Elizabeth moved closer to the monitor, staring at the wounds. “Puncture wounds to the chest?”
“The reason the ME didn’t notice them was when you light a body on fire, once the skin gets heated, the tension causes tears in the flesh. Beneath it is subcutaneous fat and that oozes through the cracks and acts as a fuel source, making the body burn more. The fat crusted over when it was cooled and hid the wounds”
“So he punctured her with something?” asked Tori. “There’s no weapon listed from the scene. He must have taken it with him.”
Elizabeth knew right away, in fact, she’d worked a case out of Quantico that was similar. “Heels. He took the shoes off her feet and used the spike of a heel. It’s what? Four inches long?”
Chis confirmed it. “I believe you’re correct, and our tech team is processing the evidence that came in, hoping to find the spike part. It didn’t get imbedded in her body, so it has to be in evidence or it’s in the burned out rubble of the motel.”
“I hoped that the CSI team only jacked up one scene, but if all of them were half assed that means we have more work to do,” stated Elizabeth. “When Tori went out, she brought in cigarette butts, a condom wrapper and chewing gum papers. They either missed them, or…” Elizabeth let it drop off, they all knew the likelihood wasn’t that the killer went back, but that the police sweepers weren’t really on their game.
“Ready for victim five?” asked Chris. “She’s the reason I tried to assault you.”
“I can’t wait to hear this, and if it doesn’t blow my mind, the big scary Indian men will be waiting for you,” she said, laughing at the look on the detective’s face. “Inside joke, Detective. You’ll meet them later, and they’re not really scary.”
Cyra nodded and Tori snickered. “Yeah they are.”
Elizabeth winked.
“Anyway, the last woman is still unidentified, but she was beat beyond recognition. Her face alone registered ten strikes.”
“What kind of strikes,” asked Tori.
Chris looked at the blonde woman. “May I use you as an example, Detective?”
“Cyra,” she said, taking his outstretched hand.
Elizabeth snickered. “You’re afraid to use me because you know I’ll beat your ass- AGAIN.”
“Absolutely,” he answered, facing the beautiful detective. That and he wanted to get up close and personal with the woman in front of him. How often was he going to get that chance? “If I were to guess, here’s what I’d say happened,” he began. “Cyra put your arms up to protect your face.”
When the woman did, Chris prepared himself. “Here would be blow one and two,” he said, showing them where the killer hit the woman first. “Then he physically twisted her arms, and caused something like greenstick fractures. At that point she couldn’t defend herself, and he went after her face.” Chris moved the detective’s arms to her side and smiled at her. “Then he pummeled her cheeks and center of the face, until she would have been a bloody mess.” Delicately, Chris touched the places on her face where the strikes met, and it was hard to not notice how soft the woman’s skin was, and how really great she smelled.
“Nice. He’s escalating, and we need to find him before he goes from psycho to unstoppable,” stated Elizabeth.
“It didn’t end there,” stated Chris. “He then went for the ribs. I imagine that she was in a great deal of pain, or passed out at this point. I think with the severe damage to the breaks in the ribs, he probably kicked her fairly hard or was wearing steel toed boots. The bones actually shattered.”
Elizabeth let out a deep breath. The killer was exhibiting rage and that was far from a good sign. If anything it made her sick to her stomach at what could be coming.
Chris lifted the detective’s arm and pulled her blazer back. “The ribs from here,” he touched a bone high up on her side, “to the one’s here,” he ran his fingers down her side. “They are in pieces and fragments. Once we de-flesh them, Tony’s going to have a big job playing reconstruct the skeleton.”
“That’s terrible,” whispered Tori, horrified.
Cyra just stood there and watched the man that was using her as a test subject. When his hands ran down her side, she got a flash of heat through her body. The ME’s hand was currently resting on her hip, above her gun and badge. It was more than distracting.
“She was little too. You three ladies are fairly tall, Elizabeth you’re six feet in your boots and Detective, you look to be about five foot ten. This poor victim was even smaller than you, Agent Christensen. Tony, what’s her official height?”
Tony Magnus flipped through the papers. “Once I get her defleshed I’ll know better, but I think she’s at the most five feet tall on a good day. Five foot four in really high heels, possibly.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Guys, as usual you pulled this one off for me and under a time constraint. I appreciate it.”
“Say it with a new back up ME,” stated Chris. “Doctor Adare has been gone three months now, and we need someone to help pick up the slack. I need some days off too and a social life.” His eyes flickered to the cop and Elizabeth grinned.
“I’m working on it, but I’ll tell you this much. I’m picking HIM. I don’t want to relive the last mess that occurred when you picked someone ‘unique’. IF you know what I mean.”
Tony laughed and then covered it with a cough.
“Ladies, we can head on up to my office and discuss our next move. Doctors, thank you. If you need anything Chris, just come upstairs.” Now she winked at him, giving him a chance to spend more time near the detective. If it wasn’t Christmas, she’d think she was playing the role of cupid. First, Julian and Tori were having love issues, and then now Chris and Cyra were throwing off sparks.
“Thank you, Lyzee.”
Chris Leonard watched the women leaving the autopsy suite, and he couldn’t resist staring at the blonde detective. When she looked back over her shoulder, he grinned like an idiot.
“What are you thinking about?” asked Tony, pretty sure he already knew from the dumb grin on his friend’s face.
“I was just thinking that the woman I’m going to marry just left autopsy.”
“Seriously?” his friend asked, staring incredulously.
“Yes.”
Chris Leonard was dead serious.
~ Chapter Five ~
The crime scenes looked pretty clean but then again, he wasn’t really an expert on things like that. Callen walked the perimeter and checked out everything that caught his eye. He wore latex just in case they came across something that needed to be bagged for the techs.
So far his field partner, Julian Littlemoon, had been incredibly silent. Callen didn’t want to bother him in case he was doing his tracker thing. As far as he was concerned, being out in the field without Elizabeth was a good thing. Even though the killer wasn’t after Feds or cops, having her safe inside, just made him relax a little more. Well, that and being near her still made it incredibly hard to think. Nothing in months had changed that.
“I think he came by car,” stated Julian, finally breaking the silence. “It’s pretty isolated out here, and I don’t see any tracks leaving the tree line. That to me signifies that the man drove here.”
Callen nodded, bending over to pick up a gum wrapper, dropping it into a bag. “I found this, but it could have blown onto the crime scene.”
Julian stood by his side, and looked around.
Callen’s phone began ringing, and he didn’t recognize the number. “Director Whitefox.”
“Cal, it’s me,” stated his brother. “I’m still at Quantico.”
Whitefox could hear the tension in his brother’s voice. “What’s wrong, Ethan?”
Blackhawk was nervous about his wife being out in the field, even with his brother there. “How’s Elizabeth?”
Callen understood his trepidation, after all, didn’t he feel the same way himself, but at least he was able to be at home with her. “She’s good, Ethan.”
&nb
sp; “Is she with you?”
“No, I’m with Julian, we had a little issue this morning with Agent Christensen,” he said, and then broke it all down for his brother, as much as he was aware of anyway.
“Is she alone?” he asked, feeling panic rise.
“No, I left her in-house. You should give her a call if you’re this worried. I’m heading back in to the office in a little while for lunch. She’s really fine. I promise. Elizabeth was doing the autopsy walk through today with Agent Christensen and Detective Austin. With five bodies, that’s going to take her a while. I’m sure there’ll be some doctor show and tell too. You know how Tony and Chris are.”
Ethan was silent. “Okay, thanks.”
Callen knew something big had to be bothering his brother. “When are you coming home?” he asked.
“I’m aiming for tomorrow as soon as I can. I’m trying to get Gabe to cancel the last meeting in the afternoon, or let me out of it. I just keep getting this feeling like I need to be home. Last time I talked to her,” he paused. “Lyzee looked off.”
They’d both learned to not doubt the feelings that they were both having. Instinct was very important in their job and Elizabeth was reckless but a creature of habit.
“I’ll stick to her like glue,” his brother offered. “She’s fine, I swear, bro.”
“I’m going to video conference call her now. I want to know if there’s anything I can do to help her with this assignment.”
“Have a safe flight tomorrow, Ethan,” said Callen. “We both miss you.”
Blackhawk laughed. “I miss you both too. Be safe in the field.” Then he disconnected the call.
“Your brother is worried?” asked Julian.
“Yeah, I can’t say I blame him. Elizabeth is a trouble magnet and him being hours away by plane make him edgy.” Callen changed the subject. “Let’s finish up here and grab lunch for the ladies.”
Julian nodded. “Works for me.”
* * *
Tonight was the night.
He was going to find the next woman to enjoy, and then watch her burn. His heart was pounding in his chest at the visual that played out in his mind. Something about the screams and pain made him wild and out of control.
The last woman fought hard, and instead of making him mad that the plan didn’t go his way, it made him excited. As she kicked and fought, he enjoyed every second. Maybe with the next woman, he’d ease up a little so she thought there was a chance to escape. Then he could relive it all over again.
Again his body tightened, and he slid out of bed to take a shower. He wanted to find her right now, but it really needed to wait. He’d bury himself in her body, and abuse her when she fought. All that would be left would be to then watch her burn.
Oh yeah, this would be his early Christmas present to himself. Who needed a blinking tree when you had a whore to light up the night?
A dying, screaming one. It was the gift that kept on giving.
* * *
The three women sat in the office going over what they learned. Elizabeth stood at the white board, imputing the information that the other two women were reading to her. They didn’t have a great deal, but they had enough to get started.
“I’m concerned about the next woman that he grabs,” said Detective Austin. “If what your ME said is correct, then we’re looking at an escalation to torture.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I know. That’s why we need to move on this fast. The first thing we need to do is find out who the other three women are, and go from there.”
Before Elizabeth could continue, the incoming beep on her tablet had her attention. “Excuse me ladies,” she said, logging into the video conference call. When her husband’s face appeared on the screen, her heart skipped a beat in her chest. “Well, well, if it isn't the sexiest Blackhawk in the entire universe.”
Ethan laughed. Just hearing her voice and seeing the familiar setting behind her in the office was cathartic. “I happen to disagree, Lyzee baby. I think you fill that role.”
She winked at him. “How’s Quantico, darlin’? Is Gabe busting balls?”
“Oh, there are so many new regulations that it’s going to take three years to memorize them all. You aren’t missing anything exciting here.”
Elizabeth grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. She certainly was, but it wasn’t work related. Since they had a room full of people, she let the innuendo go. “When are you coming home, Cowboy? Callen and I miss you, and so does CJ and dad.”
Ethan sighed. “I wish today, but Gabe won’t let me out of here. Apparently, I need to discuss with the conference of grown adults the techniques to profiling. I keep trying to tell Gabe that I don’t have a methodology, and that ninety percent of it’s my gut. He swears I can teach them something. I have a few hours to pull off some miraculous presentation.”
Elizabeth laughed, because when it came to profiling, her husband was legend. “I wish I was there to see you in action, it gets me all hot and bothered.”
Blackhawk grinned wickedly. “Oh well now, that sounds promising. How hot and bothered are you?”
Agent Christensen snickered.
Blackhawk stared at his wife. “We aren’t alone, are we?” Then the red flush crept up his neck. Out of the three of them, Ethan was the more private, reserved and easily embarrassed. Alone he could bring on the leering and raunch, but in public it freaked him right out. Callen was the middle ground and tended to not get bothered by others, and Elizabeth… she just didn’t give a damn.
“Oops, that is so my bad, Cowboy. Let me introduce you. You already know Agent Christensen, but we also have one more new addition to the team. Detective Cyra Austin, this is my husband Ethan Blackhawk and also my co-director here at FBI West.” Elizabeth turned the tablet towards the women so they could see him, and he them. Technology was both a curse and blessing. At that moment, it was evident which side Ethan fell on with that one.
Cyra Austin nodded at the man and smiled. Yeah, the man on the tablet was pretty damn sexy. The dark black hair and piercing dark eyes were attention grabbing. Then there were the angles of his face, and the really prominent cheekbones. “Hello Director Blackhawk.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Detective. Welcome to the team. Thank you for coming on board and helping Elizabeth on this one.”
“The pleasure is mine, and I’m grateful Director Blackhawk allowed me the opportunity to see this amazing building and facility.”
Elizabeth turned the tablet towards Tori. “Hello Director.”
Ethan nodded. “Hello Agent. How are you doing?” Blackhawk inquired, watching the woman’s face. It made him nervous that the woman was having issues. After all, she was acting as his wife’s field partner.
“Better now, Director. Thanks for asking.”
Elizabeth turned the tablet back to her. “When you return Ethan, I need your help profiling. I’m not strong in that area and Tori just likes fire. In fact, I caught her in your office dancing around your desk. I put the fire out, but there was a little damage.”
The woman laughed.
“Good to know, but for the record, if you think my desk on fire is going to bother me while I’m trapped here in meetings all day, you’re wrong. Go all pyromaniac on the place if you want, because right now you’re in charge. I imagine there’s paperwork if that happens,” he grinned, knowing that he’d screwed her over in that department. He purposely escaped to the east to leave her on her own with it, well that and to save her heart if the meetings ran over. Ethan didn’t want her to miss the holiday party she worked so hard on for weeks.
Elizabeth loved when he lightened up and teased back. “There was official paperwork, but that’s what she used to light the fire.”
Ethan knew she was trying to joke her way through missing him and to ease the nerves of their people. Agent Christensen appeared tense, but then most agents were when he was around. Ethan tended to be intimidating.
“I love you, Ethan,” she said grinning. Now he was ob
ligated, and she was waiting for it.
“Come on, Lyzee!” Now he was laughing. Not only were there people in her office, but there were people around him. “You’re going to make me do this, aren’t you?”
Elizabeth simply nodded. “Waiting, Mr. Blackhawk.”
“I love you, Mrs. Blackhawk.”
She leaned in and kissed the screen. “You don’t have to kiss the tablet; we don’t want your bad ass director image destroyed by you making out with the electronic equipment.”
Ethan shrugged and sucked it up. “Now you have to kick everyone’s ass that gives me a hard time.”
“Done.” For her husband, she’d beat down an army, especially since he swallowed his pride to give her the kiss.
“I’ll call you and Callen tonight when I get back to my hotel. You two try not to have too much fun without me.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Then you should tell him that, not me.” Shutting down the video call, she looked back up at the agent and detective. “Sorry ladies, but I miss my husband. Now we can get back to business.” She noticed the grin on the one woman’s face. “Yes Detective.”
“May I speak freely, Director?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow quizzically.
Elizabeth leaned against the corner of her desk. “Shoot, and please stop calling me Director. Elizabeth is just fine while we work together.”
“Your husband is a very handsome man. Just wow,” she said smiling.
Elizabeth grinned and glanced over as Tori started laughing. “Something funny, Agent Christensen?”
“I was just thinking to myself, Elizabeth. The laughter was simply a byproduct of the visual that formed in my head.”
“Care to share with the class?”
Tori leaned back and stared over at the detective sitting beside her. “Wait until Cyra sees both men together in the same room.”
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 11
