“Jesus paddling a leaky canoe!”
It didn’t look like media, but a whole damn press conference—one they certainly didn’t call.
Well, shit.
This was going to be bad.
“Uh, why do I feel like we’re about to get screwed seven ways to Sunday?” Elizabeth asked, as they headed out the doors to face the mayhem.
They were flanked by their security in case a crazy was loose in the pack.
“Maybe it’s because we’re all here,” Callen suggested hopefully. “You know how they love to talk about us like we’re some anomaly.”
He always was the optimist.
Most of the time, he was right, but this time…
Yeah, no.
This was going to blow.
Elizabeth could see the feral looks in their eyes as the mongrels prepared to start biting at their heels. They were out for blood, and that meant only one thing.
There was a leak.
“Elizabeth! Are you covering up for Congressman West? His daughter was murdered, and no one has announced it. Is it because he’s up for re-election? Is this because he’s hiding something?”
Oh, shit!
This was going to be bad.
Ethan even looked horrified.
Yep.
They were screwed.
“Deputy Director! Can you confirm if this killer is going after political figures to take down the government?”
He didn’t even respond.
It was so absurd, how could he?
“Is this killer, Director Whitefox, going to be targeting your wife? Will you get all Jackson James on him?” someone else shouted.
Callen rolled his eyes.
Clearly, they didn’t realize that he didn’t have to protect his wife. She had a vicious right hook.
“No comment.”
They pushed through the crowd, and the questions became even more ridiculous.
“Is it true that you’re kicking Christopher Leonard out of your life because he’s become a perverted freak?” someone shouted.
Elizabeth stopped.
“Don’t,” Ethan warned. “They are baiting you.”
He was right, but there was no way he was going to let anyone disparage Chris’s sterling reputation.
Not on her watch.
“I’m good,” she muttered.
Ethan glanced over at Heath.
“Get us to our ride.”
“On it, boss,” he said, shoving some reporter, who was sticking his microphone in his boss’s face.
Somehow, Rory, Ivan, and Heath managed to get them through the mess and to their ride. As Ivan drove, Rory in the front and Heath beside the director, they lost a good chunk of the reporters as they pulled away.
Ethan pulled out his phone.
And he did his job.
Damage Control.
They were going to need it.
When Gabe got the call, he was on his way to a meeting with the Secretary of State and President in the War room. As soon as Ethan told him what was going on, he flipped his shit all over the place.
“What do you mean they ambushed you outside the hotel? We were supposed to keep this hush-hush!”
Ethan knew this was bad.
When Gabe was freaking out at him, it was never a good thing.
Never.
“I know, Gabe. Trust me. We’re just as shocked as you are, and I’m trying to contain it.”
This was worst-case scenario.
Here, they had asked the congressman to keep it quiet so they could do their jobs, and the opposite had happened.
Well, that wasn’t the only shit storm coming, and he knew it. The commissioner of police had asked them to keep it under control so his city wasn’t a freaking free-for-all.
None of this was quiet or controlled.
This wasn’t even chaos.
This was pandemonium.
As they arrived at their destination, there were news vans outside the Office of the Medical Examiner’s building, and there were pissed off cops trying to keep the chaos back.
Yeah, this was exactly why people hated when the FBI rolled into town, only they had nothing to do with this.
No.
They’d been set up.
But by who?
Was this the congressman using his daughter’s death to get some political push in the polls?
Was this the commissioner’s doing with a side of angry police captain?
Ethan’s mind was going a million miles a minute.
“Handle it, Ethan! You have to get this under control! That’s why you’re up there. The media will be asking UGLY questions as to why the Deputy Director of the FBI is playing investigator. Once that happens, the president calls, and he HATES your wife. What do you think is going to happen?”
Oh, he was well aware.
“I’m on it.”
Gabe hung up.
As they headed out of the vehicle, through the crowd, and to the building, one thing stood out, and gave him his biggest clue how all of this had happened.
‘Puppet Master.’
Someone shouted a question with that name, and it gave all of them the chills.
“Oh, boy,” Callen stated. “We have a leak.”
Elizabeth sighed.
Oh, she suspected she knew who did this. Her team wouldn’t pull this kind of shit. That narrowed it down.
Big time.
Once inside, Ethan was still on the phone trying to handle the situation. They could hear him freaking out, and Ethan only ever yelled at work when it was dire.
Apparently, the media began playing the same nasty game in DC too.
Yeah, they didn’t need any more publicity about this.
“I want you to plug that leak!” Ethan stated. “Get a team on it ASAP! I don’t care who you have to call, but you get it handled, and get some of the Capitol Police out to the congressman’s home. He’s going to be their next stop!”
Ethan hung up.
“Well, the next call will be the president,” Callen stated.
Oh, he didn’t doubt it.
“It’s like Gabe thinks this is our fault,” Callen stated. “We didn’t ask for this.”
Ethan defended his partner. As the number two person at the FBI building, he got it.
“He’s frustrated,” Ethan said. “I am too.”
They both stared at him.
“Way to take the man’s side,” Elizabeth teased.
Ethan laughed. “I don’t have to take a side with you guys. I am that side. We’re in this together, but now you’re going to have a harder time.”
Oh, she was aware.
“I’ll do what I can to give you some room to investigate, but we have to stop the leak. If not, we’re screwed.”
She was aware.
That was her first plan of business.
As they headed into the morgue, Chris was sitting there watching the news.
“Yes, we saw it,” she said, grabbing some coffee before she could even go there.
Chris joined her at the coffee pot.
“You have whisker burn,” Chris teased. “I’m thinking you saw a lot more than just the media.”
It made her laugh.
“Baby, this isn’t amusing,” Ethan said.
Oh, she was aware, but in their jobs, you had three choices.
Laugh.
Cry.
Get angry.
She was opting to stay calm.
“Well, we can narrow it down. At first, I thought it was the congressman or the commissioner. Did you tell him his daughter was pupp-i-fied?”
Chris choked on his coffee.
“I should know better,” he said, as she patted him on the back.
Yeah, he really should.
“Hell, no!” Ethan said. “I wasn’t telling the man his kid was made into some sick puppet. No parent wants to hear that. I told him she was bad—and left it at that.”
Okay, so she went to the whiteboard in the morgue a
nd got down to business.
She wrote down his name.
“He didn’t have all the pertinent details on the whole killing. We all heard someone in the media ask about ‘The Puppet Master’.”
“We didn’t release that for a reason,” Callen stated, as she wrote on the board.
“Exactly, so we don’t think the commissioner, who asked us not to stir the pot, would do it either, right?”
“Gabe vouched for him. He said the man is sterling,” Ethan offered.
“The man is a PR kiss ass. He wouldn’t cause this mayhem, simply because it’s not good publicity. It makes his city look like the Wild West, and he’s out of control,” Elizabeth stated, writing Ronan’s name on the board.
“Agreed,” Callen said.
“Where does that leave us?” she asked.
This had to be closer to home.
It was time to test the team.
She looked around the room at all the techs. “Who ratted us out? Who wants their ass kicked?” she asked, moving toward them.
They all looked scared.
“It’s time for stitches, you snitches!”
Callen, while trying to be serious, was having a hard time. “Well, we know where the boys got that saying,” Callen stated.
“It’s better than her ‘kiss my Southern, biscuit lovin’ ass’ one,” Ethan stated, using a fake drawl.
He had a point.
She stared at each tech. None looked away, and none tried to run.
“It’s not them. I know our team. They might be afraid of me, but they don’t hate us. Amir was the last rat in the hole.”
Christina agreed. “We didn’t say anything, boss! We’ve been working around the clock and catching naps in the lounge. We didn’t even leave.”
She was aware.
“Who’s next?” Chris asked.
Elizabeth was going down the list of possible suspects. “What about Patty, the pissed off homicide captain?” Callen asked.
“Nah, he’d assume I’d head there first,” Elizabeth stated. “He and I go way back, and it’s never been fun. He won’t even screw with me by way of media. He’s an in your face kind of douchebag. I respect that in him.”
“What about the detective?” Chris asked. “Where is he today?”
She looked around.
She sent a text to Johanna and Blue, and they came into the room from where they were working.
“Is this about the bar?”
“No, although that was a good catch and I do need a drink right about now.”
Chris held up some rubbing alcohol.
She laughed and gave him a fist bump.
“Pass. Where is Detective Chase?” she asked. “Isn’t he supposed to be up my ass as he watches us work? That was what his bosses wanted.”
Blue shrugged. “I can find him.”
“Oh, agent, I want more than just you ‘finding him’. I want you to get him as far from this morgue as possible and keep him busy. I don’t care if you have to marry him.”
“Uh, I don’t think the FBI mentioned I’d have to marry suspects. I would have recalled that.”
It took her a second, but then she laughed.
“Way to disburse the anger, Blue.”
The woman smiled.
Elizabeth loved her team. They found ways to amuse her, and that was a damn good thing.
“I meant more like have him help you with research, have a pizza, and get him out of here.”
“I can do that, Director.”
“Good. Get your things, find him, and go to the hotel. I want you to see if you can get him to admit that he had something to do with the leaked information to the press.”
“On it, ma’am.”
Blue headed out.
“Johanna, you get my personal favorite in this whole clusterfuck. Shift is just about over, so I want you to lose the blazer, tuck your gun away, and follow Doctor Julliard. Take pictures, stalk her, and see if she can deliver some more information.”
“Uh, boss, is she the one you really believe delivered all of our info?” Joey asked.
“Yeah, while it could be the detective, it’s going to be her. She got her ass handed to her, and she’s playing dirty pool. So, you’re on her, Blue is on the least likely suspect, and we’re also going to set a trap.”
Ethan and Callen watched in fascination. Their wife had something up her sleeve, but what?
“Chris, remember our favorite play?”
Did he ever.
“It’s called ‘Operation Switcharoo’. It’s where I plant fake info to see where the leak is coming from. I’m going to put something so wrong in the report, that if it breaks in the media, we have our rat.”
She gave him a fist bump.
“See, the detective is going to be tied up with Blue, and he can’t access the reports without the ME giving them to him. Now, Doctor Julliard has access to this room, and the systems the team is working off, so she’s going to be my primary suspect.”
“Sadistic, and ever so cool,” Johanna said, pulling off her blazer and gun. She tucked the sidearm into the back of her jeans, set her hair free, and tried to look like anything but a Fed.
“Perfect. Find her, and then follow her. I want you to document everything you see. We are going to send a rat packing.”
Johanna saluted and headed out.
Just as they were about to start discussing the rest of the day, Ethan’s phone rang. It was Gabe.
AGAIN.
“Yes?” he asked calmly.
“The commissioner wants to see you ASAP. This media circus has pissed the local police off. I suggest you head there, do your thing, and make nice with the locals.”
“If he makes anything, including ‘nice’, with a local, I’ll be the one who is not so nice,” Elizabeth stated.
“I can bust you down to counting paperclips as head of inventory control,” he offered.
She laughed. “Oh, is Ethan resigning?”
He pointed at her. “Don’t stir the ‘Dragon Slayer’ pot, Elizabeth. I’m the one he’ll be taking shots at, and you know it,” Ethan stated.
For him, and him alone, she wouldn’t.
She was trying to lighten baldy’s mood.
Clearly, that wasn’t happening.
“Well, while you’re playing kiss ass with the commissioner, I’m heading out,” she stated. “I have a dean to find, and word on the Harvard Yard is that Lucca Carmen grades all of his students’ work before he heads to the bar.”
“How did you hear that?” Ethan asked, lifting his brow. “What did we miss?”
“Callen’s biggest sorority fan has my number. She texted me some details.”
“How did you pull that off?” Ethan asked.
“I promised her a romantic night with Jackson James,” she offered.
“WHAT?” Callen stated. “Are you out of your damn mind? You can’t offer me up for information!”
“Why not?” she asked. “Jackson James likes easy women, and he’s the perfect bait to get it.”
“Elizabeth! No!”
Ethan started laughing.
Callen stared at her. “You’re busting my ass, aren’t you?” he asked.
“No, all of a sudden, I decided that I was in the mood to pimp out my one husband. That totally sounds like me.”
Ethan patted him on the back. “I get it. With her, you never know.”
She laughed.
“Anyway, we’re going to a bar?” Callen asked. “Is it happy hour?” he asked.
“Maybe.”
“Hey!” Chris said. “Why don’t I get a happy hour beer?” he asked. “I’m done with my work for today. Can I have a beer? Pretty please?”
She stared at him.
“You realize this isn’t a date, right? This is me working, and I just happen to have to stop at a pub.”
“We like pubs. We used to…”
Callen pointed at him. “Don’t.”
Chris closed his mouth.
“W
e can grab dinner,” Ethan said, trying not to laugh. They were definitely babysitters. “I’m tired of take out.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
“Get changed, Chris, but you don’t get to ask questions when we see the dean. IN FACT, you stay out in the quad.”
“I love the quad. I love my alma mater, so I’ll stay out of your hair. I’ll visit some old professors.”
Plus, he really needed to be near them. He was still a little shaky, and he needed his family.
Chris knew that she had to know that. Elizabeth didn’t take anyone into the field who shouldn’t be there.
“Ethan, can you meet us at ‘McCory’s’ after your meeting with the commissioner?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Fine. Let’s go, boys. Christina, you’re in charge of the techs. When you’re done, you know the procedure.” She pointed at her team, and they waited for it.
“Thank you for not being the leak. It means a lot to me to know I can trust you all. We are a family, and I appreciate all the hard work you do.”
They stared at her like she was possessed.
“If she tries to hug me, I’m going to freak out,” Christina said, taking a step back.
That made her laugh.
“You’re the best, Chrissy. Thank you for coming back, saving our asses, and being a damn fine head tech.”
“Thanks, boss!”
They headed out.
It was funny. Just an hour ago, she was riding the sex after glow. Now…
She was back in work mode.
Oh, and ass kicking mode.
That was her favorite one of all.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Blue found the detective milling around the ME’s offices. He was sitting in a room with a cup of coffee and a laptop. It appeared that he was working.
“UH, hey,” she said, greeting him.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing?” Blue asked, taking a seat across from him. He had paper, a pen, and his laptop.
It looked like he was doing his own investigation.
“I’m trying to stay out of Elizabeth Blackhawk’s hair. She doesn’t come across like the kind of person who wants to trip over a cop. So, I’m doing my own research. I know everyone thinks I’m too young to be a detective, but I’m good at what I do. I’m just learning how to be better.”
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