Wyler didn’t mean that. “How are you feeling about Desdemona’s death?”
Elizabeth thought about it. “Is it wrong that I feel really bad for her? I feel like I should be mourning her, but Callen’s not ready yet,” pausing she worried her wedding bands. “I’m torn between pity, mercy and acknowledging that what she planned to do was so horrible that she’s being paid back for her sins.”
Wyler simply hugged her and cuddled his other girl. “No Sweetheart, it isn’t. I don’t know everything she did, but I do know that it had to be bad.”
She lowered her voice. “It makes me mad that she was going to keep this child a secret from a man that would die before allowing his child to be alone in the world. Callen’s an honorable man, and Desdemona knew this was his big weakness. She used it against him to damage him.”
He understood. “You’ll fix it all and give this girl a really great life. You’re a terrific mom.”
Elizabeth only hoped so. Above everything else, she was a mother and parent, and then came the FBI. For her kids, she’d walk away from it all.
“I am going to need to open up a daycare if you don’t stop showing up with little ones,” Wyler said, laughing as Callen carried in the remaining baby things.
“I’m done for a while. I’m getting a prescription for something after EJ’s born. I know Ethan always wanted a brood, but I wasn’t really serious about having a baby every year.”
Callen laughed, moving CJ from the blanket to the pack and play. “Desdemona was on birth control, and we see how that worked out.”
She grinned. “Okay, then abstinence it is.”
He paused, looking mortified. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Elizabeth kept a blank face and stared at him.
Wyler started laughing. “Why don’t you two get ready for work, and I’ll take care of my grandchildren.”
“Can you handle it?” inquired Callen. Now he was worried, especially since Elizabeth just told off Bly.
“I can and will. I’m going to be a hands on granddad. I think the best way to honor my father is to show him, I can be just as great a man as he was. You don’t worry, son. I’ll make sure I keep the native boys away from your little girl.”
“Or she could end up like me,” Elizabeth teased, “shacked up with brothers.”
Callen was sick again. “Two men kissing my little girl? I need a shower. I can’t think about this! I may have a stroke.” He headed for the stairs. “Join me, Angel?” he was grinning wickedly.
It was good to see his anxiety only lasted all of ten seconds. “Give me a minute, Cal.”
He nodded, leaving them alone to talk. Callen suspected it was going to be about Bly crossing a line.
They both waited until he was all the way upstairs. “I’m sorry I had to yell at your girlfriend, Dad,” she said, softly.
“Elizabeth. You were right. It’s your home and your household. Despite my relationship with Bly, you’ve a right to keep your family safe and protected. I understand that. I’ll talk to her later when we’re alone. My boy’s hearts are off limits to everyone.”
“If she’s going to continue, Bly’s going to find herself unemployed. I won’t let anyone make comments about my men or my children.”
He completely understood.
“Please convey to her, that when she gets back to the house, I’ll be taking a leave of absence from work for the next few weeks to be with Catherine. If she’s uncomfortable with me being at home, in charge and not tolerating nonsense, she can take a vacation or resign.”
“I’ll tell her, Lyzee.”
“I love you, Dad.” Elizabeth was so blessed to have the man in her life.
“I love you too, Sweetheart.”
He watched her run up the stairs to catch up with his son. Staring down at his granddaughter he smiled. “You have a really great role model and new momma.”
Christina shook her head as the two officers followed her down the trail on the ATV’s. She was beginning to wonder if she’d pissed her boss off somehow to saddle her with these two. The woman, Melanie Freeman was really nice, but she was a newbie and had already asked a million questions. It was making it a slow going process of getting to the scene. Christina was simply accustomed to people that knew what they were doing and didn’t need step by step instruction.
Then there was the man. When she first saw Officer Kane Redwolf, she was intrigued and in serious man lust. Then he opened his mouth and ruined her carefully orchestrated fantasy. Yeah, he had sexy brown eyes and a really amazing body, but his attitude just plain sucked. It was apparent that he disliked anyone that didn’t have Native blood. The looks he was giving her and the team were borderline hostile and aggressive.
Good times.
It was going to be a very long day on the Rez. Pulling her ATV to a stop, Christina shut it down and hopped off, waiting for the two other techs and the two officers. “Everyone glove up and anyone who isn’t FBI, touch nothing without asking first,” she said, staring right at Kane Redwolf.
He glared right back, gaze unwavering. “I think I can figure it out.” The woman was rubbing him the wrong way. She was too chipper, too pleasant and too damn attractive. The minute he saw her he was cranky. Outsiders had no place on the Rez, and this woman was clearly an outsider to the core. Her brilliant green eyes and flouncy brown hair was incredibly distracting.
Christina crossed her arms. “Did you see the three directors in the police department? You screw up one thing on this scene, and I have to be the one that breaks the news. Director Blackhawk will chew you up and forget to spit you out.”
Kane liked a challenge. “I’m not afraid of him.”
All the techs began laughing, because they knew Christina wasn’t referring to Ethan but his wife. In the hierarchy, she was the dangerous one that would kill at the drop of a hat.
“He’s not your problem. The other Blackhawk is and before you make a chauvinistic comment, we’ve seen her take down bigger men and laugh while doing it.”
Kane didn’t say a word, but gloved up. “Whatever you say, Princess.” That’s what she reminded him of the minute he saw her. The well coifed hair, the manicured nails, and the perky little smile. It irritated the shit out of him.
Christina prayed for patience. “Let’s go,” she said between gritted teeth.
Melanie Freeman tapped her co-worker on the arm. “You okay? You’re being pretty tough. I know you don’t have a thing about working with women, you never rode me that hard.”
Kane shrugged. “The FBI has no business being here, and that woman seems a bit too eager. Like it’s her first day, and she’s kissing ass. I don’t like her.” That wasn’t exactly true, he didn’t like how his body reacted when he saw her. He was full blooded Native and had no intention of ever being interested in anyone but one of his own.
“Cut her a break. She’s just doing her job. Besides, this beats chasing down drunk Natives and car accidents. This is the highlight of my month.”
The team walked into the clearing and stopped.
“Oh crap!” muttered Christina, taking in the scene. Immediately, her arms went up to stop the people behind her from crossing into the clearing. “Back up,” she said, scanning the area.
Kane Redwolf and Melanie Freeman pushed past her to see what the issue was holding them up.
“Oh my God!” Melanie exclaimed, the bile rising in her stomach.
Kane stared in disbelief.
Christina knew what was coming, and she grabbed the woman, pulling her back to the path. “If you puke, you do it out here,” she hissed, as the woman dropped to her knees and began retching violently. Christina grabbed her hair, watching Officer Redwolf turn around, and he looked a little green too. “Officer Kane, you need to breathe through it and focus!”
“I've never seen anything like that,” he muttered, taking a deep breath and staring into her green eyes to find balance.
“Call the boss,” Christina said, glancing over at a tech
. “Secure the area and let’s get ready.” Then she looked over at the officer. “I’d like to say it’s a new sight to me too, but we’ve been down this path many times before.”
They had another victim, and now they answered the big question all the techs had been pondering.
Now they knew what the killer was doing with the missing skin.
* * *
The ride into the reservation police station was quiet. Callen was driving and not speaking. He was fine a few minutes ago when they were making love in the shower, and now he was back to being silent. Something was bothering him.
“Want to talk about it?” she asked, running her hand up and down the healed scars on his arm. They were a gift from one of his mother’s shitty boyfriends, when he was a child.
He glanced over at the woman beside him. She wasn’t only his lover, his woman and unofficial wife, but his best friend. Before they pursued their relationship, they shared each other’s secrets. Callen trusted her more than anyone in the entire world.
“I’m scared.”
Elizabeth stroked his cheek and played with his hair. It offered them both a measure of reassurance. “About what, my love?”
“Fatherhood.”
She grinned. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re already a great father.”
He was still worried. “What if I screw up like my parents?” His father had knocked his young mother up and bailed, and his mother was a party girl that loved drugs more than anything in life.
“Look at Wyler now. He’s changed and in order for that to happen, it means that it’s a personal choice. He made the decision to be different, and you’re going to pick the same route. You’re very much like your brother and granddad. Now Wyler is following your example. The Blackhawk and Whitefox men are good men.”
“I need you to promise me that you’ll keep me from screwing this up.”
Elizabeth went serious for a second. “Callen James! I’ll always catch you and make sure you’re safe. Trust me on this when I tell you that you’re not going down that path. Not because of me, but because of you. You’re an amazing man.”
He could only hope she was right.
Elizabeth held his hand and their fingers twined together lovingly. “Relax.” Her phone began ringing, and she saw her husband’s number.
“Hey Cowboy, we’re in route.”
“Head to the original scene and not here. I sent Christina out, and it looks like the killer left us a present.” Blackhawk tapped Julian and Tori and motioned them to follow him. Then he pointed at the two doctors and pointed to the door. “We have another body.”
Elizabeth spoke to Callen. “Turn us around and get us to Julian’s house. We have another victim.”
Callen turned in the middle of the street, hitting the lights.
“If you beat me there,” said Blackhawk, “head onto the scene. Christina’s there with two techs and the two officers. I don’t like them out there alone.”
“How bad is it?”
Blackhawk thought about what Christina said. “He’s screwing with us, so put on your Kevlar.”
Elizabeth knew it had to be gruesome. “Okay Ethan. See you on scene.” Hanging up the phone, she glanced over at Callen. “You’re putting on body armor before we head in, Cal. You have a daughter and a son coming. No arguments.”
His gaze flickered over to her. “That bad?”
“Your brother thinks he’s messing with us, and that’s all he said. I don’t know what we’re walking into.”
Callen didn’t like the idea she was going onto the scene. “I don’t suppose that you’ll drop me off and head to the house instead?”
She started laughing. “Yeah, sure. I mean I’m absolutely going to let the father of my children ride into this alone. That’s so me.”
“Can I ask a favor?” he said, his voice barely audible over the screaming sirens.
“Yeah?”
“I’m carrying too much. I can’t run the assignment and focus. I’m not mentally in the game, please help me.”
If his ex didn’t just die, and he found out he had a daughter, she’d bust his ass. It wasn’t like Callen to dump responsibility. If his mind wasn’t on the issue at hand, it risked them all. “I’ll handle it for you.”
He was grateful. How Elizabeth managed to balance it all and not lose her mind was beyond him. One day he hoped he could figure it all out.
Pulling into the driveway, they both hopped out, grabbing their Kevlar. Callen helped her into hers, and then she returned the favor.
“You're riding in front of me,” he demanded, the stress in his voice evident.
Elizabeth opted to cut him a break. “Okay, let’s hustle.” She raced to the ATV and slid forward, making room for her partner.
Callen drove hurriedly down the trails, trying to get them there quickly but safely. When he pulled up to the other ATV’s they were met with a green looking officer.
“Your team is in there,” she pointed at the opening. “Be ready to be sick.”
Elizabeth and Callen strode towards the clearing, imagining it to be a complete and total bloodbath. What they found was gross, but not the worst thing they’d seen. Sitting against a tree was another skinned body. Crawling sickly up the torso were ants. That in itself wasn’t pleasant, but it was the other message from the killer that had their attention. There was a rope strung between two trees and hanging from it were the skins from the bodies. They hung like laundry across a line, swaying in the breeze.
Christina immediately rushed over. “Is Doc Leonard here yet?” she inquired.
“Not yet. He’ll be arriving with Ethan. You stumbled onto this?” she asked, looking around.
“We rode up, and I stopped everyone once I saw it. We just finished taking pictures. The fire’s still a little warm, and we didn’t miss him by much this time.”
Callen pointed at one of the skins. “It’s all dried out.”
Christina nodded. “Once you remove the dermis, there’s no moisture. The first skin is very brittle. The second is close behind it too. Then you have skin three and it still has a little give. Lastly is the new victim’s skin. It’s wet and dripping.”
“I see you have officers with you.”
She grinned. “Yeah, I was pretty pissed at the director for making me take them, but it turned out to be entertaining.”
Both bosses stared at her.
“The girl made it three seconds before puking and the guy is just about there. I plan on making him help me handle the last skin.”
Callen dropped his voice, so only they’d hear the conversation. “That bad huh?”
Christina smiled. “He’s sexy on the outside but cranky and FBI hater on the inside.”
“Good to know,” stated Elizabeth. She liked to be aware of what was happening around her with the locals. “Has the scene been photographed yet?”
She nodded. “We’re waiting on Chris to pull the skins down. I almost wanted to knock the bugs off the poor bastard, but I know Doc likes the body undisturbed and in situ.”
Elizabeth patted her on the shoulder. “Go torment the newbies, and we’ll scope it out.”
“I love my job!” She walked directly towards the man with the intent to show him the meaning of FBI tech.
Callen and Elizabeth headed towards the body. Crouching down, they inspected it without any contact. There was indeed a feather, and the killer had shoved the end into the chest wound.
“The cuts aren’t as clean,” she said, looking at a piece of skin he’d missed.
“Maybe he was in a hurry?” Callen suggested. “I have to say, the ants are creepy.”
She had to agree. “Christina!” she yelled across the scene. “Will ants eat flesh?” Elizabeth hoped they didn’t decide to have a snack and destroy any evidence.
She thought about it. “If they’re fire ants and hungry enough they will. I wouldn’t let them bite you Director! You’re pregnant and enough stings can kill you or the baby.”
&
nbsp; Immediately, Callen panicked, sweeping her up into his arms to carry her away from the ants and the body.
“Are you insane!” she hissed, staring at him like he completely lost his mind. “No kissy-face on the scene! No touchy-feely and sure as hell no toting me around like I’m an invalid!”
He didn’t care how mad she was at him. Gently lowering her to her feet, he crossed his arms. “You don’t need to be bit by an army of fire ants.”
She pointed down at her feet. “I’m wearing cowboy boots, and I need to check out the body.”
Callen blocked her way. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Elizabeth honestly believed he’d had a lapse of sanity.
“You’re not risking you or my child!” He didn’t lower his voice and had everyone’s attention at his words.
Elizabeth stared at him open mouthed at what he’d just inadvertently done.
Christina started giggling. “I am so winning this baby pool now!” The other two techs also began laughing, giving each other’s high fives at the information they’d just scored.
Callen realized what he just did. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what I was saying,” he whispered, apologetically.
She simply shook her head. “Well the cat’s out of the bag now, Darlin’. Nothing we can do about it. In an hour it’s going to be texted back to the hive and spread around.”
“Are you mad at me?” Callen heard the ATV’s coming and turned his head.
At that moment, she side stepped him and headed back over to the body. This time standing back from the remains and being aware of the ants crawling up the dead man’s frame. “Yeah, I’m damn pissed that you picked me up.” But then Elizabeth lowered her voice as he crouched beside her. “I don’t care who knows you’re the baby’s father, Callen. You can wear a damn shirt announcing it for all I care.”
Callen relaxed as his brother strode onto the scene the ME and Anthropologist behind him.
“Holy shit,” muttered Blackhawk pointing at the skins moving in the breeze. “That’s a statement if I ever saw one.”
Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) Page 36
