Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (44 page)

“What?”

“I hear water.”

So did she.

“We better check it out,” he stated, leading them through the darkening woods. When he finally saw an opening ahead, the hair on his arms stood at attention.

Yeah, this was a bad idea.

Now Tony knew why Elizabeth made them carry their weapons, or she did the dirty work.

The anticipation that something was going to happen was horrible.

“I think it’s a river,” stated Merry.

It certainly was.

Approaching it, they moved cautiously through the underbrush.

At the river bed, they looked around.

“We found leaves like this shoved inside Magdalene’s clothes,” stated Merry. “The other ME bagged them. I didn't do the research on this area yet, but once I do, I might be able to narrow down the terrain and pinpoint a spot thanks to the greenery.”

“So, do you think this is the dumping sight?” Tony asked.

Meredith looked around. “I think that somewhere along this river is where she went in. Whether or not it’s the exact spot, I can’t give you that. If she was alive at the time, there might be some water in her lungs. I can test it to see if we have a bacterial match to the river water.”

Tony still felt off.

Something was making him edgy.

“We need to get out of here.”

Pulling her by the arm, he moved them back through the tree line and toward the dig site. All the alarms were going off in his head. If he got them back out in the open, he was never doing anything this insane again.

All Tony could be grateful for was that his fiancée wasn’t anywhere near them.

At the edge of the trees, he could breathe again. “I don’t know about you, but I’m damn glad to be out of there.”

Meredith made notes. “Yeah, except as soon as I tell the Blackhawks, we’re going to be going back in. She’s going to need to know about this.

He was well aware.

“Of course she is. Our last victim was dumped in the water. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of us was going for a swim.”

                                              *    *    *

He watched.

Obviously the one shot didn't deter them. It looked like the FBI needed a little more to see that they were messing with the wrong town.

He’d have to make sure they got that.

It was easy to watch the doctor and the other FBI agents as they wandered the area.

Here, he was at his best.

The trees would keep him hidden, giving him an advantage that they wouldn’t have.

Now, he’d make his plan.

Cautiously he listened to what they were discussing, and he knew what needed to be done. More people were coming, and it was only a matter of time before they found out the truth.

The last one had been a warning shot, but this next one would be the bullet that scared them away.

This was his town.

His life.

His pride.

And nothing could stand in his way.

Nothing…

~ Chapter Thirteen ~

           Saturday Evening

                    Hotel

There was nothing worse than feeling like there was stress and issues between yourself and someone you loved. To Callen, he’d rather be bleeding than have Elizabeth mad at him.

It hurt knowing that she still didn't see why he did what he did. When the sheriff rolled in there, dropping a very nasty word about
his woman, something had to be done.

They were in the presence of their team. What kind of husband, or man, would he be if he let that go?

Callen wanted to rage around the room, knowing that even after their last discussion about letting him be a man, Elizabeth wasn’t getting it.

He couldn’t understand it.

Being left behind hurt, but knowing she didn't see the real issue was far worse.

It was disappointing.

As he waited there, like a petulant child, Callen opted to order them dinner. Despite the tension, there was a pregnant woman to feed, and she came first.

Ordering their food from the pizza place, Callen got them meat pizzas. Was it petty? Yes. He knew deep down, that not getting Lyzee her favorite was childish, but he felt powerless, helpless, and scared.

If she was leaving him behind at work, then what was next?

As the door opened, he heard their voices and decided to man up and face them on their turf. Heading out to the main sitting area, he found her.

Waiting.

Apparently, she had the same idea.

“Callen.”

“Elizabeth.”

Immediately, the tension flowed through his body. He was ready for a fight, and it was definitely coming. It was only a matter of time.

When she moved toward him, he braced for it.

Elizabeth knew that they needed to fix this mess. As she crossed the room, she saw him flinch.

Her poor, sweet Callen expected the worst.

How could he assume she’d physically strike out at him? Then the anger filled her that Desdemona Adare had done a number on him in their brief time together. If she wasn’t dead, Elizabeth swore she would have hunted her down and kicked her ass.

Seeing the pain as he waited, Elizabeth did the exact opposite of what he thought was coming.

Throwing her arms around him, she held him tight.

“Callen, when I saw them beating on you, I was almost sick right there and then.”

Without hesitation, his arms closed around her, holding her close. “Are you still mad at me?”

She stared up into the chocolate-y brown eyes and shook her head. “No. I’m not mad.” Resting her head on his shoulder, Elizabeth took in the scent of his cologne and the way his hand moved soothingly across her back.

A part of him relaxed.

“If you were hurt, I’d never forgive myself.”

“I’m sorry you’re mad that I was defending you, Elizabeth, but I’m not going to let some asshole talk about our woman like that.”

Again, she glanced up. “That’s not what this is about. I can’t believe you’d think that I’d be angry that you were defending my honor. If anything, Callen, I think it’s sweet and typically you. I’m upset because I just spent the previous ten minutes lecturing Doctor Armstrong about punching out someone on the job, only to have one of the men in my life doing the same exact thing, right in front of her. It made me upset, because if I didn't slap you down, I’d have a double standard. Sometimes, it sucks to be the boss.”

Oh, he didn't know that just happened.

Well, shit.

He felt like an idiot for doubting her.

“We walk a very fine line being a couple and being in charge. If I show any preferential treatment, don’t think that one disgruntled employee won’t try to get us split up.”

His stomach knotted at her words.

“It would have been a disaster, Cal. Here is my big strong Indian in shining armor protecting me, knocking someone around, and I just told her to not do that. I didn't want to be angry and reprimand you, but we’re the bosses. Sometimes, there isn't a choice.”

Ethan leaned against the wall. “It was just bad timing, Cal, and nothing more.”

“I didn't know.”

Taking his face between her palms, she stared into his eyes. “I’ll never get mad at you for something like that, but I may have to point it out in front of our team. You should know me better than that. I’d never hurt you like that. Not intentionally, my love.”

At her words, Callen’s heart stuttered in his chest.

“Lyzee, angel, I’m sorry. I think I’m just off balance.” He was a fool for allowing his insecurities to take over. Elizabeth was right. She was precariously balanced between love and duty, and sometimes, the latter had to win.

That wasn’t her fault.

“I love you, and I’m sorry,” he offered.

She accepted his kiss. “I’m sorry I had to be mad at you. I hate when we don’t feel balanced. You’re so important to me, that when we’re off our game, I’m lost. Don’t ever doubt that you come first, Callen. If I didn't know how strong you were, I wouldn’t have reprimanded you.”

Here, he’d blamed her for not trusting that he was strong enough to defend her, and she was actually doing just that.

Shit!

Once more, feelings got in the way.

“How about we get changed and order some dinner?” Elizabeth offered. “I feel like eating now that we’re okay again.”

Ethan agreed. “I’m starving.”

Immediately, Callen felt like an even bigger idiot. “I took care of dinner, but I did something I’m not proud of, and I hope you forgive me for this too,” he admitted.

Elizabeth’s hand stayed in his as a great deal of emotion washed across his face. “What did you do, Callen James?”

When he admitted to not ordering her pizza toppings to be a spiteful jackass, she started laughing.

“What did you order?”

“Bacon and sausage.”

Now, she grinned wickedly. “Well, your punishment is to let me pick all the meat off your pizza.”

He began laughing. “For you, angel, I’d do anything.”

Elizabeth didn't doubt that in the least. When it came to the two men in her life, she was one lucky woman.

Johanna Madden was never nervous around the bosses, until now. With one night of amazing sex, she felt like she was carrying a secret on her shoulders. Certainly, Elizabeth Blackhawk, the woman who missed nothing, was going to see right through her calm façade and bust her down for the sex.

Well, shit!

This was a huge problem.

Beside her, Broderick Seaton was as calm as ever, and instead of offering her reassurance, it made her nuts.

There was no reason that the man should be so relaxed when the shit was about to hit the fan. At any minute, they’d be walking into the lion’s den, knowing that they had copulated like wild, horny teenagers.

“Stop looking so relaxed. It’s pissing me off,” she practically growled.

Brody smiled wickedly at her. “Yeah, I noticed. Want to tell me why?”

“Sex.”

He glanced over. “We can stop at the room and have it, if that’ll calm you down. I don’t know how wise it is to go into Elizabeth’s room this stirred up.”

She wanted to scream. Instead, Johanna closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she was done, only then did she speak. “Brody, she’s going to know we did it.”

“I doubt she’s psychic. If you act like yourself, she’ll never know. Besides, it’s really none of her business. We’re allowed to have a personal life outside of work, Joey. Where I stick my dick, really isn't their concern.”

She stared at him. “You’re certifiably insane. That sentence was so damn offensive that I want to slap the shit out of you.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I get that, but it’s true.” Plus, it would get Johanna to put her hands on him again.

That’s all he really wanted.

“I feel out of control,” she admitted.

Broderick had worked with Johanna a while now. When she was this far over the edge, the only way to reel her in was to get her to focus elsewhere. If she was irritated at him for being crass, she wouldn’t be thinking about sex and their bosses.

It was his cross to bear, especially if he wanted to sleep with her again.

And he did—
for the rest of their lives.

At the hotel room door, he knocked. “Try and look calm,” he stated, “or you’re going to give us away. Then you have no one to blame but yourself.”

Johanna tried to blank her face, giving her emotions a wall of calm to hide behind. In her mind, she didn't know why this was stirring her up so much. A one-night stand wasn’t something that should make her this edgy.

Unless…

She pushed it from her head as the door opened. There stood their boss, looking nothing like she did at work. Barefoot and wearing shorts, a tank top, and one of the men’s shirts over it, she looked almost…innocent.

It put Johanna even more on edge.

“Come in. The pizza should be arriving any second,” she offered, stepping back. When the agents followed her, Elizabeth could already smell the fear.

Something was up.

Taking a seat on the couch in the sitting area, they all began pulling out their papers. When there was a knock on the door, Ethan pulled out his wallet and headed there to get their dinner.

“Why do you look worked up?” Elizabeth asked, staring at her agent.

Johanna swallowed, trying not to flinch away from the icy blue piercing stare.

“No reason,” she replied.

Immediately, Broderick jumped in to save her. It was the least he could do, since they were in this together. “Oh wow! Pizza! I’m starving.”

That brought everyone’s attention to the pizza delivery boy.

As Ethan paid him, Elizabeth noticed it was the same one who had delivered the other day.

“I see housekeeping cleaned up your room,” he stated, grinning at the woman on the couch.

She wanted to say something, but Ethan stared at her. “Yes, Lenny, they did.”

“Here are your pizzas. I didn’t know they were yours, since you didn't order the pregnancy special,” he stated, referring to their last order of spam, anchovies, and spinach.

Elizabeth laughed when Callen groaned.

“No, we opted to switch it up,” Blackhawk said, paying him.

“Thanks!” Lenny said, pocketing the money. “Have a good night.”

When Ethan carried the cardboard boxes over, she needed to know. “Can we eat and talk?” Elizabeth asked, focusing on her agents once more.

The female one looked rattled, and the male was trying to offer up lame ass distractions.

Apparently, they thought pregnancy had made her stupid. There was something going on between them. She could see it. When they all looked away, the male agent’s hand went to her leg to stroke it reassuringly. They may think they were under the radar, but in all honesty, they weren’t.

Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen had mastered loving strokes when people weren’t watching. These two were so new at it that they’d been caught.

Interesting.

She was curious to see how this would play out.

“Yes, we can, Director.”

“We’re off duty, so you can call us by our first names. This is just a wrap up of the day.”

The two agents pulled out their tablets as Ethan handed out slices of gooey pizza.

“What do you have?” she inquired. “I know I asked for background checks on just about everyone, so let me in on what you found.”

Johanna went first, starting with someone she deemed a priority, especially after Callen had his fist fight. “I had the sheriff,” she stated. “He was born, raised, and worked here his entire life. His dad was the sheriff before him, and from everything we’ve found, he’s good at his job.”

Elizabeth took a bite of her pizza. “Okay, why does he hate Feds? I know we’re an acquired taste, but he’s got a big old twist in his britches over us. Something had to happen to make that so prevalent.”

She continued, “You’d be correct. His father had a case right before he died. There was an abducted girl and the FBI was called in. It turned out that they stressed him out so much that the man keeled over on the job.”

“Died?”

“Yep. He had a massive coronary. They found him dead in his office,” Johanna stated.

“Okay, I’m not saying it’s a valid reason to hate us, but I can see why his opinion is tainted,” Ethan stated. “It would have left a bad taste in my mouth too.”

“Likewise,” Elizabeth admitted. “Still, it’s good to know how much love is lost between his office and our team.” Then it occurred to her. “I asked you two to play reporter. When you called the sheriff’s office, did you find anything out?”

“They were pretty tight lipped,” stated Johanna. “I did get that they pulled her from the river, but nothing more. I couldn’t break the man on the phone. He was sticking to the script.”