight to Harper Falls. He didn’t want to take a chance on having a run-in with LAX security.”

  “Want some company?”

  All eyes turned to Jade.

  “Excuse me?” Garrett asked.

  “What? I thought it would be a good chance to visit Sable.”

  “Ah,” Colt smiled thoughtfully. “The lovely bodyguard. Maybe—”

  “No.” Nate shook his head, frowning at his younger brother. “You and your libido are staying put.” When he turned to Jade, his tone was softer. “I plan on being in and out, honey. No time for social niceties.”

  “I trust Jack and his crew to have your back.” Wyatt frowned. “I wonder if this is the best way to handle it.”

  “If you mean the police? They haven’t been interested, Wyatt. As far as they’re concerned, this was an accident.”

  “But now you have a witness.” Callie was for anything that kept her family out of danger. “What will you do with him?”

  “There’s plenty of undeveloped ground on the mountain behind H&W headquarters,” Garrett said helpfully.

  “You could bury the body with little chance of detection.”

  “Ha, ha. You boys missed your calling as stand-up comedians.”

  Even knowing it would garner him a dirty look, Caleb couldn’t help joining in.

  “As long as you’re at it, I have an investor I wouldn’t mind chucking down a deep hole.”

  “That’s where they get it,” Callie told Jade, ignoring her husband. “Come and help me with dessert.”

  “What are we having?” Nate called out.

  “Jade and I are sharing some strawberry cheesecake. If you’re lucky, we’ll leave you some crumbs.”

  Cheesecake was Nate’s favorite.

  “Don’t worry, son. I know for a fact that your mother had Lorena make an extra for you to take home.”

  The family’s long-time cook made the best desserts in the world. Nate wouldn’t argue if one ended up in his refrigerator.

  “Hey!” Colton protested.

  Nate swung his cast from side to side, a poor me expression on his face.

  “I don’t remember special desserts when I broke my leg skiing.”

  “That’s because you moved back here. Mom and Lorena waited on your pathetic ass night and day.”

  Colt grinned at Nate. “Mmm. One of the best months of my life. All the food I could eat served by two beautiful, loving women. In my mind, that’s what heaven will be like.”

  “You live in heaven twenty-four-seven, little brother. Women are lined up for miles for the honor of doing your dirty laundry.” Garrett grimaced. “I lived with your slovenly ways for sixteen years. No one, no matter how smitten, should have to deal with your foul socks. I swear those things stood up by themselves.”

  “Look who’s talking.” Colt turned to Wyatt. “Remember the summer Garrett decided to get back to nature? In other words, he didn’t shower for a month. Dad finally held him down while Nate sprayed him with a hose.”

  Nate listened with half an ear while his brothers entertained each other with stories of their youth. His mind was already on his trip north. Now that he was so close to finding out the truth, he wished he had booked an earlier flight.

  “Nathaniel.”

  “Hmm?” The use of his full name got Nate’s attention. “Did you need something, Dad?”

  “Funny you should ask.” Caleb stood, gesturing for Nate to follow. “Come to my office. I have something I want you to see. By the time we’re done, your mother should have calmed down enough to share some of that cheesecake.”

  Nate followed his
father down the hall. The door at the end had always been Caleb’s domain. Callie fiddled and decorated the rest of the house to her liking, but this one room was off limits. She was welcome to visit, but every inch was sacrosanct. Hands off. No exceptions. Caleb allowed the housekeeper cleaning access once a week. That was as far as his concessions went.

  When they were little, Caleb would let his boys crawl around on the floor to their hearts’ content. He liked having the toddlers nearby. Nate remembered using his father as a jungle gym, Caleb’s patience infinite. One of the many ways the big, boisterous man showed his love. He taught by example the proper way to show affection.

  One day, Nate thought, if he were blessed enough to have children, he already knew how to be a man they could look up to. His father showed him — every day of his life.

  “Have a look at this.”

  Caleb took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. Sitting, he waited while Nate read the two pages. When he had finished, he looked up with a puzzled frown.

  “Have I ever met Chuck Chamberlin?”

  “No. He was a roustabout on a few of my early films. By the time you and your brothers came along, Chuck was married and living in Montana.”

  “But you’ve kept in touch?” Nate handed back the letter.

  “Off and on.”

  Caleb sat back. Absently, he tapped one long finger against his chin. Nate recognized it as a gesture his father made when he was thinking.

  “It sounds like your old friend is in a bind. I admire the nerve of his daughter. Her father is in over his head and she contacts one of the biggest movie producers in Hollywood to bail him out?”

  “One of the most successful?”

  Amused, Nate glanced at the rows of awards on the shelves behind his father. “I’m not giving your ego an unneeded boost, Pops.”

  “Ah, children.” Caleb’s over-exaggerated sigh made it clear he had chosen the right side of the camera. He was wise to leave the acting to Callie and Colt.

  “Paige is worried about her father. I can’t blame her for reaching out to the only person she thought might help. Wouldn’t you do the same?”

  Nate had to concede the point. If his parents were in a bind, Nate would track down God if he thought it would help.

  “Like I said, I admire her nerve.” Nate tapped his chin, unconsciously echoing his father’s gesture. “This movie her father is making. She says he’s wanted to do it for years. Did he ever mention wanting to direct?”

  “This is Hollywood, Nate. Everybody wants to direct.”

  “I don’t. Neither do Wyatt or Colt.”

  Caleb chuckled. “The exceptions that prove the rule. Add your mother and me to that list and you have most of the Landis clan. Wonderful anomalies.”

  “But this Chamberlin guy. Where was his ambition when he worked here?”

  “There are different kinds of ambition, Nate. Chuck found Hollywood exciting. But his dream was to make enough money to go back to his hometown and take over the family ranch. And that’s what he did.”

  “What do you think changed? The daughter’s letter isn’t exactly packed full of details.”

  “Which is why I called her last week. She seems genuine, Nate.”

  “You mean she isn’t using an obscure connection to get a little free advice?”

  “The thought crossed my mind.” One didn’t survive in Hollywood as long as he had without developing a thick skin and a nose for bullshit. It was possible that Paige Chamberlin wasn’t what she seemed, but Caleb didn’t think so. She came across as a daughter at her wits’ end. She was worried about her father. She waited as long as she could before contacting him. He was the last resort that she hated to use. The fact that she had, spoke louder than words.

  “Chuck’s wife died two years ago. According to Paige, he’s been a little depressed. Understandable. I think he’s afraid of losing his daughter, too. The movie isn’t just his vanity project. It’s a way of keeping Paige close.”

  “Jesus, Dad.”

  “I know… it sounds messed up.”

  “No.” Nate tried to think of a way of putting it that wouldn’t come across as judgmental, but came up empty. “Okay, yes. It sounds a little twisted. Hell, for all we know, it’s a lot twisted.”

  “I don’t think so.” Caleb shook his head. “I honestly believe he’s a lonely man who’s worried his daughter will move away, get married, have children, and he won’t be around to watch them grow up.”

  “Is that what she said?”

  “Paige painted a picture of a man who has gotten in over his head. She didn’t say it, but I think she’s afraid he’ll crash and burn. Personally and financially.”

  “All to keep his daughter down on the ranch? That’s some job of reading between the lines, Dad.”

  “I put myself in his shoes.”

  “Come on.” Nate wasn’t buying it. “You wouldn’t have stopped us from leaving Los Angeles if it was what we wanted.”

  “I was lucky enough that it was never an issue. And, there are four of you. Chuck only has Paige.”

  “Speaking of.” Nate absently scratched at the edge of his cast. Three more weeks and the damn thing came off. It couldn’t happen soon enough. “What’s her part in all this? She would have to be dense not to see through her father’s motives. She’s what?”

  “Twenty-five. She was little late finishing college. When her mother got sick, she took time off to nurse her at home.”

  “Admirable.”

  “From what Chuck has said over the years, the girl is a pistol. Smart as a whip and doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

  “Except her father, apparently.” Nate settled back in his chair. “What’s the deal, Dad? Why are you telling me all of this?”

  “Your mother and I had planned on taking some time to go up and help out.”

  “On a rag-tag film with no budget?” Nate laughed at the thought. “Callie Flynn and Caleb Landis? In the middle of nowhere? Doing what?”

  “Whatever needs doing. You think your mother and I are above that? Drop the attitude, Nate. Snobbery doesn’t suit you.”

  “It’s not snobbery,” Nate protested. When his father leveled him with a long look, Nate sighed. “Okay. Maybe it is. A little. You have to admit, it is a bit… unexpected.”

  “Yes.” Caleb nodded. “Callie and I were looking forward to getting away from the city. And the idea of leaving the big budgets and special effects behind held some appeal.”

  “If you say so.”

  Nate couldn’t picture his parents in the wilds of Montana. Yes, they came from poor backgrounds. They had worked damn hard to get where they were. The pampered lifestyle they now lived was well deserved. It had been a long time since either had to go for more than a day without hot running water and someone to cook their meals.

  Could they do it? Nate had no doubt. Why would they want to? Even for an old friend.

  “Wait,” Nate suddenly realized what his father was saying. “You say it held some appeal. You aren’t going?”

  “Your mother was offered a movie with Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren.”

  “Wow.”

  “Exactly. She couldn’t turn down an opportunity that is unlikely to come along again. And since I’ll be producing, we can’t get away.”

  “That’s too bad for your friend, but maybe this will bring him to his senses.”

  “Too late.” Caleb shrugged. “He’s already sunk most of his money into the project. No backing out.”

  “Then send him a few bucks. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.” Nate grinned. “Who knows, it could become a box office sleeper and you’ll be glad you were in on the ground floor.”

  “Oh, I’m sending money. And you.”

  Nate sat up straight, his chin practically on the floor.

  “Say again?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  NATE WATCHED AS the Bitterroot Mountains spread out below in a glorious vista of colors.

  Greens, blues, browns. September was wa
ning, bringing a hint of the coming change of seasons. It was a sight to see.

  Nate was fortunate to have traveled all over the world. Seen every continent. Since he was a small child, his parents took him and his brothers on their movie sets.

  Morocco. India. Bangladesh. Brazil. Australia. Japan.

  The list went on and on.

  As an adult, his job gave him the chance to see those same places and more through different eyes. What he appreciated as a boy was different now that he was a man. Nate still felt a rush every time he encountered a new culture.

  His need to explore and drink in the differences from his everyday life in Los Angeles was as strong as when he and his brothers ran up and down the streets of Nairobi, chased by their harried bodyguards. It wasn’t an easy task to keep track of four active, inquisitive boys.

  It seemed impossible to believe, but with all the traveling he had done, this was his first trip to Montana. If what he saw from the seat in Jack Winston’s private plane were any indication, it wouldn’t be his last.

  “How you doing?”

  Jack didn’t have to raise his voice. Nate sat next to him in the cockpit of the plane. If given a choice, Nate always rode in that spot. The view was better up here. And as a pilot himself, he liked to be near the controls. Just in case.

  “Good.”

  Jack laughed. He was a big man. Almost as tall as Nate. He had earned a full-ride football scholarship and most people assumed he would ride that to a career in the NFL. He was that good. However, what most people didn’t know was that Jack’s real passion was computers. More accurately, creating cutting-edge software with his best friend, Drew Harper.

  “I’m sorry Brett Walcott turned out to be a bust.”

  “There was no way for you to know that the weasel lied through his teeth the entire time.” Nate tried to relax his shoulders. They had been in a perpetual knot since he met with Walcott. He went in expecting answers, but ended up coming out with more questions.

  “It’s embarrassing. And frustrating.” Nate took his eyes off the scenery. “Walcott is hardly the sharpest tool in the box. Yet he managed to convince me he saw who sabotaged my jump.”