Hawk chuckled. “If she is, Alex will have my hide. She’s already upset about how things went down.”
“You could’ve approached the woman in a less threatening manner.”
“How would you have done it?”
“Same way you did,” Black said. “Though I probably wouldn’t have even mentioned anything about the gun to Alex beforehand and let it be a surprise to her too.”
“You’re going to have a hard time with marriage,” Hawk said.
“I’m not trying to get married here. We’re trying to catch a man who might be able to help us stop a virus that will wipe out half the world’s population.”
“Fair enough. Now when you get back from El Diablo Point, call me so we can discuss the lay of the land. I don’t want any surprises tomorrow.”
“Roger that.”
* * *
HAWK CHOSE TO BACK OFF and let Alex work her magic with Mrs. Templeton. While Alex often bucked authority, she had a tender side that could win over even the coldest of hearts in little to no time at all. Offering to help or being attentive to a person’s needs, she could make another person feel like he or she was the most important soul in the room. That trait was also one that endeared her to Hawk.
In an effort to stay out of the way, Hawk flipped through a collection of magazines on the coffee table, most of them focusing on the beauty of the Santa Fe. There was little doubt that Mrs. Templeton enjoyed living there and was indeed proud of her hometown. She had held several creative jobs over the years, working for a local communications company. Everything from a photographer to a graphic designer and plenty of jobs in between filled up her resume. But it was her most recent job, the one she’d taken after she officially retired, that caught Hawk’s attention.
She was a trail guide at the Santa Fe National Forest before her knees started acting up—at least, that’s what she told Hawk and Alex. If anyone knew their way around the area, Mrs. Templeton did.
“So I imagine you’ve been to El Diablo point many times,” Hawk said.
“Of course,” she said.
“In that case, can you draw me a rudimentary map of the area and show me what I can see from the top of the point?”
“Sure,” she said as she began scribbling onto a piece of paper. As she used her art skills to sketch out El Diablo Point, she penciled in labels on certain portions that could be viewed from that height. In a matter of minutes, Hawk had a good idea what was in store for them in the morning.
* * *
AFTER SHARING A PIZZA they had delivered, Mrs. Templeton said that she wanted to go to bed. Alex asked if she could sleep on the floor in Mrs. Templeton’s room.
“Are you afraid that I’m going somewhere?” she asked.
Alex shook her head. “No, not at all. I just thought it might be a better way to ensure that we all get a good night of sleep and you’re not worried that we’re going to storm in here and shoot you. That’s all.”
“You could storm in here in the middle of the night and shoot me?” Mrs. Templeton asked.
“That’s not going to happen,” Alex said reassuringly. “That was just a poor choice of words. Especially after the way we got off on the wrong foot coming in here with blazing guns. I’m just thankful that you’re helping us and see your assistance for what it really is—the heart of someone who deeply cares about the fabric of our society.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone put it in those terms, but I would say that’s fairly accurate. I love my son, but if he’s involved in something this sinister, I can’t allow that.”
“I know,” Alex said. “As difficult as it might be for you, you’re doing the right thing.”
Mrs. Templeton smiled and then said she was going to the bathroom.
“Of course,” Alex said. “Take your time. Take all the time that you need.”
Alex crept into the hallway to connect with Hawk one final time before bed.
“How are things going back there?” he asked.
“Fine as far as I can tell,” Alex said, keeping her voice low.
“You trust her?”
Alex sighed. “I don’t know. She seems pretty sincere. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Do you think you can handle her if I leave you two alone?” Hawk asked. “Black and I need to discuss plans for tomorrow. He went up to El Diablo Point and scoped it out for us this afternoon.”
“I’m good. You go on. I’ve got this.”
Hawk kissed his wife on the cheek. “Be careful.”
* * *
HAWK EASED OUTSIDE, pulling the door shut behind him. He scanned the area but didn’t see Black.
“Where are you?” Hawk asked over the coms. “I just finished up inside and thought we could plan for tomorrow now that you’ve been up there to take a look at it.”
“I’m getting takeout at a Chinese place up the street here,” Black said. “You want me to get you something?”
“I’ve already eaten,” Hawk said. “But thanks for the offer. When will you be back?”
“Five or ten minutes, depending on how long it takes them to make my food.”
“Okay, I’ll be outside taking a little walk.”
“Roger that,” Black said.
Hawk paced back and forth in front of the residence along the sidewalk for a minute or two before a pair of men jumped out of a black SUV and grabbed him. He tried to fight back, but one of the men snatched Hawk’s gun while the other man jammed a taser into Hawk’s neck and then yanked the com units out of his ear.
“You’re coming with us,” one of the men growled.
CHAPTER 22
TWO MEN DRAGGED Hawk into their SUV before a driver stomped on the gas and sped away from the house. After a couple minutes, Hawk regained consciousness and realized his hands were tied behind his back.
“What’s going on?”
