This woman had been tough to use. Lulu fought really hard, to the point he had to knock her out again and tie up her hands. She’d tried to slash him a few times with her cat like claws, and leaving DNA under her nails wasn’t something he wanted to happen. He’d watched enough TV to know the cops would look there first. An idea hit him, and he roughly pulled the artificial nails from her fingertips. He dropped the bloody acrylic into the same bag that held the condom and laughed.
After he’d knocked her out again, she was easy to use. It had taken him a while to get off with the woman. He preferred to see the look of fear in their eyes, before he took them. This performance was mediocre at best, and he’d actually been forced to think about the last girl. Then he had a plan, he pulled out another condom and slid it on, as his body went tight. Holding her hands down by the rope he’d used, he slapped her across the face a few times waking her up.
“Hey baby, are you ready for round two of the party? I like to get my money’s worth,” he grinned, sliding into her as she struggled to escape him. With his free hand he grabbed her around the throat, closing off her air supply. As her eyes went large, he pounded himself into her body, thoroughly enjoying it.
“Yeah Lulu, you’re going to die,” he muttered, close to erupting again. As the woman’s face went slack and her eyes rolled up into her head, he released her hands to place his other around her throat. He squeezed and slammed into her, enjoying the idea that he was stealing her life.
“Amazing,” he mumbled, as he rode her dying body. When he finally erupted in pure pleasure, he released her throat. Staring down into her dead face, he smiled peacefully.
“Now to just dump your body,” he stated. “Why make the FBI look for you. I’ll take you right to them.”
* * *
Callen dropped the pizza on the living room table and placed the beer in the fridge. He’d also picked up some orange juice for Elizabeth after he Googled it online. Beside the pizza box was a salad for her, just in case. He believed he covered all his bases. This fatherhood thing was completely new to him, but he remembered the lunatic his brother had become over keeping her fed and safe.
Although Callen would like to say he wasn’t going to go that route, he probably would. Already he had the fierce desire to protect her and watch over her like a hawk. He looked up as his father strolled in carrying CJ in his arms. Wyler motioned to the stairs and then the sleeping child.
When he came back down, he hugged his son. “How are you, Callen?” he asked, taking a seat on one of the couches.
It just exploded from him. “I’m the father!”
It took Wyler a few seconds to figure out what his boy was talking about, but then he stood and hugged him again. “I’m thrilled for you! Where’s Elizabeth?” he said.
“I’m right here, Dad,” she said, coming down the stairs towards them.
“Sweetheart, how do you feel?” he asked, hugging his daughter-in-law. He was genuinely happy for his one son. “How’s Ethan?” he asked, dropping his voice.
Elizabeth grinned. “He’s hopping in the shower and then coming down to eat,” she said, going into Callen’s arms and kissing him. The kiss was sweet and protective and made her smile.
“I see you brought me dinner,” she said, pointing at the pizza.
“I also brought you orange juice, because it’s full of folic acid and good for our child. Then I wasn’t sure if you could handle pizza, so I got you a salad.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Oh boy, here we go again,” she snickered.
Ethan laughed from the steps. “Here I was getting used to stealing food. I guess that’s over and done with.”
“Thank God!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
Wyler hugged his other son, seeing absolutely nothing but peace on his face. “You okay?” he asked, patting his boy’s cheek.
“Yeah Dad, I’m more than okay,” he replied, going to his brother, hugging him. “Beer?”
“Yeah, in the fridge,” stated Whitefox, releasing the man and once again checking his eyes and face for truth.
Elizabeth opened the pizza box and grinned. “No meat. I think I may fall even more in love with the men in my life.”
Callen opened her salad and pointed at the couch. “Off your feet, eat your salad and Ethan has your juice.”
She laughed at how over the edge he was already. Generally, he was the laid back one. “Works for me.” She took the salad and tucked her legs up underneath her. “It’s a good thing your brother broke me in with CJ, or I’d be bitchy.”
“I’m immune to bitchy,” answered Blackhawk, handing her a glass of orange juice.
Elizabeth lifted a brow and gave him the look.
Wyler laughed. “I think I’m going to enjoy watching all this.”
“I’ll ignore you all, since I’m too damn happy right now, but as always, I could snap and hurt all the men around me at any second.”
Callen leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I don’t mind, angel. Hurt me,” he teased, winking. She sucker punched him in the ribs. “Hey!”
Now she giggled. “You walked into that one again,” she answered.
Blackhawk sat on the opposite side of her and grabbed a slice of pizza. “Want to tell me about the files?” he offered.
Elizabeth broke the no death at the table rule for a couple reasons. Technically they were on the couch, and she did need to work on the assignment for a while.
“I went through them all and pulled out two that just didn’t seem to fit for me,” she said, reaching into her bag and pulling them out. She handed one to Callen and one to Ethan and waited for them to scan the file and then swap.
When Ethan had read both of them, he looked over at Callen. “Tell me about them Cal, and what makes them not fit the assignment.”
It wasn’t like Ethan to quiz him. “Great, I love a surprise test.”
Blackhawk laughed. “I’m just teaching you how I do my job. You always say you want to learn it all, and see which part of the team you tend to be more like. This is how I teach- hands on.”
Callen understood now and relaxed. “I doubt the first file had anything to do with it. I’d think more of a party that got out of hand, or a fire a bunch of kids couldn’t control.”
“I agree,” stated Ethan. “How about file two?”
Callen flipped open the file as he took a sip of beer. “The owner of the building later found things missing. It looks like someone played burglar and then maybe got nervous and torched the place.”
Elizabeth leaned over. “My my, Mr. Whitefox. You certainly are learning fast.”
He grinned. “I have the best to learn from.”
“Yeah, Ethan’s not too shabby either,” she said, catching him off guard. He started choking on his beer, and she patted him on the back.
“Elizabeth!” Ethan shook his head.
“Anyway, I then decided to put the files in chronological order of events and discovered something.”
Blackhawk leaned forward for another slice of pizza. “What?” he asked.
“I personally believe our killer has been at this for a while. I don’t think the women were his first victims. I think he’s been escalating for some time. You said that arsonists perfect their crimes and sometimes do this for years and hundreds of fires, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, most serial arsonists rarely go big first time out. They get off on the control of destroying, but like to see how far they can push it with each try.”
Callen must have had a blank look on his face.
“It’s like theft. You start small, say as a child. A kid steals candy, to see if he can get away with it. When he does, maybe he gets bored with the little things and tries a pair of jeans.”
Elizabeth picked up for him. “After the jeans, Callen, he may try breaking into a car to steal the contents.”
Callen thought about it. “We never did the petty stuff as kids, we went right to stealing the cars,” he grinned.
Wyler shook his head. “A
nd you both got caught. That was a testament to your theft skills.”
Elizabeth began laughing. “I've used Callen for breaking and entering. I have no comment.”
Blackhawk grinned. “We weren’t kleptomaniacs. Callen and I did it to piss off the Natives and get the ladies.” Once he said it, he blocked his side in case there was a sucker punch coming.
She ignored him, and gave Callen a look. “Anyway, the arsonist in the files is escalating and practicing his craft. I really believe this could be his work.”
“What did he do?” asked Callen, pointing at the other papers, sitting in a pile.
Elizabeth told them what she’d found. “He started with abandoned buildings for the first three. He was tentative at first. Six months to a year between each one, and then he escalated. The next set of three were with ritualistic animal killings inside the fires.”
“That fits the criteria for serial killer combining with serial arsonist.” Ethan leaned back against the couch. “So we have a killer that’s been escalating for five years.”
“I think so,” answered his wife.
Wyler didn’t like any of this. “Please be careful, sweetheart.”
She smiled gently. “I’m fine, Dad. I’m not even close to the killer’s ideal target. Makes me glad I’m not a stripper.”
Blackhawk started laughing. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear my wife say in conversation over dinner.”
Callen grinned. “Is it wrong that I wished she was for a few brief seconds?”
The pillow clocked him right in the side of the head, except it wasn’t Elizabeth that threw it at the man.
It was courtesy of Wyler.
“Boy! If your granddad was here he’d smack you senseless for even letting that fall out of your mouth. You keep those thoughts locked up in your head. She’s giving you a child!”
Both brothers started laughing.
“Just more proof, gentlemen. I am absolutely, unequivocally, totally Wyler’s favorite,” Elizabeth taunted them and stuck out her tongue.
It was all fun and games, until Wyler noticed that Elizabeth didn’t look so well. “I think you should go upstairs and get some sleep, sweetheart. You look worn down, and I’m sure I know why.” He gave both his sons a look.
Ethan waited for her to put up a fight.
Elizabeth yawned, and put down her salad. “I think I’m going to take your advice, Dad,” she answered, standing. “I’m drained.”
Wyler stood. “I’ll clean up,” he offered. “Head to bed young lady. You three need your sleep.”
Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad,” she said and started for the steps.
Before she could get there, Callen swept her up in his arms.
“I have you, angel,” he said softly.
Normally Elizabeth would protest, but she simply laid her head on his shoulder. “I know you do, Cal.”
“Night Dad,” both men called, as they went to their room.
Wyler watched them and felt off balance. How he wished his father was here to help him figure out why he was so worried. “Dad, keep them safe,” he said to the emptiness around them. “We have a baby coming and need your protection.”
* * *
The killer took his time, driving her prone body back to where he picked her up. Parking behind the building, he planned his next move from the shadows. No one was around and he knew it was time to start. Rummaging in his trunk he couldn’t find his can of gasoline. He found another bottle of liquid and decided to go with it. It said flammable and would have to do for now.
Dragging her out by the dumpster, he rested her against the side and dumped the liquid on her. Lighting a match he dropped it on her wet body and ran back to his car. From the shadows he could see the flames covering her form. Their blue and then red tips licked at the air surrounding her, forcing him to smile.
The smell of burning cloth and flesh filled the night air, and made his heart pound in his chest. Her hair just started to melt, when the back door of the building opened and screaming filled the night air.
Shit!
The woman in the doorway screamed bloody murder, until a big man came running out. At that point, he started his engine and slowly drove the opposite way around the building to get away before the police showed up.
He slammed his fist into the steering wheel repeatedly. Damn it to hell, he didn’t get to see his favorite part. It was all ruined. He should have lit her up right where he killed her.
Angrily he headed home.
Next time he wouldn’t make the same mistake.
* * *
As an FBI agent, one was always prepared to be pulled from sleep by a phone call. It was startling to hear all three phones go off at the same time, but they all suspected why. Elizabeth’s rang and the men’s phones beeped, alerting them to the reality of it all. It meant they were all getting out of their warm cozy bed for a chilly night out in the cold.
“Hello?” she muttered into the phone. It was her administrative assistant on the other end. Jameson Crow worked the night shift at FBI West.
“Boss? Sorry to wake you up, but a call just came in about a body on fire at the club you were working today. It’s a woman, and it’s not pretty.”
Elizabeth jumped out of bed. “Call in the tech team too, Jameson,” she said, hanging up the phone.
Both men were slipping into jeans and their shoes.
“Killer struck again and left us a present at the kitty club,” she said, buckling her own belt and clipping on her side arm. “We need to get there fast. I’m betting at this very minute the incompetent idiot Detective Leto is there trying to prove this one has nothing to do with our case.”
“Good,” answered Blackhawk. “I want to meet the asshole that put his hands on you,” he stated, clipping on his own gun and walking towards their door. “See you in the car,” he stated coolly.
“I hate when he gets that scary look on his face,” Elizabeth said, following him. “Callen, can you keep your brother from killing Detective Leto?” she asked, hustling after the man.
He laughed. “Stop him? I plan on helping him.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Funny how this brother thing just turned ugly fast.”
Standing outside ‘The Pussy Cat Club’, Elizabeth and her team stared down at the charred remains of the woman. Granted she wasn’t as badly burned as the last six women, but the flames had still done a number on her.
The portion of her face that was half burned had skin and flesh hanging sickly from her cheek, as it began to peel away like burnt paper. Her hair was mostly melted against the badly beaten part of her face.
Lulu hadn’t had an easy life or death. The only reason Elizabeth could identify the woman, was the tattoo on her wrist. It was the same as the one she’d noticed during the interview.
“What’s up with the hair?” questioned Blackhawk, pointing with a gloved hand at a few spots on her skull.
“I’m guessing she had fake hair extensions put in and when the heat destroyed the regular hair, it melted the faux strands into a sick puddle.” Doctor Leonard touched the hardening, melted mess.
“What’s the white residue?” asked Blackhawk.
Chris shook his head. “Apparently one of the girls came through the door to have a smoke break. She found the body on fire, screamed and got the attention of the bartender. He rushed out, grabbed a fire extinguisher and put the woman out.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes in frustration. “So any trace the killer left on her body is now gone or contaminated?”
“Yes. The spray of the fire extinguisher would have blown off any fibers onto the ground and into the air. Plus the bartender used an extinguisher with ammonium phosphate as the main chemical. The ammonium screwed with the blood on her body and made it useless. I’ll run it, but don’t hold your breath,” he said, checking her hands. “Oh and more bad news, I’m betting the killer snapped off all her nails, since they’re suspiciously missing. They tore to t
he cuticle bed, so if she scratched him or got any DNA, it’s gone now too.”
“Come on!” Elizabeth kicked the dumpster in frustration.
“What’s wrong? Is the FBI having a hard time solving this case?” Detective Leto said snidely from behind them. “And here the governor thought the all mighty FBI could handle it. Maybe they should have passed it off to a man. You know, someone with a clue on how to run it.”
Elizabeth had to actually place herself in front of the men to keep Ethan and Callen from killing him.
“All this equal rights bullshit is what caused this. Women should be home popping out babies and not trying to do a man’s work,” he grinned, enjoying the taunting. “Hey why don’t you go get knocked up, Director Blackhawk? Maybe playing mommy will be a little easier than FBI.”
This time it was the men that needed to hold her back. Elizabeth was about to tear into him, when Detective Cyra Austin tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned, she clocked him so hard that the crack of her fist hitting his face was audible.
“Oh shit,” muttered Whitefox grinning, as the man landed on his back on the ground. “That had to hurt, and be very embarrassing that a woman just cold cocked you like that,” he said from standing behind Elizabeth.
“I am so damn sick of listening to you spew your egotistical bullshit, Brian. You think you’re better at a job just because of a dick between your legs? Well here’s a news flash. You should head on into the women’s locker room. On the one wall is quite an interesting limerick about the tiny size of your junk.”
Elizabeth started laughing at that one. “Boys, please remove the asshole from my crime scene,” she stated, watching Detective Austin.
“My pleasure,” growled Blackhawk. He and Callen both grabbed him under and arm and dragged him away and under the police tape.
Elizabeth whistled. “Doc, can you come over here? I need you to take a look at Detective Austin’s hand. It looks pretty busted up.”
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 44