Callen drew the man’s attention when he leaned against his desk. “Yesterday Ethan, Julian and Officer Yazzie went to the man’s house and searched for him.”
They weren’t telling him anything he didn't know. “I recall.”
“Yazzie didn’t tell us about the hide out. Why is that?” Blackhawk was pissed. It gave the man an opportunity to sneak up on them or escape.
Rick actually appeared to be dumbfounded. “He didn’t tell you? I don’t understand. He was well aware of it.”
Elizabeth was pissed now too. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Everyone in this room, plus Yazzie, are heading back out there. I want to see what your officer has to say for himself. I want to catch the rat in the trap.”
Longtree agreed. “I don’t understand why he didn’t tell you. I mean, I know he’s only an acquaintance, but still.” The man grabbed his keys. “I’ll grab him and meet you out there with him.”
“Don’t warn him, or I’ll be chewing your ass instead of his,” stated Elizabeth. “I may look the nicest out of the bunch, but let me assure you Chief; looks in this case are deceiving.”
The agents and Julian left the room together, and all of them were hoping the man didn't take her advice.
It was that kind of morning.
* * *
Tori met Mark at the coffee shop where they generally came together to do business. He’d been her father’s lawyer and friend. When her dad died, he’d helped her with the estate paperwork. If Tori needed legal advice, this was the man she came to for assistance.
“Mark!” she shouted, running to the man and giving him a huge hug and kiss. “God! How’s everything! I missed seeing you all!” she exclaimed, holding his hand.
The older man smiled. This woman was like a child to him. When her father died, he’d taken her under his wing. Larry would have wanted someone to look after her and make sure she was safe.
“Do you have the papers and check?” she inquired, practically bouncing.
He was concerned. “Are you sure you want to do this? You can still back out for twenty four hours. If something happens before tomorrow, you can have it stopped with just a call.”
Tori laughed. “I found the man I’m going to have my happily ever after with, and I swear you’d love him. He’s smart, funny and so damn kind. Julian saved me when I was going under, Mark. This never felt more right in all my life.”
“When you were going to marry Quinn, did it feel the same?” he asked, only because he was a father himself and knew all about young love.
Thinking about it, she kissed him on the cheek. “Now that I can look back on it objectively, I cared about Quinn,” she spoke of her fiancé, and while she’d never speak ill of the dead, the truth remained, “but what I feel for Julian is a zillion times deeper, more powerful and completely right. I don’t feel worried, rushed or trapped. I feel…” she began.
“Happy?” he hoped.
Tori actually giggled. “Yeah. I’m finally happy.”
He dropped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. “Then in your father’s absence, I will tell you I trust your judgment. When will you be bringing him around to meet us and pass the test?”
Tori could feel her eyes filling with tears. “Dad would have loved him. He’s tough and bossy. I’ll bring him by soon. I promise.”
Mark snorted. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” They took their seats and ordered coffee. “Are you ready to do this, Sweetheart?” he inquired, softly.
“Yeah, nothing has ever felt quite this right.”
* * *
Justin sat across the street in his truck hoping that the Tori didn’t look out the window. If she did, he was busted. It was hard to miss a giant black and chrome truck. Snapping more pictures, he swore there had to be a logical reason.
Yes, the man kissed and hugged her.
Yes, he had her against his side.
Justin just couldn’t believe this was what it seemed. Through the window he watched the woman his brother was in love with laughing and enjoying another man’s company.
The only good thing was it wasn’t her meeting him in a seedy hotel. Maybe Julian would chill out and see it for what it was; a woman having coffee with a man. For all he knew, this man could be an uncle or someone she served with in the war. Rarely were things what they appeared on the surface, and if he could get his brother to calm down, he’d see it too.
Pulling up the pictures, he hit send, praying his brother knew what the hell he was doing. This could blow up and cost him his heart either way. The last thing Justin wanted was to see his brother broken because of rash judgment.
* * *
Standing in the man’s driveway, the agents waited for Yazzie and Chief Longtree to pull up. It wouldn’t be wrong to say they were each looking forward to hearing the man’s thoughts behind intentionally screwing with the FBI. If they could prove he was helping William Boyd escape, the man was going to jail on aiding and abetting.
As the cruiser pulled up, Julian’s phone started chiming and he stepped off to the side to read the incoming messages. He already knew who it would be from and what it was pertaining to. Glancing down at the pictures of a smiling Tori kissing another man, what was left of his heart shattered. He whipped out a text to Justin, telling him to head home.
He was done.
It was all he needed to see to give him the strength to end what they fought so hard to build. Her choices destroyed them and this would all be on her. Seeing Tori in the arms of another man was simply too much for him to handle.
Now he’d throw himself into work and move on. Tonight he’d toss her out of his life and forget she even existed. If there was one way to end their relationship, this was it. As far as Julian was concerned, it made it easier. The little voice in his head told him it was all lies, and he’d never recover, but he chose to ignore it and go with the anger that found a home in his heart. He struggled catch his breath. Losing Tori was hard, but ripping the Band-Aid off this fast would be cathartic.
She’d obviously never loved him. What had he been thinking? This was a lesson he’d never forget as long as he lived.
Women couldn’t be trusted.
Elizabeth crossed her arms as the men approached. “Chief Longtree, we’re so glad you could join us today. We want to re-examine the entire property,” she stated, pulling out her Kevlar. It just barely fit over her baby bump. “We’re going to suit up, you know in case William Boyd has a hiding place. No one wants to get shot and killed. Imagine the hell that would cause if someone in the FBI lost their life because they were lied to about a suspect.”
All three of them looked over at Officer Garrett Yazzie. He had the decency to look chagrined.
“Anything you want to tell the agents?” inquired Longtree taking the Kevlar from one of the men.
He shrugged, almost like it didn't matter. “Yeah, I knew about the hideout. Why should I rat him out if he isn’t a criminal? He’s stealing food because the outsiders have made our lives hell.”
When he pointed at Elizabeth, she’d had enough.
“Oh, I see. You’re telling me I don’t fit in because I’m not Native? That it was my ancestors that hurt the indigenous people and are still trying to put them down. Do you see who I rolled up in her with?” she asked, pointing at the men in her life. “I’m married to them. I gave birth to one, and am carrying another Native child right now. You have some balls to accusing me of stealing food from Indians. I’m supplying food for a one as we speak!”
Both men grinned, knowing that the level had just been upped to seek and destroy. This was going to be entertaining to watch.
Then Elizabeth really let him have it in their language. At one time, Julian told her their dialect was basically the same and she was counting on that. She dropped some serious profanity and told him off big time.
Blackhawk started laughing and whispered to his brother. “I didn't know she could curse that well in Native. That’s some crazy mad lin
guistic skills.”
The other man was impressed. It was perfect elocution of words you’d hear on a ship coming from sailors. In fact, Elizabeth managed to drop the F bomb as a noun, verb, adverb and adjective. It was impressive.
When she was able to take a breath and finish her tirade, the deputy stood there with his mouth wide open and staring at her in awe. It was obvious that he wasn’t expecting it at all.
“The next time you point at me and classify me uncaring outsider, I will take that damn hand, break it off at the wrist and slap the shit out of you with it.”
Ethan and Callen both began laughing at the visual.
“That’s why she won the warbonnet in our bet, Cal. I don’t think Wyler could whip out that kind of profanity and he’s been speaking it for almost sixty years.”
After that verbal take down, he’d willingly admit that she deserved to win. Now he had another problem. Her fiery temper turned him right on.
Elizabeth rolled her shoulder and stared at Rick. Her tirade was over, and she was now prepared to work. “You get the reverse bigoted jackass. If I have to look at him, I may drop kick him across the country for shits and giggles.”
Rick simply nodded, impressed by the ass chewing from the outsider. His mother couldn’t even use the words as creatively.
“I’ll take Callen and sweep the section over there,” she glanced over at her husband. “Can you take Julian over to the bunker and let him see if he can pick something up?”
“After that outburst, I’m afraid not to,” Blackhawk said, grinning.
She winked at him, grinning salaciously
As they broke into groups and started the search, Callen protectively stood beside her, his hand on her lower back. “Sweetheart that was the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a while- so very hot. I didn't think you could use such language that colorfully.”
Elizabeth snorted. “You said that last night about the sex too,” she whispered. Then she paused suddenly, causing him to go for his weapon.
“What?” he scanned, trying to detect what put her on alert. He’d seen the look on her face before.
“Do you smell that?” she asked, searching the area and looking for a body.
Callen wasn’t sure what she was talking about. He smelled perfume, cologne and something else.
Elizabeth could recognize the smell a mile away. “We have blood.”
Then he recognized it. “Ethan! Julian! Get over here,” he yelled, calling for back up.
Both men ran around the corner of the house, Ethan’s gun was drawn as he searched for his wife and brother. “What’s wrong?” he shouted back in a panic.
Elizabeth pointed off to the far side of the property line. “Blood and a fire. Does it look familiar to anyone but me?”
Now everyone drew their weapon, creeping towards the ash filled burn marks.
“Looks like our killer had to improvise and find a new location since we invaded his,” stated Callen. “When we found his other ritual space, he had to move.”
Elizabeth pulled out her phone, dialing the tech team. When Chris answered on the second ring, he sounded frazzled.
“I’m trying the best I can to get the chemical!”
It caught her off guard, because it was rare he was prone to crazed outburst. “What?”
The stress in his voice was evident. “The tox samples came back again, and I can’t figure out what the hell was all over the flesh. As soon as I get the answers, you get them.”
She was torn between snapping back and laughing at him. “Chris, I’m not calling you to ride your ass about that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he apologized. “What do you need?” Now he was feeling like an idiot for snarling at his pregnant boss.
“We found another possible ritual site and blood. I need a tech team here to sweep for evidence.”
He got excited. “We found carbon in the substance. Protect that extinguished fire. No one is to touch it until Christina gets there!” he demanded, hoping that would be the key to finding what was driving him insane.
“I’ll transmit the directions to your phone. Saddle up my death loving compadre. We have a scene to process.”
Chris disconnected the call.
“I want to see this bunker he has hidden. If he’s around here, he’ll be underground, literally.” Elizabeth started towards the location of the shooting, last time they were there.
Julian stood by her side, pointing out the general area. “Here it is. Now that I know its basic location, I can see it. When I first looked over here it felt off and unnatural, but I didn't see what he’d hidden.”
Ethan dropped his hand on her shoulder. “Get behind us,” he ordered, ignoring the look on her face. “If we’re opening a bunker with a potential killer wielding a twelve gauge, you aren’t going in first.”
She went to object and was silenced by Callen kissing her. “Sorry Angel, he’s right.”
Both men stood protectively in front of her, willing to offer up their own lives.
Elizabeth stared over at Julian. “You’d think they’d want the one with the best aim to go first, but oh well, riddle his ass full of nine millimeter bullet holes. Have at it.”
Chief Longtree went to one side of the well hidden doors and grabbed the handle.
“On three,” Blackhawk hissed, nodding to his brother. “One, two, three…”
The doors were wrenched open and the area was flooded with sunlight. Both men stood completely still, observing the scene below them.
“Well, William Boyd isn’t the killer,” said Blackhawk, holstering his side arm. “If he is, that’s one hell of a magic trick gone awry.”
Elizabeth peeked between them and down into the ‘root cellar’ hideaway. “Damn it,” she muttered, turning away. The look of death was staring back up at her from a skinless corpse. If there was one thing she hated, it was sightless eyes.
“Close the doors!” Blackhawk ordered. “We keep it closed until the tech team arrives. Now we do a full sweep of the area. Since William Boyd can’t be the killer, then our perp may still be around here.”
Elizabeth turned towards Officer Garrett Yazzie. “Had you not let him hide yesterday from us, today he might be alive. You get to sit your ass here and guard the doors of that cellar.”
“I didn’t know,” he said, overwhelmed. In his heart he hoped she was wrong, but Garrett had already considered exactly what she’d said.
She didn’t want to hear it. “Blood of that Native is on your hands, not ours.” Pulling out her phone she sent the alert code to her team, notifying them of a body. “Let’s get some com equipment first. We need to break up and search the trees, and I don’t want us doing it without a way to communicate.”
Both men knew it had to happen, but neither was happy at the suggestion.
“It’s going to be a long one,” muttered Whitefox.
Ethan shook his head. “When isn’t it?”
* * *
The paperwork was done and the check was in her pocket. Now it was time to head home to see Julian and share her news. Giddiness overwhelmed her again and again. A new chapter of her life was beginning, and it was going to be with this man. Once she got home to him, she was going to have one hell of a celebration. It was going to be epic and the neighbors might even be calling the cops from the noise.
Pulling out her phone, she sent him a text message that she was on her way home. Seeing a liquor store she decided to grab a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Tonight was going to be one of the best nights of her life; only second to the day she’d met him.
* * *
Thursday Afternoon
To be fair, the men did rock, paper, scissors to see who’d be accompanying her into the trees. Ethan won, promising Callen that he’d stay on her like glue.
Callen wanted to be nervous, but he knew that his brother would keep her completely safe, or risk his own life trying. Let’s face it. When it came to instincts, Ethan was far quicker. What Callen wante
d was someone with lightning fast reflexes at her side, and that meant unsuspectingly throwing the game to keep his woman safe.
As they swept the forest for any evidence of a killer, the agents and Julian Littlemoon were on edge. They weren’t sure if William Boyd was the man that was shooting at Tori and Julian in the woods, or if it had been the killer.
Callen and Julian went one way and Elizabeth and Ethan the other. One agent watched the ground for spent casings, footprints or anything that looked out of place, and the other scanned the distance.
“Tex, you see anything?” asked Ethan, using the affectionate nickname the men had for Elizabeth. She was the most accurate out of the three of them when shooting. Maybe accurate wasn’t the best word for it; deadly.
“Nada,” she answered, wearing her yellow tinted glasses as she continually swept the area with her eyes, looking for anything waiting to jump out at them. Because it was sunny, it worked to their advantage. A glint of a scope would be visible if the killer was tracking them. “How about you, Cowboy?”
He shook his head. “No trample marks or paths that look newly made. I hope the others are having better luck.”
“I think we can head back. I don’t like being out here with a killer possibly watching me.” Elizabeth knew that if she was stalking people in the woods, she’d take out the one she perceived to be the more problematic. That would mean Ethan, and she didn't want him wearing a bull’s-eye on his vest.
Once the search was called off, they all met back at the underground cellar that William Boyd was calling home. Again, the men flanked Elizabeth, making sure that she was safe, even though she stood in the center of the tech team.
“No one touched anything?” questioned Chris, as pictures were taken of the dead man.
Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) Page 19
