What did that mean, blood coming from your ear?
I shook my head to clear this thought and looked back at Elvira.
“Do it,” I ordered. “But proceed with caution and if you think they can help, you give it to them and mobilize but only if you think they won’t go commando and put Hawk in jeopardy.” Elvira nodded her answer to me but she did it looking at the computer screen and I turned to Cam. “But Lawson doesn’t know, nor Leo.”
“Babe, I love you and I know you care a lot about Hawk but you gotta let the cops in on this,” Cam warned.
“No!” I snapped. “No cops. I’m already taking enough chance with you being here. They’re probably watching me.”
“Oh God, do you think that’s true?” Tracy asked.
“Yes,” I replied immediately and then turned to Elvira. “You get anything, call me, I’ve gotta go.”
“Where?” Elvira asked, her eyes not leaving the computer screen.
“Nightingale Investigations,” I answered.
“Shit,” Cam muttered.
“I’ll come with,” Tracy offered and I looked at her.
“No, babe,” I told her.
“I’m coming with,” Tracy repeated.
“No, Trace, this is dangerous. Stay here, maybe you can help Elvira,” I suggested knowing this wasn’t true.
Elvira’s fingers flew over the keyboard.
“I’m coming with,” Tracy stated again.
“Trace –” I started but stopped when she grabbed my hand.
“I’m… coming… with.”
I stared into her eyes.
Then I whispered, “Okay.”
“Shit,” Cam muttered again.
* * * * *
Tracy sat next to me in my car. I drove and tried to be focused as panic threatened to overwhelm me. Tracy was beeping buttons on her phone.
Then the beeping stopped and she put the phone to her ear.
“Troy?” I heard her say and nearly ran off the road.
My eyes flew to her. “Trace! What are you –?”
She waved a hand at me and I looked back at the road.
Tracy kept talking. “Yeah, listen, now’s not a good time. You know those baddies who were after Ginger?” Pause. “Well, they have Hawk.”
“Tracy!” I cried.
She ignored me. “I know, I know, they want to trade him for Ginger and I need you to do your thing, find any properties owned by Nelson Roarke or any owned by any companies he’s involved with.”