Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (20 page)

That was pissing her off.

She was busy enough with running the lab side of the team, and didn't have time to play babysitter to adults.

Just as she was about to say something scathing, the morgue doors opened and Elizabeth Blackhawk strolled in, holding coffee.

“Back by popular demand, now showing in the morgue, is your boss. You better have something to give me, or I’m booting some asses around the room,” she stated.

Instead of boos, the team looked happy to see her. In fact, they began clapping.

Their overeager response put her on edge. Yeah, that wasn’t what she was expecting. Something was going on here too.

What the hell had happened while she was away? Did someone slip them meds?

Deprogram them?

Clone her drones?

“Director! I’m happy to see you,” blurted Meredith, racing over to her. When she exuberantly embraced her, Elizabeth stared down in shock.

One of her team was hugging her?

Whoa! This was a sign of the apocalypse.

Surely, it was the end times.

“I have trace for you, Director. On the last three victims, we found a greasy substance. We’re working on finding out what it is. It didn't degrade too much with time, so I’m going to say its oil of some kind.”

This entire day was making her head spin. She didn't expect them to jump right in. Elizabeth either had a super team, or a super mess.

Something was up.

Glancing over at the men in her life, they simply shrugged. It appeared they didn't know what was going on either.

“Okay, anything else?” she asked.

“Do you need a full report? I’d be happy to go with you into the other room and tell you everything,” Merry offered. She just wanted away from the tension. It was making it hard to work.

Then, to add to Elizabeth’s suspicions, three other techs volunteered to go with her too.

Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room.

Chris Leonard looked miserable, Tony Magnus had his angry face on, and Jaxon Armstrong wouldn’t look her in the eyes. Oh, there was shit brewing here, and it looked to be coming from the smartest people in the room.

Great.

It appeared the investigating was going to begin here and now. She had to fix this before she could start on the case.

“Elizabeth, it’s good to have you back,” Chris finally stated when she stared at him speculatively.

Immediately, she picked up the tension in his voice. Rarely did Chris use her name in a room full of people while they worked. Something was up.

“Clear the room, techs,” she stated.

They practically ran for the door in relief.

Yep, she had work to do before the real job could begin. When there were only the three doctors and three directors left in the room, she began. “Someone spill it.”

When none of them talked, she got the hint. There was some drama going on. Elizabeth, while dressed like a hick, was relatively smart. She could tell what was going on before they said anything. Tony and Chris were having issues, and it had to be regarding the new interloper in the lab.

Their female doctor
.

She was the new cog in the works, and this once finely running machine needed an apparent tune-up.

With her boot up someone’s ass.

Since Chris was happily married, and Tony was shacked up with the pretty anthropologist, this was going to be a silly fight. It wasn’t shocking. It wasn’t like Elizabeth didn't expect it. Here, the two men had been a team for over a decade. Now, they had to make room for someone else.

It was an easy fix.

“Okay, since no one wants to do their job here, I’ll make it simple. Tony, you’re out of here. Pack your shit and head to the dig site. I’ll use Doctor Armstrong to ID the bodies. You’re officially off duty for the FBI. I don’t need or want you here if there’s going to be drama.”

He looked appalled and a little bit hurt.

“Christopher, it’s good to see you back from the honeymoon. Nice tan, but you can also pack your shit and head out. You’re going home to the little woman. Ethan, call Ginny. I want Doctor Legend on the next flight here. He’s going to be the new ME on site. I’m in charge of this investigation now, and I get to pick my team.”

Ethan knew what she was doing, so he pulled out his phone and got ready to dial.

Elizabeth didn't stop there.

She made a circular motion with her hand, encompassing the entire room. “THIS is not the team I want to handle this.”

Chris stared openmouthed.

“You’re replacing us?” he asked. “You’re really going to send us out of here? After everything we’ve been through? That’s it?”

“Yes. There’s obviously some bullshit going on. If my team isn't focused, then I can’t have them working this assignment. I don’t want any screw-ups. The last case I was out on there were minor details missed, and that nearly cost Tony his life. I can’t guarantee that with this festering animosity over Jaxon, you’ll be able to focus, so it’s over.”

They both objected to being relieved of duty. It would be the first time that had ever happened in either or their careers.

They were friends.

Buddies.

Family.

Finally, Jaxon stood, trying to take one for the team and save the stubborn men. “Ma’am?”

Elizabeth pointed at both men, especially when Tony went to speak. “Zip it. Callen, if they open their mouths, you have my permission to smack them around.”

He laughed. “Yes, boss.” He loved that she was back and handling their people. Both men must have believed it because they took a step away from him.

It was priceless.

Elizabeth could play this game. Obviously, from the horrified looks on Chris and Tony’s faces, they couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not.

Great!

It worked in her favor.

Elizabeth pointed at Jaxon, signaling she was ready to hear whatever it was that needed to be said.

“There was an altercation yesterday regarding me doing a rendering on one of the victims’ skulls. It was a misunderstanding, but the doctors are still having issues with it.”

“Yes, Ethan mentioned that you have some skill as a forensic artist. Can you show me what you have so far?” Elizabeth asked. She knew that if the woman was as good as they hoped, they had a way to hire her to remain on staff.

This would solve their problem, and Tony’s. At that moment in time, they were stuck contracting out for this service when needed, and it sucked. Having a forensic artist on staff would make their lives easier.

Jaxon headed over to the table where she was working. When Elizabeth followed, she pulled a towel off the skull. It was almost done and damn good.

“I haven’t picked eye color yet. I might go with blue, since her hair was black.”

“How do you know that was her hair color?” Elizabeth asked.

“We found hair beneath her body. I know I’m not supposed to assume, but it appeared to be from her scalp.”

Elizabeth, Callen, and Ethan stared down at the woman’s face. She had once been pretty. The anthropologist had given her back something special, whether she knew it or not. The woman’s skull was no longer vulgar and bare.

It was given dignity.

And that was at the core of their jobs—to save the lost, repair the damage, and bring home those who were taken from their loved ones.

Now came the time to fix the mess between their happy little crime solving family.

“Ethan, can you pull out the picture you were given from the potential family’s interview?” she asked.

He took the picture of Ruth Hildebrant from his bag and handed it to his wife.

Placing them side by side, she called her staff over. “Doctor Armstrong, did you see this picture before you began the reconstruction?”

She shook her head. “No, ma’am. I wasn’t aware there was a picture of her. Had there been, I wouldn’t have done the reconstruction.”

Elizabeth took it easy on her because of Tony. Like Chris’s wife, so she offered him the same break. “Christopher, look at the picture and then the skull. Tell me what you think.”

He hated that she was right because now he felt even more like a jackass. “It’s pretty close.”

It was time to do what she did best—
mother the children in her care
. While they were all super smart, they didn't assimilate into relationships well.

This was more proof.

She motioned toward Chris. “Here’s what I’m going to guess happened. You’re stuck on facts, and Tony asked you to loosen the hold up a little because he’s more laid back. You like to have clear definites to get to the answer, and forensic reconstruction tied your undies in a knot.”

Tony snorted at the terminology.

Then, she faced him. “Oh, you’re not all innocent in this, Tony. I’m guessing that you got bitchy because Chris doubted her skill. You wanted to protect your babe, so you let personal issues interfere with our jobs. That makes you just as big of a jackwagon because you know him well enough to know better. We’re all aware that Chris doesn’t do guessing well. He was just being himself. The man doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, and since you’re the bone expert, you should damn well know that.”

Tony didn't say a word because she was right.

Elizabeth focused on her ME. “She’s good, isn't she, Christopher?”

The man stared at the face. “She is. Her eyes are even blue.”

One of the good things about her team was that they didn't have a problem admitting when they were wrong. Family always came back to center when they had thought it through.

Chris knew what he needed to do.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. I won’t doubt your ability from here on out. I hope you can forgive me. I was just wary. Now I see that for you, it’s more than guessing, I’ll trust your ability. Please accept my apology.”

She smiled at the ME. “I absolutely will, Doctor Leonard. I’m a scientist too. I understand why you were concerned with me just slapping clay on her face. It’s why I don’t tell co-workers that I can do this. Sometimes I feel like I’m guessing too much too.”

“Well, it’s good work,” Doctor Leonard said, holding out his hand in apology.

When Jaxon took it, all was better.

Tony softened. “I’m sorry, Chris. I was hurt that you were riding her over this. I should have sat down and discussed it better. I know that you’re not into speculation. All the mean things I said, I’m really sorry I hurt you.”

Chris faced his friend. “I’m sorry too, Tony. I should have been more respectful. I said mean things too, and they were uncalled for.”

Elizabeth winked at her husband. Yes, it was like preschool, but she excelled at fixing their shit.

“Now, how about we hug and make up.”

Both men rushed her, crushing her in their embrace.

It made her laugh. “I meant each other! Not me!”

Laughter ensued.

Blackhawk was damn glad his wife was back. As usual, she noticed something he didn't. This was more proof that they couldn’t function without Elizabeth.

They needed her.

When they released her, Elizabeth spoke, “Now, how about we get down to business and you tell me what you have?”

The men could do that.

“It’s good to have you back,” Chris said. “No offense, Ethan.”

The man laughed. “None taken, I think.”

“Oh, while we’re sharing the love, I have a few messages,” she said, glancing over at Jaxon. “Jagger sends his love. He wanted me to give you a kiss, but after seeing how crazy Tony gets, I’ll just blow you one instead. I don’t want to make him even more of a crazed mess.”

“Hey!”

Jaxon was shocked. “You saw Jagger? Really? You know where my brother is?”

She didn't want to give too much away. “I’ve been hanging out with him for the last month. We had something to handle in a joint venture for the military and FBI.” She left it at that.

Jaxon blanched. “Uh, he wasn’t inappropriate…was he?” she asked, getting nervous. This was after all her boss, and her brother was the king of pick up lines.

“He grabbed my ass a few times, but that’s it.”

Callen choked on his coffee, spitting it out. “What?” His head whipped around until his woman was his sole focus. “Someone grabbed your ass and you didn't tell us?” Ironically, that had happened to him. Now, he only hoped that this wasn’t his karma for not telling her.

Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. He knew their woman liked to rile Callen up. Surely, if another man grabbed her ass, he’d be dead.

Or at least that was his hope.

“Kidding, lust monkey,” she replied, tormenting him further. Yeah, it was damn good to be back!

The doctors all started laughing.

“Seriously, Lyzee? I hate that damn nickname,” he scolded. “We’re going to discuss this later in the privacy of our room.”

She wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Absolutely, Callen.” Then, she focused on the woman staring at her. “You have nothing to worry about. He was mostly a gentleman. Right now, he’s holding down the fort, so I could come help dig you all out of the crazy pit. When this is over, I’ll be going back to wrap it up.”