“Do you think he was covering something up?” Toni asked.
His bushy eyebrow arched. “Like what?”
“I don’t know.” She played it down, hoping he would respond. “Just asking.”
“I think the only thing he was covering was his butt. It was an election year, and he hadn’t done a thing he promised. He didn’t want people to think it wasn’t safe here so it was easier to say she drowned.”
Toni nodded as he confirmed Joy’s story. “You ever hear of anyone with the last name Sharkey?”
“Connected to this investigation?”
“Or to anything in town, really,” she said.
“Hmm.” He tapped his chin. “I have, but I just can’t place it.”
“Sheldon Sharkey,” she clarified.
“No. No. That’s not it.”
Then what? she wanted to scream and push him to remember.
“It’ll come to me, but never know when. Still, I’ll think on it. Give me your phone number, and I’ll let you know.”
She jotted her cell on the back of her business card with a pen from the counter and passed it to him.
“FBI?” His interest perked up. “This an official investigation?”
Toni shook her head. “Just looking into my sister’s disappearance.”
He looked at Drake. “You FBI too?”
“A friend.”
“When that name comes to me, I’ll give you a call.” He tapped the card on the counter.
“Can you think of anything else that might’ve seemed off or odd about the investigation or Lisa’s disappearance?” Drake asked.
“Not really, other than those things don’t happen in our little town. Sure, they might these days, but not back then. Was a gentler, kinder time.”
She glanced at Drake to see if he had any questions but his eyes had taken on a faraway look. Maybe he was remembering his youth spent here.
“Okay, thank you.” She started to leave.
“Starts with an S. Yes, I’m pretty sure it’s an S,” the owner said.
“But not Sheldon.”
“No, not Sheldon.”
She headed for the door. On the sidewalk, she looked at Drake. “What do you make of that?”
“I think we should get back to the hotel and start looking for a Sharkey who’s related to Sheldon with a name that starts with S.”
24
The room had a kitchenette and balcony, but Toni cringed at the worn comforter with a wavy beach pattern. She set her bag on the luggage rack and unlocked the adjoining door for Drake before sitting on the bed to dial the front desk.
Joy answered on the third ring.
“It’s Toni Long,” she said. “I wondered if you knew of another Sharkey in the area.”
“Might’ve been, but Sheldon didn’t say much.”
“You talked to him?”
“Found him sleeping near our pool. I fed him breakfast and politely asked him to move on. That’s when I learned his name. He was on some elite military team that saw conflict at that time. He said he came here because the beach erased the memories from his service. Was the only place he could sleep, and he didn’t have the money to stay anywhere.”
She paused to draw in a deep breath. “I asked if he had family around, and he shook his head sadly then got up and left. I saw him around the beach after that, but never at our hotel again. I took him food sometimes. I didn’t like to encourage vagrancy, but the guy seemed down on his luck. ‘Course I never went near him at night. He was a trained killer, after all. I’ll ask Earl if he knows another Sharkey and give you a call if he does.”
“Thanks, Joy.” Toni hung up and heard voices in the other room.
“You have adjoining rooms?” Clay’s voice rose. “What’s the point of that?”
“So we can work the investigation together, and I can make sure Toni’s safe,” Drake said. “Why are you here?”
“To update you on the things Trent authorized me to share. He doesn’t have any leads on Hibbard’s location, so he’s issuing a public appeal today. This could put Hibbard on the move or make him take defensive actions. Means Toni could be in danger and you need to be extra vigilant on her safety.”
“Good to know,” Drake said.
“Also, they identified the body at the school,” Clay said. “It’s Naomi Dawson, a runaway from Portland. Trent will make this public today too. What he won’t say is that she’s in the pictures we found at Rader’s house and the photos from Sharkey’s place.”
Toni jotted down the information and noted the additional connections between Rader, Sharkey, and Hibbard.
“Thanks for the update,” Drake said.
“You two finding anything out?” Clay asked.
“Not much,” Drake said. “But we’ve got a few leads that I really need to move on so…”
“I get it. Move on.” Clay sounded disappointed. “Tell Toni I’m thinking about her.”
“Sure.”
She heard footsteps then Drake’s door opened and closed. Drake came to the connecting door, his computer under his arm. “I suppose you heard all of that.”
She nodded.
“Clay’s really down.”
“Yeah, sounded like it. I’ve forgiven him, but I’m not ready to talk to him. The hurt is still lingering, and it’ll take some time to go away.”
“I get that.” Drake dropped onto one of the chairs by a small dining table.
“On his news, I have to believe Rader, Hibbard, and Sharkey were all in cahoots until Sharkey killed Rader. Maybe he killed Hibbard too, and that’s why there’s no sign of him.”
“Could be, but why’s his name on the envelope, and why isn’t there a picture of him dead?”
“For that matter, why the photos at all?” she asked. “Blackmail? Or maybe Sharkey worked as Hibbard’s hitman, and the pictures were proof he’d done his job.”
Drake frowned. “Naomi died a couple of years ago. Why still have her picture?”
“Maybe he takes pictures instead of souvenirs from a crime scene.”
“Could be.”
“I called Joy. She doesn’t know another Sharkey. She’ll ask her husband.”
“Let’s do some digging and see what we can find.” Drake opened his computer.
“If we could get Sharkey’s basic info, I could use one of the ancestry sites to look him up like I did when I found Lisa. It would give us his relatives right away.”
“Then let’s find that info.”
She retrieved her laptop and sat across from Drake. They worked until lunchtime, when they ordered burgers and fries sent from room service.
Joy easily balanced the large tray as she entered the room. She set the plates on the table next to their computers. “I asked Earl about another Sharkey. He said Sheldon was the only one he’d ever heard of. I did think of one other thing, though.”
“What’s that?” Toni lifted the metal lid from her plate and inhaled the savory scent overpowering the room’s air freshener.
Joy set a tall bottle of ketchup on the table. “I saw Sharkey talking to a woman one day. She had her back to me, but they were arguing.”
Toni looked up. “Can you describe her?”
“Slender. Tall. She wore a floppy hat hiding everything else, but her clothing was expensive. Designer stuff. They only talked for five minutes or so, but I saw her storm off down the beach.”
“Where did she go?” Drake asked.
“To a Mercedes idling at a boat ramp. It was black and shiny, but I didn’t catch the plates.”
“Was this before or after Lisa went missing?” Drake asked.
“Before. Earlier in the week.”
Toni grabbed the ketchup bottle. “How much earlier?”
“Maybe the day before. Could’ve been two.”
“Did you tell Raintree that?” Toni asked.
“Told him, but he didn’t seem interested.” Joy held out the bill.
Toni signed it. “Thanks again for all the info
rmation.”
Joy left the room, and Toni took a huge bite of her burger.
“Good burger.” Drake set his on his plate and swiped a fry through ketchup.
“I learned over the years that burgers are usually safe hotel food. Pretty hard to screw one up.”
“You travel a lot?”
“Some. For the job, and my dad was usually too busy to come here so I visited him.” Now that she knew about Lisa, Toni realized it could’ve been too painful for him to come to Oregon.
Drake gestured at his laptop. “Did you find anything?”
She shook her head. “The guy isn’t on the internet at all.”
“Maybe we should pay Ziegler a visit.”
She’d been thinking the same thing. “Blake said Ziegler doesn’t like surprise visitors.”
“Yeah, but you can charm him into talking to us, can’t you?” He popped another fry into his mouth.
“You aren’t really asking me to exploit the fact that I’m a woman?”
“Not politically correct these days, but come on. Look at me. No way I’m charming a retired sheriff.” He grinned.
She might not like fighting with Clay, but she was enjoying getting to know his brother. “Fine. I’ll try. But I have to warn you. I’m not very good at charming people.”
“Then play on his sympathies for your family.”
“That would just be wrong.”
Drake sat up, and his jaw clenched. “I might not like the way Clay handled getting everyone deputized, but one thing I agree with him on. We have to do whatever we need to do to save these girls.”
Her appetite vanished, and she set down her burger.
Her cell chimed. Good. Just what she needed. A distraction. She grabbed it from the table. “Text is from my dad’s old boss. He got the key we sent. He’s headed to the bank now. He’ll report back on what he finds.”
Drake smothered another fry in ketchup. “You must be excited to finally find out what’s in the box.”
“Excited. Apprehensive.” She picked up her soda and took a long drink. “Maybe more apprehensive after the recent surprises.”
Drake polished off his burger and wiped his mouth. “Can’t even imagine, but you seem to be holding up pretty well.”
“My ability to compartmentalize, I guess. I learned it at work.”
“Yeah, we all learn that skill in law enforcement or burn out. I don’t honestly know how the officers without any faith make it.”
She covered her plate and closed her laptop.
Drake picked up his glass. “Looks like you’re itching to go.”
“That obvious, huh?”
“Then let’s get after it.” He chugged his drink and grabbed a handful of fries. “Just don’t get into any trouble and need rescuing until I finish these fries. They’re too good to have to pitch so I can go for my gun.”
She laughed with him, grateful for his company. Without him, she would be sulking over Clay instead of laughing. Drake chowed down on his fries on the ride down the elevator and dusted his salty hands on his cargo pants.
He leaned out the door to take a look before pushing it all the way open and standing back. He might’ve joked about his fries, but like the other Byrds, safety came first for him. They crossed the lot to the vehicle, and thirty-five minutes later, they were pulling into Ziegler’s driveway.
“Let me get out first so he recognizes one of us,” she said. By the time she slid out, Ziegler was pushing open the screen door.
“Agent Long.” His tone was a cross between annoyance and surprise.
“Sorry to come by unannounced, but I had a few more questions about my sister’s disappearance.”
He tipped his head at the vehicle. “Who’s with you?”
“Drake Byrd.”
“Thought you were sweet on the other one. Clay. Why the brother?”
“I never said I was—”
“Save it.” He held up a hand. “I wasn’t in law enforcement for a lifetime to miss seeing the looks between the two of you the other day.”
“Clay’s working with Trent, so Drake and I have partnered up,” she replied without divulging personal stuff.
Ziegler stood back. “Come on in, but he can stay in the car.”
She glanced at Drake. He nodded his willingness to stay put, and she followed Ziegler inside.
He took a seat in the same recliner but didn’t insist she have coffee this time. “Now, what can I do for you?”
“Did you know a Sheldon Sharkey?” She sat on the couch.
He narrowed his eyes. “Name rings a bell, but I’m not sure why.”
“He was a homeless guy living on the beach when Lisa disappeared.”
“News to me.”
“So Sheriff Raintree didn’t bring him to your attention regarding Lisa’s disappearance?”
“No, I…” He went totally still. “Sharkey. I know why it rings a bell.”
“Why?” She sat forward.
“Sheila Sharkey.”
The name they were looking for, but…
“Who is she?” Toni held her breath as she waited for the answer.
“Raintree’s ex-wife.”
The call came in on the county radio issued by Trent, and Clay floored the gas on the vehicle borrowed from Gage. Hibbard had been seen entering a local bar where a patrol deputy had stopped to question the bartender. When the deputy spotted Hibbard, the deputy backed off and called it in.
Clay was the closest of the brothers to the bar, and Blake and Trent rode together and were just down the road. Clay intended to be the first one to arrive. He wouldn’t race in, though. No matter how much he wanted to. He’d wait for backup. No way would he risk Hibbard squirting out the back door and escaping. He and Toni had waited far too long to bring this creep in to let the guy skate.
Toni. Man, he wished she was here by his side. They should be arresting this guy together.
The bar came into view just ahead. Covered in weathered rough-sawn cedar siding, it had a blue neon sign. The door stood open and small windows lined the wall facing the road. Clay slowed. Wouldn’t do to slide into the lot on two wheels and draw attention.
He parked on the side of the building without windows and got out. The outside smelled like a cross between stale fish and beer. Not exactly appetizing. Blake and Trent pulled into the lot in Trent’s unmarked car and parked next to Clay. The sun was dropping below the horizon behind them, leaving the area covered with a reddish glow.
“I’m going in after the guy,” Clay said before anyone could speak.
“I’ll be glad to take the back,” Blake said.
Clay gave him a thankful look.
Trent frowned. “I’m first in, and I’ll do the talking.”
Clay widened his stance. “The second he sees your uniform, he’s either gonna take a stand or skate.”
“Clay’s got a point,” Blake said. “Might be better if Clay goes in alone and brings him out before we have a shoot-out or a hostage situation on our hands.”
Trent ground his teeth.
“Hey,” Blake said. “I get it. You’re in charge. You want to take the guy down. But sometimes you gotta stand back and let your people do the job when it’s the best option.”
“I know that.” Trent glared at Blake. “But this guy isn’t really one of my people.”
“Still, we gotta do the right thing,” Blake said. “Protect life at all costs.”
Trent shook his head. “I figured after being sheriff for a couple of years, I was done with lectures from you.”
“I’m never going away.” Blake grinned.
Trent laughed and looked at Clay. “You go in first.”
“Does Hibbard know you?” Blake asked.
“Never seen me in person, but yeah, he might know of me from the task force.”
“You’ll need a cap to hide your face.” Trent looked around and walked over to a nearby truck with a window open. He grabbed a Seattle Seahawk’s cap from the dash and handed it
to Clay.
“Never thought I’d see the day a sheriff steals in broad daylight.” Clay grinned and settled the cap on his head.
Trent rolled his eyes. “You need help, you call out. You hear me. Don’t try to be a hero.”
“I got it.” Clay checked his gun and tugged his jacket closed to hide the bulge.
He offered a quick prayer, counted down from ten to calm himself, and stepped in. Neon lighting from a wall of video games lit up the dark space. Old wood tables and chairs filled the middle with three couples drinking beer and eating appetizers. The bartender was at one of the tables serving drinks. Two pool tables sat on the other side of the room with beer lights hanging over them. Two young guys were playing.
Clay spotted Hibbard right away. Would be hard to miss. Not only because he was a big guy, but he was the only person sitting at the bar. He wore jeans and a black windbreaker and sat close to the emergency exit.
Clay’s years in ICE had trained him to take this guy in without a fuss, so he started across the room, skirting the bartender to avoid him calling out a greeting and alerting Hibbard.
Clay reached Hibbard and caught a whiff of strong body odor. He drew his weapon and put it in Hibbard’s fleshy back. “You’re under arrest, scumbag. Don’t move.”
“There must be a mistake.” His low voice rumbled through the space.
“No mistake, Hibbard. We’re arresting you for so many charges, I can’t name them all here. Hands behind your back.”
He dropped his feet to the floor.
“Go ahead. Take off.” Clay made sure he sounded cool. “The place is surrounded. You won’t get far, and you catching a bullet would make my day.”
He reacted as Clay had hoped, putting his arms behind his body.
Clay snapped on cuffs then tugged Hibbard to his feet and marched him to the door. This had been too easy. Way too easy. Anticlimactic, even. Clay almost wished the jerk had run. Would’ve given Clay a chance to tackle him to the sticky bar floor and press his face in the stale beer.
But more than anything, Clay wished Toni were here. He’d shortchanged her from something else she’d wanted to do for so very long, further putting a divide between them when all he wanted was to get closer to her.
Night Hawk Page 24