Edge of the Heat 3 by Lisa Ladew Read Free Book Online

half hoping to see the Tahoe parked nearby. If he did, he could run to it and rip the door open and demand to know why he was being followed.
    Hawk leaned against the side of the building and fought the feeling that his world was crumbling. In a few moments Craig pushed his way out the door.
    “He wouldn’t tell me anything,” Craig said.
    “Oh? So there is something to tell?”
    “For sure. As soon as he heard who I was calling about his walls went up and he got defensive.”
    “Shit. Shit! Do you think Bade would spill?”
    “I don’t know Hawk, probably not, I don’t know him that well.”
    “Ok, I’ll call Trip. He and I go way back.”
    Hawk dialed the number, scared of what he would hear. His buddy, James Trip wasn’t in, so he left a message and hung up.
    “I guess we’re going to have to wait.” Hawk looked up and down the street again. “I feel like checking to see if that guy magically shows up again if I leave. Want to go for a drive?” Hawk asked, heading for his truck.
    “Yep.” Craig locked the door and climbed in.
    They pulled out onto the road slowly, peeling their eyes for any tail. After a mile they had to admit they didn’t have one.

Chapter 9

“H ey, you should come to our house for dinner tonight,” Craig told Hawk.
    “Well, I got some stuff to do at home.”
    “Come on man, it will just be the three of us. Emma would love to have you over.”
    Hawk thought for a second. Part of him didn’t want to go because he was afraid he would run into Vivian. That part of him would love if Vivian moved back to where ever she moved here from and he never saw her again. If he never saw her again he’d never have to think about why every time he saw her, his heart started beating fast and his palms started sweating. Oh Lord, what is wrong with me, Hawk thought, rubbing his eyes.
    “Yeah, that would be great. What are we having?” Hawk asked, trying to keep the sudden exhaustion he felt out of his voice.
    “I don’t know, I’ve got to pick something up at the grocery store.”
    “Ok, but I’m buying. I’ll drop you off at your truck and then we’ll meet at the Safeway by your house?” Hawk asked, pulling into the parking lot of their Headquarters building.
    “Yep. See you there. Keep an eye out for a tail.”
    15 minutes later, Hawk and Craig met up together in the meat aisle of the grocery store. Hawk picked out two t-bones for the grill and a 12 pack of Bud Light while Craig grabbed some side salad fixings.
    They went up to the self checkout lanes and scanned their items. Hawk slid his debit card and it was denied. “That’s weird,” he said under his breath and tried his credit card. That card was denied also. Panic seized Hawk around his midsection. The black cloud that had settled over him when the license plate came back as belonging to the DEA suddenly exploded into a thunderstorm. Hawk tried every card in his wallet and they all were denied.
    Craig looked at him, identical fear on his face. They dropped their groceries and walked swiftly to their trucks, eyes alert, watching for government agents with guns.
    “Make sure you aren’t followed and pull into the garage. I’ll have it open for you,” Craig told him.
    Hawk nodded and climbed into his truck.
    The ride to Craig’s house was uneventful. Every siren he heard or police car that went past him made Hawk’s heart leap in his throat, but none of them were meant for him.
    Hawk took a circuitous route through the neighborhood, and when he was satisfied no one was following him he pulled onto Craig and Emma’s street. Immediately, he saw Vivian’s little Jaguar parked out front. His heart started beating even faster than it already was.
    He slowed and slid his truck right into the garage next to Emma’s car. Craig was already inside the garage, and he put the door down immediately. He held an RF detector in his hands.
    Craig and Hawk entered the little house through the garage, but they didn’t say a word.