Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14)
Page 43
Callen got it.
As they pulled into the bar parking lot, he grinned. “Want to kiss me now?” Callen teased.
“Sure.” Then Ethan punched him.
Hard.
Like a brother would.
“Hey! That hurt!”
“Love is a bitch. You know that. I taught you that when we were teenagers.”
The two men laughed as they headed in to do their jobs. They needed to figure out how the hell the killer found out about Dean Quinlan and Callen’s secret.
The mystery got deeper.
The plot got thicker.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Hotel
When she woke up, they were gone.
Shit!
A pregnant girl closes her eyes for twenty minutes and her sexy Natives make a break for it. She made a mental note to kick their asses when they got back from their little adventure.
There was no doubt in her mind where they’d gone. If she didn't fall asleep, she would have headed to a certain bar to dig around in the local gossip.
They had better not get hurt, or she was going to be their worst nightmare.
While she had some down time, Elizabeth opted to call Wyler and check in. Pulling out her tablet, after she was dressed, she took a seat on the couch.
When she pinged him, it wasn’t his face but Cindy’s that came online.
“Hello, Director. Your father is feeding Charlie.”
“Thanks, Cindy. How are things there?”
“Chaos,” she replied, laughing. The woman smiled gently at her. “We had Bethe until her parents picked her up. She and Charlie were having a blast. It’s as if they have their own language. Wyler took a video, so I’m sure it’ll be coming your way soon.”
She was glad.
She missed her kids.
“Are the agents there?”
Cindy turned the tablet. Not far away, she could see Johanna and Broderick, and they were playing board games with their kids. It amused her that they were still wearing their guns.
At least they got the point.
This was an important assignment.
“Here’s Wyler.”
Cindy handed him the tablet.
“Hey, Dad! How are you?” she asked.
He took a seat and grinned at her. “I’m in heaven. All the laughter and insanity makes me feel young.”
She was glad.
“You don’t look well, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
She touched her cheek. It was warm.
“I think I’m coming down with a bug. I feel like crap, but don’t tell your sons that. They’ll have me at a hospital to get a checkup. They’re irritating like that.”
“Just take it easy.”
“I am. They’re out working, and I’m in the hotel.”
“When are you coming home?”
“Soon.”
Elizabeth wished the chitchat was why she called.
It wasn’t.
She had to ask him something, and she needed to cover their bases. Just in case.
“Can you go somewhere private?” she asked.
He didn't hesitate.
Wyler went into their office. “What is it, sweetheart? You look stressed out.”
“We need to talk about something, and I don’t want you to be offended. It’s my job, and I’m covering my bases.”
“Okay, Elizabeth. What’s on your mind?”
“By any chance, you didn't leave the house in the last two days, right?”
He lifted a brow. “No, why? I thought you told me to stay in and watch the kids.”
“That’s what we told you. I have a sticky situation here, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m interrogating you.”
“But?”
“I am.”
“I can see that, Elizabeth. Just say it.”
“You didn't take a trip, right?”
“Uh, only to the mailbox. Why?”
In cases like this, it was best just to say it. “Dean Quinlan was hacked apart.”
Wyler’s eyes went cold and angry at his name. “I wish it was me, Elizabeth, but it wasn’t. I pray that he suffered.”
“Oh, he did.”
“Good. I hope he wanders the reservation as a spirit and can never find peace.”
She let him vent.
“Okay, well, I had to check.”
Wyler calmed down. “I understand, sweetheart. You’re doing your job.”
“I wanted to kill him too.” She didn't tell him about the pictures. She couldn’t.
He softened. “Thank you for loving my boys. They found the ideal woman with you. You protect their hearts.”
“Well, they better protect the family jewels. I’m getting them fixed after this baby.”
He laughed. “I can’t say I blame you. Honestly, you’re looking like the crazy one. Who in their right mind wants to have five kids, all under six?”
She laughed. “Yeah, now take my freaking side. Where was this opinion when they kept begging for babies? Now I can’t put them back.”
He grinned, and her heart skipped. Ethan often gave her the same look her.
“Kiss the kids for me, and stay safe, okay?”
Wyler blew her a kiss.
She caught it.
“You always were my favorite.”
Elizabeth winked at him. “I am well aware.”
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Bubba’s
Inside, they found the bar’s owner, Kathryn Drake. They’d run into her on the case they had once been working on the Rez, and she’d given them some useful information.
Hopefully, she’d do the same again.
As they took a seat at the bar, Callen ordered dinner to go. The waitress took their order and hurried away when he threw a twenty down as a tip.
The less time they spent in there, the better.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you two in here again,” Kathryn said, putting a beer down in front of each of them.
“We’re on duty,” Ethan stated.
“You can break the rules,” she offered, giving him a wink. “It’s only a beer. It’s not like I’m trying to do anything questionable.”
Ethan didn't bat an eyelash.
First of all, he didn't like blondes, and more importantly, he didn't like women who flirted with married men. She knew they were both taken.
He pushed it toward the patron sitting beside him. The guy grinned and eagerly accepted it.
Callen did the same.
“You two are tough.”
Ethan didn't reply. This place pissed him off—mostly because of Dean Quinlan. They were there out of necessity, not a leisure stroll down bad memory lane. “We have some questions to ask, and then we’ll be out of here.”
She leaned on the bar. “Fire away, sexy.”
Callen started the questioning. “Was Dean Quinlan in here last night?”
She thought about it. “Yeah, he was.”
“Was he alone?” Ethan asked.
Kathryn wiped down the bar. “At first, yes, but he left with someone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t have a clue. Her back was to me the entire night. I wasn’t serving drinks at the tables.”
“Is anyone here who could help us out a little more? It’s important, and FBI business.”
“Sure!” Kathryn motioned toward the waitress at the other end of the bar. “Britney!”
The woman hustled over.
“Yeah?”
“Who was with Dean last night?”
She thought about it. “It was some outsider. I never saw her before.”
“What did she look like?”
She laughed. “We had a full house last night. I remember a blonde, a baseball cap, and that’s it.”
“Did he know her?” Callen asked, making notes to share with Elizabeth when they got back to the hotel.
Britney thought about it. “I don’t think so. Dean is
a skirt chaser. He would have been all over her if he did. Maybe she was picking him up?”
Ethan added that to the profile in his head.
“Did they eat?” he asked.
“Yeah, she had a burger, he did too. Why?”
He didn't answer her question. He had too many of his own. “Who paid the bill?”
“I don’t know. It was sitting on the table. I just picked up the money and that’s it.”
“We need that bill.”
They stared at him as if he was crazy.
“I’d have to go through about four hundred receipts,” she said.
He grinned. “Then I suggest you give them to us, or you get moving.”
Kathryn crossed he arms. “Just give them to him. We’re not here to be ordered around.”
Blackhawk laughed.
He didn't give a shit.
“Thanks for your cooperation.” When their dinner came out, he threw down some cash. “We’ll need those bills.”
The two women walked away.
“How are we going to find out which bill is theirs.”
Ethan grinned. “We’re going to pull out all of the ones with Britany’s name on them, and then look for two burgers. If there is more than one, we’ll test them all.”
“Fingerprints?”
“Well, I doubt our mystery blonde was wearing gloves to eat, right?”
“This is a long shot.”
He was well aware.
But it was the only shot they had.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
The Leonard Residence
Chris waited for his wife to put their daughter to bed. As he waited, he sent Elizabeth a text message.
‘I’m worried about you. I saw the agents at your house. Are the kids safe? Can I help out? What do you need?’
He waited for her to reply. He knew they were out of town, but he wanted to be there for his friend. He’d left them hanging, and it was the least he could do.
‘It’s just a precaution. No one knows where we live. As for helping out, we’re heading that way tomorrow. We had another victim. Zane took him back to FBI West. We’re not far out of town. We’re leaving early to get home.’
That would make Cyra happy. He wouldn’t be out of town. Now he could stay close to his wife and daughter, but still work.
Just as he was about to send another text, his wife wandered in. When she climbed onto the bed, he hit the button on the fireplace.
Fire burst to life.
“Care to cuddle?” he asked.
She grinned. “Yes, I’d like that.”
When she was settled against his body, he sniffed the scent of her hair. It was cathartic.
“Who were you texting?” she asked, suspecting it was work.
He handed her the cell. If she was worried about him crossing the line, he needed to give her full access to his life.
Cyra read it over. “I’m glad you’re going to be close. I feel a little anxious.”
“I can ask Elizabeth to post some agents here, or you could head over to their home while I’m at work.”
“Don’t be silly. I was a cop and Fed. I think I can handle myself. I’m not some fluff-brained moron.”
He was sure she could.
“Maybe we should roll around a little and see if you’re as tough as you think.”
She laughed, right before grabbing him through his pajama bottoms. When he moaned, it turned her on.
“I think we should roll around,” Cyra admitted.
“It’s times like these that I wish I had handcuffs.”
Cyra was amused. “I’ll see what I can dig up.”
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Hotel
When they got back to the hotel, she was waiting. While they thought she was going to be pissed, she wasn’t. In fact, Elizabeth wasn’t even focused on them. She was all about what was in the takeout bag.
“Oh, hello, lover! I’ve missed you,” she said, grabbing the brown bag from Ethan.
He shook his head. “Good to see we’ve become nothing more than a way to get food.”
She shoved a fry in her mouth. “And sex! Don’t forget that too!”
Callen snorted. “I’ll take one for the team. We should split up the workload. It’s only fair. You feed her, and I’ll let her use me until her heart’s content.”
Ethan objected. “No way. It’s my turn.”
Elizabeth ignored them both. She was too hungry to think about it. “Who ordered me a chicken sandwich?” she asked, looking back and forth between them.
“Uh, me?” Callen replied, not sure if he’d picked the right thing. It was a crapshoot with a pregnant woman. He thought he had it down, but now he wasn’t sure.
She kissed him. “Baby really wanted chicken. You’re a great father.”
Ethan pulled his sandwich out of the bag. “Well, it’s good to know I’m just chopped liver. At one time, I was your sexy love bug.”
“You still are, but baby is driving this bus. He likes food,” she admitted. “Momma, on the other hand likes sexy Natives in bed. We both need to be happy.”
They men smiled.
“But, neither of you are getting laid again until someone tells me who’s bright idea it was to leave me behind.”
Callen pointed at his brother.
“Seriously?” Ethan asked. “Isn’t it supposed to be bros before…”
Then again, that was a bad example and he knew it.
She laughed. “Good catch, Cowboy. You nearly ended up on the celibacy train for the next few months.”
He bit into his sandwich and simply smiled. Self-preservation was very important.
“I have something for you,” Ethan offered, handing her another brown paper bag.
“What is it? There has to be about two hundred papers in here. What the hell am I supposed to do with these?”
They told her about Dean’s ‘date’ at the bar.
Tonight, they were going to be busy. It looked like she lucked out with that nap.
“We need something to be on that paper,” she admitted. “I don’t have a freaking clue, and it’s getting old.”
Ethan pulled out his cell and called Gabe. When he answered, the man sounded like he was eating.
“Hey, we have a situation.”
“Shit! What now?” Gabe asked.
He told him everything—minus the sexual assault part. They were Callen’s details to share, and it wasn’t pertinent that they know right now.
“This is getting weird. The killer is reenacting parts of your cases? How?”
Yeah, that’s why he called.
They were going to need help.
“We’re going to need backup from you and Livy.”
“What can we do for you?” he asked, glancing over at his wife. They were sitting at the table having a bite to eat. Then he was planning to have some dessert.
Again.
“We know we have a blonde female. What we don’t have is her identity. Tomorrow, can you and Livy try to find any of the women we ran into there who were blonde? We need a timeline of all of their lives.”
“Yeah, we can do that. I can free up some time.”
That was code for ‘my wife isn’t doing this alone’, and they both knew it.
“Who do we have on the suspect list?” Livy asked, pulling out a paper to make notes.
Ethan rattled the names off. He was assuming it started there. That was the only lead they had.
“Check on Caroline O’Brien. She’s still angry about her brother. I don’t buy that they didn't know what Seamus was up to in his spare time. Crazy is crystal clear when it’s up close and personal.”
Livy scribbled it down.
“We need to find James O’Brien’s estranged wife and ex to his dead brother. Helena Brennan-O’Brien started the crazy when she scorned the one brother. Who’s to say she isn’t carrying on his work?”
Livy added her to the list.
They all glanced over.
“Her husband is a reporter. He’s good at digging up information. She might be using his work to commit murder. Hell! They might be in this together. We didn't eliminate a couple doing this, did we?”
Sadly, they hadn’t eliminated anyone.
Elizabeth agreed with Callen. “Toss in a background report for shits and giggles. I want to know everything about her.”
“Can do.”
“Are you three going to be okay chasing this nut?” Livy asked. “I can come help.”
Gabe began laughing. “Oh, my wife is a funny woman. There is no way in hell she’s leaving my sight. She’s been out of the field too long, and until she proves herself in qualifications, that’s not happening. Plus, her staying nearby was part of the deal.”
Ethan and Callen got it, but wisely, they said nothing.
“We’re good,” Elizabeth stated. “We’re going to start going through the receipts, and I want to hit up FBI West early tomorrow. I want to be there when the results are in for the autopsy.”
Both men were good with that. They were only about two hours away. It could be arranged.
They told Gabe about her nearly being shot.
“So the killer missed? On an easy shot?”
Neither man liked the way that sounded, but they’d said the exact same thing.
“Yeah, it’s suspicious. It’s also reminds me of something that happened once before.”
“What?” he asked.
Ethan got it. “Salem. Where we met.”
Gabe got quiet. “That would make sense. This case started when Seamus was killed. Why wouldn’t it involve the case where you met?”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
Elizabeth told him how Dean was missing his penis and his heart.
“Red River,” Gabe said.
“Add in the white feather in his removed hair.”
“This person is studying you.”