Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12)

by Morgan Kelley

  “Vaguely. If feels like a million years ago.”

  “I found a blonde hair in a bed.”

  “Okay, and?”

  She set the scene. “We were at Cooper Douglas’s house finding trace. We searched all the rooms, and I found that blonde hair in his bed.”

  “His wife was blonde.”

  “Yes, but this hair matched the DNA of the killer. It had a full root tag, and I was able to pull the match. I got samples from the brush in the other bedroom too, and the toothbrush.”

  “Okay, so they broke in, had sex in the bed, and killed them.”

  But the hair brush and toothbrush didn't fit. Her heart started pounding, as she refused to get too excited.

  Elizabeth’s fingers were crossed.

  “When I further searched, I found vaginal and seminal fluid in that same bed. I ran it, and it came up that the female matched Bonnie, or the person we think is Bonnie.”

  Everyone was staring at her.

  “But?”

  “The male sample wasn’t Clyde. It was Cooper Douglas’s. I ran it against his DNA.”

  They were waiting for it.

  “Here’s the kicker. The DNA from the sample in the bed, and the hair matches his at fifty percent.”

  “Wait. Are you saying he was having sex with his daughter?” she asked. “That’s who he was cheating on his wife with?”

  “Yes. Not only that, but she’s Bonnie. We found half of our killing team.”

  They all looked around.

  “Jesus. That’s just…I don’t have words.” It may have been a first for Elizabeth. “She was the one he was having the affair with? Really?”

  It looked like Adeline Douglas was right.

  Her husband was playing around, only…it was with his own child.

  Ethan spoke up, “It makes sense. She played us. It was part of the game. She’s an actress, and she wanted to confuse us. By throwing in a red herring, she kept us off the track.”

  Elizabeth pointed at her agents. “I want you to run her. Make sure you find out her real name. That’s why you didn't find anything under Tipton. It’s going to be part of the game and that’s the stage name.”

  They got to work.

  “She was abused by her own father,” Elizabeth stated. “I’m willing to bet that he’s the one who has a prescription for Viagra too.”

  Johanna confirmed it. “There were no pills left in his room. The bottle was empty. The techs found it in the garbage.”

  Yeah, she had her own private pharmacy.

  This was just twisted.

  It didn't take long for Brody to shout out. “Found it! I have her real name. It’s listed as Bridget Melrose. The reason it was so hard was that she’d changed it a couple of times from Douglas to Melrose when she turned eighteen. It was buried.”

  “Awesome work. Now, start running her. Johanna, I want you to look for any properties in that name. We know she’s not going to be at her father’s house, and when she told us she was staying with a friend, we never thought it was her. I’m betting that ‘friend’ is Clyde.”

  They continued typing.

  Ethan found something. “You might find this curious,” he said, turning his tablet around, “but I found something.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I searched her actress name and this town, and look what I pulled up.”

  She crossed to him. On his tablet, there was a photograph.

  “She was friends with Irish Castro. They went to school together when they were younger.”

  “That ties them to Salvatore Boone too.”

  “She danced with Ann Kong,” Chris said, holding up his tablet. “In New York, there was a charity event, and a bunch of celebrities and models got together. They were the opening act.”

  She checked out the picture. “She wasn’t just targeting men, but she was going after the women too.”

  The sheriff was sickened. “Lina ticketed her all the time. She liked to park her Mercedes wherever she wanted. They had a minor altercation.”

  There was a motive.

  “Why would they steal from the dead then?” Tony asked. “She’s got money, and her dad has it too.”

  “Simply put…because she could. It screwed with us. She’s wealthy, but our killers are moving around and randomly using the stolen credit cards. They want us to fall for it. It was all part of their game.”

  It was like one big performance.

  “I don’t get the reverend and his wife. Why did they kill them?” Johanna asked.

  Elizabeth knew why. “She’s tying up loose ends. Adeline went there for confession. Apparently, she wanted to make sure no one spoke. Who knows what was said in the confessional. Lottie wanted to be sure it died with Adeline.”

  And it did.

  “Oh, Bridget, you’ve been a naughty girl.”

  “I have her and Lily Schneider in California together,” stated Ethan. “She worked as an extra.”

  “That ties her to everyone. Think about it. Where did she work? New York and California. She did Broadway, and she did movies. Our young ingénue is nothing more than a killer.”

  “I’ll admit it,” Ethan said. “She’s a genius psychopath. She buried this one. If not for that hair and semen, we’d be lost.”

  She knew it. Now the game was just about over.

  The sheriff shook his head. “She seemed so normal.”

  Sadly, they knew the truth.

  Killers were made, and this was proof of it. “At one time, she might have been sweet, but she was sexually abused by her own father. I would have cut off his penis too and shoved into a blender.”

  Merry pulled up that report. “She had sex with him before he died, and she didn't use protection.”

  She wouldn’t.

  She’d trust him.

  “She’s married!” blurted Brody. I have a marriage under Bridget Melrose. It was buried, but I located it.”

  This was what she needed.

  There was no doubt in her mind that this person was going to be the one helping her.

  “Who is it?”

  “Maybe this sounds familiar. We have Mr. and Mrs. Filip Howe.”

  “Bingo!”

  She knew they had him. There was no way that was a coincidence. Bonnie and Clyde were identified.

  “Johanna, search his properties too. She’s going to use him just like she used her father. When he’s useless, she’ll take him out. If we can find the hole, that’s where they’ll have the two Marshals.”

  The woman continued searching.

  “He was so helpful, giving us that report with all the people on it. They knew we’d come knocking, and thus the stolen laptop. They played us even more,” Ethan stated.

  It really had been a game.

  “He came in rushed while we were interviewing both him and Juliet Singer. He was out of breath. He’d just shot Callen and raced there. We weren’t far from the deputy’s house. It was three blocks the other way.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Ethan muttered. “I’m going to kill him for shooting my brother.”

  It all made sense.

  They were putting on one hell of a show.

  She was about to ask more when her agent stood.

  “I have a location,” Johanna stated. “I know where they are!”

  “Where?”

  “Filip has a cabin in his name not far from town. It was bought two years ago in a cash sale. They must use it to lay low.”

  “Yeah, like when she’s ‘going out of town’ or ‘staying with a friend’,” stated Elizabeth.

  “We found their hole.”

  The sheriff spoke up, “We’re coming in with you.”

  She didn't care.

  They just had to move fast.

  At that moment, there were two Marshals being tortured. She couldn’t let that happen. “Agents, sheriff, saddle up. We’re going in quiet. Put your coms on and get the guns out. We have a dangerous duo to bring in.”

  Only no one there
believed they would be going peacefully.

  It was beyond that.

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

  Filip’s Cabin

  When he woke, he was naked and aroused, and nothing he could do could stop it. She’d pumped him full of Viagra, and was getting ready to end his life.

  He wondered how long it would take for him to bleed out.

  God!

  He hoped it wouldn’t hurt.

  As he glanced over, she was dragging his partner from the bedroom. She was a bloody mess and very dead.

  Her empty gaze stared up at him, warning him of what was to come.

  It made Dakota sick. He was responsible for sending her around the back of the building, and now they were both done.

  He wanted to throw up.

  As she approached, she ran her fingers across his dick, and he struggled to move away.

  “Playtime,” she teased, leaning down to lick him.

  He closed his eyes, trying to not think about her touching him. Never, in all his life, did he think he’d be trying to get away from a beautiful woman handling his junk. It was ironic that this was how he was going out.

  “Don’t you like it?” she asked, climbing up his body.

  When she sat above him, rubbing her ass against him, he still kept his eyes closed.

  “Look at me.”

  He refused.

  When she slapped him, gouging his face with her nails, he could smell his own blood.

  He tried to fight.

  Dakota bucked her from his body, and she tumbled to the floor.

  When she got up, there was blood in her eyes. “I’m going to cut your dick off in little pieces. I’m going to make you watch too. You shouldn’t be violent with women, Marshal.”

  He prayed for help.

  Suddenly, she stopped.

  There was a chiming from the counter. Heading there, Bonnie stared down at the tablet.

  “Well, shit. It seems we have company. Elizabeth Blackhawk is on her way to save you. I told you she was smart.”

  Heading toward him, she grinned evilly.

  “Too bad I still have a few minutes. That’s all it’s going to take.”

  He fought for his life as she held a knife above his body.

  “You better hope they move fast.”

  With that, she sliced his wrist across the artery. As the blood began running, she kissed him goodbye.

  “Good luck, Marshal. Somehow, I’d bet we’re going to meet again. Next time, I’ll have time.”

  With that, she raced from the room.

  It was time to make her escape.

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

  When they pulled up, all the lights were on in the cabin. It was quiet outside, and she knew they needed to move fast. Already, there was that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  The silence couldn’t be good.

  That had to mean that they were dead.

  It horrified her, but there was nothing they could do. They’d done their best.

  Heading toward the door, Elizabeth motioned toward the sheriff, and agents, to head to the back of the cabin. They were taking the front.

  Making sure their asses were covered, she pointed at the door.

  “Go.”

  Ethan booted it, and it flew open, hitting the wall with a thud. In the small cabin, they were able to see everything. On the floor were two dead people, and on the dining room table was a very naked man.

  Elizabeth raced in as her husband cleared it. As she approached the table, she saw him spread eagle, very erect, and bleeding from the wrist.”

  “My arm,” he said, his voice getting sleepy.

  Immediately, she holstered her weapon and trusted that Ethan had her back. She whipped off her belt, grabbing his forearm.

  As the agents came through the door, she glanced up. “Call for an ambulance,” she shouted.

  They didn't hesitate.

  Elizabeth stopped the flow of blood and then squeezed his wrist below the belt. “Hey, Dak! You look at me, okay?”

  He stared up at her. “She killed him. He’s next to Delaney. He killed her too. I was next.”

  She kept him talking as Ethan approached. He took off his coat and laid it over the man to give him some dignity.

  “Hey, look at me,” she said when he started closing his eyes.

  Dakota listened.

  “If I hadn’t seen you naked countless times, I’d be embarrassed for you right now. A seasoned cop ending up like this. Who the hell trained you?”

  “ELIZABETH!” Ethan stated. “Really? Your husband is standing right here.”

  Dakota snorted. “You are such a bitch. Are you sure you won’t run off with me and ditch the Native?”

  Ethan growled.

  “Nah, I got my cowboy and Indian, but I tell you what. If you live, you can stop in and see me anytime. I can always use a friend.”

  He smiled. “Deal. I’m feeling woozy and my dick hurts.”

  “Yeah, you’re going to have that four hour erection until New Year ’s Eve. If you have any woman you frequent, now would be the time to utilize it. They’ll be impressed.”

  The man laughed. “Thank you for making me laugh. I need it right now.”

  She patted his cheek. Elizabeth wasn’t in love with him, but she did care. The man had been a piece of her past. How could she forget that?

  They had history, and she was learning that the past did matter.

  In the distance, they could hear the ambulance.

  “I think I’m going to pass out,” he stated. “No, I’m sure I’m going to. I never thought I’d be going unconscious while tied up around you.”

  Ethan closed his eyes and prayed for calm.

  Elizabeth laughed. “We’ve got you, Dakota. Hang in there.”

  He slipped into the darkness.

  His blood was still dripping through her fingers as she kept one hand on the wound, and the other on his pulse.

  Ethan cut him free. As soon as he was finished, he pointed at his wife.

  “He is so not coming over to visit—over my cold, dead, worm ridden body. It’s never going to happen, Elizabeth Rene Whitefox-Blackhawk.”

  She snorted when he threw her whole name down. It was funny as hell. “He grows on you. You’ll see. Before you know it, you’ll be BFFs.”

  Ethan knew that it would be a cold day in hell when that happened.

  They could bet on it.

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

  Christmas Eve

  Monday Three A.M

  Hospital

  The team was wrapping it up.

  After Dakota received some blood and got stitched up, he found himself waking in a room. He wasn’t quite sure how he got there, but he was damn glad to be alive.

  Then he remembered his partner.

  His heart ached. He loved working with her. Delaney Moore was a damn good Marshal, and she didn't deserve to die.

  She’d be missed.

  When he opened his eyes, he wasn’t alone. To his right was Callen Whitefox.

  “Great. I’m surprised you didn't smoother me while I was out,” Dakota said, sitting up.

  “I thought about it, but then I’d go from a hospital gown to an orange jumpsuit. I’d rather go home to my woman. You know…ELIZABETH.”

  “Touché. You made your point, Director. Still, you weren’t tempted?”

  Callen shrugged. “Nope.”

  “What made you change your mind?”

  Elizabeth took naked pictures of you. I figure if you hit on my woman ever again, I’ll have something to use against you. Your dick, which I hear the whole team saw, will be on a billboard.”

  He stared openmouthed.

  “You’re kidding right?”

  Callen smiled ferally. “I don’t know…am I?” Before Callen could torment him further, in strolled the woman in question.

  “Hey,” she said, going to sit on Callen’s bed. “Etha
n is cleaning up the scene, our techs are working on the trace, and everyone and their mother is looking for Lottie Tipton AKA Bridget Melrose.”

  “She’s in the wind?”

  She nodded. “To add insult to injury, Dak, she took Delaney’s phone and sent us a parting message.” Elizabeth tossed him her cell so he could read it for himself.

  ‘The game isn't over. I’ll be back. It was nice seeing you, Marshal. I’m sure we’ll meet again. Next time, it won’t only be your blood spilled. You and I both know who I want next. Xoxo Lottie.’

  “Yeah, this isn't over,” he stated. “I’m going to find her and get justice.”

  “Who is she talking about?” Callen asked.

  “Me,” Elizabeth offered. “Right?”

  He told her everything the woman had said while she had him captive. “She’s going to be back with a vengeance. Her heart is set on you. In her mind, you’re the only competition smart enough to play the game.”

  She wasn’t surprised.

  “When she does, we’ll be ready. For now, this is your area, Dak. We took out half the team and got you a name. I reckon the Marshals can take over from here.”

  “And if I need you?”

  Callen gave him a look.

  “You just call. I know she’s going to regroup. Just let me know when and where. Next time, Lottie is going down. I can guaren-damn-tee it.”

  He grinned at her. “I’ll keep you on speed dial.”

  She nodded. “Watch your back, Dak. I get the need for revenge, but just make sure you don’t cross that line. Once you do, there’s no going back.” Elizabeth thought back to her own past, and the choices she had to make.

  Dakota dwelled on it. “I hear what you’re saying, princess. I’ll keep it in mind.”

  She snorted. “No one’s called me that in a long time.”

  Callen glared. “Pictures.”

  The Marshal shut his mouth.

  “When can I get out of here?” he asked. “I need to get on the road. I have a crazy to catch.”