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

make this frame-up job useless and it would probably disappear like smoke."
    Everyone was silent for a few minutes. Vivian looked like she was going to cry. Emma’s face registered shock and dismay.
    Finally, Craig spoke. “I’ve got a few thousand I could lend you Hawk. We could buy you a car with cash and you could just head south, or north, or wherever. Find a hotel room somewhere and do what you can. I can investigate from here.”
    Emma nodded. “I have some money too. It’s yours.”
    Vivian finally spoke in a soft voice. “So they aren’t investigating Craig too?”
    Again, Hawk and Craig exchanged glances. “I don’t think so,” Craig finally said. “I’m not on even on the books as investigating this case yet, only Hawk is.”
    Hawk nodded. If the DEA was trying to pin this on both of them they were sunk, but if it was only him, they might have a chance. But he had to disappear, and quickly. Tonight even. He didn’t even dare go back to his place to get clothes.
    “Can you guys get access to your cash tonight?”
    Craig nodded. “I can, well at least some of it. I think I can only take $400 out of any atm at a time, so we will have to spread it around to a few different banks. I don’t know if there’s a total limit. But I can wire you money tomorrow, wherever you are.”
    “Yeah, me too,” Emma said.
    “Do you know of any car lots that will still be open?” Hawk asked.
    “No, but we can look on the Internet. Emma do you mind getting your computer?”
    “Sure," Emma said, and started to stand up.
    “I have a better idea,” Vivian said softly.
    Everyone turned to look at her. She looked Hawk square in the eyes and said “I can take you.”

Chapter 10

I n the bathroom, Vivian sat on the closed toilet lid and took some deep breaths to steady her nerves. Had she really just volunteered to run away with Hawk, that big, sexy bear of a man who made her knees weak just by flashing those smoldering eyes her way?
    She got up and splashed her face. It really did make the most sense. She played back the list of why it was a good idea in her mind, trying to convince herself that she didn’t just do it to be in the same hotel room with Hawk, at night, alone.
    They wouldn’t have to go buy a car right now, which would take a lot of time, they could just take Vivian’s car. If the DEA wasn’t investigating Craig, then they wouldn’t know about Emma, and they certainly wouldn’t know about Vivian. They could just drive off right now. Vivian had money, lots of money, and they wouldn’t have to run around to 10 different banks and tip off the DEA that way. If they had to check into a hotel, Vivian could go inside and get the room, Hawk would never even have to show his face to anybody. And it’s not like she was in any danger. If the DEA did manage to find and arrest Hawk they weren’t going to arrest Vivian. She could just pretend to be his girlfriend, and not know anything about the DEA following him.
    When she’d recited these reasons to everyone, Craig had nodded vigorously and said it was a great idea. Emma hadn’t said anything, but her eyes had bored into Vivian’s brain, as if trying to see her thoughts. Hawk had shook his head immediately and said no way . Vivian  excused herself and ran to the upstairs bathroom, practically crying. Her face burned at the memory. Fine, if he couldn’t stand to look at her, touch her, or be in the same darn room with her for 2 seconds then he could just find his own way out of this mess. Why in the world had she wanted to help him anyway?
    She checked her face and took a few more deep breaths. She looked ok, but she felt horrible. She needed to stay far away from Hawk Kinkaid. In fact, she’d be perfectly fine if she never saw him again.
    She left the bathroom, hoping Emma had come upstairs. She hadn’t. She tiptoed down the stairs and peeked around the corner, hoping to get Emma’s attention. Emma was still sitting on the couch. Hawk and Craig were