Page 76 of Night Hawk
“Guy could’ve just visited Rader and the bird attacked him,” Drake said.
“But why?” Toni asked. “Bird was totally friendly with us. I don’t think he would attack unless provoked or unless Rader was in danger.”
Clay crossed his arms. “So like I said, we need to be cautious.”
“Do you know where Sharkey lives?” Toni’s excited tone held the same enthusiasm burning in Clay’s gut.
“Got his address.” Erik grabbed his phone. “Let me try to get a contact at PPB to ping Sharkey’s phone and see if he’s home.”
“Do that,” Clay said, but Erik was already typing the text. “While we wait, put up a map of Sharkey’s address on the TV.”
Erik completed his text and everyone pinned their focus on the TV. The map populated the screen.
Erik pointed his cursor at a large parcel of land. “He’s a Christmas tree farmer.”
Clay looked at Blake. “Didn’t you say Rader used to grow Christmas trees?”
Blake nodded. “Maybe they knew each other.”
“Or not,” Sierra said. “When Mom homeschooled us she had a module on Oregon farming and—”
“I sorta remember that,” Drake said. “But don’t tell Mom I forgot the details.”
Sierra wrinkled her nose. “She told us there were over seven hundred tree growers in Oregon back then. I remember because I love Christmas.”
“So our guys might not have known each other,” Brendan said.
“Still, look at the map.” Blake went to the TV and tapped two locations. “Sharkey’s farm is within thirty miles of Rader’s place. They could’ve connected in a tree growers association.”
“Could be,” Clay said. “But it doesn’t mean they were working together to traffic people.”
“True that,” Erik said. “I’m still searching for more info on Sharkey.”
“The guy could draw down on us.” Clay moved to the TV and tapped the image of the old farmhouse on the map. “And we need a plan to take him.”
His brothers sounding nearly as excited as Clay, threw out ideas and discussed different approaches for the next thirty minutes. Blake had been totally quiet as had Toni, who looked like she was trying to process.
“We need to get Sharkey to come outside where we can manage the situation,” Drake said. “I doubt he’ll open his door for one of us guys.”
Toni pointed at the TV screen. “There’s a gas pump at the back of his property. I can pretend I ran out of gas and ask him to help.”
“Should work,” Brendan said.
Clay’s gut screamed to outright refuse, but her idea was sound. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t voice his concern. “I don’t like it. He could open fire through the door.”
Erik looked up. “No reports of Sharkey attacking anyone.”
Toni lifted her shoulders. “I’ll wear a vest.”
Erik’s phone dinged, and he grinned. “Sharkey’s home.”
Clay forced himself to accept putting Toni in danger. “We’ll go with Toni’s plan.”
“You really need to let Trent and his deputies handle this,” Blake said. “Looks like Sharkey killed Rader, and they’ll want to bring the guy in for questioning.”
“They can.” Clay eyed Blake. “We’ll call them right after we talk to Sharkey.”
Blake frowned. “You’ll do whatever you want, but I’m going on record as not being on board with this decision.”
