Page 74 of Night Hawk
Sierra crossed her arms. “I amsomad at you.”
“If it helps, we swore each other to secrecy,” Clay said. “Didn’t tell Mom and Dad or anyone else. At least I didn’t.”
The rest of the brothers quickly assured her of the same.
Blake shook his head. “You guys have stepped in it now.”
“That’s all in the past, and we can leave it there.” Clay knuckled Sierra’s arm.
“I’m still mad, so don’t touch me.” Sierra’s words said one thing but her arms had relaxed, and she leaned closer to Clay, her mouth starting to quirk up at the corners.
Toni wasn’t surprised to see the inconsistency between her words and body language. Years of interviewing suspects told Toni people could usually manage to withhold their thoughts, but they couldn’t control their body’s responses. Like Wilshire. When she’d asked about telling anyone about Lisa. He’d said one thing, but the flash in his eyes gave him away, and she needed to know what he was hiding.
The moment she’d returned from his place, she’d started an internet search on him. She’d found the legal recording of his divorce but zero details on the proceedings and nothing about the custody disposition. Those records were likely sealed to protect the children. Meant she couldn’t see if he ever tried to contest the custody decision or if there was any hint of his wife lying.
Clay’s gaze remained on Sierra. “So does this mean that after dinner you won’t help us review files?”
Sierra pushed her empty plate away. “What are you reviewing?”
“Sheriff Ziegler’s old case files, the church directory from Toni’s grandparents, and the photos found at Rader’s house.”
Sierra’s expression softened. “I’ll help. For these poor girls.”
“I can help too,” Kelsey said.
“Count me in as well,” Blake said.
“Then let’s have dessert and get to work.” Erik stood. “Whose turn to clear the table?”
Toni hopped up. “I can do it.”
“I’ll help,” Clay offered.
“Was my turn, but I’ll just have to sit here and suffer.” Brendan grinned as he leaned back and put his hands behind his head.
“You can have my turn tomorrow instead,” Aiden offered.
Brendan laughed and socked his brother in the arm.
If Toni and Clay never got together, she wondered if this family would adopt her. She liked their joking and the love permeating everything they did. And their Christian values. She had to admit that her faith had suffered after her dad died—the last person she truly knew on this earth. Sure, her grandpa was alive, but they weren’t close. But now she had a set of grandparents to get to know. If she wanted to. And Lisa? Could she be alive?
“You’re deep in thought.” Clay passed her with a stack of plates.
“Thinking about when this investigation is over. If my grandparents are cleared of any wrongdoing, I don’t know if I’ll want to get to know them.”
“Not that I have ever experienced this, but why wouldn’t you?”
She set down the serving platter. “I guess they remind me of my parents, and if Lisa is dead, of that too. I don’t know if I can take it.”
“Maybe as time passes it’ll be easier.”
She started dropping silverware into the dishwasher basket. “They’ve got to be in their eighties. Seems like I don’t have the luxury of letting time pass.”
“They both appeared pretty healthy, though.”
“Yeah, they did, didn’t they?” She thought about them as she grabbed the tortilla chip bowls from the table. She finally had a chance to ask some health questions. From the way her parents died, she couldn’t determine anything about her potential longevity. Seeing her grandparents’ fitness at their age gave her hope she might live a long life too.
Erik passed her with a platter of giant cookies. “Mom’s monster cookies. Oatmeal, peanut butter, peanuts, M&Ms, and chocolate chips, in case anyone needs allergy information.”
