Well the surprises just kept on coming. The killer seemed to be re-inventing each scene to screw with them and throw them off balance. This was only going to make Ethan’s job harder to come up with an accurate profile.
In return, that made her part of solving all this even more of a hot mess.
Damn it!
“So he switched it up? I don’t get the issue,” Lowry stated.
Ethan fielded this one, “A killer just doesn’t change up his methods mid-kill. If he’s removing things, altering or changing it up, there has to be a reason.”
“Well FBI, why is he?” she stared at the three of them.
“When we figure it out, you’ll be the first to know,” Callen added, trying to be the mediator. Already, he could see the tempers beginning to flare, and that only made the entire situation more volatile.
“Let me get this straight. You come into my town, take over, and still do no better of a job than I would have done? I could have been confused all on my own. I didn't need you three leading the way.”
To say that Elizabeth was getting a little hot under the collar would be an understatement. If the woman thought what they did was as easy as reading a crystal ball, she should have at it.
Callen continued, “Chief, we are working as hard as possible on this and will get the results needed. We have a proven track record when it comes to assignments like this. You’re under the wrong impression, if you honestly believe that the FBI rolls into town and magically they solve it in twenty four hours. It takes time and right now, we need to figure out why the killer is doing it this way. What I need now is for you to sit back and be patient.”
Ethan watched his brother with pride. The man who was once broken and afraid was disappearing, and in his place was someone who was building his self-assurance and strength. Callen was coming out of his cocoon and losing the tethers that held him back.
“You’re supposed to be the best,” she directed towards Elizabeth.
Ethan went to state his objection, but was beat to it once again.
“Let’s make this perfectly clear, Chief. If you’re in any way insinuating that our team is not to your ‘standard’, by all means allow us to head home and leave it to you and your men. You had one officer who tossed evidence and an ME that didn't do a full exam on the first victim. In the process, he missed a piece of evidence. Our jobs are long, tedious, and difficult at best. We have a family at home and lives outside of hunting down killers, and we would love to be there instead. We didn't come into your office and tell you how to do your job, so stay out of ours with your shitty comments,” Callen stated, getting angry at her insinuations.
The woman stared at him. “Then, I’ll let you get to it.”
“That would probably be very prudent on your behalf,” he replied, giving the cold, icy attitude he had learned watching his brother in action.
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed away. When she was gone, Chris Leonard, Elizabeth and Ethan began clapping.
Callen turned and his skin flushed with anger. No one was going to disparage his family and how hard they worked.
No one!
“That brought a tear to my eye,” Elizabeth stated, grinning.
Ethan offered him fist bump. “That was a mix between Elizabeth handing her the big ‘eff’ off and you being the mediator. Nice combination on that one. That took skill.”
He shrugged. “When your team sits around pounding donuts and screwing up, you shouldn’t be allowed to critique other people’s work ethic.”
“You should have punctuated that with some colorful profanity. Then it would have been EXACTLY what Elizabeth would have done,” offered Chris.
“I still have control of my filter,” Callen laughed. “She does not.”
Chris picked up the note and this time handed it to Ethan first. He generally was the cooler of heads.
Two more until it’s you I’m worshipping, Elizabeth, my
sweet. I wonder if you’ll scream for mercy like she did or
if you can handle a lot more pain.
They will never catch me, until I’ve made you mine.
Ethan read it twice and tried desperately to get past the red haze that was filling his vision. When he rolled his neck and closed his eyes, it was a dead giveaway of the tension and how hard he was fighting for control.
Callen knew it had to be bad, and when he read it, he honestly wished that he hadn’t. His blood pressure spiked, and he wordlessly stared at the woman they shared and loved.
Elizabeth could feel their eyes as she read it. It was pretty much the same old story. The killer was trying to freak them out and rattle the cage.
Newsflash.
None of what he was promising was going to happen.
Not with her anyway.
“It looks like time’s a ticking, boys.” Elizabeth was well aware that some joke at that point would only cause a nuclear man explosion of epic proportions. Instead, she opted to let it go. This was the ONLY thing in their relationship that wasn’t perfect. They wanted to roll her up in bubble wrap and keep her safe, but she wasn’t a debutant who needed a rescue. By now, she had hoped that they would figure that out, but it didn't seem to be happening.
Ethan finally found the control to speak. “What else do we have?”
Chris scanned the body and searched for any other aberration. “She has facial bruising. I’m willing to venture that, like the other victim, he used violence to subdue her. I don’t see any other indications of assault. Her clothes are intact, except for where he cut the dress open to do his artwork.”
Elizabeth stared down at the woman. “If she was alive as he carved her up, that had to be painful.”
Chris moved as a tech bagged her hands. “That’s an understatement. I doubt that she could stay awake long enough to see it finished. He tortured her the entire time.”
“So, she passed out,” Callen added. How horrific was it to have to watch your own body being mutilated? There was gratitude that the poor woman had succumbed to unconsciousness.
“That then brings me to this.” He turned her head. “There’s a powdery residue on her upper lip. I’ll have them swab it and get working on it, ASAP.”
Ethan contemplated it. “Can you bag her up and work out of the morgue? I don’t like sitting out here like this. I’m feeling edgy, and after years of being an agent that really only signals one thing for me. Something bad is coming.”
Chris could do that.
Elizabeth whistled and everyone stopped. “Agent Austin, I need you front and center.”
Chris watched as she jogged across the opening, and he prayed that his boss was going to be gentle. He was aware Elizabeth had to be tough on her people, but this was his girlfriend. His eyes flickered back to his boss, and he waited.
“Yes, Director?”
“You’re only a probationary, and I don’t have time for field training right now, so I apologize but you’re on paperwork duty.”
Chris let out the breath that he had been holding.
“I need you to run her prints and anything else you can to get me her identification. We’re taking her photo to the witch shop to see if they have her name. If we luck out, then expect a text.”
Cyra nodded.
“Also, do a search on the land. You were a detective and I trust your ability to find the rationale as to why he’s picking these locations.”
“I’m on it.”
She glanced over at her men. “I need to talk to Chris privately for a minute. Can you two give us some space?”
They nodded, moving a little distance away to ensure their privacy and yet remain on guard.
Elizabeth crouched. “What did you want to say to me?”
He wanted to laugh. Apparently, he sucked at keeping a neutral face. Then again, with Elizabeth he should probably know better. They’d worked together far too long to even try the bullshit angle. “I was worried you were going to rip into her.”
It was nice that he
was completely honest. “I don’t just do it for fun, Chris. If someone needs it, I really have no choice. If I let one person slide on the team, then the rest are at risk.”
“I really care about her a great deal,” he admitted, knowing that he could trust her.
Staring deep into his eyes, she finally smiled. “I don’t doubt that for a second, and I’m very happy for you. I’ll offer you this, since you and I have been friends for a very long time. I promise to handle her carefully and not be as brutal on her if she screws up.”
He grinned. “When I marry her, you’re going to be my best man.”
She stood and laughed at that visual in her mind. “Hell yeah I am, Christopher and we’re having one hell of a bachelor party. It’s going to make the men in my life blush.”
He gave her a fist bump. “I can’t wait to do it up Blackhawk style.”
“You say that now,” she drawled, walking towards the men. “When you see the carnage, don’t be surprised.”
“Hey, Lyzee,” he called, having her turn.
“Yeah, Doc?” she drawled.
“Watch your back, boss.”
She winked at him and grinned, knowing that she didn't have to worry about that. There were two fine specimens of Native masculinity currently all over that little task.
Walking back to the car, both men flanked her.
“Elizabeth, why were you discussing a bachelor party?” Ethan inquired, almost afraid to ask. With his wife, you never knew what was going to come out of her mouth.
She dropped her voice. “Chris wants to marry the girl, and I’m going to be best man.”
Callen snorted and shook his head. “And we continue to propagate the insanity even further in our already chaotic lives.”
She elbowed him. “Cal, who do you think is better qualified to work on that one for him? You remember my fine pole dancing skills,” she retorted, leaving that picture to percolate in their brains. “I may break out my stripper outfit once more.”
“Holy shit,” muttered Callen. Oh, he had many a fond fantasy bouncing around in his brain over that costume. Watching her in the barely there outfit and beading had been very awe inspiring.
Ethan’s body reacted to the visual too. “Uh, here’s a little newsflash for you, wife. It’s not going to happen, and we will be there to make sure of it.”
Her laughter filled the air. “Cowboy, then you better play nice with the ‘best wo-man’ or you might not get an invite to the single-dom sendoff.”
They both stopped walking.
“Elizabeth!”
She just laughed, as she headed back to the Denali. There was nothing she liked more than keeping the men in her life guessing.
Chris could only imagine the conversation they were having. Knowing his friend, she was torturing them unmercifully.
“Chris?” Christina tapped his arm to get his attention.
“Yes?”
She hated telling him this. “We have a little problem, and I’m following protocols in reporting it to you, since you’re head of the lab.”
He knew right then it had to be a big one. He was next in the chain of command before it went right to Elizabeth and Ethan Blackhawk. “What?”
“I was double checking the evidence log from the first two victims to make sure we have processed everything, and I noticed something wasn’t right.”
Uh oh. Already, Chris was feeling sick to his stomach over the tone in her voice and look on her face. “And?”
“Remember the hairs that we pulled from the woman? The ones that were found clenched in her fingers?”
Chris did remember them. It was their only DNA link to the killer. “Did something happen as you tested them?”
She really dreaded telling him. Never, in all her years had she ever had this happen on her watch. “They’re missing.”
The ME nearly dropped his pen. “What?” he lowered his voice as he stared over at the head tech. “Please tell me you’re screwing with me, Christina. This is a huge issue and not funny at all!”
Christina shook her head. “I was working on them and ran out of time. I placed them back into evidence with the intent to start up today. Only when I went to pull them this morning, they were gone.”
He stared openmouthed. “How did this happen?”
“I don’t know!”
“Is someone else possibly handling them?” Oh, he hoped and prayed that was the case or Elizabeth Blackhawk was going to be dining on his carcass when she found out. Then Ethan was going to tap dance all over his grave while Callen cheered him on.
“I need to search the entire work space, but I wanted to tell you first. I know that it’s procedure.”
God, he wished he didn't know.
“You have today to locate them. We’re going to have to tell the Blackhawks by tomorrow. I’ll give you twenty four hours to cover for you, but those hairs are listed as evidence, and they will be demanding a report shortly. That’s not something we can sweep under the rug.”
She was well aware. “I’ll work on it.”
Chris sent her back to work and rubbed his temples to relieve some of the tension.
When he heard her voice, he glanced up.
“Are you okay, Christopher?” Cyra inquired. She was worried about him and didn't know what to do to help him.
“Yeah, I am sweetheart. It’s all just work related shit.”
She knew it had to be bad. Chris rarely threw out any type of profanity. “Do you need my help?”
He handed her the clip board. “Yeah, you can be my secretary.”
“Certainly Mr. Leonard,” she purred, as she teased him. Again, his face flushed, but this time not for the same reason.
“Cyra!” he hissed, lowering his voice.
“You told me to play secretary. It’s not my fault I always wanted to fool around with my very sexy scientist boss.”
There weren’t words for what his body was feeling at that moment, and it must have shown on his face. “That intrigues me more than I can vocalize.”
Cyra winked at him and giggled. God, she loved riling up her adorable doctor.
Glancing down at her watch, she was well aware that it was before ‘Mystical Memorabilia’ officially opened. They knew it was a long shot, but they needed to get this day started, and fast. The killer was escalating and that didn't buy them much time.
There was a light on from the back room, and Elizabeth prayed someone was inside. Banging on the glass with the palm of her hand, she waited. Relief filled her as Aries LaFay rushed from the back to see what was happening.
Once he saw them, his face changed as he unlocked the door. “You’re here early and I doubt it has anything to do with wanting to buy trinkets.”
Behind him was his wife, and she was dressed in normal clothing and no make-up. They must have been getting ready for the day’s performance.
“You're the all-seeing witches. Why don’t you both tell me why the FBI is banging on your door this early in the day? Go ahead and take a stab at it.”
Both tensed at the hostility emanating from the woman.
“Did you by any chance get me that list of willing coven members? It’s really important now, since the killer has left us another victim.”
“Please, join us in the back room. The energy surrounding you is making me feel off balance,” Artemis said, walking barefoot to their private area.
They did as she asked and once again took the offered seats. This time, the men sat side by side, and Elizabeth perched in a chair. It was time to play a little Wiccan hardball, and she was up to bat.
“What has happened?” Ares inquired as he placed his wife at his side protectively.
“Another woman was slaughtered on an altar last night. The killer is escalating, and I need to know if you can identify her.”
They both looked frazzled, but agreed.
Ethan pulled up the file on his tablet. Already, Christina was uploading images for them. Since they didn't have the woman’s identificat
ion, the witches were going to be getting the gruesome crime photos. Working with Elizabeth as long as he had, Ethan knew that she would want them to be as horrified as they were over the killing. Now, she was on alert and watching them with her cool, calculating, cop stare.
They took the offered tablet and gasped in horror.
“Was this all necessary?” Ares asked as he motioned to the horrific imagery.
Elizabeth gauged their responses. The man was angry and the woman looked sick to her stomach.
“Yes, it was.”
He handed it back to her. “The woman’s name is Harmony Wilcox.”
Ethan took the tablet and began texting Cyra the information. The faster they moved on this, the more likely they would be to get a lead. They were going to need a deep search for this one.
“The coven doesn’t feel comfortable coming to the shop,” Artemis stated softly. Her stomach continued to churn at what she had been forced to view.
Elizabeth didn't think they got how dire the situation was at that point. “You had a circle Sunday night and a woman is taken. You had one two nights ago and the same deal. Did you have one last night?”
“Yes.”
“Do you see the pattern here? When you have a circle, you lose a coven member. I need to speak to your believers and get them to see what’s happening.”
Artemis leaned into her husband and whispered into his ear. They conferred on something and finally looked back over at her. “We will allow you to come with us to our sacred space, but you can’t know the location.”
Hey, at this point, anything was better than nothing. “Great. When do we go?”
Ares shook his head. “I’m sorry but there is no ‘we’ in the invitation. You are invited, but your partners must remain behind. We don’t allow men that aren’t part of our family to enter our circle. The location is secret for a reason.”
Neither Ethan nor Callen liked where this was heading. In fact, if anything it was pissing them off.
Elizabeth pondered it over. “Okay, it’s a deal. What do I have to do?”
Devil Hath Come (an FBI/Romance Thriller ~book 7) Page 28