The Archer [Book 13 of the Hawkman Series] Read Online Free PDF Page A

office to pick up any mail and lock up for the night. When he arrived, he parked in the alley and jogged up the stairs. The reflection off the metal door caught his eye as it showed a dent in the surface. He ran his hand over it and wondered what had caused such a deep indentation. Retracing his steps, he studied the ground for a large rock or metal pipe that could cause the damage. Not seeing anything nearby, he glanced above the stairwell and caught a glimpse of something protruding from the eave. He trotted back up the stairs and fortunately, being tall, grabbed hold of what looked like the feathered end of an arrow. It took him several minutes to work it out, and once he twisted it free, he took it inside under the light. After examining the shaft, he came to the conclusion it was made from aluminum or carbon/graphite, and must have come from a compound bow.
    "Why would anyone be shooting one of those powerful things in town?” he grumbled, turning it over in his hand.
    He placed the arrow on the desk, then picked up the mail which had been slid into the door slot. His finger caught on a tattered sheet of cardboard at the bottom of the pile. He pulled it out by the corner and a large hole was ripped in the middle, but written in bold black letters, circling the hole, were the words, ‘STAY AWAY FROM MY GIRL'. Taking the arrow from the desk, Hawkman figured he'd ruined any fingerprints that might be on it when he had to force it out of the wood. Holding the paper by the very edge, he put the point through the hole and it fit, except for the couple of small torn places. So he assumed when the arrow didn't stick in the door, the note fell off, and the perpetrator shoved it into the mail slot. He probably didn't even look for the arrow and left in haste.
    Hawkman carefully placed the note on the desk, opened the small cabinet above the filing cabinet and removed the fingerprint set. He dusted the matte paper, but found nothing. The guy probably wore gloves.
    He sat down and pulled the file he'd started for Laura toward him, took a yellow legal pad and noted the first clue. Hawkman imagined this guy to be a hunter or a bow and arrow enthusiast. Now, he at least had a clue to pursue.
    The thought of this man with such a weapon in his possession sent a shudder down Hawkman's spine, and put fear into his heart for Laura's and her parents’ safety. He'd hunted with a couple of his friends who used the compound bow. The velocity of the arrow will go straight through a deer and land on the ground opposite the prey. It's a powerful weapon and the arrow can travel quite a distance. A person wouldn't have to be close to his victim to inflict terrible injury. Since Hawkman didn't know a lot about this sport, he jotted a reminder to contact one of his hunting friends and ask some questions.
    The arrow wouldn't fit into his briefcase, but he remembered he'd saved a cardboard tube which a map had come in. Finding it in the corner of the room, behind the filing cabinet, he taped one end shut, and slid the arrow inside. He placed the note into the valise and opened the office door. When he stepped into the dark evening, he scrutinized the area for any strange pickups or cars. Seeing none, he breathed a sigh of relief, and headed for his vehicle. He figured for the guy to shoot the arrow into his door, he had to come down the alley and use the weapon at a fairly close range. Otherwise, too many obstacles stood in the way for him to get a good shot.
    Traveling down the freeway, he kept his eye on the rearview mirror, just in case. He also pondered how he'd ask Laura about any of her male friends who liked archery. Being a farm girl, she might know about guys who enjoyed hunting with bows and arrows, or heard about them through her girlfriends. He'd also ask her dad and his hired hands.
    When Hawkman arrived home, he found Jennifer at her computer and she seemed extremely focused. Her fingers were flying across the keyboard at a high rate of