Oddly, he was the least of their problems. Beside Zane sat their fifth head tech for the year. They’d burned through them like flames in a bucket of kerosene.
The first few didn't last long, quitting days into the job. Plus, the last two had run for their lives. Elizabeth was beginning to lose hope. At this point, she was willing to abduct a pregnant Christina and drag her back to FBI West. Yeah, she told her to stay with Kane and be happy, but right about now, she was going to renege on that one. She wasn’t above it at this point.
The woman sitting beside Doctor Legend was the final straw. If she didn't work, Elizabeth was throwing in the towel. In fact, she already wanted to, but Callen had talked her down off the ledge. Opting to take some stress off her, he did the last round of interviews.
Meredith Peyton was his pick for the job.
Well, why the hell not?
Ethan and Elizabeth repeatedly had struck out. Maybe Callen would have better luck. After all, he was a little calmer and the mediator. Possibly, he would see something they didn't.
It wasn’t like it could get worse.
They’d had techs who openly wept, quit in the middle of an assignment, and just stopped showing up to work. It took balls of steel to run from the FBI. That said a lot about the pressure they placed on the team.
Now it had nothing to do with replacing Christina. It was solely about finding anyone to stay in the position. With Chris Leonard out, they needed a leader.
Training newbies was a tough job, especially if they were scared shitless of you. Hey, it wasn’t her fault. The rumors spread that she was pregnant and that put the team on alert. An expecting Elizabeth Blackhawk was a dangerous one.
It cracked her up.
As of that moment, she wasn’t feeling cranky or pregnant. She had to admit that if this was what having a girl was like, she’d do it again. She got to eat more and people ran from her.
Every day was pretty darn awesome.
Glancing up, she focused on the conversation going on around her. Meredith was speaking and Elizabeth fought through the tech talk to get to the point.
“You can simplify it,” she offered. Yes, she was fairly smart, but Elizabeth liked her team to believe that she had slept her way to the top. It gave her the element of surprise when they least expected it.
Yeah, she loved to screw with them.
Plus, if they thought she was a hick, they kept it simple. She didn't have time for long drawn out explanations. Elizabeth needed the basics, and fast.
“We’re finishing up the transport of the last few cases to the courthouse,” she stated. “All the files are complete, I’ve signed off on them, and they’re ready for Doctor Legend’s signature.”
“Good,” Elizabeth replied, marking it off the list.
“Ma’am,” she began, hoping not to upset the boss. Meredith had heard rumors about Elizabeth Blackhawk, and she wanted to keep her job.
“Yes?”
“No offense, but I found that there are some process improvements that could be implemented in the lab to speed up production. I would like to run them by you, so you can take a look at them before I try to roll them out.”
This was new.
“Like what?”
Meredith pulled out a file folder and handed it to Elizabeth. “I put together some charts for you.”
Elizabeth flipped through the folder. She almost wanted to giggle in glee. At one time, Christina did the same exact thing when they started working together.
Finally, Elizabeth had hope.
“I’ll look at them later when I have some spare time. I appreciate the effort you put into making our lab work more efficiently, Meredith.”
“Merry, ma’am. If you don’t mind, that is. Meredith sounds like some strict older school marm.”
Elizabeth examined the woman in her office. She was petite with black hair, and very peculiar colored eyes. They were somewhere between blue and lavender.
Doctor Legend sat beside her, trying not to grin. They’d already had this conversation a couple of days ago. He’d explained the hierarchy and what she needed to do next. If anything, the tech was making a dent in the backlogged work.
He was impressed.
Elizabeth stared at her. Hell! If the woman wanted to be called Joan of Arc, she could accommodate that. If Meredith ran the lab as well as Christina, she could have anything she wanted- including half her spleen.
“Very well, Merry. You can call me Director Blackhawk.”
Now, Doctor Legend did laugh, only because Merry didn't get it.
It drew her focus to the ME. This was just one more crack in his tough exterior. Her plan was working. “I’m glad I could entertain you, Doctor Legend.”
He tried to hide the grin. “I’m sorry, Director. I was just thinking about something Chris told me before he left.”
She leaned back in her chair to stare at her ME. He wasn’t quite as tall as her, but he was as Native as they came. His eyes were a deep rich brown, and his hair was staunchly pulled back at the nape of his neck.
“And that would be?”
“That if I was scared shitless of you that I should picture you in your skivvys.”
Merry looked over at him in surprise.
The ME was a dead man.
Elizabeth leaned forward. “You get bonus points for using the word ‘skivvy’ in a sentence and for having the balls to say that to your boss. Let me warn you, Doctor. Christopher Leonard has been known to toss people under the Elizabeth bus for shits and giggles. You may want to kick his ass next time you see him.”
Zane grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
Elizabeth smiled at the man. Okay, her ME did have a sense of humor. Maybe he just needed some time to blossom. “Yeah, I wouldn’t repeat that little suggestion to Ethan or Callen, either.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zane had no doubt it would end badly.
Before Elizabeth could continue, her tablet pinged, and she saw the incoming message.
“We’re done here,” she stated. “Call it a meeting and get back to work. The lab isn't going to run itself,” she admitted, winking at the doctor as he headed out. All in all, today was turning out to be a good day. Her ME was lightening up, the head tech wasn’t clueless, and now she got to ogle one of her own personal sex muffins.
Yep, it couldn’t get any better than this.
Once they were gone, she logged on to the call. “Callen, my love, do you miss me?” she purred.
His face filled the screen and the smile was huge.
“Oh, you can say that, angel. I was thinking about you and called to give you some news.”
“Is that all? I thought we were going to have video conference sex. Here, I got myself all worked up for nothing.”
He started laughing. “Don’t tempt me. If I wasn’t out in the middle of the woods, surrounded by Natives, I’d be all over you, beautiful. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, darlin’. Charlie is floating in the goo and being a fetus. Other than that, it’s boring as hell without you and Ethan. It’s only day one. Just a heads up, but by the time you both get back, I’ll have gone completely mad.”
He couldn’t wait to give her the good news or was that bad news? It was a toss-up at that point.
“How was your trip?”
“The drive was good. It’s only three hours, but each mile away from you felt like a thousand.”
Her heart skipped. Callen was becoming quite the romantic, and she appreciated that.
“I have news, and I don’t know how you’re going to take it,” he stated, getting serious.
“What?” She didn't like the tone in his voice. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Elizabeth sat forward anxiously.
Callen’s heart skipped in his chest. Before her, no one ever cared enough to ask if he was safe. “Yeah, angel, I’m good, but I have a situation.” He told her about the bodies. “I’m willing to bet a month of sex that it’s a dumping ground. Did I mention that the bodies are wrapped up like mummies?”
>
He moved the tablet to show her.
Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Holy shit! You weren’t kidding!”
His face reappeared on the tablet. “I’ve already called Ethan to tell him and Gabe about it.”
She lifted an eyebrow. If the other men were already notified, there was no doubt they had conspired against her. Yeah, here it came.
“Want to come play with the mummies with me? I could use a field partner, and I’m sure you can come up with a million things to say.”
Now, she was shocked. “What? Wait? Are you are asking me to come out into the field?”
“Yes, are you in the mood to do it?”
She couldn’t even think straight. “And Ethan is okay with this?”
It was official.
It was now the end of the world or a trap.
Here she was pregnant, and the men in her life wanted her to go out in the field where it was dangerous.
“Yeah, he suggested it.”
She nearly fell out of her seat. In fact, she looked around wildly until he asked what she was doing. “I’m looking for the hidden camera. I know my birthday is coming up, but this is just too unfreakingbelievable. I didn't have to scam you both into letting me do my damn job.”
He snorted. “Yeah, well, we can call this your first present.”
“Seriously? I’m going to get into a Denali and head to your location to work on an assignment, while Ethan is in Quantico?”
“No.”
Well, that sucked. She had her hopes up.
“You’re getting on a plane. We need you here fast. The scene has already been compromised. The Natives dug the bodies up before I got here.”
A wave of giddiness overwhelmed her.
“So, I’m getting the hell out of Dodge and joining one of my sexy Indians on an assignment?”
He started laughing. “Yes.”
“Damn, all I need is the Cowboy, and our trio is complete,” she offered, bouncing giddily.
“Well, Ethan’s coming in a couple of days. He’s wrapping up his meetings with Gabe, and then he’ll be arriving.”
“So, it’ll be the Cowboy, Indian, and Sheriff all in one place?”
He snickered. “Yeah, angel. You get to be the law abiding one- on paper.”
She spun in her chair. “Yee haw!” Then, she stopped. “Okay, spill it. Why is Ethan so magnanimous about sending me out into the field?”
His first instinct was to lie, but this was a marriage. Granted not a legal one but, he wouldn’t hurt her that way. “He wants you to have a babysitter. You being at home freaks him the hell out.”
That sentence alone should have pissed her off, but Elizabeth was well aware that Ethan was worried about her safety. Since almost dying, his possessiveness, overprotectiveness, and temper were in overdrive. While he might always carry those traits, it was worth it to have him back.
She adjusted to it.
“I’m okay with that for his sake.”
Callen knew she would be. Their woman was softening over time, losing a little of the rough edges when it came to the men in her life. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to keep them safe.
“I’ll pack and get to the airport.”
“Lyzee, it’s a mess. You’re going to have to bring a few friends. Ethan doesn’t want us doing this alone.”
She understood. “Who do I need?”
“Bring along Doctor Legend and his team. We’re getting Quantico’s anthropologist. Gabe is letting us borrow her since Tony is on vacation tomorrow.”
“He’s going to be sorry. We don’t often get bodies wrapped up like mummies.”
“Yeah, they smell like frankincense too. That’s why Gabe is giving us his bone girl. Apparently, she’s done a lot of work excavating bodies all over the world.”
“Okay, well, I’ll go get our team ready.”
“I think Ethan is handling the flights. I’d assume that the jet is already at the airport.”
“Okay, Cal, darlin’. You hang in there. The cavalry is on its way.”
“Be safe, angel. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” With that, he disconnected the call.
Elizabeth was giddy. She was going back out into the field. Normally, she’d have to wait months, but this time it was weeks. It gave her some joy to know that she’d be with her men soon. It looked like today was officially perfect.
Leaving her office, she was cut off by Ginny. She had a folder in her hands and a grin on her face. “Boss?”
She stopped. “Yeah?”
“We have the orders from Gabriel to send you with two agents. He suggested you pick.”
Elizabeth took the list from her and scanned the names. There were three teams in, and all of them were relatively new. Going with the ones who would need the least amount of training, she made her decision. “I’ll take Seaton and Madden. Tell them get their gear, pack for a week, and meet me at the airport. We leave as soon as the entire team is there.”
She made notes. “What gear do you want?”
“Get me Callen’s from his office and mine. I’ll take them both. I don’t think he took everything with him. He was only expecting a mediation.” Then, she thought about it. “Get me Ethan’s too. He’s flying in from Quantico to run it. I know he didn't take any of his gear.”
She nodded, making a list on a memo pad. “Anything else?”
“Are the accommodations done?”
Ginny flipped through the pages. “You and Callen have yours, but I’m making the rest of the team’s as soon as I get back to my desk. I can’t imagine a place called Devil’s Lake has that many hotels. It sounds like a creep fest.”
She couldn’t argue with the woman there. The name and mummies pretty much made that a true statement. “Yeah, get them placed where you can.”
Ginny saluted before rushing off to her desk.
As always, it amused her. Apparently the tech team’s antics were now spreading upstairs too. Heading to the lab, she got ready to round up the team to head out.
Honestly, she couldn’t wait.
Once in the lab, she searched for her ME and head lab tech. They were off in the office comparing notes with Doctor Magnus. When she entered, they all looked up at her.
“Hey, boss. You need us?” Tony asked. “Or did you just miss my smiling face.”
She loved this part of her job. “Yeah, we’re heading out into the field. We have a case with bodies wrapped up like mummies.”
Tony looked all cheery. “Really?”
She snorted. “Yeah, dead bodies, Tony. Try not looking too enthusiastic. It’s weird. We’ve had this discussion before.”
“Do you have a picture?” he asked, rushing over.
It was hard not to notice that he was like a kid in a candy store. Someone really loved their job, maybe a little too much.
Elizabeth pulled out her phone to open the email. The man practically grabbed it from her.
“Well hell! I can’t believe this. I go on vacation, and you get an anthropological gem like this. I swear to God that Chris put a curse on me. Karma hates my guts.”
Doctor Legend began laughing. “I’ll help Merry get the team going, Director.”
Elizabeth touched his arm as he tried to walk past her. “We’re flying not driving. Callen’s alone in the field with four victims and no back up. Tell them they have one hour to get there. I want to be on the ground and at the reservation before nightfall.”
He understood.
When they were gone, Tony stared at her. “Please can I go?” he practically begged.
“Why? You leave on vacation tomorrow. Besides, Gabe gave me his anthropologist.”
He gasped as if slapped. “You’re cheating on me with another bone doctor? After all we’ve been through, you’re going to shack up with some other scientist?”
There was no way to contain her laughter. The funniest part was that he wasn’t even joking. Her anthropologist was all stirred up. “Don’t worry, Tony. I
t doesn’t mean anything. You know that. I only have room for one anthropologist in my life, and you’re it.”
Doctor Magnus was appalled. “I can’t believe this. You were the one person I never thought would cheat on me.”
She couldn’t stop laughing.
“Please, Lyzee? I’ll fly out of there tomorrow. It’s not like I’m heading anywhere fun. I’m only taking this trip because I’m feeling lost.”
Elizabeth did feel sorry for him. Since Chris got married, Tony was feeling abandoned. “I tell you what. You can come, but only because I know you may never get to see mummies ever again. It’s my little present for you.”
“You’re the best!” he said, racing out of there.
Elizabeth shook her head. It wasn’t like it would hurt. She could use his impression of Gabe’s anthropologist. Elizabeth was sure that the ‘Dragon Slayer’ would have quality staff, but she liked her team for a reason.
They were seasoned.
Oh, and scared shitless of her.
* * *
After mobilizing her team, Elizabeth headed home. She wasn’t sure Wyler was going to like the idea they were all heading out again. After all, he had the far harder job than they did. CJ was toddling around and forever trying to color on walls. Cat was just beginning to crawl, and EJ was right behind her.
Their house was a free-for-all.
In fact, if you didn't sit on a piece of furniture with fruit snacks stuck to it, you were lucky. Their kids had made it their mission to wreck the place.
Then, on top of their chaos, you had to toss in the two dogs. Yeah, at the time, two puppies seemed like a good idea to Ethan. Now, they were a handful. He found the entire thing funny until Kanje, his namesake, ate one of his leather boots.
He had nearly shit a brick.
Now, Elizabeth and Callen were the ones laughing. When a grown man was chasing a puppy around, trying to rescue a chewed up boot, you had to laugh.
The dog was just being a dog.
The best part was when he caught the lovable little fluff ball. He stared at Ethan and the man caved, letting him lick him.
Yeah, these dogs ruled the roost, right beside the three kids. Resting her hand over her midsection, she couldn’t help but snicker. The fourth child might just be their breaking point.
Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) Page 4
