by Paty Jager
Hawke stood. “Get going. I’ll be behind you about fifteen minutes.”
Mathews saluted and left the room.
“Can you get her disguised without anyone seeing her leave this room?” Hawke asked the trooper.
McCord smiled. It appeared she liked doing the sneaky stuff. “I’ve got a plan. See you in about three hours.”
Hawke grinned. “Looking forward to it.” He left the breakroom, walked to the entrance, and out to the Mustang. He roughed up Dog’s ears and started the vehicle. He was sure someone was watching him and would follow.
Two blocks and he noticed the vehicle following him. He drove straight to the car rental place and turned the Mustang keys over to the attendant. He and Dog stood on the sidewalk in front of the building waiting for Mathews.
The deputy parked in front of the building and pulled the passenger seat forward as Hawke opened the door. Dog jumped in the back seat and Hawke tossed in his duffel bag.
“I figured you’d be here before me,” Hawke said.
“I was hungry.” Mathews held up a bag from a fast food place.
Hawke’s stomach started gurgling at the smell of greasy French fries. “Good thinking.”
Mathews pulled out of the rental place and into a parking lot next door. They dug into the food, tossing Dog fries and watching the cars go by.
Hawke nodded. “That one there followed me to the rental place.”
“The green sedan parked across the street has been following me. We’ll have to lose them before we can pick up Tonya.” Mathews said.
“We will.” Hawke finished off the burger and tossed the last fry to Dog. “Let’s go get my pickup.” They wadded up the paper bags and wrappers, and Mathews started his car.
At the motel, Hawke tossed the bag and papers in the garbage can by the motel office. He glanced down the empty parking spaces in front of the building and didn’t see his pickup.
“Shit!” He shoved the Office door open and strode in. “Where’s my pickup?”
The tall thin man behind the counter started mumbling in what Hawke thought was a middle-eastern language.
“Stop that. I know you can talk English. You did when I purchased a room here.” Hawke pulled his badge out from under his shirt. “What did you do with my pickup?”
The man’s eyes grew rounder. “I do nothing. A tow truck come. I know nothing.”
“A tow truck? What was the name on the side of the truck?” He had a good suspicion it was a company in cahoots with Bayle.
“I don’t read such good English.” The man shrugged.
“No, you conveniently don’t read such good English or speak it.” Hawke spun on the balls of his feet and headed to the door. He stomped up to the Mustang, yanked the door open, and dropped into the passenger seat.
“Hey! This is a classic! Stop acting like it’s a piece of junk,” Mathews growled.
“My truck was towed.” Hawke glared at the deputy. It wasn’t the man’s fault, but he didn’t have anyone else to take his frustration out on.
“Impounded by the city?” Mathews asked.
“I don’t think so. I think impounded by Bayle. The owner of the motel pretended he didn’t speak or read good English. It sounds like someone told him to keep his mouth shut.” Hawke waved a hand. “Take me to City Hall. I’ll go see if Bayle has his hands in any towing companies. While I’m doing that you could do a drive by of the City Impound and see if my truck’s in there.”
“Okay. What about meeting up with Tonya?” Mathews asked.
“We’ll have to play it by ear.” Hawke didn’t like not having his own wheels and how that might muck up their plan.
«»«»«»
Thirty minutes later, Hawke walked out of City Hall with the names of three towing companies Bayle owned. It seemed the man had a monopoly on the towing companies in town. He’d texted Mathews to come pick him up.
Standing on the sidewalk in front of City Hall, waiting for Mathews, he stared up the street at the Capital Building. This was a pretty town. But too big for his liking. He wondered what the car that followed them to the City Hall had done when Mathews dropped him off?
Scanning the streets, it didn’t look like there was anyone hanging around waiting for him. It would be his best time to lose the tails.
He strode down the street and started walking with no particular place in mind. This was a test to see if he was truly not being watched. After four blocks and not being able to pick out a tail, he texted Mathews.
I’ve lost my tail. How about you?
Sitting at a stoplight, hoping I can cut to the right and down a side street before they see where I’ve gone.
If you can’t shake them, find a motel and hang there until I call you.
Copy.
Hawke didn’t have McCord’s phone number to contact her. Looked like he had time to think about what they knew while he waited for her call. He found a coffee shop and went inside, sitting where he could see out the window but not be seen by anyone walking or driving by. Sipping a black cup of coffee and nibbling on a sweet roll, he pretended to read the newspaper that had been left on the table.
His phone rang. A number he didn’t know.
“Hello?” he answered.
“It’s McCord. We haven’t been tailed that I can tell.”
“I lost my tail.” He told her the name of the coffee shop and the street it was on. “When do you get off duty?”
“I have about three more hours.”
“Any chance you brought along Tonya’s regular clothes?” He had an idea.
“She kept them on under the jumpsuit I gave her.” The smile in her voice, told him she was proud of that fact.
“Good. Have her slip out of the jumpsuit and drop her off at the coffee shop. We’ll wander around, until I find a motel. When you get off duty call me back, and we’ll meet up.”
“What about Mathews?” McCord asked.
“He’s still trying to slip the people following him.” Hawke hung up and watched a city police car drive by. He wondered if they had been given his and Tonya’s descriptions.
Fifteen minutes later, he saw a state police car park across the street.
Hawke picked up his paper bag and cup, tossing them in the garbage as he left the building. Outside, he glanced both ways and crossed the street. While he wanted Tonya to feel safe, he wasn’t chancing her taking off to get out of the charges of getting White out of prison.
Tonya looked surprised when she stepped out of the vehicle and he stood three feet away.
He motioned for her to keep walking. Staying three steps behind her, he followed her into a store.
Tonya stopped halfway back and picked up a book. That’s when he realized they were in a bookstore. He walked up to her. “You like to read?”
She peered up at him. “Yes. Reading and writing go hand in hand.”
He shrugged. “I guess so. Want to buy that or go find a place to hang out?”
“I don’t have any money,” she said. All the woman had were the clothes she wore.
“Know any mid-range clothing stores around here?”
She studied him. “Why?”
“You need a few changes of clothes. I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get to your things.”
“They’re in Scott’s car.” She replaced the book.
“He can’t seem to shake the people tailing him, so we’ll use him for a decoy.” Hawke put a hand on her elbow, leading her to the door of the store. “Where is a clothing store from here?”
“A couple blocks that direction,” She pointed to their left.
“Lead the way.” Hawke walked beside Tonya, watching everything and thinking he might need to change into a different type of shirt. His usual plaid made him easy to find.
As they stepped into a store that appeared to be a secondhand clothing store, his phone buzzed. It was Mathews. “Go look around. I’ll take this and find a shirt for myself.”
Tonya nodded and started digging t
hrough the racks stuffed with clothing.
“Did you find someplace to roost?” he asked Mathews.
“Yeah. But I haven’t been able to shake them.” The deputy sounded defeated.
“Good. I want you to sit tight about an hour. Then get in your car, pick up some food, and deliver it to somewhere that might look like a good place to stash a person. I don’t care where it is. You can keep them busy following dead ends while McCord and I get Tonya stashed someplace and I can get my pickup.” Hawke had wandered to a rack of men’s shirts. He found one the right size and pulled it out of the rest.
“Okay. What about your dog?”
“Is he a bother?” Hawke asked, knowing Dog wouldn’t cause any trouble.
“No. Just wondered if you wanted him.”
“Keep him with you. All the time. Don’t leave him alone in the motel. I’ll figure out a way for you to leave him with me.” Hawke missed his mutt.
“Copy. Let me know what all you want me to do.”
“I will.” Hawke disconnected and glanced around the place for Tonya. Anger started to build when he didn’t see the woman. Had she been stupid enough to slip out? He headed for the door when he heard his name called. She stood by the room where clothes could be tried on.
He hurried over.
“Were you leaving without me?” she asked, her tone reproachful.
“No. I thought you’d ducked out on me.” He grabbed the clothing she had in her hands. “Are these what you want?”
“Yeah.”
He took them up to the counter and paid for the clothing. Happy to see it all only added up to twenty bucks. With the clothing in a bag, he took the shirt out, handed the bag to Tonya and stepped into the changing room. He wasn’t changing down to his skin, but he didn’t want anyone in the store to see he was wearing his shoulder holster and Glock.
With the new dark green corduroy shirt on, he exited the room and found Tonya waiting for him by the door.
Out on the street he said, “Where’s the closest motel?”
Chapter Thirty-one
Hawke’s phone buzzed as he and Tonya returned to the room with food they’d purchased at a fast food place. It was McCord.
“I’m off duty. What do you want me to do?” she asked.
“We’re in a motel, getting ready to eat dinner. I’m not familiar with the area, can you think of some place we can take Tonya that Bayle won’t find out?” Hawke sat in the chair across the small table from Tonya. The woman was listening to everything he said as she pulled the skin off the piece of chicken she’d grabbed out of the bucket.
“I’ve been thinking about that all day. I know a woman who has a place out toward McCall that’s like a commune. I don’t think Bayle would look for her there. And they don’t have any way to communicate. If they need help someone drives out to the nearest town and makes a call.”
Hawke liked the idea. “How do you feel about taking her there tonight?”
“That’s what I was thinking,” McCord replied.
He told her the motel and street. “Make sure no one is following you before you even come close to here,” he warned.
“I will. If you don’t see me in thirty, it means I’m being followed.”
The line went dead.
“Good thing you got those clothes today. McCord is taking you to a commune until we get Bayle for the deaths of White and Sheridan.”
“And my parents.” Tonya stared at him.
“I’ll try. But that was a long time ago.” He held up a hand when she started to speak. “The more murders we can pin to him the less chance his money will get him out of jail time. I promise, I will try to get him for your parents’ deaths.”
That seemed to appease the woman. She returned to peeling skin off the chicken piece.
Hawke picked up a piece and bit into it.
“How do you plan on getting him for Felix and Sean’s deaths? You know he didn’t do it himself,” Tonya said.
“By proving he contacted Sheridan to kill White and finding a paper trail to prove he paid whoever killed Sheridan.” Hawke knew it would take a lot of digging, but with Tonya someplace safe, he didn’t have to worry about who followed him where.
A knock on the door after they’d eaten all the food and sat staring at the T.V. brought Hawke to his feet. He slipped over to the window and peeked around the curtain.
McCord.
He opened the door, and she slipped in.
“No tails?”
“I went different ways and backtracked and never saw the same car twice.” She looked smaller out of her uniform. The top of her head came to his shoulder and her body was slender. Her curly black hair was cropped short. She wore jeans, athletic shoes, and a brightly colored button-up-the-front short-sleeved shirt.
Tonya stood. “I’ll use the bathroom and we can go.”
“Works for me.” McCord watched Tonya walk into the other room and close the door. “How’s she doing?”
“She just wants justice. But keep an eye on her. She’s lied so much I don’t trust her.” Hawke said barely above a whisper.
McCord nodded as the toilet flushed.
He pulled out two of his business cards. He handed them both to McCord. “Keep one to give to the woman at the commune to contact me if Tonya disappears. Put the address of the place on the back of the other one, please.”
McCord picked up a pen, setting on the table where they’d eaten, and scribbled on the back of one of the cards.
“Stay with her until backup comes. I’ll call Horton and have him send someone up to relieve you. Tonya is a flight risk even though she knows her life is at stake.”
The trooper nodded as she handed the card back to Hawke.
Tonya joined them.
“I hope you don’t mind roughing it a bit,” McCord said to Tonya.
“I grew up backpacking the Seven Devils. I don’t mind roughing it,” Tonya said, picking up the shopping bag with the clothes. “Thanks for the clothes,” she said, as the two walked to the door.
“You’re welcome. Take care. I’ll contact you when we have something on Bayle,” Hawke said, walking to the door. He watched the two get in an older Ford sedan and leave the parking lot.
Once they were gone, he called Captain Horton, requesting someone to make sure Tonya didn’t run. Then he called Mathews.
“Stay where you are tonight, but in the morning come pick me up.” He told him the motel and address and that Tonya was headed to a safe place.
“Where is she going?” Mathews asked.
“Better if not everyone knows,” Hawke replied.
“How will anyone check up on her if something happens to you?” The tone in the deputy’s voice was a bit belligerent.
Hawke wasn’t sure if it was because the man cared about Tonya more than just as a lawman keeping her safe or he felt he should know everything.
“Enough people know. Get some sleep. I’d like you to pick me up by seven. We’ll grab something to eat and hit the first tow truck outfit on my list.” Hawke ended the conversation and dialed Spruel. His Superior needed to know what had happened since the State Trooper pulled Mathews over.
After getting the sergeant up-to-date and not telling him where Tonya was, Hawke stripped down to his underwear and climbed into bed. He’d hoped to fall asleep quickly but too many “whys” drifted through his head. Most of them he had no answers for and wondered if he ever would.
«»«»«»
Hawke was showered and sitting in front of the motel before seven, waiting for Mathews. He’d purchased a paper from the box in front of the motel office and read the front page. Bayle was going to be at the grand opening of a fitness center he owned at 2 pm. It might be fun to attend the event and see if Bayle showed any recognition when he and Mathews approached him. The thought had Hawke chuckling. The event would also give him a chance to watch Bayle and get to understand him a little better.
The old Mustang appeared at the parking lot entrance. Dog was ridin
g in the passenger seat. Hawke waved and Mathews pulled up alongside of him.
“Hey boy, did you miss me?” Hawke asked, roughing up the hair on Dog’s neck before waving the animal to the back seat and sliding into the passenger seat.
“He missed you.” Mathews said. “I think he paced the room all night. I thought you said he’d be fine.”
“If he was pacing the room, it’s because there was someone outside your door or he saw someone messing with your car.” Hawke wondered if Bayle would stoop to bugging their vehicles. Another good argument for Mathews not knowing where Tonya was. It wouldn’t be brought up in any conversations. He’d have to be sure to not talk on the phone with McCord while in this or his vehicle.
Mathews caught on quick. He mimed, Is the car bugged?
“Could be,” Hawke said. “I’m starving. Did you see any good places to eat?”
“I passed a couple.” Mathews drove and they didn’t say much of anything. He pulled into a Pancake House and as soon as they were out of the vehicle, Mathews dropped to the ground scrutinizing the bumpers and undercarriage.
“Don’t worry about it now,” Hawke said. “They just wanted Tonya. We won’t be leading them to her and it might make them show their hands if they know where all we are going digging for information. But don’t talk to anyone on the phone while in the car, just in case they did bug it.” He entered the restaurant, and they took a booth where they could see the car and most of the parking lot.
Before they finished eating, the car that had followed Hawke the day before pulled through the parking lot and left. Yep. There was a tracking device on the car.
Mathews saw it, too. “They do have my vehicle bugged.”
“Yep. This should be fun,” Hawke said. “We’re going to get my truck, do some sniffing around, and then attend a grand opening where Bayle is supposed to give a speech.”
Mathews grinned. “That sounds like fun.”
Chapter Thirty-two
His wallet kept getting lighter and lighter. Hawke grumbled as he pulled his pickup into a parking space near where the grand opening was going to happen. He was pretty sure the towing outfit charged him double the usual fee for towing and holding a vehicle. One quick inspection of the cab and he knew they had gone through it as well as any forensic team.