Page 89 of Night Hawk
“Then who else?”
“Gee, I wonder. If I only knew someone who was a former law enforcement officer.” Blake grinned.
“That settles it.” Clay stood. “Get your things. We’re going to see Trent.”
Toni sat at the dining table feeling odd being at the Byrd’s beach house without Clay. She’d laid down for a quick nap before her shower but was so exhausted that she actually slept through her alarm and didn’t hear others stirring. By the time she got up, Clay and Blake had gone to meet with Trent. Clay had left a cryptic note saying that he had high hopes for the meeting and would be back soon to tell her about it.
Peggy set a plate of pancakes on the table. Drake grabbed the platter, but instead of taking any, he handed it to Toni. “Take them while you can.”
She smiled her thanks and forked two of the perfectly browned discs dotted with dark chocolate.
“Since when did you become such a gentleman?” Brendan asked his brother.
“What, me?” Drake asked, sounding offended. “My mama taught me right.”
“She didn’t teach you to be such a smart aleck, though.” Peggy playfully cuffed him on the head and set the warm maple syrup in front of Toni.
Toni smiled with them as they continued to joke while cutting and consuming pancakes faster than she could’ve imagined possible. She’d been in a foul mood for having missed the meeting with Trent, but her crankiness was disappearing with the food.
“See,” Drake said. “We’re all vultures.”
She laughed, but the door opened and she spun to see Blake and Clay step in. Clay’s eyes were bright with excitement.
Peggy turned from the griddle. “Just in time for pancakes.”
Both guys went to the kitchen to wash their hands then settled at the table.
“So tell us already,” Toni said. “What happened with Trent?”
Clay reached into his pocket and held up a deputy’s badge. “Blake has one too.”
Drake’s eyes narrowed. “You stole badges to make it easier to get info?”
Clay rolled his eyes. “Trent deputized us.”
Toni gaped at Clay. “What in the world?”
“Was all Blake’s idea.” Clay forked a bite of pancakes and chewed contentedly.
Everyone looked at Blake. “With all Trent has on his plate, he needed help. I suggested he could deputize people with law enforcement experience to help. Then I might’ve volunteered.” He grinned.
Clay swallowed and took a long sip of coffee. “The rest of you guys are included in the plan. After breakfast, you’ll be sworn in, and we’ll meet with Blake to review leads for each investigation.”
“You said guys,” Toni said, trying to sound calm when her emotions were flaring. “Did you mean just your brothers?”
Clay looked at her, a hint of unease tightening his expression. “Sorry. Yeah. You’re already sworn by another agency.”
“Yeah, I figured.” She tightened her hands into fists under the table and gritted her teeth. She needed time to think before she snapped at him in front of his whole family. “So this means I’ll be cut out of the investigation while you all not only investigate but have inside information.”
Clay swallowed again. “It was the only way to get access to the things we need to move forward.”
“Ah, man.” Drake shook his head. “Not a wise move, bro.”
“I thought it was a genius idea.” Clay challenged his brother with a glare.
Drake gave Toni a pointed look. She was trying hard, but she wasn’t hiding her frustration. Clay was too excited by this new direction to see how making such a decision without talking to her would hurt. She wished Drake hadn’t caught on and wasn’t giving her a sympathetic look. His kindness brought tears to her eyes, totally unacceptable for an FBI agent. Especially in front of this group.
“Excuse me.” She hurried to the bedroom, firmly closed the door, and paced off her frustration.
