“I see you thought about this.”
He raged. “How could I not? Soaring Eagle killed my family! My father always wanted revenge, and I picked up for him. He used to practice magic of the skinwalkers, and he taught me how to disappear in plain sight. That’s how I blended in and stayed hidden from you all.”
Rick knew he was pretty much screwed. The man was out of his mind.
“I’m above the law, and I‘ll continue to find Justice. When the FBI leaves, I’ll monitor the reservation and do what the law can’t.”
He was sick to his stomach. “It’s murder, Thomas. You have to stop. You know what our people think about taking a life needlessly.”
The sick laughter bubbled up and filled the night air.
“We can work through this, Thomas,” he pleaded, trying to reach the smallest part of sanity that had to reside in the man’s soul. Surely no one was this evil inside.
“I gave you a sign,” he offered. “The night you took the files to the FBI, I left a white feather on your windshield. I gave you every chance to evade this.”
“I never got it. Can I have a redo?”
The man laughed wickedly. “I’ll get set up for the ritual. Don’t go anywhere, Rick.”
There was more snickering, as the man walked away to sharpen his knife.
It was just about time.
* * *
The FBI team sat in the office with Kane Redwolf. They figured he earned it, since he gave them the final details to the puzzle. Without his information, they’d be lost still.
“Where would he take him, Ethan?” inquired Elizabeth. “I need your insight.”
Blackhawk was used to pressure. According to his mental time projections, Longtree had about an hour before he was dead. It was time to really work this one out.
“We took away his circle in the woods. He took Duffy there, and then hung up the skin laundry. I don’t think he’ll go there ever again. He knows we’ve compromised it. If we were to discover the feather before the ritual was done, Thomas would assume we’d check there first. That’s the most likely spot he’d want us to head.”
“Okay, so he won’t go there. Where’s he at then, Ethan?” Callen pushed.
He analyzed all the information whirling in his brain. This was the hardest part of his job and the one aspect that would make or break an agent. If he was incorrect, Rick Longtree was dead.
“I need it Ethan.” Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm. “I believe in you. You’re the best profiler in the whole FBI Realm. Talk crime scene to me.”
Redwolf watched him carefully; the pressure had to be incredibly crushing in him. This is why he liked his simple job on the Rez. He couldn’t imagine the stress this caused.
“Thomas will use his own house. He won’t want to risk us disturbing him. Since he believes we don’t know it’s him, he’ll go to the safest place he has and that’s his own home. He’s banking on us finding the feather, but not knowing the killer’s identity.”
Elizabeth kissed him fast. “Kane, you know where he lives?”
“Yeah.”
“Want to join us?” she asked, offering it up to him. He’d earned it.
“Yeah, you bet I do.”
* * *
Before long his legs were free. Rick worked as fast as he could, untying the knots. The entire time his eyes never left the man dancing around the fire. He’d watched him toss the dried herbs into the flames and the acrid smoke became thick. The billowy plumes wafted towards him, and he moved back from it the best he could. What he didn’t need now was some psychedelic mind trip into the man’s craziness. Remaining calm, patient and lucid would save his life.
That and running like hell at the first chance.
The man finished his naked dancing and came towards him, glinting knife extended.
“At least put some damn clothes on,” Rick said, creeped out by the whole thing. This was too close to another naked man for his own liking.
“I plan on wearing your skin when I’m done. You’re a good man, Rick. I’ll retain that part of your energy. If you hold very still, the kill will be instantaneous, and you won’t suffer. Squirming and fighting the inevitable will only prolong the pain, and ruin your skin.”
It simply wasn’t happening. As the knife headed towards parts of his body he was fond of and using, he kicked out, knocking Thomas back.
There was a yell of anguish and Rick was up and moving towards the trees. He recognized Thomas’s cabin and car. He knew his way out, if he could just get far enough ahead.
The gun shot stunned him as the bullet ripped through his back and shoulder. At least it was his right one, and nowhere near his heart. He could still make it. The second shot filled the air, but didn’t touch him.
The man’s howls of anger filled the night, as Rick had only one mission.
Running for his life!
* * *
They’d parked their vehicles down the road in the shadows of the trees. When they drove by the house, they’d seen Thomas’s car, and they knew he was home.
Now it came down to getting to the back yard in the dark, in new territory and for the first time. They opted for microphones and ear pieces to keep in touch.
They also opted to divide up.
Julian and Tori took the East side of the property. He was king at tracking, and she was perfect in night time ops. The woman had wandered the streets of a warzone in darkness; this would be a cake walk.
Ethan trusted his brother with Elizabeth. What it came down to was he was more scared for Callen being hurt than his wife. They didn’t call her Tex because of her southern drawl. If it came down to taking a shot, she’d make it, and it would be precise. One of them had to have Callen’s back, and there was no way in hell he was leaving Redwolf with his woman, in case this was all a set up. The man came to them with the information, and then he found the feather. It just seemed too convenient to him, and he wouldn’t risk either of their lives if they were wrong.
If this was a trap, he would handle it. Not his wife or brother.
The three teams broke off taking their perspective sides, praying that they found Rick Longtree alive. Time wasn’t on their side, and fate was driving this one now.
The voice over the earpiece was low and quiet. “This has to be it,” stated Tori. “I smell some nasty stuff being burned.”
As if timed, both Callen and Ethan replied. “Peyote.”
Elizabeth would have laughed. She simply shook her head at the men in her life, not wanting to know. There was no doubt that some of their reckless driving was peyote fueled fun fests.
“I have visual,” stated Julian. “Rick is lying on the ground. He’s restrained and naked.”
Blackhawk came over the com. “Kane and I also have visual.” He relaxed, trusting the officer beside him. They too could see the killer.
Elizabeth motioned to Callen to go one direction but stay in in sight. “I see him,” she replied. “I can take a shot and bring him down,” she whispered, taking aim.
“If he tries to stab him, he’s yours, Tex,” answered her husband. They weren’t even going to mess with the nut job. Not when a man’s life was at risk.
She waited and watched. In the last second, as the man pulled the knife back she prepared to make her one shot, taking him down. At that moment, Rick kicked and fought, jumping up and running towards the east part of the property. The man crossed her path, and she lost her shot, having to re-adjust. Elizabeth took the next one she had, hitting him in the side.
“He’s hit but on the move,” she said over the com. “Julian, Tori, he’s heading your way after Rick.”
They all adjusted their positions, heading towards Tori and Julian. It was a matter of beating them to Rick and hoping that they weren’t too late, as hell broke loose.
* * *
Rick was beginning to feel woozy, as the blood dripped down his arm. He could have sworn he heard someone yell ‘FBI’ but he wasn’t sure. The smoke had gotten to him, and every
thing looked twisted and out of shape once again.
He stumbled and couldn’t get his balance to get back up from the ground. His shoulder sung in pain, as he hit hard earth. In the moment he was cognizant enough to say goodbye to life.
At least he fought hard and got a shot in at the man.
Tori reached him first and tried to help him to his feet to pull him back into the dense part of the trees. He was too heavy.
“Hey! It’s a red haired angel,” he muttered, falling back to the ground. “Arm hurts,” he slurred before blacking out.
“Rick’s down,” she answered on the com. “Here comes the nutjob!” She pulled her gun, preparing to take a shot. She couldn’t believe Elizabeth had missed the earlier one. It wasn’t like her to not get the job done on the first try.
As Thomas came crashing through the trees, he lurched towards her. Just as Tori was about to pull the trigger, Julian slammed into the naked man, taking him to the ground. Rick’s gun went flying into the brush.
They rolled around and fought for control. Tori tracked with her Glock until she could get a clear shot. When Thomas pinned Julian beneath him, holding the wicked looking blade, Tori knew it was time. They were all wearing Kevlar, but a knife would slice right though the weaving.
Tori knew this would be the most important shot she’d ever take in her life.
Julian stared up as the man prepared to shank him with the bowie knife. The sudden sounds of gunfire startled him, as one bullet met back of the skull. He closed his eyes just in time, as to not have to look at the mess the exit wound made. The telltale splattering of brain against leaves and trees gave away the outcome.
The man began falling and Julian rolled to get away from his descending corpse.
“You okay, Jules?” she asked, putting pressure on Rick’s shoulder. Over the com, she requested an ambulance and the tech team. One man was going out in a body bag.
“Yeah, but I’m covered in blood,” he muttered, alarming her.
“Are you hurt?” She suddenly was feeling that panic of reliving that night in the alley in the Middle East. The man she’d once planned on marrying flashed back into her mind as the fear filled her body.
“I’m okay, Honey. He had a side wound.”
Elizabeth and Callen entered the clearing as Ethan’s voice came over the com. “Ambulance is in route.”
“Anyone hurt other than Rick and the dead fruit loop?” she inquired, checking her team. “Julian, you’re a bit messy,” she stated, taking in his clothes.
“He was slippery and naked,” he answered, pulling off his shirt to get away from the blood.
“I didn’t think Elizabeth hit him,” stated Tori, her hand still pressing down on Rick’s shoulder.
Elizabeth crossed to her and checked the police chief’s wounds. “He’s going to need surgery. That’s the same bullet wound Ethan and I have. It’s going to hurt like a bitch too.”
Redwolf and Blackhawk entered the area, as the sirens filled the night. “Oh look, Callen. Our wife didn’t kill anyone this time. What a shocker.”
She snickered and offered Tori a fist bump. “It was still a chic that took down the psycho while you men were wandering in the trees. I’m counting this one in the girl column.”
Both men rolled their eyes.
“Kane, can you go meet the ambulance guys and direct them back here?” Blackhawk asked, ignoring his wife.
“Can do,” he answered, jogging off into the trees.
“How’s Rick doing?” Callen leaned down and patted him on the cheek. “Hey Longtree, you going to live?” he asked, staring down at the man.
Rick fought to open his eyes. “Yeah, but just my luck. I get to be naked with a hot woman sitting on my body, and I’m tied up. Not in a fun restrained kind of way either.”
Elizabeth and Tori started laughing.
Julian wasn’t as amused. “Yeah, don’t enjoy my fiancée sitting on your body, or I’ll pull her hand off that wound and watch you bleed to death.”
Tori blew him a kiss. “Anyone hungry?” she asked, I could go for some pizza.” Apparently, the gore and blood didn’t bother her.
They glanced over as the men with a stretcher followed Kane back to them.
“I could eat,” answered Callen.
Elizabeth stared down at the dead body and inspected the front of his face.
“How about you, Angel?” inquired Callen.
She shrugged. “No dead eyes on this one. I could handle some pizza too.”
Blackhawk shook his head. “He doesn’t have a face, Elizabeth.”
Innocently, she looked over at him. “Missing faces don’t bother me,” she paused. “Can we get bacon on the pizza? The baby is suddenly in the mood for bacon.”
Callen grinned. “My girl wants bacon, she gets bacon.”
Redwolf looked confused. “Isn’t she his girl?” he asked, obviously missing something.
If on cue they all started laughing.
“I don’t get it,” he stated, looking around. “What am I missing?”
Julian pulled Tori against his body and hugged her tight. “If I had a dollar every time someone said that in the last six months, I could retire.”
Blackhawk snickered. “Let’s get the scene wrapped and pass this off to the new head of the police department.” He patted Redwolf on the back. “Tag Kane. You’re it.”
“Huh? Wait, I have to be in charge of this mess?” he called after the five of them, as they headed out of the trees to meet the tech team.
Elizabeth gave her husband a fist bump. “I love screwing with the locals.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty damn awesome.”
Kane followed them out of the trees, stopping as he saw Christina hopping down out of the tech van, his co-workers behind her. His stomach flipped at just seeing her. “Pass this one off on Yazzie. He’s got seniority.”
Elizabeth dropped her voice low. “Yeah, but you figured this all out, so you get the glory. Plus the new police chief gets to work side by side with the FBI tech team. Specifically the head of our lab, until this is all taken care of tonight.”
He didn't miss what she was implying and changed his mind fast. “Then count me in on this one.”
Blackhawk grinned. Elizabeth was playing cupid once more. If she ever wanted to retire, he didn't doubt she could be a professional match maker.
Callen smiled as Kane Redwolf watch Christina across the driveway. The look on his face was priceless. The man had it bad.
Elizabeth stood between the men in her life, linking her arms through theirs. “Our tech team is going to help you out on the scene. We’ll be taking care of the paperwork later, when all the evidence is swept. For now, Chief Redwolf, you’re in charge. Call us if you need anything tonight, or just ask Christina. She can run an assignment blindfolded.”
He shook their hands. “Thanks for your help and for what you just did,” he replied, winking at Elizabeth. He’d met two non-natives in the last week and both were pretty great.
Christina rushed over. “Where’s he at?”
“I’ll show you,” Kane offered, staring down at her.
Elizabeth lifted a brow in silent satisfaction. “My work here is officially done.”
Both Blackhawk and Whitefox watched the two people together. “This should be interesting. They live three hours apart.”
“Everything in life worth having boys is going to cost a little bit of work. Look at you two.”
They both elbowed her.
“Hey! I’m pregnant,” she replied, laughing.
Callen was going to enjoy this. “By the way, Boss Lady, for the record. You’re work here isn’t done.”
“Huh? It’s not?” she didn't know where he was taking it. They killed the bad guy, all of them were safe and there was a date with pizza. “What’s left?”
Blackhawk started laughing and gave his brother a fist bump, pretty sure he knew what was coming.
“You promised a one on one interview with Craig Booker,�
� he said, pointing to the cars starting to convey on the crime scene. “You’re about to keep your end of a bargain.”
She slapped herself in the forehead and let out a string of profanities.
“Now that’s our girl,” answered Ethan, grinning.
Callen started laughing. “Yes it is.”
Kane touched her arm, getting her attention before they entered the trees. “Chrissy, the assignment is over and technically we aren’t working on anything. It’s solved.”
She nodded. “Yeah, that happens when the bad guy gets killed.”
There was an awkward silence between them.
“Did you get to be here and participate?” she asked, getting a little nervous flutter in her stomach. He could have been hurt.
“Yeah, it was great,” he answered. “I’m also the acting police chief until Rick gets back.”
“That’s great!” she offered enthusiastically.
The man was thinking about only one thing, and she was petite and right beside him. For the first time in his life, his tongue was tied up in knots over an outsider.
Something was definitely on his mind and had him distracted. “Are you okay, Kane?” she asked, hoping he didn’t know about the DNA test.
Kane dove right in and crossed his fingers. “When you’re done here, come home with me tonight. No tequila, just you and me this time.”
Christina stared at him and didn’t know what to say. He’d caught her off guard. It looked like Elizabeth had been right about the man wanting to be with her. They were both sober.
“Please?”
Christina didn't know what to say.
Oh Crap!
Monday Morning
Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) Page 55