She snorted. “No, you heard me right. I’m going to go out tonight and play hooker. I can talk to the ladies, get any information, and then be done with it.”
“Elizabeth.”
“Gabriel.”
He closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and sighed. “You’re going to be the death of me. I always think it’s going to be the workload, the President, or my boss, but it won’t be what kills me. It’ll be you.”
“Actually, you’re likely to live longer because I keep you on your toes. You’re only going to get some gray.”
He opened his eyes. “You don’t have backup.”
“I’ll be safe.”
“You don’t know that, Elizabeth.”
“I do know that because the two cops will be on the street, and I actually do have backup.”
“Who?” he asked.
“I can call Chris to cover for me. He can be my John.”
Gabe stared at her, and then he began laughing. “Him? Seriously? The nerd is going to keep you safe on the streets?”
It pissed her off.
“Please don’t call him that. He’s not a nerd, Gabe. What he is, is a damn good Fed who proved you wrong the last year. He has his bearings, and he’s doing a damn fine job. You told me he’d be gone in a year, and he stuck. In fact, he’s one of the best ME’s that we have and you know it. Some of the older doctors go to him for his opinion. Chris Leonard has crazy mad dead skills.”
She had a point.
Gabe was rarely wrong, but he had been about the ME. Christopher Leonard was a constant surprise.
Who would have known?
That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to ride him. With this case, there was a whole lot riding on it. The man would have to keep Elizabeth safe. That was a whole other ballgame. He wouldn’t be finding COD. He’d be armed and playing Fed. Gabe had his doubts.
“Elizabeth, this is a horrible idea.”
“Yeah, well, tell it to the killer who is stealing women’s lives—not me. I’m just chasing him. I need to get to those hookers, so they can give me my next lead. Tomorrow, I have to interview two men who might have been victims of blackmail. Today, I have to play hooker.”
He sipped his water.
She knew it was to calm down. Elizabeth had learned all of Gabe’s tells over the last two years. When he was going to blow, he either drank something or played with his tie.
He fixed the knot of his tie.
Yep.
Here it was.
Elizabeth had news for him.
“If you say no, I’m still doing it.”
“Of course you are because you like to play cowboy. Oh, and PS…those boots are not regulation attire.”
She stared down at them. “No, but are they really impeding me from doing my job? Think about it. They’re boots. Do you do less work when your tidy whities are twisted in a bunch between your cheeks instead of your fun colored boxers?”
“Elizabeth! I am your boss.”
Yeah, but at one time, he’d been so much more. Instead of going there, she opted to keep it light.
“They’re boots, and I want to play hooker. Seriously. I’m trying to do my job and close this case. Do you want this to blow up in both of our faces? You handed me this one instead of sending me out to play with the Natives.”
She had a point.
Both of their asses were on the line. What choice did Gabe actually have in the matter?
NONE.
It was all on the line, and Elizabeth was leading the charge. He had to trust her.
“If you promise to be safe and keep that doctor of yours on a short leash, then you can play hooker. Okay?”
“He’s really not ‘MINE’,” she stated. “He’s more the FBI’s. I just borrow him.”
Gabe started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“Yeah, right. He wants to be yours. Christopher Leonard stares at you like he wants to crawl all over you. Maybe you should do it so he can focus again.”
She snorted. “He does not.”
“I’m a guy. I know lust. He does. When you’re around, his whole demeanor changes.”
She thought about the kiss that morning. That wasn’t typical Chris behavior.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“When did you know Livy was the one?”
He stared at her. “Seriously? We’re going to talk about my love life? Can this be more awkward?”
“You used to be my friend. Sorry. I forgot. I’m no one anymore.”
Yes, it could get more awkward, and here it was. Still, Gabe heard it in her voice and he was sorry that he’d put that pain there. It had been the last thing he ever wanted to do. She’d committed murder so he wouldn’t have to do it. Elizabeth took one for his heart.
He owed her more than he could ever pay back.
“Elizabeth.”
She got up. “Never mind, Gabe. I’ll fly solo on this one too. I’ll be safe, and I’ll check in tomorrow. I’m going home to do some work, get hookered up, and then I’ll be in to see Chris. He’s in an autopsy right now with another agent.”
He felt horrible.
“Elizabeth. You can ask me anything.”
She stopped at the door. A part of her wanted to ask because she could feel the sexual tension between her and Chris, and maybe when a person was right for you, it didn’t have to all be there. She was really curious if maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe Chris would be enough for that moment in time.
Instead of asking Gabe, she swallowed it. Honestly, she didn’t trust him like she once did. He’d let her fall.
Elizabeth had been hurt, and she needed time to lick her wounds.
“I’m good. Have a good night.”
She headed out, leaving him standing there.
Gabe wished he could go back in time, change what had happened, and make it all right. Had he just stayed with Livy, she wouldn’t have been hurt, Elizabeth wouldn’t have been tossed to the wolves, and his happy little family would be intact.
This was all on him, and he knew it.
Shit.
He really needed a time machine.
Gabe wanted to go back and save all of their souls.
* * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *
Tonight, he was going to take another one. It was time to pick out the next whore, take her life, and clean up the dirtiness in DC.
He already knew who he was going to take. She’d been on his list and when she was dead, he’d move on to the next without batting an eyelash.
They weren’t worthy.
They were sin.
Yes, he was doing what needed to be done for himself and the people of the town.
The first three had only been a start.
He was going to ensure that by the end, they would all be gone, and he would have a clean slate.
Washington DC would be cleansed of the sickness.
One.
Hooker.
At.
A.
Time.
* * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *
Elizabeth’s
Brownstone
Late Afternoon
It wasn’t easy to look like a cheap hooker. In fact, it was damn hard. She didn’t really have a lot of slutty gear. Yeah, she liked her girly things sexy, in case she was going to roll around with a man, but she didn’t have slut gear. Basically, her undergarments screamed ‘I’m ready to get it on’, but her outer gear was totally cop.
It gave off a mixed message, and she knew it.
She needed some help.
What did she know about seducing men? It was times like these that she wished she and Livy were on better terms. Since that wasn’t an option, and Chris was still working, she was on her own.
So, on her way home, she hit up some unique boutiques in the city. In them, she walked around, seeking out the perfect mix between hooker and high-class call girl.
She was amused the entire
time.
Honestly, she could get into this stuff. Most of it was really pretty—in that fuck me now kind of way. Elizabeth liked the different textures between lace and leather.
It all called to her.
Now all she needed was a man to see her in it.
She’d actually laughed out loud, getting everyone’s attention in the store. Yeah, that was damn amusing. Elizabeth’s girl parts were so dusty that it would take a cleaning crew to remove the cobwebs.
God help the next man who rolled around with her. She was going to ride him hard.
Now, back at her place, as she stared at herself in the mirror, she was entertained. Her hair was fluffed, teased, and looked wicked, she had slathered on enough makeup to paint up all the hookers in town, and she was wearing the gear.
She liked it.
Truth be told, it made her look different.
She loved every second of playing a different person. Her life sucked so much, that it was nice to escape.
Well, this was going to be fun.
As she was spritzing herself with perfume, her doorbell began ringing. Elizabeth wasn’t expecting anyone, so she wasn’t quite sure who was showing up at her place.
She’d gotten a text from Chris. He was elbow deep in a body, so it wouldn’t be him.
Gabe wouldn’t leave the office.
And Livy…yeah, no way.
Elizabeth was amused that one of her neighbors was about to see her dressed as a hooker.
Tongues would be wagging on this one. Then again, it wasn’t like they already weren’t.
Heading down the stairs, it wasn’t easy to navigate them. Elizabeth only hoped she didn’t fall or put holes in the wood from her heels. Through the glass, she could see three shadows.
Jehovah’s witnesses?
Very large Girl Scouts?
Opening the door, she gasped.
“Daddy?”
He opened his arms and gave her a hug. “Lyzee, baby! I missed you, sugar!”
She let him hold her. When he picked her up, swinging her around, she was sure she flashed the world her goodies, but she didn’t care. This was her daddy.
God!
She’d missed him.
“Oh, Daddy!”
Their embrace was ruined by the snarling woman beside him.
“Charlie LaRue, you put her down! That’s not how civilized people behave.”
Elizabeth cringed. Sadly, her father brought his battleax second wife with him to visit her. Well, that sucked. The fun was officially DOA.
“Hello, Abigayle. Welcome to my home,” she offered, trying to be civil.
It wasn’t easy.
Elizabeth hated the woman. The more she tried to play mommy dearest to her, the more she wanted to throat punch the bitch. Only, she played nice because of her father.
She loved Charlie more than anyone in the world. He was her rock, and she’d suck it up for him, and him alone.
“I missed you, Daddy!”
He gave her a kiss. “Why is my little girl dressed like this?” he asked, the southern in his voice.
She could tell he wasn’t pleased.
“Relax, Charlie,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m going undercover tonight. I was getting ready,” she stated, hugging her younger half-brother. “Hey, Georgie! How’s it going?”
He grinned at her. “You look pretty, EL. I like your lipstick color.”
His mother slapped him in the back of the head. “She looks like a whore. You do not like any of that.”
“Not in my house, Abigayle,” she warned. “This is a no hitting zone, and if you try for me, I’ll punch you in the face.”
Charlie cleared his throat, but Elizabeth could see he wasn’t upset. That set off warning bells.
The woman’s face puckered even more. “You look like a whore.”
“Oh, well, then I’m glad I pulled it off. I’m playing the role of hooker tonight as I troll the streets in DC.”
Charlie looked concerned. “Lyzee, baby, is that safe? We heard on the national news you have some issues up here.”
She didn’t want him to worry, so she lied. “I have backup out the wazoo, Daddy. More importantly, what are you doing here?” she asked, changing the subject so she wasn’t the focus. Elizabeth hated lying to her father.
He could read her like a book. She’d gotten her skills from him.
“Abigale and George are going up to Boston to see some family, and I thought I’d stop in and hang with my lovely angel.”
Abigayle made some sound.
Charlie glanced over. “You know how I love my favorite girl.”
Elizabeth lifted a brow. Yeah, he called her that all the time, but Charlie wasn’t in your face when it came to how he ran his shop. He was openly challenging Abigayle.
Something was definitely up.
“This is why she’s the way she is. You spoil her. Kids need discipline in order to become productive members of society. Look at my George. He’s a good boy.”
Elizabeth ignored it. That shrew could kiss her ass. While she loved her brother, she didn’t have any affectionate feelings toward her stepmother.
No.
They were all pretty much filled with the opposite of affectionate.
“You can stay here, Daddy.”
He gave her another kiss. “I’d love to. Maybe I can help you with your case. I happen to have some time on my hands, and you look like you need someone to talk to.”
Yeah, her father could read her like a book. A lot had happened the last year, and she didn’t tell him any of it. Why make him worry?
This was all on her.
She patted his cheek. “I would love that. I’ll tell you all about it. When will you be back?” she asked, ignoring the daggers Abigayle was shooting at her.
They were normal.
“I’m going to drop them off tomorrow, and I’ll head back here. I can pick them up in a couple of days. I can’t wait to see my baby girl,” Charlie admitted, running his hands through his curly black hair.
“I can’t wait to see Salem,” Abigayle stated, cutting him off. She was sick of hearing about Elizabeth. All the way there, it was all about her.
“Me either,” George stated. “Mom told me all about it. We learned about it in school too. I want to see the Witch’s Museum.”
“Some things you can’t learn out of a text book,” Abigayle stated. Then she focused on Elizabeth. “Speaking of learning, at least you haven’t become an actual hooker,” she added. “There were days I was worried.”
“Not yet. I think I’m good with the FBI. Although, last week, I did have a threesome with some sexy men.”
She gasped and then covered her son’s ears. “Charlie, control that mess of a child.”
He simply laughed.
“Don’t worry. They wore condoms, I think, and I wore crotchless panties.”
Elizabeth loved stirring her up.
While the woman was nasty, she was harmless. Elizabeth learned a long time ago to ignore her as much as possible. Maybe one day, Charlie, would come to his senses.
“I was going to call before dropping in, but I wanted to catch you being bad,” he teased, cuddling his little girl beneath his arm. “I know how you Feds behave.”
She laughed. “Well, your daughter is dressed like a hooker, so congrats. You caught me, Daddy.”
He patted her cheek.
She stared into his blue eyes. The icy blue matched hers. There was something there. She could see it.
“When I get back, I’ll make you dinner,” he stated. “Maybe you can bring a date.”
She zipped it.
If he found out she was not in a relationship, he’d nag her to kingdom come. The man wanted grandchildren in the worst way, and Elizabeth didn’t have the heart to tell him that wasn’t in her future. She wasn’t going to be a mom.
She was going to die behind her shield.
“Okay, Daddy,” she said, pulling a spare key out of her desk drawer.
“Just show up. I’ll make sure the naked men are out right after the orgy.”
Abigayle looked horrified as she covered George’s ears again. “Not in front of the child.”
“He’s fifteen. I’m pretty sure he knows what sex is,” Elizabeth added. “You know how boys are.”
She sputtered as Elizabeth made a blowjob motion with her hand. She truly loved freaking the woman out. “Lock up your magazines.”
“Charles!”
He shrugged.
Elizabeth definitely knew something was up. The last time she did that hand gesture, her father chased her halfway across Salem and nearly tanned her ass.
Yeah, she needed the details. Something was up.
Then again, maybe he realized that Abigayle was a prude. How they even had George was a mystery to pretty much everyone. Maybe she was the next Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Thank you, baby girl. I’ll be back and we’ll have a great meal together.”
She gave her father a hug. “I love you, Charlie LaRue. I love you more than anything in this world.”
He stared into her eyes. “I know sweetheart. I love you too. You’re my girl. Tomorrow, you, me, a male date, and lasagna. Don’t tell me you can’t bring anyone.”
She knew EXACTLY who she was going to bring.
Chris.
She needed to see him, tell him about tonight, and then force him to be her date. Elizabeth didn’t doubt he’d do it. As of late, she was looking for an excuse for them to broach this topic.
“I’ll have a date if you do, Daddy. If you can’t dig anyone up, I happen to know some young ladies who would love you.”
Abigayle glared at her. “Hussy.”
She snorted. “Drive safe,” she said, blowing a kiss to her father.
He winked at her. “You’re so bold, but I love you, Lyzee baby.”
“I love you too.”
When they were gone, Elizabeth did a little dance. There was nothing she loved more than her father and his lasagna. This day was looking up.
Grabbing her purse, gun, and badge, she headed out the door. She had an ME to visit, and she only hoped the prospect of being her backup and lasagna date would make his day too.
Only time would tell.
Stalked by the Past: An FBI Flashback Novel. (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 17) Page 14
