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  “We left the hotel just in time. The front desk clerk, a young man named Dan, said a man wearing a black suit showed up asking about us,” Hawk explained. “Dan sent the guy in the opposite direction of us.”

  “So, they are tracking our bank cards...well, yours because you paid for the rooms. But if I use my bank card, I'm sure I will be tracked, too.”

  Hawk focused on the wet road. “A man wearing a black suit, driving a black sedan... Nikki, it sounds like this guy could be a hit man.”

  Nikki began to speak but paused. “Hawk, why didn't he ask about Jack? Why only us?”

  Hawk looked at Nikki. “Good question...” he pondered, “why wasn't Jack asked about?”

  Miles down the road, William made a call. “I'm flying to Los Angeles. It seems like Daily and Bates are going to try to meet up with Jack.”

  “Jack used his bank card this morning at the Columbia Airport. He purchased a plane ticket to Los Angeles. It does seem that way, sir.”

  William ended the call. “You are a dead man, Jack,” he promised.

  8

  Dr. Falton stared at Hawk from across a glossy, hardwood desk that cost more than Hawk made in a year. A tall, thin man in his late fifties, Dr. Falton sat dignified, brilliant, and calm as he studied Hawk's demeanor. Wearing a wrinkle-free, gray suit that hinted at brains and money, the man obviously wanted to make Hawk feel inferior. “You have exactly five minutes of my time.”

  Hawk studied Dr. Falton. He thought the man's curly gray hair made him look like a sissy, and the gray suit seemed stuffy. Glancing around the office, Hawk spotted glass frames hanging on white walls, holding one diploma of medicine after another. A wooden bookshelf against the right wall held numerous medical volumes as thick as Dr. Falton's arrogance. “I need to warn you that if you tell anyone I was here, your life will be in danger.”

  “I have no desire to speak with anyone about this meeting. Now, please hurry,” Dr. Falton said in a flat, bored tone.

  “You are friends with an FBI agent named Norris, correct?” Hawk asked.

  Dr. Falton's face became sour. “Long ago, in a dreary and dreadful past,” he told Hawk. “Norris and I attended high school together, Detective Daily. I paid him to defend me against bullies. I lived in a horrid home, filled with violence.”

  “I'm listening.”

  Dr. Falton folded his hands together. “My father used to abuse me and my mother, Detective. He was an awful man. On one fateful evening, soon after I reached the age of fifteen, he returned home from work extremely intoxicated. He began to abuse my mother. Norris was at my home when this occurred. To make a dreadful story short, he and I together ended the life of a miserable, mean man.”

  “You killed him?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Falton confessed. “You wish to know why I allowed your friend Jack to reside at my hospital? The answer is Norris threatened to make our dark deed public if I refused.”

  “After so many years?”

  “Well,” Dr. Falton said in a careful tone, “Norris and I have spoken throughout the years, Detective. After all, the man is married to my sister.”

  “Ah, I see,” said Hawk.

  “I despise the man for what he has become. But there once was a time, Detective, when I admired Norris for his courage to stand up against the dark shadows that linger in the alleys, if you can understand my meaning.”

  “I understand perfectly,” Hawk replied. “Dr. Falton, Jack told me that Norris was dead. Is that true?”

  “Of course not,” Dr. Falton told Hawk. “My sister and I spoke on the phone just last night. If Norris were dead, she would have informed me. For the life of me, I do not know why my sister remains married to that man...love, I suppose, which can be blinding at times, unfortunately.”

  “Norris is corrupt, isn't he?”

  “Corruption is that man's second nature, I'm afraid. Two things control Norris: money and fear. In the beginning, he was led astray by money, but those who led him astray now control my brother-in-law by fear.”

  “Dr. Falton, do you know anything about Dellington and Haim?”

  “Ah, the two men who control Norris,” Dr. Falton replied scathingly. “Yes, I am aware of Dellington and Haim; my sister keeps me well informed. But what can I do? My duty is to my patients and their wellbeing, Detective. I do not have time to involve myself in matters that do not concern me. After all, I have a wife and two children of my own.”

  “You're glad Jack left, aren't you?”

  “Extremely. I placed my medical license in jeopardy by admitting that man under false pretenses. Good riddance to them all.”

  “Any idea where Jack might have run off to?” Hawk asked.

  Dr. Falton studied Hawk's honest eyes. “Detective,” he said, picking up a pen and scribbling an address down on a piece of office paper, “this is my sister’s home address. You will find Norris here. Your questions are best directed at him.”

  Hawk reached across the desk and took the piece of paper. “Thank you, Dr. Falton. But let me assure you, you are guilty of murder, no matter how many years have passed. With that said, believe it or not, sometimes the law is blind to true justice.”

  “True justice was served,” Dr. Falton assured Hawk. “Good day, Detective.”

  Hawk nodded, stood up, and walked out of the office. He found Nikki sitting in his jeep talking to Lidia on her cell phone. “Here's Hawk. I will call you back.”

  Hawk climbed into the driver's seat, shook rain off his hair and clothes, and sighed deeply. “Nikki, this world...dark corners are everywhere.”

  “What did Dr. Falton say?” Nikki asked Hawk.

  “He said that life isn't always as it seems,” Hawk replied. “We have a long drive to New York. We'll drive in shifts. I'll take the first shift. I think it's safe to use the interstate now. I'll stay on I-75 North until we reach Tennessee.”

  The tone in Hawk's voice informed Nikki that the man needed some quiet time to think and sort things out in his mind. “Are you okay?”

  “I will be,” Hawk promised. Looking at Nikki, he found peace and solace in her beauty. “Tell you what, I need to find a grocery store and pick up the money Pop wired me. After that, we'll drive north and stop for dinner.”

  “I am starving,” Nikki admitted.

  “I'm not going to live my life in fear. I doubt anyone is on our tail. If they were, we definitely wouldn't be sitting here talking like this. We need our energy, and you need to eat.”

  “That's my big lug,” Nikki beamed.

  Hawk smiled back and got the jeep moving again. “What were you and Lidia talking about?” he asked.

  “I told Lidia to close the store until we solved this case; she refused, of course. Looks like you're not the only one who is refusing to live in fear.” Nikki explained, “So, let's drive to New York and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

  9

  As Hawk drove the jeep away from the hospital, Dr. Falton called William. “Yes, this is Dr. Falton.”

  “Yes, Doctor, what is it?”

  “Is your offer still open? Information for you if you eliminate Norris for me?” Dr. Falton asked.

  “Yes, the offer is still open,” William said, sitting on a private jet heading toward Los Angeles.

  “Detective Daily was just in my office. I sent him to my sister's home address in New York. You will find him there. In return for this information, I want you to eliminate Norris. I want that man out of my sister's life, once and for all.”

  “Of course,” William assured Dr. Falton. “I appreciate the information. You have my word that I will carry out my end of the bargain.” William ended the call.

  After ordering the pilot to change directions and aim the jet toward New York, he made a call. “Daily and Bates are on their way to New York. I will be there to meet them. Where is Jack?”

  “We managed to capture Jack at the airport,” the man replied in a relieved voice.

  “Fly Jack to New York,” William ordered. “I want
him, alive.”

  “Yes, sir. Where should I have Jack delivered to?”

  “Norris's home address. I'm going to wrap this entire matter up in one sitting. When you deliver Jack, I want Norris delivered with him. Take Norris's wife and ship her off to Atlanta. I made a deal and I intend to keep it. No harm comes to the woman. After I eliminate Jack and Norris, I will deal with Daily and Bates. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, sir, we're clear. Sir.”

  “Very good, Matting,” William said and hung up.

  Far away in New York, James Matting placed his cell phone down on a desk covered with blueprints. Standing in a spacious office, he looked down at the blueprints. “William,” he said in a low voice, “you're working according to plan. Too bad you jumped ship, Jack. Did you really think running to Agent Finely in Los Angeles would save you? Don't you realize we have everyone on a payroll? No matter, after William eliminates you and Norris, along with your friends, I'll be in the position I need to be in order to bring Dellington and Haim down and take over their empire.”

  Matting picked his cell phone back up. “Greg, this is Matting. I want you to go to the address I’m about to give you and stay out of sight and await further orders.”

  As Matting spoke with Greg Packard, Hawk found a grocery store. After he and Nikki retrieved the money Chief Daily wired to Hawk, they drove north and stopped at a restaurant a few miles from the Tennessee border. After eating a hearty meal—and after Hawk stuffed himself with enough biscuits to feed an army—they hit the road again.

  “Hawk, why didn't the man who arrived at the hotel searching for us ask the desk clerk about Jack?” Nikki asked, sipping on a coffee.

  Hawk chewed on a toothpick. “I've been wondering on that, and Nikki, my only guess is that Dellington and Haim tracked Jack down and snagged him.”

  “That's the only logical explanation,” Nikki agreed. Sipping her coffee, Nikki began to think about the conversation Hawk told her he had with Dr. Falton. “Hawk, doesn't it seem strange that Dr. Falton admitted so many personal details about his past with you? And to give you the home address of his sister…that seems really strange to me.”

  “Nikki, Dr. Falton is sending me to his sister's home to die. The man presented himself as a medical genius, but this dumb old street cop can still read people. I have no intention of pulling up in Agent Norris’s driveway.”

  “I'm glad to hear that, Tiger. So what's your plan?” Nikki asked.

  “Stake out,” Hawk told Nikki. “We watch Norris's house.”

  “What about if someone else is waiting to stake us out?” Nikki asked worriedly.

  “Trust me,” Hawk promised Nikki, “when it comes to staking out someone who is staking out a place, I'm a pro. But just in case,” Hawk added, “I have a plan. Remember that man we met back there at the restaurant?”

  “Uh...Mr. Gordon, right?” Nikki asked, watching as Hawk drove past a wet semi-truck. The rain was finally beginning to slack off. The storm system was beginning to move north, however. It wouldn't be long before Nikki and Hawk caught up to the rain again. “Mr. Gordon and his wife were driving to West Palm Beach to see their daughter.”

  “Yep,” Hawk said. “I gave Mr. Gordon my bank card and pin number. I asked him to start using my bank card at every gas station they stop at once they get south of Atlanta. We had a little chat in the men's bathroom. It turns out Mr. Gordon is a retired firefighter from Pittsburgh. He was more than willing to throw his weight into my corner.”

  “You clever little rascal,” Nikki grinned. “Now Dellington and Haim will think we're traveling south. That should really throw them off.”

  “And,” Hawk added, “give us an upper hand. But we need to make time, Nikki. I know we have a long drive ahead of us, and I pray this old jeep makes it.”

  Nikki settled back in her seat. “I'm comfy,” she told Hawk. “My tummy is full, thanks to you, and I'm prepared to drive through the night. Whenever you need me to drive, hand the wheel over.”

  “I'm good for a few more hours. In the meantime, we need to get our game plan together. I'm hoping that Jack will be at Norris's.”

  Nikki pondered on Hawk's statement. “If Dellington and Haim believe we are on our way to Norris's place of residence, then they might send this man who is searching for us to make one clean sweep, is that it?”

  “That's my thinking. I know we're missing a lot of the puzzle here, but if we can put all the pieces into one room, then we might see the whole picture.”

  “You're hoping the same thing Dellington and Haim is hoping,” Nikki remarked thoughtfully. “So now the player who is the smartest collects all the pieces.”

  “Yep,” Hawk said, picking up a bottle of soda. “We have some very deadly players, Nikki. You and I are entering this stake out with extreme caution, is that clear? You are to stay at my side at all times.”

  “I knew you were going to say that,” Nikki told Hawk and then winked at him. “Of course, I'm staying at your side, where else would I go? You have the gun, you big lug.”

  “Gee, thanks a lot.”

  Nikki laughed. Laughing helped. As Hawk crossed over the Tennessee line and Georgia grew farther and farther away from her, the laughter helped mask the sadness she was feeling inside. “I'm only teasing you, Hawk.”

  Hawk looked at Nikki. The sadness in the woman's eyes was obvious, but what could he do? But was doing nothing the answer? “Say, Nikki, once we wrap this case up, why don't we come back down here for a week or so? We never did get to drink iced tea and watch the lightning bugs. And you never did get to show me around your hometown.”

  “Really?” Nikki asked eagerly. “I thought you wanted to plant your feet in my kitchen and never leave Vermont again.”

  “I'll settle for hot cocoa in the winter,” Hawk told Nikki as he patted her knee. “I would like to make a trip back down. We can fly next time, rent a car, and take it easy.”

  “Oh Hawk, that would be wonderful.” Nikki smiled as she fought back tears. “But only on one condition: You have to let the trip be on me. My treat, okay?”

  “No deal,” Hawk resisted. “We're partners, Nikki. Partners share the expense and—”

  Nikki punched Hawk on his arm. “My treat,” she insisted.

  “Okay...okay...” Hawk caved in. “Man, who taught you how to hit...ouch.”

  Nikki leaned back in her seat, satisfied she had forced Hawk to listen to reason. “My daddy taught me to hit, thank you, sir.”

  Hawk grinned. He reached out and took Nikki's hand. “You're something special...really special, Nikki Bates.”

  Nikki looked down at Hawk's hand. It felt nice for a good man to hold her hand. But with Hawk, the feeling was more than nice...it was...safe and honest. “I feel the same way about you, Hawk Daily.”

  Hawk smiled. Instead of replying, he focused on his driving while holding Nikki's soft hand. If anything ever happened to Nikki, he would never forgive himself. Danger awaited them in New York, and Hawk had to be prepared. He and Nikki were going up against people who cherished money over human life, people with no souls. People like that, Hawk thought to himself, glancing at Nikki, were the most dangerous kind of people mankind had to offer. When a person's hunger for wealth and power destroys their compassion for humanity, that person becomes nothing more than a vicious viper sleeping in a pit; waiting to strike at anyone who dared disturb its rest. Hawk had battled vipers in his past. His experience taught him that in order to kill a viper, you had to think like one. He was sure Nikki understood this method of reasoning, too.

  Looking away from Nikki, Hawk focused his attention back on the interstate and kept his jeep aimed toward New York—toward the viper's pit.

  10

  William walked into Matting's office. He despised how the short, little man with red hair always wore the same white shirt tucked into gray trousers. Dellington and Haim hired Matting to be a front man who controlled and managed their operational construction sites. Matting was nothing more, William knew,
than a criminal who flunked out of college but somehow had the skill to become an architect. Even though he was known to be nothing more than a foreman, in the shadows, Matting designed every building Dellington and Haim constructed. “Dr. Falton gave me false information,” he snapped at Matting.

  Matting, pretending to be worried, stood up from his desk. “William, the last known location of Daily and Bates is—”

  “Florida, yes, I know,” William said, wiping cigar smoke from his nose. “Put that cigar out.”

  Matting glanced down at a handcrafted, wooden ashtray sitting on his desk. An expensive Cuban cigar sat in the ashtray half smoked. Matting simply reached down and extinguished the cigar. He needed to play William until William completed the vital task. “Sir, this storm system has halted work on all construction sites in the city. I am free to accompany you to Norris's house. Jack will be arriving shortly. Norris is already...awaiting you. We did send his wife away, as you requested.”

  William looked around Matting's office; all white with brass trimmings. A large window on the east wall allowed a clear view of the city. How he despised thugs who thought they were invincible, simply because they parked their rear ends in a fancy office. “I will go alone.”

  “As you wish, sir,” Matting told William. “I have Greg Packard guarding Norris. Jack should be arriving within the next hour.”

  “I will handle Jack and Norris personally,” William told Matting. “Afterward, my work with Dellington and Haim is complete. Daily and Bates are no longer my concern. I have a personal score to settle with Jack.”

  “Sir, Daily and Bates are an open threat to Dellington and Haim. They will not be pleased to hear that you will no longer pursue certain loose ends. They may even withhold final payment from you until those loose ends are taken care of.”

  William knew Matting was speaking the truth, however, he didn't like being shoved into a corner. “You tell Dellington and Haim if they refuse to pay, I will take drastic action against them. Is that clear? I was hired to dispose of Jack only. I will eliminate Norris as a favor. Daily and Bates are your concern now. I will not chase them any longer.”