Pinal Air Park serves as both Larry Stryker’s planned point of departure and a presumed hiding place when he fears that evidence of his crimes may be discovered. The location’s role links his attempted flight to his decision to take the notebooks that could expose him.

A Planned Departure

After reconsidering his arrangements, Larry calls the charter service back and asks to leave that night from the FBO at Pinal Air Park, rather than Tucson International. He changes his destination from Cabo San Lucas to Mexico City and specifies that he will travel alone. Wanting to make the journey in one flight, he requests a large aircraft, such as a Bravo or an Excel; availability is uncertain because the request would count as simultaneous use.

A Place to Wait

Larry’s plans shift when he worries that someone might enter the basement room and find its restraints, shackles, and other equipment. Knowing that alternate-light sources could reveal blood droplets he had missed, he considers whether to destroy more evidence, then decides instead to retrieve his notebooks and go to the airport. He believes no one would think to look for him at Pinal Air Park.

The Notebooks and the Escape Plan

To retrieve the notebooks, Larry hurries to his study and opens the wall safe concealed behind a large oil painting. Gayle does not know the safe exists, which is why he has used it to store the notebooks. His hand shakes as he enters the combination, and it takes three attempts before he succeeds. He puts the notebooks in his briefcase, intending to take them with him; the passage establishes his plan to wait at Pinal Air Park, not that he reaches or departs from it.