Zach's Lie

Sam is a mentor figure in the novel. The older, muscular, blue-eyed custodian of Elko Middle school is more than he appears, despite his khaki work clothes and glasses. As a child, Sam was a musical prodigy and his talent extended to languages, something that the KGB, Russia’s counterpart to the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency, noticed and utilized. Sam is a former colonel in the KGB. He defected twenty years ago when he realized how detrimental secrets and lies were to his life and the lives of others. Sam decided to expose the KGB’s secrets. Like Zach and The Phantom, Sam is in hiding.

At Elko Middle School, Sam carries many responsibilities. The Principal, Mrs. Pyle, respects Sam’s recommendations for student discipline. Sam is perceptive and understands teenagers. He is protective towards the students, which earns him the nickname Unai, or “shepherd” from Catalin’s grandfather. Sam is the first to offer Zach his friendship in Elko, and he takes Zach under his wing.

Sam still indulges in his love for music. He composed the impressive score for his original musical, The Opera Ghost. Sam also still maintains many of his old spy skills: His arsenal of tricks and traps helps defeat Aznar and shows that sometimes deception can be beneficial. Sam, however, knows that truth and trust are even more important. Sam shares his story, compromising his safety and identity, to help Zach trust him.

The primary antagonist of Zach’s Lie, Alonzo Aznar “likes getting his hands dirty from time to time,” according to Neil. (33) Aznar is personally involved with hunting down the Osborne family. Aznar has gleaming white teeth and black hair that he ties back in a ponytail when he poses as Hector Jones, P.I. Aznar also likes to dress all in black. Aznar runs a drug cartel out of South and Central America and Mexico. He pays the debts that Neil owes on his failing independent airline company, and Neil begins working for Aznar, running drugs in return. Aznar and Neil become “friends,” and Neil likes his work—at first.

Aznar is a formidable foe with many connections. He has many criminals on his payroll, like El Sereno, and he freely uses violence to achieve his goals: beating up Peter and preparing to shoot Catalin. Aznar’s threats to find and kill the Osborne family if they break his trust by talking to the police, set Smith’s thrilling plot in motion. Aznar uses deceit and lies for nefarious purposes but is no match for Sam’s experience and Zach’s drive to protect his family.

Few people at Elko Middle School like Peter because he “hassles everyone” (101). Peter was adopted at a young age, and while Darrell was friends with Peter in grade school, and Catalin says Peter used to be nice, “things change.” Eighth grade Peter takes after his adoptive dad—a hustler out to make it big. Peter’s most desperate desire is to get out of Elko and away from his neglectful, gambler parents, who Peter knows do not care much about him. Peter wants enough money for a bus ticket to San Francisco to visit his brother. Peter also likes Catalin, who does not return his admiration. Zach knows that when Peter does not accept his apology after he punches him that he has made an enemy, but Zach discounts exactly how dangerous Peter can be.

Peter becomes the novel’s secondary antagonist when his grudge against Zach inspires him to steal Zach’s journal. Using this leverage, Peter adopts his father’s gambling strategies; waiting, stalking, and bluffing, until he has Zach where he wants him. Peter knowingly sells Zach out to Aznar when he feels that Zach disrespected him and ignored his threats. Peter learns that secrets do not always pay out.

With her long, glossy black hair, Catalin is “a nice-looking girl,” as Sam notes when he sees Zach’s infatuation with her (114). Catalin grew up in Elko. Her parents run the Nevada Hotel where Sam lives, and Catalin works there serving in the restaurant. She is affectionate towards her grandfather Benat and enjoys spending time with him at his mountain sheep camp. Catalin smiles at Zach in homeroom on his first day of school and stands up for Zach when Peter sweet-talks Mrs. Pyle after Zach punches him. Catalin likes Zach’s eyes and asks him lots of questions about his family and his past, which Zach, to his discomfort, cannot answer. Catalin thinks, correctly, that there is more to Zach than he tells her. Catalin reveals her fondness for Zach and her sensitivity towards his emotions when she repairs and secretly slips Commander IF into his backpack after Zach denies the little toy is his. Catalin becomes a pawn that Aznar uses against Zach when he offers to spare her life in exchange for Neil’s journal. Zach realizes that Catalin was an important influence on his feelings about Elko and his self-confidence. He sends her a piece of himself—Commander IF—to show what a good friend she was, and how much she means to him.

Neil is a great dad: He is patient and understanding with Jack, has a fun sense of humor, and spends a lot of time with his son, teaching him woodworking and boxing and introduces him to journaling. Neil loves his son: He even picked Jack’s name. To Zach, Neil is a hero: an ex-Navy fighter pilot, who heroically disobeyed orders in the Gulf War when he would not leave another crashed pilot behind. Zach idolizes his dad and is hurt and confused by Neil’s illegal activities and the danger to which Neil selfishly exposes the family.

Neil’s actions, which had already caused strife between him and Patricia, cause a profound division in the family. Neither Zach’s mother nor his sister speaks about Neil, which upsets Zach, who wants his dad in his life. Neil, recognizing that he has lost and endangered everything he cares about vows to make things right. Neil protects his family by refusing to inform on Aznar until they are safe, and, like Sam, trades secrets for truth and justice.

Mary is furious that Neil keeps secrets from her, especially secrets that harm their family. Mary, who does not drink or approve of any drugs, is especially upset that Neil is a drug trafficker. Mary goes into a protective maternal mode, putting her own feelings aside to focus on protecting Zach and Wanda when she realizes her children are in danger. Mary’s protective nature borders on overprotective, Zach thinks, when she gets angry at Zach for coming home late and not telling her where he has been. Her reluctance to leave Zach home alone while she and Wanda go to L.A. shows her love, and her fear. Mary admits the encounter with Aznar still affects her.

When they start their new lives, Mary concentrates on rebuilding their lives and becoming the family breadwinner. She focuses on opening a bookstore because she enjoyed working in one during college. Zach feels terrible about destroying this dream when their cover story is blown, but Mary shows her maternal understanding and resilience. Zach says, “she has been great through this whole thing” (209). Mary is at first uncertain whether she will welcome Neil back when he gets out of prison, but her happiness on the plane shows how glad she is to be reunited with her husband. Mary illustrates the importance of strong family ties. With the family whole, they can start afresh together.