She sighed. “I love kids. When I get to hold little CJ, it makes me want them, but then I’m reminded that the woman that made me left. What if I have that abandonment gene in me and I leave our children?”
Julian understood her pain. “I’d hunt you down and drag you back.”
Tori didn’t think he was kidding. “I worked in a base daycare and understand the basics of them, but I was raised by a soldier. War and killing I get, but potty training I’m probably going to fail at.”
“Okay, so we don’t have kids.”
She could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I didn’t say that, Jules. I’m simply scared to death. I don’t want to ruin a child’s life.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked, gold speckled eyes meeting smoky blue. “Do you believe in me, Victoria?”
Without hesitation she nodded. “Of course, or I wouldn’t be in bed with you or marrying you.”
“I know for a fact you wouldn’t run. You’d stay to prove you didn’t get any part of her. You’re stubborn and strong willed. If there was even a slight chance you’d bolt, you’d beat it back until the stronger part of you won.”
His faith amazed her. “I want to believe that.”
Julian touched her cheek. “I won’t lie. I want kids, but if you can’t do it, Tori, I’ll sacrifice that need to keep your heart protected.”
The fact the man was willing to give up his lifelong desire to be a father touched her. “I’m scheduled for my next shot in a month. I’ll skip it. It could take us a while, until the drug is out of my body.”
“Really?” he was surprised.
“Yes, really. I want you to have the kids you’ve always wanted, and I look at it this way. You have enough nieces and nephews that Liana or Connor can teach me how to do this potty training thing.”
Julian wanted to weep with Joy. He always suspected because of her past, she’d run from the prospects of having children. Bringing it up had always scared the hell out of him. If she said no, could he live with it? Live without her? Now he could enjoy what life had in store for them and not worry.
“Want to practice?” she inquired, running her hand down his body, beneath the sheet and to his erection.
Julian smiled. “I think we should practice three times a day,” he whispered, kissing her.
Tori started giggling as he rolled onto her body. “Save something for the honeymoon there, Tiger.”
Julian was about to slide back into her warmth when his phone rang. “Oh hell,” he muttered, reaching for it. When he saw it was Blackhawk, he decided to answer it. “I’m sorry, Honey. I need to take this.”
She grinned up at him.
“Yeah, Ethan?”
“We have another body, and you and Tori need to get out here. We may need your help.”
“Okay, where?”
Blackhawk decided to just drop the bomb. “You got your wish, Julian. Chief Soaring Eagle is dead.”
His entire body shook at the man’s name. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Hanging up the phone, he glanced back over his shoulder at her. “We have to go.”
“Body?” she asked, sliding out of bed to retrieve her clothing.
“Yeah,” and then he told her who.
Crossing to him, she knew immediately that this was going to be painful for him. “I have you, Jules.”
He merely nodded, hoping she could handle that monumental task.
* * *
Elizabeth walked the scene, taking it all in. They grabbed samples of Chief Soaring Eagle’s handwriting for comparison. To her, it looked like a match. In her mind, she honestly believed that the man had committed suicide. It all played that way in the scenario in her mind.
The man came home.
Enters the house.
Sees the scrawled blood message.
The clothing.
Writes a will and confession.
Hangs himself.
It all added up, and that made her uneasy. Generally, she had to work fairly hard to figure out the killer, but this one fell into their laps. That made her nervous as hell, for many reasons.
“Bugs you huh?” inquired Callen.
“Yeah, the whole thing has me on edge. Did he do it alone all those years ago? Or are we going to find a dead accomplice too?”
“You would think that you’d be happy it fell together. Now we only have to find the killer of the killer.”
She started laughing at the way that sounded. “Great. I’m trying to get into this man’s mind. He comes home and realized that the jig is up. If the killer of the next four people could figure it out, then so could we.”
Callen was with her so far. “Okay.”
“But why is the killer pointing it out to us? Wouldn’t he want to not tell us, so we can’t find him?”
Blackhawk wandered over. “Julian’s on his way,” then he paused. “Why do you look befuddled?”
“Why is he helping us?” she inquired. “And I don’t mean Julian. I was referring to the nutbag.”
Ethan pondered it. “We said that he was killing people that were harming Natives. Run off from the farm, stealing truffles, drawing the outsiders to the Rez, and then the sheriff.”
“I like to think he was killed because he was an asshole,” Elizabeth added. “I know, inappropriate to speak ill of the victims, but I’m just speaking the truth.”
“Baby, you can’t always get into the mind of a crazy person. You may have to let the ‘why’ go. He’s controlling this until the game is over,” Ethan ventured.
“I don’t think he’s in control. I think he’s the conductor of the crazy train and about to jump the tracks.” Elizabeth stared at the words on the wall and then it occurred to her. “Wait!” she grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Where’d he get the blood?”
Both men looked over, neither considering that before she mentioned it. All the blood on the crime scene was dried and from the other victims. None of it had anything to do with their bodies or Chief Soaring Eagle.
“I haven’t a clue.”
Elizabeth saw her tech packing up the gear. “Christina!” she called.
“Yeah, Boss?”
“Did we get samples of this blood,” Elizabeth pointed at the wall where the killer had left his message.
“Yes, Ma’am. I have it.”
“Run it against that blood drop that Julian found in the woods. I want to see if it matches. I like to tie up all my ends for court in a nice bow. I also need a run on all the family members of the dead victims tied to Chief Soaring Eagle- aunts, uncles, cousins and anyone else in the family tree. The killer had to have a reason to lead us here.”
“Will do.”
There was the sound of a motorcycle coming from outside the house in the driveway. Julian must have arrived.
“We need to catch him before he tears on in here,” warned Elizabeth. “I don’t want him walking into this.”
Both men went to intercept.
“Christina, did we find anything outside the house that the killer may have left behind?” inquired Elizabeth.
“I’ll run out and check with the techs and report back, Boss,” she answered, carrying her kit out of the dead man’s house.
Elizabeth waited for the men to escort Julian inside, and hoped they could keep him under control once he saw the confession.
~ Chapter Nineteen ~
Sunday Mid-Morning
Julian pulled into the driveway, trying not to run over anyone in the growing crowd of people. Already the reporters were there, shouting questions at Tori, once they noticed her badge and gun.
“How was the victim killed,” yelled one reporter.
“You’re from this reservation,” another yelled, “Give us a report of what’s going on!”
“Is this the Red River Killer again?” a woman asked, trying to get a microphone in Tori’s face. “Was this an FBI set up? Did the killer escape last year and return?”
Hopping off the bike, they rolled it towards the blockade. The tech on th
e line lifted the tape, giving them access.
“Thanks,” he muttered, seeing Ethan and Callen crossing towards him. From the looks on their faces, it appeared they were expecting trouble.
“Julian, come with us.” Blackhawk led him to a corner of the yard, where no one could hear their conversation.
“Where is he?” Julian demanded.
Callen placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “He’s already in route back to the morgue to be autopsied.”
“Then I’m going there.”
Blackhawk grabbed his arm. “Julian, we need to show you something first, but you need to stay calm. If you lose it, you can’t be part of the rest of this investigation. Friendship or not, I’ll have to block you.”
Julian got the warning, and immediately knew what was coming had to be big.
“Until now, we suspected Chief Soaring Eagle killed your father. Coming here today, we found the proof.” Ethan hoped Julian could hold it all together.
Callen led them back into the house, and away from the roving eyes of the media and flashing cameras. If Julian was going to lose it, they didn't want it recorded.
Inside the cabin, Julian surveyed the surroundings. His eye went to the message on the wall, and his demeanor changed. Instead of anger and hate, he found the strength to find calm. “What do you need to show me?”
Elizabeth met them in the living room, holding a letter protectively sealed in an evidence bag. “Julian, he left this.”
To the victim’s families;
In a fit of jealousy and envy, I killed two men that
were my friends. I took their lives to gain
control of the Indian Council. I killed Chief
Runningbear and made it look like a home burglary.
As the vote to replace him came up, I followed Blake
Littlemoon into the woods and stole his life. I did it to
win. I am ashamed of my sins and deserve
to die. I ran down Officer Kevin Clark, because
he was getting too close and began questioning me.
Instead of going before a jury, I will be my own
Judge and executioner.
I have sinned and carried it twenty five years.
I’m sorry.
Benjamin Soaring Eagle.
Julian stared at the letter, reading it twice. Part of him wanted to rage and beat something bloody, but what would be the point. This was what he wanted, justice for his father. The man that took his father’s life, stole him from his wife and kids, and committed horrible sins was now gone.
“I need to go talk to my family, and then I’d very much like to be there for the autopsy. I need to see this to the end and then move on with my life.”
Tori clutched his hand in hers. “I’m going with Julian.”
Elizabeth nodded, going to her friend and hugging him. “Take all the time you need,” she whispered in his ear, understanding the hurt he was feeling. It was one thing to assume your father was a victim but to face down the killer and give the monster a face was daunting.
“Thank you,” he whispered back, allowing her to offer him comfort.
Ethan and Callen moved forward, each placing a hand on a shoulder, offering him support in his time of need.
Tori had been right about the Blackhawks being family. They had found a place into Julian’s life now too.
Along with the intense relief, there was something new beating at his heart. Now would come the hardest part for him.
Julian had to go break the news.
When Julian and Tori were gone, Ethan focused on his wife. “What’s our game plan?”
Their options were limited. “Media is scoping out our rental, they’re here and probably going to the police station. I say we head to town, get something to eat and talk about what our next step is going to be. It’s going to take at least two hours for Chris and Tony to do the trace on Chief Soaring Eagle. I don’t want to be talking shop with Rick and his officers running around.”
Both men tended to agree.
“I want to lock down this killer and fast. We need to get home and back to our kids,” Elizabeth said, checking her watch. “Let’s saddle up, boys. We need to lose the media if they follow. Want me to drive?” she asked, grinning.
“Uh hell no,” muttered Callen. “You’re a menace.”
Blackhawk pulled out the keys. “Leave this one up to me. You’re not the only one who can mess with people’s minds. It is a job requirement, Lyzee.”
This should be interesting.
They followed Ethan to the Denali. Immediately, they began getting questions and shouts for answers. The flashes were so bright and disruptive to their vision; they each had to drop on their sunglasses.
“I’m sure you all have inquiries about today, regarding the events. If you head to the police station, I’ll be making a statement as soon as I arrive. It will be very brief,” Blackhawk offered to the crowd. “The media on site and in the front will get the first shot at asking the questions.”
It was like Moses and the Red Sea. They parted and watched the FBI enter their vehicle, starting it up. The only thing they did wrong was assume.
Elizabeth watched them haul ass to their cars and vans. “Holy shit, look at them scramble.”
Callen laughed as camera men tossed their gear into the back of their vans and hauled ass to get out of there.
Ethan pulled off his sunglasses and watched the last car leave, dust and gravel- the only sign it had been there. “The media are like cockroaches when the lights go on,” he admitted.
“Are we going there now?” inquired Callen.
Blackhawk laughed. “No.”
“But you said…”
Elizabeth started laughing. “He never told them when. He said he’d make a statement when he arrived. They assumed he meant immediately.”
Ethan grinned. “I don’t wear the expensive suits for nothing,” he answered.
His wife grabbed him by the face and planted a wet one right on his mouth. He took the moment to enjoy the feel of her lips against his.
Pulling away, she grinned wickedly at him. “Very ingenious, Mr. Blackhawk, how you manipulated and out thought the horde.”
For more kisses like that, he’d have to come up with additional creative ways to screw with reporters.
“I aim to please, Baby.”
Julian arrived at his mother’s house. Before heading in, he called his sisters and brothers and told them it was important and to get there.
As he was on the phone, Tori took it upon herself to go keep the woman company. Once inside, she found Clarissa Littlemoon sitting alone on her couch. For the first time since meeting her, the woman looked exhausted. Her eyes were filled with grief and pain.
“Clarissa?” she called, getting the woman’s attention.
She turned towards her. “Oh, hello Victoria. I didn’t see you standing there. Is Julian here too?”
Tori joined her, taking a seat on the couch across from the woman that was going to be her mother-in-law. “Right now Julian’s on the phone outside. I thought I’d check on you.”
Clarissa smiled warmly. When she first met, Victoria Christensen, she’d been concerned her son couldn’t pull the girl out of the pain that was surrounding her. When the woman went into the VA and her son mourned her abandoning him, she had been a bit angry. What mother wouldn’t resent a woman that broke her son’s heart? Then they found their way back to each other and it was all working out and for the best. She was gaining a really great daughter out of the deal.
“I appreciate you worrying about me, but I’ll be okay. Blake’s been gone a long time. Once this is all over, I’ll put it away and go back to living what’s left of my life.”
Yeah right. The woman had kept a feather found on her dead husband’s body. Tori knew the woman may say she’d forget about it, but Tori knew that wasn’t the truth. Her grief would always be there, just under the surface.
“When are you and my son getting married?
” she asked, changing the subject to something a bit more pleasant.
Tori knew a deflection when she saw one, but knowing what was coming, she opted to give the woman a moment of peace. “We’re aiming for a date in August. I need to wait for Elizabeth to deliver her baby. She’s going to be my matron of honor.”
“Where will you be having the wedding?” The woman knew that her son’s fiancée was going to have the power of choice. It was probably wrong of her to want the girl to pick someplace close to their family, but this was where they were from, not her.
“Julian and I decided here on the Rez, out by the lake. We both love the space. Whenever we want to think or just enjoy the beauty, we head there. I can’t imagine having my wedding anywhere else but there.
Clarissa was impressed that the wedding wasn’t going to be in a big church somewhere. When her son Connor was married to an outsider, they had a traditional wedding. It was pretty, but it didn't feel like them. They were Natives, and being locked up in an outsiders church always felt off to her.
“I wanted to ask you something,” Tori began. “Do you think you can help me with the food? I don’t really know anything about catering an event. I’d like to keep it to traditional Native selection and have the wedding represent Julian and your family too. It’s not only about me. Could we possibly visit caters together and maybe you pick appropriate foods?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’d love to help you, Victoria. In fact, it would be my honor.”
Tori saw the emotion and knew it likely had nothing to do with the offer of keeping the wedding very Native friendly. She moved from her seat on the couch to the woman’s side. “Talk to me, Clarissa. You might feel better if you get it off your chest.”
She sniffled. “My children all hate me for keeping this from them. Usually Julian will call or stop in, and he’s been avoiding me. Claire and Liana haven’t called me either. When Connor did call, it was brief and succinct. By keeping this secret, I’ve damaged my kids and our relationship. I’ve pushed them away and now I’m all alone.”
Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) Page 50
