Page 57 of Night Hawk
Erik stepped into the room, and Sierra joined them from the bedroom.
“I need that list of missing girls you’re working on,” Clay said. “And I need it yesterday.”
He told him about the initials.
Erik tilted his head. “The information is public knowledge, but gathering it will take more time. Trent could get us a list a whole lot faster.”
“I’ll get Blake to request one.” Clay dug out his phone and dialed Blake.
Thankfully he answered his phone even though he was meeting with Trent.
“We have a lead.” Clay told Blake about the initials and the photos from Rader’s place. “Trent knows about the photos but not the initials as we just found them. Can you get a list from him of every missing girl in the area since the eighties without telling him about this latest lead?”
“The database won’t hold old records.”
“Then get what he has.”
“Let me ask.” Blake sounded hesitant.
Why, Clay had no idea. He started pacing again across the dirty tile as he waited for an answer. His feet stuck in places, and he didn’t even want to think about what might be on these floors.
Aiden joined them, a puzzled look on his face.
“Someone fill Aiden in,” Clay said and resumed his strides. He heard Toni update his brother.
“Trent wants to know why you need the information,” Blake said.
Clay halted his movements. He didn’t want to share their lead. “If you tell him, he’ll take back this scene.”
“And well he should.”
Not the answer Clay wanted to hear, but it was the right one. “Fine. Tell him. But only after he agrees to provide the list.”
Clay shoved his free hand into his hair. They were being stymied by law enforcement at every turn, and he was getting tired of doing the right thing and sharing his leads with them. Sure, it hadn’t been so long ago when he was on the other side of the fence, and he should want to help Trent, but he wanted to find Hibbard and make him pay more than anything.
Blake let out a long breath. “Trent’s on his way over with your list, and he’ll take over the beach house again.”
“At least convince him to let Sierra continue the forensics. She’s the best. If he doubts it, remind him that she found this lead and his team missed it.”
“Will do.” Blake ended the call.
Clay shoved his phone into his pocket.
“Well?” Toni asked.
“Trent will bring us a list of missing girls for as far back as their computerized records go, but he’s going to take over the house again.”
Toni frowned. “Then we need to get searching fast.”
Clay looked at his brothers. “You heard her. We have about ten minutes to tear this place apart.”
Sitting in the back seat of Clay’s SUV, Toni was itching to get going to Ziegler’s, so she was glad that the moment Blake slid into the passenger seat, Clay drove off. Even if Clay insisted on stopping to check in with Kelsey on the way. Erik had headed back to the family beach house to keep working on the photos and try to match them to the list Trent provided. Aiden and Brendan were staying with Sierra. Trent forbid them from going inside, but Clay insisted she have family members nearby in case she needed support.
Toni loved seeing the strong connections in the Byrd family even as hers had crumbled around her. The only solid family connections she’d had was with her parents, another thing in her life being called into question. So it wasn’t surprising she craved any kind of human connection. Even another hug from Clay.
She had to watch her emotions. She could be confusing her feelings for him for thankfulness. Plus, it wasn’t unusual for law enforcement officers to grow close on an investigation, but once the case was closed, they went their separate ways. More often than not, the bond was short-lived.
If she gave in to her feelings for Clay, would they split up after the investigation ended? She’d had a thing for him for over a year, so that could speak to something more long-term. Or not. She just didn’t know this any more than she knew who she was.
