Hawke strolled into the station. “Good morning, Kylee. What a lovely day.”
“Yes, it is. Ms. Two Mile has not called nine-one-one this morning. It’s a first, but who knows, maybe she’s figured out her calls are always about things only she can see.”
Hawke walked down the hall. As his eyes made contact with Melina’s angry ones, he remembered they had agreed to meet at nine a.m..
“Melina, I’m sorry.” His words could not come soon enough.
Her face revealed anger and impatience. “We are to be at Ms. Winters home at ten. Do you think we will make it? Where have you been?”
Hawke turned and motioned for her to follow. “I’m sorry. I took a walk this morning. I needed some time to think some things through. If I drive a little faster than usual, we’ll make it.”
Melina shrugged as she grabbed her coat. “Great, let’s get going.” She followed him out the front door.
The road to Ms. Winter’s used to be dirt. Hawke could remember when all the roads on the rez could barely be seen, let alone driven upon. Now, most of the roads were paved. Most of the homes on the rez, however, were in dire need of repair.
Melina was upset with him. The best thing to do was to give her space.
“So, are you going to tell me where you took a walk to?”
He glanced at her. “I told you. I went for a walk to clear my head.”
Melina shifted and stared out the window. Then her voice whispered, “Probably having second thoughts about our relationship?”
Hawke swerved to the shoulder of the road and shoved the gearshift into Park, He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to him. “Melina, you should know better than that. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life in your arms. I’m searching myself. What is my purpose upon Mother Earth? How can I be a good husband to you if I don’t know the man I’m supposed to be?”
Melina’s eyes searched his. “I’m sorry for doubting your love. I love you, TJ Hawke. I let my fear get the best of me.” Her voice choked up, revealing how scared she had been.
He unlatched her seatbelt and drew her into his arms. “Melina, you must know I will love you forever. I have been with no one else since we broke up.” He kissed her neck, inhaling her scent of wildflowers.
She kissed him. “Hawke, forgive me. I will never question you again.”
They kissed again several times, enjoying their closeness. For the moment, Abby’s mother could wait. “We better go to Ms. Winters’ house, love.”
“Yes.” Melina slid to her seat and fastened her seatbelt again.
Hawke checked his rearview mirror and eased the vehicle back onto the road toward Abby’s home. When they pulled up to Ms. Winters’ home, a strange black van sat in the driveway. Hawke pulled his cell phone from its leather holder and called dispatch.
“This is Detective Hawke. I have a license plate I need you to run.” After he gave dispatch the number, he and Melina stepped out of the vehicle, taking their time as they walked along the stone path to the porch. Melina rang the doorbell. They waited patiently but pushed the bell again when nobody came to the door.
Finally, the door opened. “Sorry. I was in the bathroom. Come on in.”
Amy Winters appeared nervous. Her tense features displayed fear.
When they entered the home, Hawke glanced around just to see if anything appeared out of the ordinary. They followed her into the kitchen.
“Please sit down. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, that would be nice. We’re here to speak to you about Abby and the relationship she had with Ian,” Melina said.
Amy Winters stared at them. “Please, go ahead, but I have told you everything I know.”
The woman fidgeted, so he studied the area even more as Melina continued with her questioning. The coffee pot was almost empty. Two mugs sat in the sink. A man’s ball cap hung on a peg by the back door.
“Well, we spoke with several people who knew Abby. They are saying she was mad at Ian for some reason. Do you think she found out about him dealing drugs?”
Hawke studied Amy’s reaction. She stared straight ahead. Did she know about the dealing? Had Ian threatened her? If so, when? There was something not right with this situation.
“Ms. Winters, Ian Guidara told us Abby loved him. We need to speak to him, again, but we cannot find him. Have you heard from him?”
Amy Winters turned and glanced out her kitchen window, her shoulders rigid with tension. She raised the window a couple inches. Fresh cool air swept in, and she took a deep breath. “No, I have not heard from Ian. Thank you for coming. If there is nothing else, I would like to rest.”
She headed toward the door, opened it, and nodded for them to leave.
Hawke was bewildered at her reaction. He paused in the doorway. “Is something wrong? I mean it’s as if you have something you want to say but are afraid to utter the words.”
“No. I have things to do, and I need to rest.” Then she shut the door in his face.
As they walked toward their vehicle, Hawke glanced over his shoulder, “Something is going on here. On the one hand, she said she had things to do and, on the other, she said she needed to rest. Makes no sense. I have a feeling it has something to do with the strange van sitting in the driveway and with Ian Guidara.”
Melina nodded. “What are we going to do?”
Hawke motioned her into the vehicle, .
As he pulled away, he went in the opposite direction of home.
Melina laid a hand on his arm. “Where are you going?”
Hawke winked and pulled onto a side road that ran behind Ms. Winters’ home. “We’ll wait and see who comes out of her house. I have a strange feeling it will be Ian Guidara.”
Melina gawked at him. “Do you think this is where he has been hiding out?”
He shrugged. “I have a feeling he is either trying to convince Ms. Winters he is a victim or trying to learn everything he can from her about the investigation. She appeared to be scared, so I think he is forcing her to do what he wants. We will wait here and see I we get some answers. I just pray he doesn’t hurt her before we can get him.”
A couple of minutes later, Hawke’s cell rang. “Hawke here.” A short pause, and he grabbed Melina’s hand and squeezed it. “Thanks, Suzette. You’re the best.” He snapped the phone shut. “The van in Ms. Winters’ driveway is a rental. Three guesses whose name is on the lease.”
“Ian Guidara.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “One of the many things I love about you, FBI Detective Wolfe.” Hawke winked. “You’re one smart woman.”
They sat back in their seats, waiting and watching. The waiting game was hard, but both of them had done their share of surveillance in the line of duty. Soon, they would have some answers and, hopefully, Ms. Winters could explain what had transpired in her house. Melina Wolfe loved to hide out, spying on people with Hawke. Life with him was an adventure, one she hoped to always be a part of.
It gave her great pleasure spending time with this man. He had a gentle heart, but was tough on himself. He would be the best father, and she could not wait to birth his child one day. He would be the guiding light in their children’s lives. In her eyes, he proved how life should go. He stood beside her and demanded her to stand her ground. Through his teachings, she learned the way of the land. In other words, he would always be there for her. This she knew, for he was a respected, loyal man.
“Pilamaya, thank you, nagi tanka, Great Spirit, for bringing this man into my life. I shall be a good wife.”
Her heart soared as she whispered the words to the Creator.