“Make sure, or I’ll boot you both to the couch. Dad should have a little love in his life too, and if this woman wants to bake him pies, so be it.”
Blackhawk wiggled his eyebrows. “I don’t think baking pies is what’s going to be going on between them. Unless that’s our new euphemism for ‘doing it’.”
Elizabeth snorted.
The knock on the door drew all their attention. Christina stood there holding her files and checking out the bosses. There was something wickedly attractive about both men. At one time she had been scared of Elizabeth, and whenever she checked the boss man, Christina would get scared shitless. Now, Elizabeth just grinned at her. When she’d gotten injured in Cypress Grove, she’d seen a new side of her boss.
Elizabeth had a heart of pure gold.
“Hey Christina, thanks for running up here. I’m buried in paperwork.” Elizabeth noticed the woman checking out the men, and it made her smirk. Then she noticed the new tattoo on her arm, covering the scars from the explosion. Standing she crossed to the little woman. “Let’s see it!” she demanded, pointing to her arm.
There was a fairly strict rule in the FBI, no tattoos out for the world to see. It was unprofessional, but the Blackhawks were bending the rules for her because of the massive scars across her arms and shoulders. The woman was nearly killed on the job, this was the least they could do.
Christina rolled up her shirt sleeve and showed her boss.
“Okay, what is it? I get that it’s some chemical formula.”
“You know that feeling you get when you see someone you love, and you get lightheaded and dizzy?” she asked, watching her boss look at both men.
“Yeah, I do.”
“It’s that chemical reaction and the theory that all humans react to a specific endorphin that makes them attracted to the opposite sex. Scientifically, that’s the reaction formula.”
Elizabeth started giggling. “And here I just got their names on my back.”
Christina grinned. “You told me I couldn’t get their names,” she said, and then realized how that sounded. “I mean,” now she went bright red.
All three of them laughed.
It wasn’t a secret that Christina had a major case of boss hots for Ethan, with Callen being her back up lust monkey.
“How about you tell us about what you found out in the tox report and the weapon used to bludgeon the woman,” suggested Elizabeth, returning to her chair.
“Sure thing,” she stated. “It was definitely mineral spirits, and I tried to break it down to the manufacturer but the formula is pretty common. Nothing deviates it from the one that we have in our lab or one you can buy at the local hardware store.”
“Okay, so we have common mineral spirits. What else?” Ethan asked, leaning forward.
“Tox was clean, but she did have a few meds in her system. We found traces of pain killers and Acyclovir sodium IV.”
“In English for those of us that have no clue,” requested Elizabeth.
“The last victim had a raging herpes infection.”
She thought about that, and hoped in the back of her mind the killer had picked it up. It was petty, but she couldn’t help herself. “Okay, do we have any idea what weapon he used to damage their faces?”
Christina flipped through the pages until she got to the right information. “Doctor Leonard found red flecks inside the wounds when he got through the burnt flesh. The killer used this,” she said, flipping the file around to show them.
“That’s a fire ax,” stated Blackhawk.
“Yes, and they’re coated in a very specific paint that retards fire. He didn’t use it to cut into the victims, but he held it and used it like a club, hitting them with the flat surface. They’re made of a heavy iron, and did most of the crushing blows. Where we thought he used boots with steel toes, it was most likely the fire ax.”
Callen stared at the board. “This isn't looking so good for Patrick Wells.”
Blackhawk agreed. “No, it’s really not.”
“Thank you, Christina,” Elizabeth said, dismissing the woman. “Really good work and I appreciate the hustle.”
She nodded, leaving the office and closing the door behind her.
Once gone, Elizabeth grabbed the file on her desk on Patrick Wells’ wife. “Here, take a look at this,” she said, passing it to the men. “This makes him look even worse.”
As Ethan read it, Elizabeth told Callen what was in the file. “Patrick Wells was married to Amanda Callister Wells.”
He listened to what she was saying. “Okay. You’re looking at me like that name should mean something. It doesn’t.”
“The Callisters have a government contract to build Kevlar vests. The ones we wear are made by them. Patrick’s wife was loaded,” she said. “The money he’s living off was likely from her trust fund.”
“I’m with you so far.”
Ethan took over, seeing where she was heading with it. “Amanda Callister Wells was found at the bottom of the family staircase after the fire department put out the fire.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Right now it’s still open as arson, but they’re calling her death an ‘accident’.”
“You’re not buying it?” stated Callen.
“I’m not buying it at all.”
Ethan thought about it. “I wish we could get the medical records for his deceased wife. If we could get our hands on them, Chris could let us know more about how she died.”
Elizabeth pulled out her phone.
“Who are you calling?” he asked.
She grinned. “I’m calling Captain Gilman. I need those records and I’m planning on cutting out some of the red tape on this one. He owes me for the bullshit I had to tolerate with his Detective.”
The man answered on the third ring.
“Gilman.”
“Captain Gilman, it’s Director Blackhawk. I need some records that are of a sensitive nature.”
There was a pause on the phone line. “What kind of records, Director?”
Elizabeth thought about how to phrase it. She didn’t want the man to know they were looking at his fire inspector as a suspect. “I requested all the arson fires from Patrick Wells.”
“As far as I know, he complied. What more do you need?” he inquired, hesitantly.
“I need to take a look at the death of his wife.”
There was a gasp and then uncomfortable silence.
“Why?”
She blew it off like it was nothing. “Because it’s an arson case and the killer may have targeted his wife.” Elizabeth hoped that sounded nonchalant and made Gilman think they weren’t looking at Wells. "I don’t want to bother him for the records. It may be a sensitive thing for him yet, so I’m coming to you personally. I don’t want to hurt a man who could be mourning his wife still.”
That seemed to make him soften a bit.
“Okay, I can get them sent over to your office. I need to get them from the ME’s and the open case files too. I appreciate that you’re not going to make him relive the entire thing. Pat’s a really good guy. The best fire inspector the local fire department ever had!”
“We rarely like to beat down victims, Captain. We’re just doing our job and something in that file may close the case for the Wells family.” Or blow it wide open and toss the man in jail for murder, but why go there with him.
“I’ll get them to you.”
“Thank you,” she said, grinning at both men as she disconnected the call. “See boys, I too can play nice when the mood suits me.”
Blackhawk laughed. “Yeah, you’re a real peace ambassador.”
“Once we get those files I can try and connect this all,” stated Elizabeth, ignoring his comment. “We could have means and motive for the wife. He wanted the money and then wanted her gone and out of the way.”
Blackhawk weighed his options. “We need to tie him to the club. If we can get the agents to show he was anywhere near there, then we can bring him in for questioning.”
<
br /> “Don’t we have enough already?” inquired Whitefox. “We have a fire ax, we have that his wife was a victim of arson, and we have that he’s now the fire inspector and he could be tampering with evidence. How easy would it be to bury the investigation as he just happened to become the new inspector?”
Elizabeth thought about it. “We’d have to exhume the dead wife and have her re-examined to get more proof.”
Blackhawk actually laughed. “The Callister family is wealthy, powerful and not going to like that at all. The file says she’s buried in the family mausoleum on the grounds of the estate. I’m going to guess that they want nothing to do with the husband and grandson. Wouldn’t the wife be buried by the husband when he finally died?”
“I’m not going in the ground,” she said, shaking her head. “Hell no. I’ve personally seen too many corpses pulled from the ground to ever be comfortable with being buried.” Elizabeth stated, enthusiastically. “You boys want me beside you then we can all go in one big urn.”
“Yeah, well Natives don’t traditionally believe in cremation, Lyzee,” said her husband. “So we have an issue right there. Our customs versus your fears.”
“Well shit. Both of you are going to be buried aren’t you,” she said shuddering.
“Yep,” they said together laughing.
Callen shrugged. “Could we be buried beside granddad and dad eventually?” he whispered, the hurt coming back. The simple idea of losing his father now too, made his heart ache.
Both Blackhawks heard the distress.
“Okay, here’s the deal. If I go first, I get cremated. When you both go, you divide me in half and put me in two urns and place me with each of you. Just make sure the urn is sealed. I don’t want any of your creepy crawlies in there with me. If either of you go first, you’re shit out of luck. No one’s digging your non embalmed, worm fest up.”
Blackhawk laughed at her description. “If that’s what you want, I’ll have our attorney place it in our will.”
Elizabeth looked at both men. “Yeah, it’s what I want.” Elizabeth wanted to spend her afterlife with the two men that mattered during her life.
“Can we change the subject here?” asked Whitefox. “I’m creeped out that our woman is pregnant and talking about dying. I haven’t been doing this death thing long enough to be numb to it yet.”
The pain was evident in his voice. Crossing to him, she wanted to offer him reassurance. Elizabeth sat in his lap and Callen leaned his forehead against her cheek. “It’s okay, Cal. I’m not dying for a long time and neither is your child.”
He nodded.
Ethan intervened and refocused the conversation back on track. Everything in him would be deeply disturbed by the conversation as well, if he allowed himself to dwell on it. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and one of the cars at the club will tie back to Patrick, and we can bring him in,” hoped Blackhawk.
Elizabeth thought about it. “I think we give Patrick Wells a tail for the next couple of hours. I want to know what he does, where he goes and if he sees anyone.”
“I find it odd that Patrick Wells must have been alerted that we have another victim, and all the sudden he doesn’t show up to watch the autopsy.” Callen said, enjoying the feel of Elizabeth against his body. Her scent was lulling him and offering peace. As she drew patterns on his shoulder where her initials were tattooed on his body, he could feel the warmth spread through him.
“Maybe he knows we suspect him. We weren’t exactly friendly when we were at his house,” Elizabeth mentioned. “Maybe he doesn’t like the feds, or that we’re holding back. Then again, it could be that little bomb you dropped in his lap, asking about his wife.”
“Or he’s worried that we’re close.” Blackhawk pointed out the obvious to both of them. “He is the most likely suspect.”
Elizabeth thought about it. “I’m still hung up on two other people. William Thomas was there the day Lulu was abducted, and he knew other women that worked there that were killed. Then we have good old Fred. He manages the club and was secretly recording the women and enjoying every damn second of it.”
“Three strong candidates for murder, and not a scrap of evidence to directly indicate which one,” Blackhawk said, crossing his arms. “We have a big mess here.”
Elizabeth was about to agree when the intercom on her desk buzzed, and Ethan stood to answer it. “Yes Ginny?”
“Mr. B. you’re ten thirty appointment is here for interview. Mrs. B, Agent Christensen, and Cyra Austin are in the coffee room waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Ginny,” stated Blackhawk. “I’ll come out and get Ms. Cocheta.”
Elizabeth stood from Callen’s lap. “Both of you be safe today when you head out to interview the bouncer. Will you please suit up in Kevlar for me?” she asked, not liking that she wasn’t going to be there with them. Immediately, Elizabeth went to Ethan and hugged his body to hers. “I love you, Cowboy.”
Ethan found it ironic that she was worried about them, when she had the more dangerous assignment that night. “I’ll see you tonight at the club. Make sure you’re miked and wired Elizabeth.” He ran his fingers over her cheek. “I love you, baby.” Dropping a gentle kiss to her lips, he enjoyed the way her hands slid up his back and held him to her. Breaking away, he sighed. “Be safe, Lyzee my love.”
She stared up into his eyes. “I’ll be safe I promise. See you later, Cowboy.” Elizabeth released him, and he walked away.
Callen went to her and pulled her into his arms. “You make sure you don’t risk yourself or our child, angel. I can’t live without either of you.”
She nodded, and went up on her toes to kiss him. Reluctantly, Elizabeth pulled away. “You keep yourself and your brother safe for me.”
“I will. I love you, Lyzee. If your gut tells you it’s bad, listen to it and get back here in one piece.”
She saw the worry in his eyes and it hurt her heart. “I love you, my love,” she whispered, running her fingers across his cheek and lips. “See you tonight,” she grinned.
“Oh, I can’t wait,” Callen answered, laughing. “I’m sure it’s going to torture both of us.”
“Damn it! Looks like I’m too predictable.”
Whitefox laughed, as he walked away. At the door he turned around one more time.
Elizabeth blew him a kiss, and placed the hand that held his ring on it over her belly.
Now it was time to get down to business.
It was time to play stripper.
Catch a killer.
And get home safe to the men she loved.
* * *
Ethan Blackhawk strolled out to the lobby to find the woman waiting for his attention. When he found her sitting nervously across from Ginny, there was sympathy for the Native. If she never left the Rez, then FBI West was a culture shock.
Ginny was talking to the woman, being friendly as usual, but that didn’t seem to be relaxing her at all.
“Ms. Cocheta?” he asked, walking towards her with his hand out in welcome. “I’m Ethan,” he said, dropping the formality, since this wasn’t business related.
She stood and accepted his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she answered, observing the man. “You look just like your father did years ago,” she stated, “minus the suit.”
Blackhawk laughed. “I don’t think he owns a suit,” he answered, leading her to his office.
The woman noticed the name plate beside his office door and the one beside it. All the rumors on the Rez were true. Ethan Blackhawk was powerful, and so was his wife.
“Please, have a seat. Can I offer you some coffee or tea?” he asked, watching his brother wander in.
“Tea would be nice, thank you,” she answered, observing the other man.
Ethan buzzed Ginny and requested two coffees and a tea. “This is my brother, Callen Whitefox. I’m sure dad mentioned him too.”
“Oh, yes he did. He talks about you both a great deal, and your son CJ. He loves that boy.”
&nbs
p; “Nice to meet you,” Callen said, offering her his hand politely. It wasn’t lost on him that the woman didn’t remind him of the type of woman his father would chase after. Both his mother and Ethan’s were completely different than Bly Cocheta.
Vastly!
Ethan grinned. “My son is very attached to him too, which is why we asked to see you today for this interview, Ms. Cocheta.”
“Please, call me Bly,” she said, taking the tea from the woman that brought it in. “Thank you.”
Ginny simply nodded, not wishing to interrupt her boss’s interview.
Ethan observed the woman in his office. She seemed well mannered, and he wasn’t getting any bad feelings about her as of yet. She kind of reminded him of his grandmother, what he remembered of her. She’d died when he was fairly young. Bly Cocheta was a short woman with some lines on her face. Obviously there from years of hard work and worry for her children. Her black hair was pulled back and circled her head in an intricate braid.
“My father said you might be interested in working for us,” said Blackhawk.
“I am,” she answered.
“Here’s our situation. Elizabeth is our wife.” He used the term for both men and waited to see if she reacted.
“I’m very aware, your father told me about her and how both of his sons were madly in love with her.”
Callen grinned. “Madly is probably a mild word in this case.”
She smiled warmly. “If you’re worried I’ll care that both of you are sharing a woman, I won’t. I was raised on the reservation my whole life and my grandmother was in a relationship with two brothers. It’s not something that bothers me at all.”
Blackhawk nodded. “She’s pregnant with our second child. Right now our father takes care of CJ full time. He’s trying desperately to keep the house together, but he’s wearing down. We need someone that can help him out. I don’t want another childcare provider per say, because that would hurt dad’s feelings, but I do need back up for him in case he becomes overwhelmed.”
She understood. “Your father is a proud man, and if you tried to replace him he’d be hurt.”
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 50
