Page 24 of Night Hawk
He didn’t correct her assumption, just said good-bye and took his bag into the family room. Toni was sitting on the couch looking at her phone. He was still uncomfortable about his mother’s forward behavior. He’d seen it directed at Harper and Jenna, so he should’ve expected it. She instantly mothered every person any one of them brought home. It’d been far more embarrassing in high school, though. Even if their mom had been their teacher, they still participated in homeschooling groups.
Toni looked up, her eyes troubled.
Clay set his suitcase near the exit. “Everything okay?”
“Just trying to find out who’s working the investigation.” She shoved her phone into her pocket. “I’ve been getting the runaround.”
“Adair’s lead and Hunter’s his wingman.”
She blinked a few times. “And how do you know that?”
“Got a call from the forensic anthropologist at Veritas.” He shared the gist of Kelsey’s call.
She frowned. “So we’ve got a challenge before we even begin.”
“Hey.” He dropped onto the couch next to her. “You’ve got five former law enforcement officers working with you. We’ll figure this out.”
“Still, it would help if I could get someone on the inside of the investigation to help with official records or documents if we need them.” She clasped her hands together.
“We’ve solved two big cases recently without an inside source. We can do this one, too.” He made sure he sounded positive, though he had his doubts.
She took a long breath and pinned her focus to him. “How can you sound so confident? Especially on an investigation we couldn’t close when wedidhave access to all the databases and files?”
He returned the same focus her way. “Because we have to figure it out. Your life could depend on it.”
6
After a sleepless night, Toni stepped off the elevator with Clay and entered the Nighthawk Security office. A wall just inside cordoned off a small reception area where a perky redhead Toni put in her early thirties with big green eyes and a ready smile sat behind an aged wood desk.
Clay stopped by the desk. “Toni Long. Meet our receptionist, Stella Carpenter.”
Stella held out a freckled hand. “Nice to meet you, Agent Long. I heard we’re working with you on an investigation.”
“Please call me Toni,” she said.
Stella smiled. “They’re all inside waiting for you. Aiden’s chomping at the bit to get going.”
“We best get in there. Hold all calls, please.” Clay opened the door and stood back.
Toni stepped into the wide-open space and found the brothers sitting at a long live-edge table with eight chairs and black steel legs. Three flat-screen TVs were mounted on the wall behind the table. Industrial in design, the space had exposed metal ducts and beams. A small office took up one wall, and cubicles lined the back of the room.
No longer in shock from a snake, she took a good look at Clay’s brothers. Thankfully, their expressions were more relaxed today. Still, she had to dig up confidence to walk into this fierce group of men.
“Glad you could make it. When you were late, we all figured you might’ve gotten locked in a closet again.” Aiden grinned, and his brothers chuckled.
Clay fired a testy look their way, silencing them all.
Toni wished the brothers weren’t teasing Clay, but she couldn’t do anything about it except change the subject. Her attention went to a golden lab sitting on the floor by Erik. Interesting to see Erik had chosen a dog with his same light coloring.
She went over to the dog. “And you must be Pong.”
He looked up at Erik, his eyes big.
“It’s okay, boy,” Erik said. “You can say hi.”
Pong shoved his snout under her hand, and she dropped to the floor to pet him. “Aren’t you a pretty boy.”
“Takes after his owner.” Erik laughed.
