Stalked by the Past: An FBI Flashback Novel. (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 17)

by Morgan Kelley

  Shit.

  Elizabeth didn’t have a choice.

  “And if I let you in?”

  “You can have all the credit.”

  “No, I don’t roll that way. If you help, and it’s your information, then we share the glory.”

  He held out his hand. “Deal.”

  Elizabeth didn’t shake.

  “Yeah, no, not until you show me your cards. You two were more than willing to throw me under the bus. I need details first. Let’s just say I don’t trust you.”

  He pulled out the file from his back pocket and unrolled it. “Here you go.”

  She opened it.

  “Who’s Rodney Cole?”

  “He was one of the Johns who kept coming to troll at that corner. The only thing is, Clayton put his foot down and wouldn’t let him take any of his girls.”

  That was interesting. It was also motive. Maybe he was trying to screw with the pimp as payback.

  “Okay, you have my attention.”

  “Cathy tagged him. We took a picture of his plate, ran it through the DMV, and got his name.”

  “Okay, and?”

  “He lives close to where Cathy was laying low in the shitty part of town.”

  “So he could have seen her walking home.”

  But then how would he know her name? That was still puzzling Elizabeth. She didn’t know what to think of that.

  “What if he saw her and started following her? He could have easily dug through her trash. We didn’t sweep the place. We just tried to keep her ID hidden as a hooker.”

  That was a possibility.

  She flipped through the pages. Kaleb wasn’t just bringing her one name, he was coming with another too.

  Yay!

  “You brought me arrest records,” she said, almost giddily.

  “You always did like the odd presents,” Kaleb admitted. “I figured if this was someone who found out Cathy was a cop, we had to go deep. I found that Harvey Wellstone was picked up with two of the three hookers in separate stings.”

  “That can tie him to them and get me something to use in an interview.”

  “That we can use.”

  Okay, she’d promised to play ball, and Elizabeth always kept her word.

  In fact, she was excited by the prospect.

  “You have a deal,” she offered, holding out her hand to shake his. She’d seen his info, and it was worth it.

  “Great.”

  She recognized the look.

  “What?”

  “I need a favor,” Kaleb said, his voice going serious about what he was about to ask.

  “Oh, crap. You had to wait until after I shook, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “I need to see her.”

  “You don’t want to do that, Kaleb. I didn’t want to see her, and I didn’t know her personally.”

  “She was one of us. I need to say goodbye. I know you guys are probably going to take her down to the bones.”

  “It’s our policy. We have our anthropologist check for anything that will help us find her killer.”

  “Before you do, can I see her?”

  She thought about it.

  “Let me call my ME. If she’s not in with the beetles, yes, you can.”

  She dialed.

  “Hey, honey! I got your candy bar. Thank you for that. I really appreciate it. We need to talk later.”

  “I’m glad, Christopher. I can’t socialize right now, but later I’m free. This isn’t a social call. I need to know if Cathy has been put in the plexi-box yet.”

  “No, Tony is getting the beetles ready.”

  “Okay, don’t let him do it yet. One of her co-workers needs to say goodbye.”

  “I can get her ready. Give me five minutes. About her face…”

  “No. Just as is. He’s a cop. He already knows what was done to her.”

  Besides, she needed to see his reaction. She needed to validate that he wasn’t going to be screwing her over or that he was the killer. That initial reaction would tell it all.

  What he was about to see was horrifying.

  He’d be shocked or he’d fake it.

  She’d know.

  “We’ll be right in.”

  She hung up. He was watching her as he waited for her to escort him into the building.

  “You say goodbye, and we get out in the field. We have a madam and pimp to shake down.”

  “Do you have her address?” he asked.

  “Well, I know where to find the pimp. He’ll be on his corner. The madam…her husband said she was a businesswoman. I ran her taxes. I have an address that she claims as her workspace. Won’t the IRS be surprised when this is over?”

  “She’s ballsy.”

  “Yeah, crazies always are.”

  Chris was waiting when they came in. He wanted to go to Elizabeth and hug her. He wanted to hold her in his arms, only she was working.

  In fact, she was with some guy, who was standing a little too close to her.

  And now he had his arm around her shoulders.

  What the hell?

  “Doctor Christopher Leonard, this is Detective Kaleb Williams. We’ve worked together before.”

  He stared down at her. “We have, Lyzee. Thank you for doing this for me. I know it’s not protocol. I owe you one, honey.”

  Chris stared at him.

  Did he just call her Lyzee and honey?

  Those were what he called her. Chris knew how significant that was. No one used that name unless they had a personal relationship with her…

  Shit!

  His eyes narrowed.

  This cop had slept with her. He could tell by his body language and the way he touched her face.

  Jesus!

  Chris was jealous as hell.

  “Can I see her now, Doctor?”

  “Want me to hold your hand, Kaleb?” she asked, running her hand up and down the man’s back.

  Chris bet he worked out.

  He looked ripped and in shape. Of course she’d like a man like that.

  “Can you, sweetheart? This is hard.”

  She took his hand in hers. He lifted it and kissed her knuckles in gratitude.

  Chris nearly flipped out.

  What the fuck was this?

  Was she trying to make him jealous? Would Elizabeth take that route? It looked like she was, and that infuriated him.

  Was this payback for hurting her? Was she now trying to return the favor?

  Elizabeth led him to the table. When they stood there, she watched him. “Christopher.”

  He didn’t move.

  “Christopher!”

  He pulled back the sheet.

  Elizabeth watched Kaleb. He looked horrified. He went pale, and that was hard to do when you were that deep a shade of caramel.

  “I wasn’t ready for that.”

  She was aware he wouldn’t be. No one, even if they knew what happened would be.

  That was the point.

  “Say your goodbyes.”

  Elizabeth stepped back as Kaleb moved toward the woman. She glanced over at Chris.

  ‘What?’ she mouthed.

  ‘Who is he?’ he mouthed back.

  ‘A friend.’

  He stared at her.

  Yep.

  He’d been right. They’d slept together. Chris wanted to freak out. It looked like she was over what happened last night.

  Shit.

  There was no way he’d get back to that point with her. Elizabeth had moved on.

  She was staring at him, and he was glaring at the detective. Elizabeth didn’t get what the big issue was, so she opted to ignore him.

  “Kaleb, we should go.”

  He walked with her out the doors with her arm around his waist. When he was gone, Chris wanted to punch something.

  Anything.

  “What’s pissing you off now?” Tony asked when he walked in carrying a box full of beetles.

  “Nothing,” he muttered. “I’m just looking forward to my da
te.”

  Tony stared at him. “Are you bipolar by any chance? You just said…”

  “I know what I said. I changed my mind. I have that right, don’t I?” he asked.

  Tony backed off.

  Someone needed meds.

  And fast.

  * * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *

  Noor Blackburn’s

  Business Address

  When they pulled up, they stared at the building. It looked like a boutique. It had frilly things in it, and there was some questionable lingerie.

  It wasn’t shocking.

  What else would a madam do to cover for her prostitution and call girl business? This was the perfect cover. She was selling sex while selling sex.

  It was time to have some fun.

  “Want to play couple?” he asked. “We can go in, pretend we’re shopping, and then ask her some questions.”

  “Like do you have any hookers in stock?”

  He laughed. “Good point.”

  “I’m all over the news. She’s going to see me coming. I’m hitting her hard, and I’m going to see if she knew her hubby was dipping in the competition’s well.”

  “The family that betrays together stays together…”

  She laughed. “Yeah, I know. There’s a lot of that going around lately. I don’t get men.”

  He lifted a brow.

  “Uh, want to talk about it?”

  She didn’t, but she did.

  “Do you double book your dates?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “When you and I were dating, did you have pussy on the back burner?”

  He laughed.

  “I’m being serious.”

  “First off, you have the vocabulary of a horny sailor. Secondly, no sane man will do that if he’s interested in the first woman. Why?”

  “Just curious.”

  He stared at her. Somehow, he thought it was much more than that.

  “Elizabeth…”

  She cut him off. “Let’s work.”

  They headed into the place of business. There was relaxing music, the place was still empty, and there was an Amazonian behind the counter.

  She was huge.

  As in she made Elizabeth look short, and that was an accomplishment.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “Are you Noor Blackburn?”

  She lifted a brow. “Actually that’s my maiden name. It’s Noor Donaldson. What can I do for you?”

  “Are you married to Robert?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Then it must have hit her.

  “What happened? Oh, God! Is he okay? I just left the house!”

  “He’s fine. Well, no, that’s not true. He’s in trouble, and that’s why we’re here.”

  She paused. “What kind of trouble are we talking? You’re the FBI, and that can’t be good.”

  Kaleb flipped out his badge. “I’m vice. Put it together in your head.”

  She looked back and forth between them.

  “I give up. I don’t know what to think.”

  “He’s involved in our investigation, and he used you as an alibi.”

  “I’m confused.”

  Yeah, she could see the woman worrying. She was going to lie her ass off.

  She read her off the dates of the killings.

  “He was home in bed on all of them.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I know where my husband was. What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t?”

  “Oh, a pretty shitty one.”

  She stared at her. “What exactly has he been accused of doing?”

  “Hiring a prostitute.”

  She started laughing.

  Elizabeth was ready for her. “Yeah, it’s really funny. I know if I was married, and my husband was dipping his dick in a public pool, I’d be chuckling too. Maybe this will get you to focus. He was hiring Clayton Frost’s girls, and I have him on video riding one of them a great deal.”

  At his name, she stopped smiling.

  She stopped laughing.

  “What?”

  “Yep. He was being blackmailed, and suddenly, the woman he’s paying off is murdered. That’s a laugh a minute. So not only is he on the hook for soliciting sex, but he’s a suspect in the murders.”

  She stared at her.

  Now she wasn’t as amused.

  “Prove it.”

  She opened her email and pulled up the video. She let the woman watch.

  “I’ll cut off his dick.”

  “Yeah, cheating is bad. So, was he still home with you on all those nights in question?” Elizabeth asked, hoping this would get her to help them.

  “That bastard. I can’t believe that he went to Clayton Frost. His girls are trash bags. If he wanted quality pussy, I could have hooked him up!”

  Elizabeth and Kaleb stared at each other.

  What the hell was that?

  “Okay, I wasn’t expecting her to give that reply,” Kaleb stated. “That’s one hell of an open marriage.”

  “So, Noor, you admit that you’re a madam.”

  “I admit nothing.”

  “Too late. There are no takebacks. Your husband already outed you.”

  “I swear I’m going to hurt him when I get my hands on that weasel-y dick of his.”

  “How about you focus? I asked you a question. Please don’t make this end ugly. I’d hate for your babies to hear about this in ten years when you’re getting out of jail.”

  That seemed to get her attention. “Leave my kids out of this.”

  It seemed Noor was maternal after all.

  “Then answer the damn question.”

  “Fine. I have a service that offers ladies to people who need a date in DC.”

  “And you are trying to end Clayton Frost’s business, right?” she asked.

  She sighed. “I’m not, and I wish everyone would stop thinking I am. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t try to get him arrested, I didn’t target his girls, and I’m not playing these games. Listen, he sells flesh. I rent company. There is a totally different thing when you’re discussing that.”

  She stared at the woman. “You’re insane.”

  “Yeah, I was the day I got married.”

  “Who has it in for Clayton?” Kaleb asked.

  “Well, that’s going to be a huge list. Everyone on the streets thinks he’s a douchebag. He’s new to the scene and some bossy asshole who treats women like scum. Did I try to get his girls to come work for me? Yes, but it was to save them. I didn’t kill anyone.”

  Well, that pretty much said it all.

  “And your husband’s alibi?”

  “Sorry, but we were home in bed together. Now, stop by tonight, and I might be going to jail for killing him.”

  “We’ll keep that premeditation in mind,” Elizabeth said. “You realize telling cops that right before isn’t the smartest thing to do, right?”

  She didn’t care.

  “If you don’t mind, I have to get my day started. I’m going to be cutting out early. I have a husband to castrate.”

  They hoped she was kidding.

  Kaleb was glad he wasn’t Robert Donaldson. The man was going to bleed over this one.

  Outside, they regrouped.

  “Well, she admitted to being a madam, that she didn’t kill the girls, and her husband is a dead man. All in a day’s work for Team Law.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, it’s been interesting so far.”

  Kaleb looked at his watch.

  “Do you have a date?”

  “I skipped breakfast. Can we have an early lunch? I’ll buy. Maybe we can talk.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, no. I have a shitload of work today,” Elizabeth admitted, and it was true. Plus, she wanted to get home early, talk to her father, and hide.

  Chris had his date.

  She was riding solo on a Saturday night. It was the first one in a long time, and it sucked.

  Welcome to Loserville.


  Population one.

  “Suit yourself. Can we grab a freaking bagel? A man has to eat.”

  She could do that. “One bagel, a coffee for me, and then on to the next interview. I want to rattle the hell out of a pimp.”

  Yeah, and it was going to be fun.

  * * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *

  Ethan Blackhawk ignored all his calls.

  He was in his quiet place, and he was just going to lie around, watch some TV, and forget about it all.

  Being home was his safe place.

  It was where he could just strip down to his boxers and pretend he didn’t exist.

  As he flipped through the local stations, he saw the three least favorite letters.

  FBI.

  He turned it off.

  Ethan didn’t want to see any reports about other agents and big cases. He wanted silence.

  So, he grabbed a book, picked up his coffee, and headed back to his bedroom. It looked like he was going to read and sleep away his vacation.

  And if Gabe called…

  And he would…

  Yeah, he’d tell him to kiss his ass.

  Ethan Blackhawk was pissed off. He wasn’t doing profiles, and he wasn’t helping some agent find a killer.

  Screw it.

  The next week, he was going to be a lump.

  So he could hide.

  * * * E l i z a b e t h L a R u e * * *

  They grabbed some coffees and bagels, and they hit the road. They knew it was a long shot to find their pimp, so they were going to stake out his corner.

  It sounded logical.

  Also, it was the weekend. The hookers hit the streets early on Saturday afternoons. There were more people wandering town, and they made more money if they were the early bird. It looked like lots of people would be getting worms.

  Or an STD.

  Sad, but true.

  “So how’s life been treating you, LaRue?” Kaleb asked, as they watched the corner.

  “Shitty.”

  He laughed. “Care to elaborate on that one, or do I get to make up my own storyline?”

  “I botched a case, I screwed up my personal life, and I’m sitting in a ride with you reminiscing. That should tell you just about everything regarding my last year.”

  He was amused.

  “Good to see you’re still cheery and chipper. I’d hate to see you end up a cranky old bitch.”