True Love Lost (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 3))

by Kelley, Morgan

  Elizabeth closed the door and grabbed two bottles of water from her purse. They were in an evidence bag. Carefully she used a tissue, placing one where Wilma May would be sitting, and one where she would be sitting. Then she turned to her husband and grinned wickedly. “That was amazing work baby!” Elizabeth fist bumped him and winked.

  “I wasn’t always good cop before you became my partner. I did get to be bad cop a few times,” he paused. “I hear footsteps.”

  Both agents stopped smiling as the door opened.

  Wilma May opened the door hesitantly. “You needed to see me?” She had wide eyes and looked nervous.

  “Please have a seat, Wilma May,” said Elizabeth, pointing at a chair. “Take a break, and have some water. We’ll be right with you,” she said, seriously.

  “Oh, okay,” she cracked open the bottle and took a big sip.

  Elizabeth turned towards her husband and winked, as she pulled out her tablet. “Wilma May, do you know why we’re here?” she calmly sat, and put on her best serious face.

  “No, I can’t imagine. I didn’t do anything. I swear.”

  “Can you tell me about what time this man was in the last day he was seen alive?” Elizabeth pushed the picture towards her.

  Wilma May scrunched up her face. “I think it had to be around three in the afternoon, because he said to me it was kinda late in the day to be having coffee, but he still had a few hours to drive.”

  “He said nothing else to you?”

  “No, really! I swear, Agents. I would tell you.”

  Elizabeth leaned across the table, looking into the woman’s eyes. “Okay, if we think of anything else, we’ll be back,” she said, softly.

  Wilma May bolted.

  Elizabeth reached into her pocket and pulled out her gloves. Once they were on, she carefully placed the top back on the water bottle and placed it in an evidence bag.

  “I can’t believe this worked,” Blackhawk shook his head, laughing.

  “Cowboy, why do you doubt me?” she asked, dropping her sunglasses back on her face. “Shall we, Mr. Blackhawk?”

  He snickered and opened the door for his wife. The second they were back where people could see them, they had the FBI faces intact and both looked menacing. Blackhawk pointed at Joe Lemar, before he followed his wife out the door to their vehicle. Once inside, they both burst into laughter.

  “Ethan, that was the sexiest display of bad cop I have ever seen you pull off. “

  “I’m glad I could entertain you my love. I suddenly have a craving for a smoke break.”

  “There are days I love my job. Today is definitely one of them.” Elizabeth buckled her seat belt. “Baby Blackhawk, your daddy was extra sexy today at work. You should be proud.”

  He laughed. “Back to the sheriff’s station, Daddy has more work to do yet today.” Lovingly Ethan ran his hand over her belly and couldn’t help but feel warmth over power him.

  Damn it, he loved his life.

  * * *

  Opening the jar, she dumped out the eyes, and they slid sickly into the palm of her hand. Inspecting them, she admired her handy-work. There was absolutely no damage done to the perfect orbs. Soon he would be almost completely put back together again. Her one true love would be reconstructed.

  He would be back.

  She leaned over the table and looked down into his sightless face and popped them into place. “My love! They are a perfect match. Soon we will be back to the way we were before that day.” She became quiet thinking back to the horrible events that shaped their future.

  “Never mind my love, we need not speak of it. Accidents will happen, now won’t they?”

  She looked down at the body. “I think we only need a few more pieces until you are whole again, lover.”

  “Just a little longer, and we’ll be together again.” The sharp pain shot through her head, and she shook it viciously to regain control and push past the pain.

  “Damn headaches are getting worse and worse,” she said, rubbing her temples. She looked at her watch. “I think I may sneak in a nap, you know for beauty rest.”

  She kissed him on the cheek delicately, and headed to their bed to get some rest before her busy night ahead.

  * * *

  Callen loved his family, especially his grandfather. When his mother was gone, the man became his surrogate mom and dad all in one. This man was so vital to his life, and always would be. When he’d come inside from being kicked out, he found his grandfather comforting Desdemona. She was protectively under his arm, and she was laughing. There was no anger on his face and true to his word, he was planning on letting his grandson choose his own path in life.

  They’d sat down to lunch, and his grandfather and dad had made an all vegetarian meal, of a hearty vegetable stew. Much like he remembered eating as a child. It touched his heart that they were trying to make Desdemona fit into their circle, the best that they could. Instead of questioning her choice in foods, they accepted her and made her feel like she belonged.

  During dinner they joked with her, and teased her a little, but only to the point where she laughed. No one made her feel like she wasn’t already a permanent part of their unit. Desdemona was accepted and welcomed into the family.

  It touched his heart that his grandfather had taken to calling her ‘little spider’ much like he referred to his brother’s wife as ‘the protective raven’. It showed they were claiming her and it was more than he ever expected. Obviously she had told his grandfather about the quote that Elizabeth had shared with her. Just those words between the women seemed to heal Desdemona’s heart, and he owed Elizabeth more than he could ever repay.

  Desdemona was his final choice. Now he wouldn’t be alone the rest of his life and could have what his brother had.

  Whitefox kept updating his brother as they were still on the Rez, and part of him wished they could have more time together there to get her integrated into the family. Now that she saw she was welcome, he hoped she wouldn’t run or he’d be chasing her down and dragging her back. Maybe it was Neanderthal of him, but he really didn’t care. Desdemona Adare was going to stay in his life. Regardless of what she thought was best for him.

  “Callen?” She touched his arm, drawing his attention back to here and now.

  “Yeah sweetheart,” he said, kissing her on the top of the head.

  “We should be going. Ethan and Elizabeth need us there and we’ve been a distraction for them. I’m sure your brother is worried about you.” Who was she kidding? Desdemona wanted to escape off the Rez and the Indian’s stare.

  He nodded. “Dad, take care of the old man, Ethan and I will be back in a couple days, and don’t forget that fishing trip in spring.” He hugged his father. The bond they were rebuilding was strong and he was grateful to have him back in his life. “If you need anything call me.”

  “I will son. Don’t worry about us. Just be safe, and watch your back,” he patted him on the shoulder. “Kiss Elizabeth for me, and hug your brother.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry! I plan on it,” he said, laughing.

  Desdemona shook her head. After spending lunch with the eldest Blackhawks, she could see they all felt the same love Callen had for Elizabeth. She was trying to come to peace with it, and find her own niche into the family. Trying being the operative word.

  “Granddad, thank you for lunch.” Whitefox went to the old man and hugged him. His heart ached that one day, he wouldn’t get to do that. He held on a little longer this time, because he needed it, and wanted that memory to hold. “I love you, Granddad,” he whispered. “Thank you for setting me free.”

  The man smiled and patted his grandson on the cheek. “You can thank your brother’s wife. She is hard to say no to, even when I have the best intention to do it.” Timothy looked over at his son. “Wyler, will you escort Desdemona to the vehicle? I wish to say something privately to Callen.”

  “Sure thing, Dad,” answered the man, as he held out his arm, and she put her hand through
it smiling.

  Callen watched her walk away, and must have had a completely lustful look on his face, because his grandfather started laughing.

  “That is the same look your brother gets when he’s staring at his wife. I’m going to also assume you’ll be mauling that poor girl just like your brother does to Elizabeth.”

  “Hell yeah I plan on it. As for the look, it’s genetic. I can’t help it.” He hoped his grandfather wasn’t planning on telling him to forget about Desdemona. “What did you want to say to me?”

  “Follow me,” he led his grandson to his bedroom. “I need to ask you a few questions.”

  “Okay.” Now the nerves were kicking up.

  “Are you one hundred percent in love with that girl, with your entire heart and soul?”

  Callen knew he shouldn’t lie to his grandfather, so he twisted the truth to make it more palatable. “I can say without a doubt that the only other woman I will ever love other than her is Elizabeth.” Then he prayed it would be good enough. There was just no way he was going to ruin the entire experience by telling his grandfather that he was in love with his brother’s wife.

  That just screamed ‘very bad idea’.

  Timothy looked deep into his eyes, feeling the lie, but holding his tongue. What he didn’t tell Callen was he saw the way he looked at Elizabeth, and it wasn’t with lust, but complete adoration. Again, he was going to defer this one to Elizabeth to handle. This would be the last thing he said about it all. “I have one piece of advice and you can do with it what you see fit.”

  “Okay, Granddad.”

  “If it doesn’t feel right, or you feel like you’re rushing into something, step back and think about it. Talk to your brother or Elizabeth and get a second opinion.”

  Callen kept his face completely neutral. “Are you telling me not to marry Desdemona?”

  “No, I’m saying listen to your heart, not your head.”

  Whitefox didn’t understand the wariness, but it was evident on his grandfather’s face. “Why are you worried?”

  “She identifies with the spider. A spirit guide says a great deal about the person.”

  “Okay, and what does it mean?”

  “Just watch her carefully and make sure you keep her close to you and your family. I just have this feeling that Death is looming just outside what we understand.”

  Whitefox was taken aback, since he knew what the stalker said on the note, but his grandfather didn’t.

  “I will, Granddad. I promise.”

  Timothy nodded. “If you're happy then I give you my complete blessing.”

  Yeah, he was going to grab his sister-in-law, dip her low and plant a big one right on her lips. She was going to be the best woman at his damn wedding that was for sure.

  He stood at his dresser and pulled out a little box. It was carved with a letter B on it, and he held it lovingly in his hand. “When your brother married Elizabeth the first time, he gave her his mother’s ring, because it was part of his family history,” he paused, looking up into his boy’s eyes. “I know you don’t have that option. Your mom didn’t marry, and she didn’t really want to settle and plant roots.”

  He shrugged, unwilling to let that hurt him.

  “I want you to take this,” he said, handing him the little box and watching him open it. “It was your grandmother’s ring. I gave it to her when we married a long time ago.”

  Callen didn’t know what to say. “The family tradition says this ring goes to the new woman that will be married to the head of our family.” He tried to hand it back. “That’s Elizabeth. Plus you picked her personally over Ethan.”

  Timothy sat on the side of his bed. “I spoke to Elizabeth before you arrived, and we discussed this. I told her about the family tradition behind the ring, and she insisted that you use it to marry Desdemona if that was what you wanted. She wants you to have it and give you a part of the Blackhawk legacy.”

  His eyes filled with tears. The Blackhawk family ring was priceless to the family, and he wasn’t a Blackhawk. Not by name anyway.

  “I also spoke to your brother. He also wants you to have my wedding band as your own. I would be pleased if when you marry her, you’ll wear it and remember me.” He slipped it off his finger for the first time in over six decades and handed it to his grandson. “When you make the vows, mean them. That’s all I ask. Go into it completely sure of what you are doing. Only marry for complete love.”

  Callen didn’t have the words. He wiped the tears and couldn’t believe the luck he’d finally found. His family was precious to him. Growing up he went from a mother that never cared, to a grandfather who loved completely and now a brother and sister who understood and would sacrifice their part of the family heritage to give it to him, and cement him firmly to it. They were officially declaring he was a Blackhawk with the gift of the rings. “I don’t know what to say, Granddad, but of course I’ll wear it, and I know Desdemona will love grandma’s ring.”

  “Remember son that your family will keep you safe and protect you when you need to be guarded over. You can always rely on your family, especially your brother and Elizabeth.”

  “I won’t forget that,” he placed his grandfather’s ring in the box and closed it. “Thank you for this,” he said, slipping the rings into his pocket.

  “It was our protective raven’s idea. Now go.” He stood and patted his boy’s cheek. Soon he would be calling Elizabeth to have a private conversation with her regarding everything he’d learned and felt. Something definitely wasn’t right. His boy lied to him, and was hiding his feelings deep. They needed to have a family call and soon.

  Callen memorized this moment for all eternity. It was burned forever into his mind and heart. Walking out of the house he stopped at his father’s side and hugged him again. “Take care of Timothy, okay, Dad?”

  “I will son. Be safe, both of you. Kiss our Elizabeth for me and my grandson in her belly.”

  “Oh don’t you worry! I plan on it!”

  Wyler grinned.

  Callen took Desdemona’s hand and led her to the Denali. It was time to head back to work and protect his family.

  “Are you okay, Callen?” She saw the tears in his eyes.

  “I’m more than okay. Today has been an amazing day,” he said, smiling gently at her, and then he just couldn’t help it, he pulled her against his body and kissed her. Whitefox held her trapped to his mouth, as he kissed her deep and shared all the emotion that was in his body.

  “Callen James Whitefox, you stop mauling that girl in the middle of the yard,” yelled his grandfather. “You and your brother weren’t raised by wolves. You let her breathe!”

  He broke the kiss, and started laughing. “Unlike Ethan, I don’t have the legal document authorizing a mauling. This is a preemptive mauling. I have to kiss her like this to lure her in!” He yelled back over his shoulder.

  Desdemona was completely confused, but laughed anyway. This family was insane but now she felt safe and it was all worth it in the end.

  To feel safe, Desdemona believed she’d sacrifice anything.

  ~ Chapter Sixteen ~

  Friday afternoon

  Ethan couldn’t believe he was going to actually smoke to get DNA evidence. It still made him laugh when he thought about it. While he staked out the woman that was their subject of scrutiny, Elizabeth made sure the ash tray was completely clean of butts. Granted most of them had Sheila Courts lipstick on them, she wasn’t going to take any chance. There could only be one butt in that tray, and it was going to be shipped off for DNA to FBI West.

  When she peeked out the conference room they were using, he saw the woman putting her jacket on, and getting ready to go out. “Okay, I’ll be back in as soon as I get the evidence.”

  Elizabeth put a glove and an evidence bag in his pocket. “Here,” she handed him a cigarette and a lighter. “What?” The look on his face was priceless.

  “Where did you get them?”

  “Tech team,” she smile
d. “I went down and said, ‘I need a smoke and lighter’ and three appeared in under three seconds.”

  “Great, they now think you’re pregnant and chain smoking,” he laughed, taking the lighter and cigarette. “Okay, be back.” Ethan buttoned up his wool coat, and headed for the doors. When he spotted the woman, he found a place to stand, out of the wind. This was one reason he quit. Freezing his ass off for a nicotine high wasn’t fun. If his wife would have let him wear the parka, he probably wouldn’t be as cold. Unfortunately for him, she insisted on his wool pea coat for this mission.

  “I didn’t know you smoked, Agent,” she stated, staring over at him.

  “Only when I’m stressed.” Blackhawk started the lies. Anything to distract her from the truth that he planned on raiding the ash tray when she went inside. The things he did for his job and wife.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty stressful lately. I’m so freaked out about Bobby Lee that I forgot to order supplies.”

  Blackhawk took a long drag and felt the head rush. All he could hope was he didn’t keel over from being dizzy. “Oh, is that your job?” he asked, taking another drag. If he became addicted to smoking again, he was going to force Elizabeth to help him break the habit with something else that would keep his hands busy whenever he craved a cigarette. Mainly his naked wife’s body.

  “Yeah, Jimmy said not to worry, but I’m a nervous wreck.”

  Blackhawk went the sympathetic approach, and he prayed the woman wouldn’t smoke more than one. “It’s tough to lose a friend,” he said.

  The woman started sniffling.

  Oh shit. He was pretty sure his wife was watching this go down, and enjoying every second of it. Blackhawk took another drag, because this time he needed it, and then he put the cigarette out in the ash tray. “Ms. Court, it’s okay.” He moved closer, patting her shoulder, awkwardly.