Page 116 of Night Hawk
Clay could hardly look at the girls without getting so angry he wanted to punch something. Punch it hard. But he kept glancing over there because Toni had insisted on staying with Lisa, Rachel, and Henry. He watched as her family was loaded in an ambulance. Toni stepped back.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital.” She gave a tentative wave.
The ambulance drove off, lights twirling but no siren blaring.
Toni hurried across the lot to Clay. “I need a ride to the hospital.”
“I didn’t want to bother you while you were with Lisa and her kids, so I already arranged it.” He pointed at Drake. “I don’t have a vehicle here so I called Drake, and he insisted on driving you.”
“You have a very nice brother.”
Clay forced a smile and started for the vehicle. He took a moment to appreciate his family, which he didn’t do often enough, but he’d seen such loss and hardship today. The girls’ families would be ecstatic to hear their daughters were safe, but the road to a normal life would be rocky for everyone.
Maybe even harder for Lisa after more than thirty years in captivity. Clay had heard stories about women who emerged years after being abducted and spending years as prisoners, but it seemed Lisa could hold the record for the length of time. Not a record anyone would want to claim.
Drake stood by the SUV, holding the rear door open for Toni. “Glad to hear about Lisa.”
“Yeah. Good news. But what she endured?” Toni shook her head and started coughing. “I can’t even imagine it.”
Even at a distance, Clay could see the same anger burning in Drake that was burning in him, but he also contained it. He handed over Toni’s phone. “Found it at the hotel.”
“Thanks.” She slid into the vehicle.
“We’re all praying for Lisa and her kids. For all of these girls.” Drake looked over at the barn, and his gaze darkened even more. “But the good news is, Clay got here in time.”
Drake gave Clay a knowing look, then closed the door and slid behind the wheel as if eager to get out of there. Clay didn’t blame him. This was one of those nights that would stay with all of them for the rest of their lives. Clay only wished Toni had asked him to come with her so he could leave too.
As if she’d heard his thoughts, the car door opened, and she crooked her finger at him. “Come on. Lisa will be waiting for me.”
He didn’t have to be asked twice. He climbed in the back with her. She smelled like smoke and had dark patches of soot on her face, but she’d never looked more beautiful to him.
She shifted her gaze to him. “I didn’t have a chance to thank you.”
Ah, so that’s why she wanted him to come with her. She’d likely forgotten all about her hasty kiss. A heat-of-the-moment kind of thing.
“No thanks needed. Just glad I chose the right thing.” He explained about the choice Trent had given him.
“Sounds logical.” She smiled at him, a generous glowing one that lit a very tired face. He wished Drake weren’t there and she was in his arms so he could show her what her smile did to him. But it was probably for the better. She didn’t need relationship drama on top of everything else that had happened tonight.
Drake turned onto the highway. “Seems like you two made up.”
“Pretty hard to be mad over something so petty when you see what we saw tonight.” Toni glanced at Clay. “And to face death? Puts everything into perspective.”
Clay cringed. She could have died. If they hadn’t gotten her out of the barn, she would have. She’d resisted medical attention, but Clay would insist she be checked for smoke inhalation at the hospital. He wouldn’t risk losing her to the fire’s aftereffects.
Toni stared at the door to the ER exam room. She’d been examined by a doctor and pronounced physically fit, as had Lisa and her children. For that, Toni was thankful. But emotionally fit? No. Any little sound had Lisa and the kids jumping and looking over their shoulders, fear lodged in their eyes.
Toni had never felt such anger in her life. She wanted to march down to the jail, wrap her hands around Hibbard’s and Ursula’s necks, and squeeze until their last breath left them. She hadn’t even been this angry after her dad had been gunned down. He was an adult. He’d known he was putting himself in danger. He’d understood the consequences of his actions and had chosen the risks. But Lisa and her children? No. They’d done nothing to deserve their captivity and the life they’d been forced to endure.
Toni’s phone rang. Good. She needed a diversion.
Vance Danby’s name showed on her screen. He’d left her three messages while she’d been away from her phone. She swallowed her anger and answered as cheerfully as possible. “Sorry I didn’t call you back. I was in a situation here.”
“No worries,” he said. “The key fit a safe deposit box, as we thought. I sent the items to you but also wanted to let you know what to expect.”
She pulled her focus from the ER door and turned her full attention to the call. “What was in the box?”
“Five journals. In them, he details his search for Lisa. Even explains why he was at the op when he was killed.”
