Page 110 of Shielding Instinct

“No. Nothing. I can tell you that I never saw anyone say anything to her, and she didn’t talk to anyone. She seemed in a bad mood, and they let her have her storm cloud at a distance. That’s her brothers, too. They didn’t try to get her to join in as they played. Also, they were staying here in the hotel. Is it possible for the manager to go into their room? I know they were leaving the island, but it’s possible that a bottle was missed, or a pill fell onto the floor with identifiable markings.”

“We already looked,” Reaper said.

“The girl,” Petra said, feeling the warmth and joy of the conversation she was having with Hawkeye recede into the distance, replaced with fear. “Is she in imminent danger?”

“I can’t say. That they were calling and asking for any possible information is a big red flag. They have to be worried. They couldn’t go into her case much more than to ask for information specifically around what might have caused the seizure.”

“Okay. I’m going to think about all this and see what I can come up with. Off the top of my head, I have nothing.”

“Thanks, Petra. Out.”

Hawkeye’s body had changed. He sat up straighter as he expanded his muscles. The word that came to Petra was that he was “primed.” His focus was hard on her. “I don’t know you very well yet, but I know you,” he said.

Petra blinked at him.

“You have a plan to get that information, and it’s not a safe one. When you said you were going to see what you could come up with, what you meant was that you were about to go find out why that child is in a medical crisis.”

Petra paused. “Yes. You’re right.”

“All right. Cooper and I are in.” Hawkeye stood, gathering the last of his food and balling it up to shove into the trash. “What’s the plan?”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Hawkeye

Petra said that from her experience with communications while saving Terry from the blowhole, the place that made the most sense for the kidnapper to take the dad was The Social Club with their famous drinking pig. From the off grid house, the dirt road would come out onto the pavement only a quarter mile away, heading south. To the north, it was a much longer drive to get to the next piece of civilization.

So they headed toward The Social Club.

“Petra, why would he want or need civilization. All he needs is connectivity.”

“Not true. He needs connectivity and control. If you had a gun, a phone, a recalcitrant human being, you’d also want a light source, right?” Petra asked.

“I would, but not when it risked being seen.”

“I’ve been in the passenger seat of cars that have driven by there a few times this weekend, so I’ve had the advantage of looking around. The sign says that it closes at nine. But the lights that are near their parking lot are public streetlights. And I’d bet the light over the club itself stays on. There’s a copse of trees just to the south of the entry. I’d bet this guy is taking Herb there because while he’ll be able to see, he won’t be seen. They could probably make a bunch of noise, but they’re too far away to be heard. Few people on the road. And most of all—”

“Connectivity. I’m not doubting you. That all sounds right to me. But he has a gun, and we do not.”

“I have a badge.” Petra tapped her belt. From his place in the driver’s seat, Hawkeye couldn’t see it, but was sure it was there.

“You were in Afghanistan. You up close and personally know the power of the gun. He won’t lay it down and cower under the power of the badge.”

“Of course not. But the kidnapper said out loud to his buddy that he wasn’t interested in killing anyone. In his mind, he will hesitate.”

“Uh-uh,” Hawkeye said. “That’s not a good enough strategy.”

“I sort of have one,” Petra said, watching the trees—a dark violet against the deepening sky—blur by. She turned back to him. “I’m wondering what Cooper’s capacity is. My understanding is that all Cerberus K9 are—what do they call it?—a nose and a bite.”

“Not true. Truffles is a caving rescue dog. Valor is a search and comfort dog.”

“But Cooper is.”

“Yes,” Hawkeye acknowledged. “A nose and a bite.”

“I don’t want to put you in any kind of trouble, Cooper,” She crooned as she reached over the seat to rub Cooper. “And I don’t think I would be putting you in harm’s way. I want to apply a little shock and awe. Imagine this, you and Cooper get out of the SUV and position yourself in the area as my backup.”

“Whoa. No. If you’re going in. I’m going in.”

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