* * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *
Morgue
They were working side by side, in the silence of the autopsy suite, when finally, Tony couldn’t handle it anymore.
“Did you set up your profile?” he asked, as he held a tray for Christopher Leonard.
“Yeah, I did.”
“And?”
“I got two hits.”
“That’s awesome. When are you going to talk to them and ask them out?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I may not contact them. You know how busy we get.”
The man stared at him. “Seriously? You got two hits the first day. Jump on them. Literally. This is how it works. The women circle the boat, and you toss yourself in so they can chew on you.”
“That’s just weird.”
Tony shrugged. “What else do you have planned? Do you have a date with some smoking hot babe?”
They both laughed.
Chris’s was faked. He was thinking about Elizabeth. All day, she was his focus, and it was making him crazy. He was dwelling on that kiss they shared, and if he’d crossed some line. She had only texted him, and he was hoping she wasn’t angry at him.
Maybe he’d violated her personal space.
“What’s going on?” Tony asked. “You don’t look happy, and you’re totally distracted by something,” Tony offered. “If you need to talk about it, I’m here.”
He needed to talk about it, but when shit like this came up he’d go with Elizabeth. She was his best friend, and he trusted her. Now that he was myopically focused on her, and trying to get past the needs he was having, he couldn’t go to her.
So, it looked like Tony was it.
“I’m not good with women.”
“Yeah, neither am I, but this online thing makes it easier,” Tony offered. “I swear it does. I’m bossy in bed. I need a certain kind of lady to be my partner.”
Chris looked over and then he lowered his voice. “Are you talking about S &M?”
He laughed. “No. I just like being dominant in bed. With finding ladies online, I can locate the ones who are more likely to roll like that.”
Chris was learning a lot about his new work partner. It was fascinating. “And do they?”
“Yeah. What do you like in bed?”
Chris flushed. “I don’t know.”
“Sure you do.”
“I don’t have a lot of sexual experience. I was focused on school, and then work. I don’t date.”
Why?
He wanted to be with Elizabeth or at least he wanted to see if she was right. That was killing him. He needed to know if he was passing up ‘the one’.
If he was, that would suck.
“I have this woman I’m interested in.”
“And?”
“She doesn’t think the chemistry is there.”
“Oh, and you do?” Tony asked.
Chris stared at him. “Are you sure I can trust you? I don’t want this getting out.”
“I swear. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”
Chris picked up the very long syringe. “That will hurt. I hope you keep your promise.”
Tony laughed. “I will.”
“She thinks it won’t be good.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it will be.”
“Then you should find out if it is.”
Yeah, that was easier said than done. How was he supposed to get Elizabeth into bed?
“Never going to happen.”
“Why?”
“Yeah, no woman is going to walk up to me, throw herself on me, and then ask me for sex.”
“There will be one who does, and you might meet her online.”
He doubted that. “When they meet me, they’ll run. I’m a nerd.”
“Some women dig smart dudes. You might be surprised,” Tony offered.
He laughed.
“The day that happens, I’m playing the lottery.”
“Well, the odds aren’t in your favor, man. People don’t get rich that way.”
“I am rich.”
Tony stared at him. “As in rich-rich or I’m a doctor rich?” he asked.
“The first part.”
“Then getting a girl should be easy.”
Yeah, that was the problem. Once a woman found out he was loaded, she wanted him for the money—not for him.
“That’s a double-edged sword,” he stated.
“You’re overthinking this. Are you looking for a wife?”
Chris thought about it. “No. I’m not ready to get married. I want to enjoy life. I like having my nights free, so I can hang out with my best friend.”
Chris knew as soon as he was married, his wife would put an end to that. He didn’t think he’d like being separated from Elizabeth. That would be a deal breaker for him. She was his only friend, and his family.
“Then just have fun. If you want a friend with bennies, get one.”
“Bennies?”
“Jesus. You do need a manual. A friend with benefits—it’s a person you really like, but they’re just your friend. You roll around, have casual sex, and you enjoy yourself without the obligation of a ring, dates, or anything else.”
Chris wondered what that would be like.
He was about to says something when the doors to the autopsy suite opened, and in walked a gorgeous woman. She was wearing a red leather bustier, a short skirt, and the fishnets that stopped at her thighs were just enough to make you wonder what was going on above them.
Then there were the heels.
Holy shit!
Both men stared.
Finally, Chris pulled off his gloves. “Miss, you have to be lost. You can’t be in here.”
She laughed.
His ear caught the sound. He’d know that laughter anywhere. He loved it.
“Elizabeth? Is that you?”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t recognize me,” she said. “Hello, Doctor Magnus. How’s tricks?”
“I should be asking you that. Where have you been all of my life?” he inquired.
She laughed even more. “Uh, wearing jeans and cowboy boots as I chase assholes.”
“What are you doing, honey?” Chris asked, trying to block the other man’s view. Tony was checking out her breasts. It was hard not to since they were practically hanging out.
He was an ass man, and he prayed she didn’t turn around.
She spun.
Of course she did.
“I’m Miss Kitty tonight. Gabe approved my request to go undercover.”
Chris pulled off his paper gown to reveal his aqua scrubs. “Great.”
“Well, don’t sound so happy,” she stated.
“I’m worried about you. That’s all.” Hell yeah, she could play hooker with him any day, but out on the street without protection…no.
Just no.
“About that. I need a favor. Actually, Christopher, I need two favors.”
He stared at her.
Chris had no idea where she was taking this one. “What?”
“Tonight, can you come purchase my services while I’m out on the street? I need a John I can trust, and if you pull up in your Mercedes, pay for some sex, and let me make it look good, I’ll be forever in your debt.”
Tony dropped the tray. “I’ll go. I don’t have a Mercedes, but I do have an Audi.”
Chris pointed at him. “I’ll break your neck.”
He shut his mouth.
Chris focused on Elizabeth, or Miss Kitty, or whoever he was supposed to be talking to at that moment.
“Are you serious?” Chris asked.
“Yeah, I am.”
Before Chris could even open his mouth, Tony started circling her, checking out the red leather. “I’ll let you do whatever you want to me,” he teased. “You are every man’s wet dream. Mine included.”
Elizabeth actually had to stop Chris from grabbing the other doctor.
“Down, boy.”
Elizabeth calmed him down. “Darlin’, that’s the response I needed. He’s just pointing out the obvious.”
He still hated it. Maybe he loathed it because he was thinking the same damn thing.
Elizabeth touched his cheek. “Christopher, can I count on you to play horny hooker hunter with me tonight?”
“Yes.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. I love you.”
Tony stared even more. “I can’t believe this job. I think I’m in love.”
Chris pointed at him. “Stop staring at her chest!”
Elizabeth found that amusing.
“What else did you need?” he asked. “You said two favors.”
“I need a date for tomorrow night.”
“As another John?”
“No, my father is in town, and he is making dinner. He told me to bring someone.”
“A friend?” Chris asked.
She heard the disappointment.
“No, like I said, a date. I know we were supposed to have happy hour, but would you mind that instead?”
“I’ll go!” Tony stated. “I won’t even bring my bugs. I can charm anyone’s daddy.”
Chris sputtered like a teakettle. “Back off!”
“She needs a date. If you’re busy, I’ll go,” he stated. He jerked his head toward the laptop on the counter.
Chris shut him down before he could make a comment about the ‘online dating’ stuff.
He didn’t need that getting out.
“I’m free if you really want me to play date.”
She moved toward him. “You won’t be playing. You’ll be my date.”
Then she went against his body and kissed him. She figured why the hell not? He’d done the same thing that morning, and it wouldn’t be the first time she’d kissed him in front of the staff.
She’d helped give him girl street cred until she tanked her career with ‘The Butcher’.
When she pulled away, his eyes were wide.
“Elizabeth,” he muttered, licking his lips.
She lowered her voice, practicing her Miss Kitty purr. “For the record, Christopher, that was option B. Hot and heavy.”
He couldn’t speak.
“I’ll text you my location later so you can come buy some sex.”
He watched her walk away.
Chris was mesmerized.
“You lying sack of shit,” Tony said, smacking him. “You said there was nothing between you two. She just licked your tonsils.”
He tried to regain composure.
“There isn’t.”
Tony laughed. “Bullshit. You don’t need to find a woman online. There went one right there. That’s not the ‘friend zone’. That’s the ‘friends with bennies zone’, or a relationship.”
Tony was wrong.
He knew the truth.
She was likely just acting. There was no way Elizabeth would ever be sexually attracted to him. He knew because she could keep it in check when they were alone.
He wasn’t.
Chris knew the cold hard reality.
Now he had to find an online date more than ever.
His control was wearing thin.
And Elizabeth was the cause.
* * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *
Damascus
The Rez
He pulled up to the cabin, and his grandfather was sitting there waiting for him. Callen Whitefox wanted to weep. The entire time, sitting through the meeting with the other agent, he couldn’t think.
He wanted to leave in the worst way.
Callen wanted to hide and never show his face again. It had taken years for everyone to forget what had happened between him and Ethan. They had been gossip for the Rez, and Kaya Cheek had made sure of it.
They whispered about him.
They told him he was just like his father.
Callen’s life had been hell.
And he deserved it.
In ten years, he prayed every day that he’d see Ethan one more time. That in that meeting, he’d be able to say he was sorry, and they could patch up their relationship.
He wanted it more than anything in his life.
He missed his brother.
And he knew it was all his fault.
“My boy, are you okay?” Timothy Blackhawk asked, as he headed toward his grandson.
“I just saw Ethan.”
“I figured. This morning, this yard was full of ravens. There was a fox, and the raven tried to peck its eyes out.”
Callen laughed sardonically. “Yeah, that about sounds like what went down.”
“I’m sorry, my boy.”
“You might have told me all of this before I headed into work, Granddad.”
“I know, Callen James. He’s not ready. The time will come, and he will face what made him. It will heal him, son. I promise you that.”
He didn’t buy it.
“I’m dead to him, Granddad. I saw the hate. My brother would rather see me dead, and I probably deserve it. I betrayed him. I gave up everything we had for one lousy orgasm.”
“Son, everything happens for a reason. Maybe that had to happen so Ethan would go off and find his way. He wasn’t happy here. He was edgy, angry, and volatile.”
“Well, he still is.”
“Maybe fate has a plan. You should trust the Great Spirit. The path is already there. You have to walk it.”
Callen couldn’t believe this was anyone’s fate. He’d been born to a drug addict. He’d been raped and abused by her boyfriend, and just when life got better, he screwed it up.
“I hate my life.”
Timothy walked him to the simple chairs on the porch and sat beside him. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
Callen didn’t even have to think about it. Timothy Blackhawk was the Rez shaman, and he was a damn good one. Everyone listened to his wise words.
“This will come full circle, my boy. I can see it in the smoke when I go to the tipi.”
Callen closed his eyes and wanted to weep. When would his horrible life and luck change? He was barely holding on as it was.
“I feel like half of me is missing. Like my heart was torn in two, and I’m not whole. Nothing I do fills it, and I’m so lost, Granddad.”
Timothy ran his hand up and down his boy’s arm. “Callen, it will come full circle.”
“It won’t. I’ll never see him again. I made a stupid mistake at seventeen, betrayed my blood, and I’ll die alone. When you’re gone, and Wyler is gone, I’ll be here alone.”
He knew the truth.
Callen would follow. He couldn’t be as strong as any of them. He was the weak one. He was the albatross around his grandfather’s neck.
And now Ethan’s too.
“You’ll have a family one day, Callen. She’s out there, and she will love you like no one ever has. She will heal everything in you, and you will never be alone.”
He shook his head. “I have nothing. My life ended with that one choice. Kaya Cheek and my selfishness ended everything. No one will love me, Granddad. I’ll never heal.”
“Son.”
He got up and pulled his keys from his pocket. If he stayed there, he’d cry, and his grandfather had to deal with enough of his bullshit through the years.
It was time to handle this alone.
Callen needed to deal with the consequences of his actions, and they were great.
“Where are you going, Callen?”
“Home. I need to go home. I want to be alone.”
He watched his grandson walk away, get into his truck, and head off toward his own cabin. He wanted to tell him what was coming, but he couldn’t risk it.
The wind chimes rattled beside him, even without the breeze.
“I know, Naomi. He’ll be back. I’ll get this fixed. The raven will heal once he finds the other raven. Then they will return for Callen. It’s written in the smoke. We only have to wai
t.”
Timothy closed his eyes and began whispering into the wind. He was praying.
Not for himself.
He was asking for his grandson.
There was one thing he needed, and then he could pass to the happy hunting ground.
One little thing, and he could leave.
Callen needed see his brother again.
Ethan needed to forgive him.
And they needed to find that one good woman—she would heal them both with her heart.
It was a matter of time.
The shaman knew the truth.
The raven would come.
Chapter Five
Thursday night
E lizabeth met the two detectives where they told her to be, and she was immediately hooked up with the undercover detective. She was a nice person, but she looked like she’d been ridden hard and put away wet. Someone was really taking her undercover gig seriously.
Then again, she’d been on the streets undercover three months. That took dedication and balls of steel. There were days Elizabeth didn’t want to play Fed, let alone live as a hooker.
This woman was one hell of an actress.
The more they talked, the more Elizabeth realized one thing. Cathy McCall was a seasoned detective with vice. The woman was so dedicated that she had changed her appearance to go under.
Elizabeth gave her props.
They talked as the detectives backed off, and they set up the scene.
“I called Clayton Frost. I might have mentioned to him that I was bringing one of my hooker friends to the corner. He’s very territorial.”
“I bet,” Elizabeth said, looking around.
“I couldn’t tell him to take you on. No one tells Clayton anything. He makes up his mind. Here’s your cover story. Memorize it.”
“I’m a Fed, not a kindergartener.”
She laughed. “You have no idea.”
“Just tell me my cover.”
“Your pimp went to jail and you’re freelancing. You aren’t sure you want another daddy, but you’re still working to support yourself.”
“Okay. I got it.”
Cathy looked around. “I feel off tonight.”
“It’s probably those shoes. They’re ugly,” she teased.
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