Past Will Haunt

by Morgan Kelley

  “Livy, I’m not going to tell you to not sleep with someone. Even if I had done it with Gabe, we clearly aren’t together.”

  “So you have had sex with him.”

  “No, I’ve most definitely not been to bed with Gabe. I’d have sex with Chris before him. That should say it all.”

  “Have you ever kissed him?”

  She paused.

  “OH. MY. GOD! You have!”

  Elizabeth had to stop her from getting derailed. This was out of control. “Livy, I have kissed him, but not because I’m hot for Gabriel.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  She hesitated.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You two as a couple puts me in a predicament. I’m not exactly comfortable with it.”

  “Why?”

  “He tells me shit, and you do the same. I’m the person you both confide in, and I can’t tell you what he says to me. He’s my best friend too.”

  She understood. “I think you making out with the man I may be in love with supersedes any rules.”

  “If I tell you, then you can never say a word. Deal?” she asked, holding out her gloved hand.

  “Deal.”

  “He had his high school reunion a few months ago, and he needed a date. Gabe was a bit of a loner when he was young. His mother bailed, and his father was a Fed. He spent more time shoved in lockers than hanging with friends.”

  “Oh! That’s horrible.”

  “Well, he needed a date. I got dressed up, put on some sexy clothes and heels, and he paraded me around in front of the douchebags he graduated with. While we were dancing, he asked me to kiss him. It was part of the act. Nothing more. It was like kissing my brother. That’s it.”

  She thought about it.

  “Are we okay?” Elizabeth asked.

  “No.”

  “Livy…”

  She couldn’t say anything more. Instead, her partner rushed her, throwing her arms around her in a hug.

  “You are a good person, Elizabeth. This is proof. He needed you, and you came through. I’m glad he had you there to be by his side. I’m not mad.”

  She was glad.

  “Good. Can we stop the inquisition now?”

  “One more question, and I’m good.”

  “Sure. Why the hell not? It’s not like we’re not standing in a dead woman’s home. I’m sure this is absolutely vital.”

  She ignored her. “Do you swear to me that you have no feelings like you want in his pants?”

  She stared at her. “I’m not some sex maniac. I have control. Gabe is like my brother. I love him, but I’m not hot for him. He’s too much like…” She tried to find an example.

  “You?”

  Yes, yes, that was accurate.

  “Yeah, so you should see a shrink. You’re getting ready to jump the male version of me. Who’s the sicko now?”

  Livy laughed right before she blurted out the truth. “I think I love him.”

  “Oh, Jesus. Livy, you haven’t had sex with him yet. Aren’t you moving a little too fast?”

  “Yes, but that’s me. I work on impulse. You’re the controlled one. When I see him, my heart spins. When I smell him, I want to faint. I just can’t stop thinking about him.”

  “I noticed. Uh, talk and dig. I have a flight to catch. As much as I love you, I have to find this killer. It’s kind of our job.”

  “I think he’s the one.”

  She stared at her. “You’re scary. People who randomly make that decision are insane.”

  Livy laughed. “When you know, you just know, right?”

  She thought about it. “I guess.”

  “I need a promise.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “Sure. What is it?”

  “When you finally find him, and I know you will, promise me that you won’t hold back. Promise me that you’ll fall in love, get married, and never look back.”

  She wanted to laugh, but Livy was dead serious.

  “I promise that if ‘Mr. Perfect’ rolls into my life, asks me to be his wife, and have his little babies, I’ll jump in, okay?”

  “Pinkie swear?”

  “How are we best friends? You’re such a freaking girl. I’m embarrassed to know you.”

  Livy laughed and hugged her. “I’m going to ask Gabe to marry me. I know it.”

  “As crazy as that sounds, I hope I’m there to see it happen. I want to watch his head explode from the spontaneity. That will be like a big fat holiday bonus.”

  She laughed. “Can you drop me off at my place? I’m not feeling so good.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I warned you. When you puke on him, you’re going to hate yourself and regret that greasy meat fest.”

  She laughed. “It’s not the food. I just realized he’s the one. Now I have to convince him.”

  Elizabeth dropped her arm over her partner’s shoulders. “You’ll figure it out. I have faith in you. Remember, if I’m a bridesmaid, no pink, no sequins, and I don’t want a bow on my ass.”

  “How could I ever get married without you?”

  They didn't need to answer. They both knew the truth.

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  J. Edgar Hoover

  Building

  Wednesday Afternoon

  When she rolled into the parking lot, Elizabeth got that feeling that she was being watched. She didn't know why, but the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up.

  It creeped her out.

  Looking around, she scanned all the parked agent vehicles, but the lot was empty.

  It was…odd.

  Instead of sticking around, Elizabeth opted to get inside where it was safe. She didn't know why her gut was warning her, but it was better safe than sorry.

  The last thing she needed was to get abducted from the middle of the FBI parking lot. No one would ever let her live it down.

  That was if she survived.

  Rushing toward the building, Elizabeth kept her hand on the butt of her Glock. Yeah, she wasn’t taking any chances. She was smarter than that.

  Across the parking lot, the Denali pulled into its reserved space. Ethan Blackhawk was driving, and his partner was checking out the scenery.

  By scenery, he meant the smoking hot woman heading inside.

  “Holy shit, Ethan, I just saw the woman I’m going to marry.”

  Blackhawk laughed. “Is it the same one we saw at the gas station two days ago? Or the one at the taco stand? You swore you were going to marry them too.”

  “No, this was different. She had all this black curly hair and smoking hot body. You didn't see her?”

  He laughed. “I was worried about not hitting any other cars. Besides, women are a dime a dozen.”

  His partner stared at him like he was insane. “We have to chase her down. I need more information.”

  “No thank you.”

  “You scare me.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Do you have a dick? Is it functioning?”

  “Well, that’s personal, and you haven’t bought me dinner yet to find out. I don’t kiss and tell.”

  Jay Melrose laughed. “I’ll take that as a mind your own business. Wait! Are you gay? You can tell me. Your secret is safe.”

  Blackhawk started laughing. “No, I’m very heterosexual. Trust me. I’m very much into the opposite sex. Do you think all of us Natives are into kinky shit? Well, we’re not. I like my sex straight with a side of no long term commitment.”

  “Hey! Don’t get too defensive. There’s nothing wrong with being gay. You love who you love. I learned that a long time ago.”

  “Again, I’m not into men.”

  Jay shrugged. “Whatever you say. All I know is that I’m going in there after her.”

  “You realize how big that building is, right? You’ll never find her.”

  “I’m going to make it my mission. Want to be my wing man?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry. I want to get home, shower, a
nd work on some profiles.”

  “You need to get laid.”

  “Jay, I’m not a monk. I hook up with the ladies, but not while I’m focused on a case.”

  “You could get any babe out there. I see how they check you out.”

  He didn't see it. Honestly, Ethan didn't think he was anything special. He came into life with a huge disadvantage. He was Indian, and he didn't think he was worthy of any non-Native women. Truth be told, the women they ran into wanted something higher class. He came from the slums of a reservation, and he couldn’t ever bring them back to meet his ‘family’.

  Blackhawk knew the truth.

  He and Jay had different lives. They wouldn’t ever sync up. Not when it came to women.

  “You go ahead,” he said to Jay. “I’ll catch you tomorrow. I’m going home.”

  Jay jumped out. “Call me if you need me. Wait! If I don’t answer, it’s because I’m marrying the woman of my dreams.”

  He laughed. “If you run, you might catch her at the elevator.”

  Jay didn't hesitate. “I’m going to find my wife.”

  Blackhawk watched him run across the parking lot. He laughed. “Yeah, good luck, Jay. Ahhhh, if it were only that easy. I’m pretty sure women don’t marry someone they just met.”

  Actually, they didn't do impulsive things like that in his world.

  With that, he drove away.

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  All the way up in the elevator, Elizabeth had to keep from punching some horny dickwad in the face. In three floors, he managed to hit on her five times.

  It was cheesy.

  It was so very wrong.

  What the hell was in the air in DC? Was everyone trying to pair up and get laid? She didn't get it. Apparently, she missed the memo.

  When the agent asked her out, promising to be the best husband ever, she wanted to jump to her death. When she was finally out of the elevator, she headed toward Gabe’s office.

  It must have scared the man, because he raced the other way.

  Good.

  She was safe.

  It wasn’t that she was afraid of him, but she was worried she’d beat the hell out of him, and then get fired. Elizabeth knew she lacked in the patience department.

  Just as she was approaching the boss man’s office, a hand shot out and yanked her into the coffee area.

  It scared the shit out of her.

  If Elizabeth’s reflexes weren’t as fast as they were, she would have knocked Gabe on his ass.

  “Are you insane?” she hissed. “You don’t do that to an armed person. You could have gotten hurt. Do you know how much trouble I would have been in had I shot you?”

  Gabe didn't care. He had other things to worry about. “Where’s Livy?”

  “I dropped her off at her place. She’s getting ready for your date.”

  He looked relieved.

  “I need a favor.”

  “What? You better not ask me to call off the date for you. She’ll kill us both.”

  “No! Sniff me.”

  “WHAT?”

  “You heard me. I ran home and showered, but I need to know if I overdid it on the man stuff. I don’t want to repel her. I’m trying to do the opposite.”

  She stared at him like he lost his mind. “You want me to smell you? At work? Here?”

  “Yes.”

  “I hope you two get married. You’re both insane and deserve each other.”

  It was his turn to look shocked. “Wait! Marriage. What? I haven’t even…”

  She laughed. “Yep. Perfect together.”

  He tried to ignore everything she was saying, but the words set something off in him. Livy would be the perfect wife. She was sweet, sexy, and a Fed.

  Crap!

  Yeah, that was a bad idea.

  “You realize that in one year I’ve had to play your girlfriend, let you kiss me, play grab ass in a room full of your peers, and now sniff you. If this doesn’t make me your best friend, then you have some twisted fetishes. Get help.”

  Gabe sighed. “Lyzee, you are my best friend, now sniff me!”

  She started laughing. “Why, Gabe Rothschild, you do know how to turn a girl on.”

  “Just smell me and tell me if I overdid it, okay? You can bust my ass later. I have a date.”

  “The things I do for love,” she muttered. Moving closer, and thanks to her height, she could easily reach his neck. Giving him a sniff, she smiled. “You smell like a rainforest. She’s going to dig it.”

  He relaxed.

  “Lose the suit. You look like you don’t know how to relax.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do. What about when you come to my place to watch the game? You’re not wearing a suit, Gabe.”

  “You’re different.”

  “What?”

  “You’re not a girl.”

  She stared at him. “Seriously? After everything, you’re going to have the balls to say that to me. Have you seen my breasts?” she asked pointing to them. “They aren’t built-in airbags in case I trip.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve seen them, but it’s rude to talk about your best friend’s gear.”

  She snorted. “Well, for future reference, in case it’s ever questioned again, I have all the working girl parts, and I get real bitchy when men do stupid shit. That’s proof enough.”

  “I mean, I don’t look at you and see sex. I see…”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to hear this. Let’s take another shot at my already dinged up ego.”

  “Shut up, Lyzee. I see my sister. I see someone I confide in. You and I are too much alike to ever do ‘IT’.”

  She laughed. That was exactly what she felt, and had told Livy, but he was still going to get tormented.

  “Well, for the record, your date tonight asked if we’ve ever done ‘IT”,” she stated, finding the juvenile term amusing.

  “And?”

  “I told her you’re super-hot in the sack and you’re hung like a horse. In fact, you like kinky shit, and you’re bringing your bag of tricks with you.”

  He stared at her in horror. “Please just punch me in the balls. It’ll hurt less.”

  She laughed. “I’m kidding. She’s just as freaked out, but she’s better at showing it. I’m a little surprised, Gabe, you’re Mr. Cool. What’s up?”

  “I like her. I mean, when I see her, my palms get sweaty, I want to kiss her, and I feel like she’s precious glass. I want to keep her safe.”

  “Love. You just fell into it, stupid.”

  He was appalled.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Uh, yeah, you did. Have you ever pictured her in your life in the long term?”

  He opened his mouth and then closed it. Finally, he had an answer. “Who’s your allegiance with?” he asked, going serious. “Can I trust you?”

  Yeah, this was exactly what she’d been talking about. Elizabeth was trapped between them, and that was a very bad place to be.

  “It’s to both of you. I’m the cream in this crazy cookie. She’s my partner, but you’re my family.”

  He relaxed. “Can this really work out? I’m all about this place. Is there any way in hell that I can make this happen and not mess it up?”

  “Do I look like freaking Cupid to you? You go in blind, you navigate, and you come out the other end. That’s all I know about love. I’m not a pro. Do you see a ring on my finger?”

  He stared.

  Elizabeth sighed, noticing that Gabe was really having a hard time with this. “Gabriel, my money is on you. I’ve never seen you fail. When you want something, you get it. You’re only what… Thirty three?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re about to be the next deputy director. You’re days away from you getting it too. All you need is one more case, this one, and you’re in. How old was the last deputy director?”

  “Fifty.”

  “You’re good, Gabe. You tend to boss people around like you were
born to sit on the throne. You’re going to handle this and make it work. When have you ever failed?”

  “I don’t often.”

  “If you want her, make it work.”

  “But she’s my subordinate.”

  Elizabeth knew this was skirting the line. “If you ever tell her I told you this, we’re breaking up. Got it? I can promise you that it’ll be painful, and they won’t find the body.”

  He waited.

  “She’s into romance, fairytales, and the sweet things in life. She believes in a happily ever after. When she talks, there are kids, a husband, and motherhood.”

  He stared at her.

  “When I talk, there’s not. If you and Livy work, go for it. She’ll bend to accommodate the things coming in your life. She won’t be shocked if you’re running this nut farm. If she doesn’t already see it coming, I’d be shocked.”

  He took a deep breath.

  “If you see her as your future, you can make this work. Livy is very patient. God knows she needs to be to deal with our emotional baggage. Let’s face it—we’re screwed up.”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you.”

  “Blah, blah, freaking blah. Say it with a bonus and promotion,” she said, grabbing a cup of coffee.

  “Thank you, Lyzee. I owe you.”

  She laughed. “You have quite the tab going. I’ll keep this in mind. Now, go put on the spare polo in your office, try and yank that stick out of your ass, and have fun. This isn’t work. It’s pleasure.”

  He closed his eyes, found that confidence he used every day at work before he turned to head out.

  “Oh, and Gabe?”

  He turned. “What?”

  “I love you too, but if you hurt her, I’m going to make you bleed. The last two crime scenes will look like nothing compared to what I’ll do to you. It’s the girlfriend code. I’m obligated.”

  He grinned, teasing her back. “One day, I’m going to really be your boss. Then you’re screwed. You won’t be able to hide from me, and when I send you out in the field, you’re staying in all the finer roach coaches.”

  She laughed as he headed out.

  “Yeah, I won’t be surprised.”

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *