A part of Janita was shocked that he asked her to do such a thing, but another part of her wasn’t shocked at all. That part of her was happy he asked. “Sure thing.”
“I’ll call my father and see if there’s been any news,” Hawk said as he pulled out his phone. Janita left the den and headed down the hall to the bathroom.
Hawk almost sat down on one of those recliners as he phoned his father, but he caught himself and remained standing. He began walking around the small room as his father’s phone rang.
There were pictures on the wall of Janita and DeVontay as children, and her attractive mother and father. They were always smiling in those pictures as if they were one happy family. As if, unlike his family, they didn’t have to mask the shame of their father’s actions by smiling and putting on fronts and going to weddings of his out-of-wedlock children they would rather eat worms than go to.
His father finally answered his phone. “Did you and the brother-and-sister sleuths find her?”
Hawk knew he was being sarcastic so he didn’t respond to that question. “Any news?”
“Nothing,” his father said. Hawk could hear the stress return in his voice. “There’s still not even a ransom demand. Donnally and his men are setting up a communications post here at the house so that if the call comes in, they can record it and try to trace it or whatever they’re trying to do. The FBI is on their way too.”
“The FBI?” Hawk was surprised. “But I thought they only came into the picture if there was some interstate or federal-type crime.” Then Hawk’s heart dropped. “Are you saying they believe Mom is no longer being held in Brackenridge? That this wasn’t local?”
“Nobody knows that, but that’s what I ordered Donnally to tell the Feds. Between you and me and this phone I don’t think his team is up to the job.”
“I already knew that. I thought you were relying more on your security team.”
“I am. But they’re turning up blanks too. The FBI have more resources. I want them involved.”
“I agree,” said Hawk. “Good move, Pop.”
It took a lot for him to give his father any kind of compliment. Their relationship was too fraught with trauma for that. But his father was stepping up for his mother. That mattered too. “Call me if anything happens.”
“Where are you?”
He wasn’t about to tell him where. “I’m in town,” was all he said.
“Donnally said you nearly got your ass stuck in some hole at Ellen’s. Be careful son. I cannot take another tragedy right now.”
Hawk was offended. “Mother isn’t a tragedy. She’s coming back home.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just . . . I’m scared for her.”
Hawk eased his defensiveness. And nodded his head. “I am too, Pop. I am too.”
“I’ll keep you posted,” his father said, and ended the call.
Hawk held onto his phone a moment longer. It had been years since he and his father had a civil conversation. And to have one under these circumstances negated the beauty of it. All he usually got were orders from his old man. But that was how he rolled. He never made anything easy for any of them.
Hawk put his phone away, made his way out of the den, and down the narrow hall to the bathroom. Janita was down on her knees, swishing around what looked like bubble bath, and he smiled. “I haven’t had a bubble bath in decades,” he said.
She looked at him with a smile so gorgeous that it beautified her face. “You’re long overdue. I have one every night.” Then she stood up. “It’s ready for you.”
He pushed from the doorjamb and made his way further into the bathroom. They were toe to toe and those overwhelming feelings he felt for her returned. “Why don’t you go first,” he said.
“No way. You’re my guest. My guest goes first. And actually, there’s a second bathroom. I’m going to take my bath there.” Then her look turned serious. “Any news?”
He exhaled, and shook his head. “Nope. But at least the FBI is getting involved.”
“That’s good news, right?”
“They have a wider sweep, so yes. But we still haven’t heard from those kidnappers.” Then he smiled.
Which Janita found very odd. “What’s funny?”
“My mother is a force of nature. I suspect those kidnappers will be releasing her soon just to get some rest.”
