All he wanted was to know if she loved him, even a tiny bit at this point. Anything would give him enough to push forward.
“Please Tori, figure this out for us,” he whispered into the silence of his car.
Life was so much easier before when he was living for the moment, and not carrying someone’s emotional baggage.
Damn it!
He knew this was going to happen, but it was definitely worse than he expected.
This didn’t just hurt his heart, it threatened to destroy it.
~ Chapter Nineteen ~
Elizabeth had changed out of her stripper attire and was pacing back and forth across her office floor. Right now they had three possible suspects, but nothing substantial to tie them to the string of killings.
If she could just get a break, there was the chance to save more lives. Stopping in front of the whiteboard, she stood there and slipped into her own thoughts.
Ethan and Callen didn’t know how long she was standing there before they came into her office. Elizabeth was barefoot, her hair still straight, and her face scrubbed clean of all the makeup.
While she was lost in the details, they simply waited for her to resurface.
It was like she knew they were there without looking.
“We have three possible suspects. The first one is Patrick Wells. His wife dies in a fire, and he inherits all her money. The killer leaves behind a fire ax, typically carried by a fireman or a fire inspector. Next we have William Thomas. He works at a club as a bouncer and frequents another to score with women. We have him on video frequenting the club and fraternizing with the dead strippers. He was in the club before Lulu went missing and admits to a sexual relationship with her.”
Both men sipped their coffee, letting her talk it out.
“Then we have Fred Hillstone. He works at the club as the manager, and was well aware that his ‘girls’ were selling more than a lap dance in the back room. Fred was using the videos for his own pleasure, and coincidentally was off work the same time the killer makes his attempt.”
“Which one fits best, baby?” asked Blackhawk. Technically all three fit within his profile. He didn’t tell her William Thomas handed over a valid alibi. Ethan wanted her to talk it out and find her bearings first.
“The only one that feels right is Patrick Wells. I don’t know why, but my gut says the other two are just creepy man pigs.”
Whitefox laughed at the term.
“I doubt that Willie could mastermind this all himself. He’s a big beefy guy. Why couldn’t he just scoop Tori up and carry her away? There was visible evidence she was dragged, and so was ‘Sparkles’.”
Both men agreed.
“Julian is shorter than me, and he was able to pick Tori up in his arms easily. Willie is a great deal bigger than Julian. It just doesn’t fit for me.”
It was time. “Willie has an alibi, and it’s airtight and backed up by a few witnesses. While we were at the club, I had an agent interview the bartender that was serving him all night. His only sin is getting shitfaced and driving home drunk.”
Elizabeth drew an ‘X’ through his name and took him off the list of suspects.
“Walk us through the evidence, maybe if you talk it out something will pop,” Callen suggested.
She rolled her shoulder. All the swinging on the pole didn’t make it feel great.
“Christina is running the trace right now on the area and the fire ax. I’m betting we’re going to find blood on the ax. If we’re lucky, it’s going to be the blood of a few of our victims.”
“If we’re really lucky, there’s going to be fingerprints,” added Blackhawk.
“Yeah. I’m due a little luck on this assignment.”
The men watched her go back to staring at the board, lost in thought.
“We should get her something to eat,” stated Callen, thinking about the baby she was carrying. “I don’t think she’s eaten today.”
“I haven’t,” she answered.
“What are you in the mood for, angel?” he asked, knowing he needed to feed her and his growing child.
She was back to being lost in her thoughts. Something just didn’t sit right with her when it came to the victims.
“Chinese is probably a good option,” stated Ethan. “Just get her some lo-mein and some soup.”
Callen nodded and pulled out his phone. “The usual, Ethan?” he asked, dialing.
“Yeah.”
“Ethan, tell me about the killer again. What he’s going to be like?” she asked, still staring at the board.
“Arrogant is a good word to use. He’s going to think he’s hard to catch. Thinks that he blends easily and can be right there when the fires happen and no one’s going to notice.”
“He thinks he’s smarter than the FBI?” she inquired.
“Oh he’s going to want to show us how smart he is. He won’t leave us clues, but he’s going to leave us a visible order. Since he’s likely an obsessive compulsive person, he’s going to follow his own pattern. Once you figure out the one piece, you’ll likely have him.”
She started pacing, thinking about all the victims. “I really need that file of Amanda Callister Wells.”
Blackhawk pulled out his phone. “Let me call Gilman and light a large bonfire under his ass.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I love when you go all director on people.”
Winking at her, he waited for the man to answer his phone. “Captain Gilman? This is Director Blackhawk. I need to know where you are with that file on Amanda Wells. We really need it.”
“I’m working on it,” he replied, abruptly. “It was brought to my attention that my fire inspector wasn’t notified of the last woman that the killer lit on fire.”
Blackhawk waited for it.
“I thought we agreed to work together?”
“Captain Gilman, we don’t notify your people when we have a body. The call went into your center; your dispatcher should have notified him. We were notified by them when they called our office. I suggest if you think someone has screwed up that you look in-house.”
Elizabeth wanted to clap at how her husband effectively turned it back on the Captain’s own staff.
“I’m going to drive over to your office and get that file. I suggest you be there for me with it, and with a little less attitude.”
“Or what, Director?” Gilman said.
“Or I’m sending Elizabeth. She’ll rip that office apart and have half your staff for dinner and a snack. Now, you have twenty minutes until I get there. Make sure you’re there and ready.”
Blackhawk disconnected the call.
“Oh please can I go?” she begged, laughing.
Ethan grinned. “No way. You’re pregnant and working. You do your thing, and I’ll take Callen and do my thing.”
Elizabeth kissed him on the lips. “Okay, sexy. You just make sure you give them a really hard time for me.”
Blackhawk waited for his brother to finish up with the takeout order. “Callen, saddle up. You and Ethan are taking a little road trip to get me a file.”
“Works for me, we can pick up dinner then too on our way back,” he grabbed his jacket, noticing that it smelled like Elizabeth. Walking over to her, he placed a kiss gently on her lips, and his hand automatically went to her belly. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cal. Now go help your brother traumatize some cops.”
Both men started laughing, and gave each other a fist bump.
Elizabeth shook her head and went back to staring at the board, hoping to find something to get the dead justice.
* * *
Julian sat in the coffee shop eating dinner and thinking about Tori. What he wanted to do was go back to her house and drag her into his arms, holding onto her. In reality, he knew she was pulling away from him. Everything in him was completely empty at that moment.
When they went their separate ways three months ago, he hurt. Now he was on the precipice waiting to tumble into total devastat
ion.
He finished eating and stood. Now he’d head to FBI West to help them finish up the assignment, and then he’d go home.
Probably alone.
Julian couldn’t even muster anger at this point to help him forget the terrible pain. All he was feeling was love and sadness for a woman that didn’t want anything to do with him. It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of hurt. This was probably the reason he stopped putting his heart out there for love.
It was funny how you could run from the past, but it always found you.
* * *
Tori was lying on her bed and deeply inhaling the smell of Julian’s cologne. It reminded her of the time they spent in each other’s arms. She rolled to her side and ran her fingers over the pillow that once held his head. Pain overwhelmed her, and she forced her eyes closed. It was time to get some sleep, and for once she wanted to not think of Julian. Tori knew every waking minute for the rest of her life would be filled with the memories of him. Never was the affection for Quinn anywhere close to the depth of feeling she had for Julian.
Tori finally understood what true love meant.
Damn you fate!
Now she needed something more to make her forget.
For the first time in four years she prayed for the nightmares and the dirty alley that destroyed her life. That pain she understood better than anything. That pain would supersede the ache in her heart.
Sitting up, she removed the necklace he gave her to keep the nightmares away. Reverently, she touched the charm and pain washed over her. Tori kissed the Native symbol and placed it on the bed stand. Tonight it was just her and the tags that tied her to a horrible past.
Willingly she’d slip into the nightmares to find comfort from the pain of reality.
Tonight was all about hell and death.
* * *
The men pulled up to the police station and scanned the lot. It was mostly empty, except for a few police cars and the employee’s vehicles. Walking across the lot, Ethan got the feeling they were being watched, but then again it was a police station. Cops naturally observed people, so he brushed it off. Inside the building they stopped at the sergeant's desk.
“Can I help you?” he asked, glancing up at the two large men standing there.
Both men pulled their badges.
“I believe Captain Gilman was expecting us?” stated Ethan, turning to stare into the bullpen. There were looks of animosity and hostility. Yeah, the word had spread that the FBI was there to ride someone’s ass.
“He’s in his office- across the pen all the way to the left. I’ll call and tell him you’re on your way there.”
Callen lifted a brow at the disdain in the man’s voice. As they started across the room, he lowered his voice. “Wow, so this is what it feels like to have all the cops hate your guts. I see why Lyzee loves it,” he said snickering. “It’s exhilarating.”
Blackhawk laughed. “It’s pretty awesome when you can piss off an entire office full of people in seconds.”
Gilman stood in his office door. “Here’s your files,” he stated, holding them out to Ethan. “I assume you need nothing else?” he said, turning around.
“We’re good. Thanks for all your help,” grinned Blackhawk. It was more fun calming the local law down after Elizabeth riled them up, but this was as much fun as he was going to have tonight. “Come on, Cal. Let’s go get dinner and get back to Lyzee.”
Whitefox followed his brother out of the station. Halfway across the lot, he saw four men standing in front of their Denali. “We have company, Ethan,” he said quietly.
“I see them.” Obviously his instinct had been right. They were being watched. “What can I do for you Detective Leto?” he asked, standing side by side with his brother, as the four men moved towards them.
“Where’s the boss?” he asked, snidely.
“If you’re referring to Elizabeth, she’s back at FBI West working on this assignment.”
There were mumbles from the men.
“I hope she’s better in bed than as an FBI agent. Who’d she have to bang to get to the top?” he inquired, laughing. All the men with him joined in.
Ethan wasn’t going to let him get a rise out of him. “She certainly wouldn’t waste her time with anyone beneath her like you,” he quipped back, wiping the smug look off his face. “In fact, I think she used your dick as a point of reference, didn’t she Cal?”
“Yeah, I believe she said something about his brain was bigger than his dick, and since we know how big of an idiot you are…” he let it go.
“You two are fucking hysterical.”
Blackhawk grinned. “We try. Now if you’re done, we’d like to head back to our jobs. We apparently have work to do while you have nothing on your desks.”
The men moved closer.
“If you even think about it, Leto, Callen and I will kick all four of your asses. If you think I won’t beat you into a pile of shit to defend Elizabeth’s honor, think again. I may be the FBI, but I love beating down assholes, as much as the next guy.”
The men lunged at them. Two went for Callen and two went at Ethan. Detective Brian Leto went for Ethan’s face, and just missed his nose, clipping his jaw and lip. The return punch knocked Leto back, and the other man rammed into his body taking them to the ground.
Callen saw his brother go down, and felt the sucker punch to his rib cage. He braced for it and dodged the fist to his face. Kicking out he took the one man in the gut, and he backed up in pain. It was the elbow to his chest that knocked the air from his lungs, as he too hit the ground.
Blackhawk got the man off him and swung out with his fist, hearing the crunch of bone. It really wasn’t a fair fight. Both brothers grew up street fighting on the Rez and would play dirty if need be. Leto came back at him swinging and Ethan grabbed his wrist, twisting to bring him to his knees, then dropped his elbow onto Leto’s radius. The man howled in pain as the bone broke.
Callen took a face shot and then rammed into the man with his shoulder. They slammed into the side of a van and finally the man slid to the ground.
“What’s going on out here?” called Gilman, racing across the parking lot.
“Your detective and his buddies here just attacked us,” Blackhawk said, spitting blood onto the ground. “You know the trouble all four are in now for assault on federal officers?”
Callen touched his lip. It was split. “You should be glad Elizabeth wasn’t here. She would have just shot them all in the knee caps,” he muttered, grabbing the file from the asphalt.
“You going to file charges?” asked Gilman, watching his men pick themselves off the ground.
Blackhawk laughed. “No. I think this was embarrassing enough. All four of them got their asses handed to them by two older FBI agents in far better shape. I would send them to some classes on self-defense. They would have been dead if we were criminals. I could have gotten to my gun a few times.”
“Get in there!” Gilman roared at his men. “In my office! NOW!”
The men hustled towards the building, Leto cradling his injured arm. The crowd of officers parted and let them through, staring incredulously.
“I’m really sorry about this. I don’t know what got into them,” he offered. “Thanks for not pressing charges. I’ll deal with them.”
Blackhawk nodded. “Come on Callen,” he said, hopping up into the Denali. “You okay?” he asked, concerned for his brother.
“Yeah, you?” He grabbed a tissue.
Ethan started laughing. “Elizabeth is going to kick our asses when she finds out what happened.”
“Yeah she is,” Callen began laughing too. “Maybe she won’t notice,” he hoped.
Blackhawk snickered, as he took in their appearance. “Yeah, slim chance on that.”
“Good fight, Ethan,” Callen offered a fist bump.
When he laughed it hurt his side. “Yeah it was.”
* * *
Julian grabbed some coffee from the break room
for him and Elizabeth. When he arrived a few minutes earlier, he found her pacing her office. She looked worn down and on the edge of falling asleep. Maybe coffee would help.
“Here you go,” he said, handing her a cup. “What can I help you with?” Julian offered.
“I feel like we’re missing something. I’m going to eat as soon as the men return and then re-read the files. Why aren’t you with Tori?” she asked.
“I think it’s over between us. She’s pulling away from me.” Julian didn’t know why he spilled it to her. It just came out.
Elizabeth could hear the pain in his voice. “What can I do to help?” she asked, wanting them to both be happy.
“Are you shipping her to Walter Reed?” he asked, suddenly.
Honestly, she didn’t have a return call on a vacancy anywhere yet. “I don’t know.”
“Could you get her into a facility around here?”
The pure pain on his face was making her want to cry for him. “I’ll do everything I can.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
“Julian, do you want me to talk to her? Say something to maybe help her out?”
He shook his head. “I need her to decide if she wants to be with me, Elizabeth. I need her to come to me now. I’ve done all I can, and I told her how I feel. I don’t want her to be forced. Please just stay out of it. I appreciate you wanting to help, but if it’s not meant to be, then you can’t push it.”
“What will you do, Julian?”
“When this is over I’m going home. I’ll get my paycheck and leave until the next time you hire me. I have a life there and I need to start living it. I want her with me, but she’s not ready.”
“Will you wait for her until she is?” Elizabeth began formulating what she could do to help them both, despite Julian asking her to not intervene.
“I love her more than anything. I’ll wait the rest of my life for her to figure this out, but I have pride too. I can’t crawl if there’s no hope. If I had one little sign that she loved me, I’d kiss my ego goodbye.”
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 54