Seven Bridges

by Ciana Stone

  The low sound he made when their skin made contact reverberated through her. She felt his sensations, the excitement, and need, and projected back her own, mirroring his passion with hers.

  All it took was one kiss. Just one. Then her need exploded and took control. She raised up on her knees to reach between them and guide him inside her. In two seconds, Gib took control and rolled her over beneath him.

  And then there was no room for thoughts of anything other than their union.

  It had been so long, the desire was too intense and her fuse too short. Try as she might to hold back, she succumbed to the hunger. When she cried his name and climaxed, he followed her over the edge.

  For a few moments, there was only the sound of their breath, the feel of his heart beating against her chest. Before his weight could settle on her, Gib rolled over onto his back, and she followed, putting her head on his shoulder with one arm and one leg thrown over his body.

  Izzi closed her eyes, savoring the moment. She had no doubt that before morning, she'd be back in his arms. In his bed, or he in hers. They'd kicked opened the door she swore to keep locked, and she didn't want to shut it again. No, she wouldn't let that happen.

  No matter that Gib had loved another before her, had shared a life with a woman he adored had a family and still mourned the loss of his wife and the mother of his children. It didn't matter. It wasn't a contest. Izzi loved him. He was her first love, and she knew with certainty, he would be her only.

  She didn't want to waste any more time running from what she felt and what she wanted. If it meant she had to help him hunt monsters, then so be it.

  "Penny for your thoughts," his voice had her opening her eyes.

  "I was wondering. When we get back to Quantico – to your house, maybe I could change my mind about staying in the guest room? Or not. I don't want you to think I'm trying to push–"

  "Yes," he interrupted.

  "Yes?"

  "It's all I've wanted. All I want. So yes, please."

  "It's what I want too, so thank you," she agreed, and then because there was no choice, she turned their attention to what was ahead. "And now, even though I hate changing the subject– Are you going to lead the briefing?"

  They were scheduled to brief local law enforcement in under two hours. The next home game started in three and a half hours, and based on the BAU recommendation, law enforcement, and stadium security would have some ideas on what to look for.

  "Yes."

  "Will the press be involved?"

  "Possibly. After the briefing, the Chief of Police is likely to call a press conference."

  "And the reason for that?"

  "To ease the city, to let people know they're safe."

  "Are they?"

  "I'm going to go out on a limb and say yes. For the moment, there's no reason to believe this spree is directed at anyone other than Cheerleaders."

  "Such an odd target, don't you think?" Izzi sat and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. "I mean, why would someone have it in for these girls? Nothing adds up. No jealous boyfriends or husbands, none of the victims so far have had relationships with swat or military snipers."

  She pushed her hair back from her face. "There's nothing to suggest that it's the work of some guy whose girlfriend or wife didn't make the cut. In short, there's no reason. No motive."

  "I know." Gib ran both hands over his face. "Nothing about it makes sense. But we better come up with something, or I'm going to end up standing in front of a news crew with my dick in my hand."

  "Well, then we'll just have to come up with something." An idea occurred to her. "Oh, wait. Damn, how could I have overlooked it? Remember Galen saying there had to be people other than law enforcement or military who can shoot one of those rifles?"

  "Yeah, so?"

  "So, what if the killer is someone who's a hunter or a marksman of some sort? Maybe an Olympic shooter. And what if the shooter is a woman?"

  "A woman? There's never been a female sniper, spree or serial killer that I'm aware of."

  "Doesn't mean there couldn't be one. Maybe we should have all the women checked out who auditioned for the cheering squads."

  "That's definitely an avenue we should explore."

  "Now?"

  "Actually, I think we still have a little time before we have to meet everyone and go over the strategy we've worked out for tonight's game."

  "Do you think having a police presence, even an FBI presence will make a difference?"

  Izzi was the only dissenter against the plan Gib and leaders of local and state law enforcement had agreed upon. She advocated for either calling off the game, not having the cheerleaders present, or having them taken out of the arena from an exit other than their normal avenue.

  But in this show, the locals were in charge, and they were dead set on staking out the place. From the location of the last shooting, they believed they now knew all the buildings to target that had line of sight to the exit and parking lot they'd chosen for the women to use.

  "I have no clue, and that's what bothers me. All we can do is be vigilant and hope we don't end this evening with another name added to the death toll."

  "We'll do whatever you tell us. You know that, right?"

  "I do. But I don't want to think about it anymore right now."

  "No?" she trailed the fingers of one hand over his chest and then lower. ""Want to take a shower? I don't know about you, but I'm a bit hesitant to go to work smelling like sex."

  "A shower sounds good. Shower sex sounds better."

  Izzi giggled when he pulled her to him and rolled off the bed with her in his arms. She didn't believe for one moment that either of them could just wipe all thoughts of the evening ahead from their minds. But if they could find solace and something to cling to other than dread of more death, even for a little while, she was all in.

  As it turned out, she did find solace and a lot more. It'd been a long time since she felt surrounded by love and in Gib's arms, and his presence, that's exactly how she felt. For that, she'd give thanks and hope she could return to those feelings at the end of the night.

  And not to mourn the loss of another innocent life.

  Chapter Thirteen

  State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

  Izzi was grateful beyond words that the owner of the team had allowed them to use his private box. The noise in the arena was deafening. She'd never attended a professional basketball game, and within minutes it was clear that fans of both teams were completely absorbed by the game.

  Her anxiety had been growing since the moment they arrived. Something in Izzi's gut said this was a terrible plan. But Gib had agreed, which meant she and the rest of the team needed to follow orders and hope things didn't go south.

  Because she was better equipped than Tamara or Fiona, she was assigned to rendezvous with the cheerleaders at the end of the game and leave with them. Perhaps she could pick up energy if someone was watching. She wasn't sure she could stretch her senses to encompass such a large area, but she would try. Izzi was convinced there would be another shooting. An hour and a half before game time, maintenance reported a power outage in the garage where the players, cheerleaders, and many season ticket holders parked.

  Gib and the local leaders of law enforcement quickly adjusted their plan. The cheerleaders were asked to move their cars to a nearby, uncovered parking lot and to surrender their keys to security. If power was restored to the deck, their vehicles would be moved again.

  Efforts were being made to get the power back on, but so far, the parking deck was still dark. This had happened before, at an away game in Charlotte, NC, where the first basketball cheerleader was killed.

  "Why wasn't the power outage ever considered?" Izzi leaned over to speak softly to Galen, who said beside her.

  "That's what I'd like to know. In Charlotte, the situation was much the same as here. Locations offering line of sight are minimal. Closing the garage threw it wide open fo
r the shooter."

  "I'd say the same is true here. How does law enforcement even know which structures to target?"

  "Whichever their shooters say has line of sight and a high probability of hitting the target."

  "That sounds so horribly impersonal, doesn't it?"

  "It does," he agreed, then added. "Listen, I know you were opposed to it, but before you walk out that door, put on the vest and cover it with your jacket."

  "I'm not the target." She didn't see a need for a bulletproof vest. The spree killer was targeting cheerleaders.

  "He might not know that. You'll be with the rest of the squad. Just do what we ask, okay? Wear the vest and keep your earpiece in."

  Izzi realized that he, like everyone on their team, was just trying to look out for her.

  "Okay, I will. Where will you be?"

  "I'm leaving here momentarily to take a position with one of the local teams on a nearby building where we have a good view of the area. Gib will be in the chopper, and the rest of the team will be assisting the locals in the locations considered to be prime."

  "Well, you be careful, too."

  "I always am."

  "Then don't break that habit. You still owe me a drink."

  "I owe you?"

  "Yeah, you lost the last round of basketball trivia on the way over. Loser buys drinks."

  "Oh, yeah, right. Then I'll pay up once we get past this evening."

  "I'll look forward to it," she looked up as he stood. "See you later."

  "Yes, you will."

  She hoped he was right. It wasn't long before a female police officer arrived to escort her to the cheerleaders' locker room where they'd be changing after the game. Izzi chatted with the officer as they waited and learned all about the woman's parents who had immigrated here as children and the challenges they'd faced.

  Now, the officer, Sylvia Menendez, was a decorated member of law enforcement, with three children and a husband who worked with the public defender's office. They donated their time and money to help immigrant families and tutor children.

  Izzi admired that kind of compassion and giving and said as much. Before she could say more, the cheerleaders arrived. Talk about a change in energy. It was almost overwhelming. They were on a high from performing, and their enthusiasm was practically chaotic.

  Izzi could feel the difference in the women. Some were trying to "catch" one of the players, others were hoping their boyfriends or husbands felt just a little threatened by the attention they received during the games and the number of men who hit on them, and others had career goals in mind. They wanted to be noticed and discovered. Life in front of the camera was their goal.

  All Izzi wanted at the moment was to escape all that energy. She found it shocking that none of the women were overly worried about the sniper. Izzi knew they'd all been told what to expect, do and look for as they left.

  Did they not remember, or was it a case of what many people fell victim to? No matter what kind of threat, people often had the "but it won't happen to me" mentality. If only they knew how dangerous that attitude could be. Hopefully, with the number of law enforcement working tonight, none of these women would end up a victim. Izzi sent out a silent prayer for that.

  When all the women were dressed in their street clothes, Officer Menendez called for attention and went over the instructions again. Once she'd gotten a verbal confirmation that everyone understood, she led them toward the exit.

  Izzi brought up with the rear, walking beside a beautiful redhead. The woman gave her a smile. "Hi. I'm Debi."

  "Isabelle," Izzi offered a smile.

  "So, you're with the FBI?"

  "Only as a consultant."

  "For what?"

  "Psychology."

  It wasn't entirely untrue but wasn't much of a conversation starter, either. If she'd said she was a psychic, a conversation would have ensued.

  "Oh. Can I ask something personal?"

  "Sure."

  "Where did you get those contacts? Those are the coolest I've ever seen. Your eyes are like a pastel abalone shell if you know what I mean."

  "I do, and thank you, but these are my real eyes."

  "Are you kidding? How lucky is that? With that white hair and dark brows, you're rocking the whole hot Fae thing. All you need are the pointed ears."

  "Hot Fae?"

  "Yeah, you know, in the stories."

  "Oh, yes, of course."

  She didn't have a clue, but Debi was broadcasting like a reality show, so it wasn't hard to figure out. Just as she opened her mouth to ask titles of books about hot Fae, Officer Menendez stopped at the exit.

  With the way the women were talking and checking their phones, Izzi couldn't help but wonder again why they were not at all concerned by the possible danger they were in.

  That changed the moment Officer Menendez opened her mouth to give them instructions. By the time they walked outside, they were clinging to one another, looking around fearfully as Officer Menendez instructed them to proceed to their cars.

  The woman Izzi walked with, Debi, took hold of Izzi's arm. "Are you scared?"

  "Cautious," Izzi replied, hating that she felt like she was telling a lie. She could justify her answer, keeping the woman calm, trusting law enforcement had a secure net on the area, and would stop the killer if he or she acted.

  As she walked, trying to validate her answer, without warning, all the hair on her body felt like it suddenly stood on end. Something like a spider web of electricity danced over her. Danger. Before she could react, a voice sounded in her mind.

  His voice.

  If you're smart, you'll kiss pavement, my love.

  "Get down!" She screamed as she shoved Debi between two cars and dropped to the ground, grabbed Debi by the arm, and pulled her down as well. "Stay down," she ordered. Izzi crept on hands and knees to the rear of the car.

  "Can you hear me?" she hoped her comm unit was working.

  "Loud and clear. What happened?" Gib's voice came back to her.

  "He's here."

  "What? He?" There was a moment's pause before he continued. "Iz, are you–"

  Screams from the parking lot interrupted. "Oh god," Izzi felt a wave of nausea as she saw a woman on the ground. The front of her head was – missing. Women were screaming and running as Officer Menendez tried to get them to stop.

  "Get between the cars!" Izzi shouted. "Between the cars! Get on the ground."

  "We have to get out of here!" Debi tried to take Izzi's arm.

  "No, we have to do exactly what we're doing. He can't see us here, so this is the safest place until the police arrive. Just stay down, okay?"

  Debi didn't look convinced but nodded and crouched lower. Izzi turned her attention to Gib's voice in her earpiece, calling her name."I'm here, I'm here."

  "Tell me."

  "There's one woman down. Dead. We're facing – hold on." She took out her phone and activated the compass app. "Okay, we're facing east. From the position of the body and the wound, the shots had to have come from the west or maybe west southwest."

  "The federal center," he said, clearly to someone other than her.

  As she waited, another voice intruded, this one from inside her mind. M.L.K and Forsythe, Isabelle. They better hurry. I feel the need to end this particular game.

  What do you mean by this particular game? She waited, but there was no answer.

  "Gib!"

  She said his name twice before he responded. "Stay put, Izzi, and keep those women on the ground behind the cars."

  "M.L.K and Forsythe, Gib. That's where the shooter is. Hurry. And have someone radio Officer Menendez and update her."

  "Will do."

  In under two minutes, she heard sirens. "Gib?"

  "We have a jumper."

  "What?"

  "A woman. She stepped off the building. Leo and Galen are on the roof. The rifle is there."

  "Anything else?"

  "What else would there be?"

  "Check
the shooter. Was she stabbed?"

  "What would make you–"

  "Tell them to check!"

  She heard him giving orders. "I'll get back to you, Iz. Sit tight."

  Like there was any other choice. Luckily, the place as swarming with police in minutes. Officers coaxed women to their feet and from behind cars to escort them back inside the stadium where they'd be sequestered in their locker room until they could be questioned.

  "Dr. Adams?" A uniformed officer appeared at the end of the car, where she and Debi sat. "Officer Gordon, ma'am. Are you ladies okay?"

  "Fine, thank you, Officer Gordon," Izzi stood and offered her hand to Debi. "If you could see Debi safely to wherever you're having the squad gather, I'd appreciate it."

  "That's why I'm here, ma'am."

  "Thank you."

  "Thank you," Debi gave Izzi a hug before she left with the officer. Izzi smiled and returned the embrace, feeling the relief and the lingering fear that had Debi trembling. "Don't worry, it's over. You're safe."

  Debi nodded, swiped at tears, and left with the officer.

  "Anyone listening?" Izzi hoped her comm was active.

  "On my way to you now," Galen's voice came back to her. "Look to your left."

  She spotted him the moment she turned. "I'm here to escort you to the rooftop where we found the shooter's weapon."

  "And the shooter?"

  "Dead."

  "From the fall or something else?"

  "What else could it be? We got there after she jumped."

  "Did anyone check?"

  "Not that I'm aware, the M.E. is in route."

  "I need to see the body first."

  "Why?"

  "Call it a hunch."

  "Fine, let's go."

  Izzi fell into step with him, noticing the number of looks he received from the cheerleaders. "You seem to collect a fan club wherever you go," she commented.

  "What?"

  "Take a look around, Romeo."

  He did glance around and then at her. "Not interested."

  "There are some beautiful women on the cheering team."