Page 49 of Night Hawk
“But I wouldn’t mind it if they stopped now.” Hannah shook her head. “Blake and Gage are in his office down the hall. Please, excuse me while I referee.”
Clay passed the family room filled with toys, and Kelsey sat on the sofa looking tired. She, like the rest of the Veritas staff, worked long hours, even though she was expecting. Plus, she had such a tough job. She was isolated in the basement without windows and only had bones and her assistants to keep her company. Before meeting her, he’d thought she’d be kind of a loner, but she was outgoing and fun to be around.
In the small office, he found Gage sitting behind a large desk, Blake leaning back in a leather chair facing him.
“Clay, join us.” Gage gestured at the second leather chair. “We were talking about Toni learning she had a sister.”
Blake sat forward. “I talked to Sheriff Ziegler. He’ll be glad to see us tomorrow.” Blake shook his head. “Last case I talked to him about was related to Emory, who also discovered she had a sister, Cait. They’re twins. Separated at birth and adopted out to different families.”
“And how did that turn out?” Clay took a seat on the buttery soft leather.
“Good. She also discovered she has a grandmother. They’re all quite close now. We come down to visit often. I used to take Ziegler out for lunch a couple times a month when I lived here. We go out while Emory catches up with her sister. His health’s been failing. He doesn’t talk about it, but I get the idea he doesn’t have much time left. He let the job consume his life and doesn’t have family.”
“I’ve seen that happen too much on the job,” Clay said.
Blake gave a solemn nod. “Anyway, we’ll talk to him tomorrow. Provided I bring his favorite apple fritters.”
“Small price to pay.”
“And speaking of paying a price,” Clay said. “Drake is making dinner for us so we should get going.”
“Before you go.” Gage’s serious tone wiped away Clay’s good mood. “When Blake told me about Toni, I had Eryn do a little digging for you.”
“She’s their computer expert,” Blake said. “Nick’s the only person I know as capable as Eryn.”
Clay should be irritated with Gage. He had no business asking anyone to dig around, but if it meant finding Hibbard, Clay would accept the help. “And what did she turn up that has you looking so serious?”
“It’s about Toni’s granduncle. Andrew Martin.”
“If you’re going to tell me her dad killed him, we already know that.”
“News to me,” Blake said. “When did this happen and where?”
“Nineteen-ninety,” Clay said. “In Arlington, Virginia, where Long was stationed with the DEA.”
“Ziegler must not know about that,” Blake said. “At least, he never mentioned it.”
“Probably didn’t make the news out here,” Clay said. “But we can ask Ziegler about it.”
Gage tapped a packet of stapled papers on his desktop. “Have you seen Martin’s rap sheet?”
“No,” Clay said. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if he had one.”
“He does.” Gage slid the report across the desk to Clay. “Was arrested for having sex with an underage girl. And when I say underage, I mean ten.”
Blake muttered something under his breath and leaned forward. “This is news to me too. Where did it happen?”
“Virginia.”
“Did Martin move out there with Long and his wife?” Blake asked.
“Not sure on the details. Eryn’s still digging.”
Clay curled his fingers into tight balls. “Was Martin convicted?”
“No. He got off on a technicality. But the day the verdict came in was the day Toni’s dad shot him.”
Clay looked at Blake. “Maybe he thought Martin abducted Lisa.”
