Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (50 page)

The Mad Hatter

Sunday Afternoon

It was odd to find a bar open on a Sunday, but in Belleville, the odd seemed more the norm. When they walked in, they found a few patrons there, and their presence drew their attention.

It looked like they weren’t going to go unnoticed.

It didn't really matter, since they wanted to get in, do the interview, and then get out. They had bigger issues to worry about than stares from the people there.

“Hello. What can I get you both?” the man behind the bar asked as they sat down.

“I’d really like a coffee,” stated Ethan.

“You want booze in it? We’re not really supposed to serve alcohol on Sundays here, but the sheriff generally leaves us alone as long as we’re well behaved.”

Shocking.

The man was bending the rules too. It was good to know.

“No, but make it two coffees. Then we can have a little talk,” Ethan stated, slipping his badge onto the counter.

“Where’s the owner?”

“That’s me,” he answered, swallowing the lump in his throat.

“What’s your name?”

The man stared at the shiny gold shield, and then up into his eyes. “My name is Barney Sweet, and I don’t want any trouble. We aren’t serving. I swear.”

“I don’t care about your alcoholic beverages, Barney. I’m here working on a case for the FBI. We want to discuss the dead victims we talked about on the news.”

He pointed at the TV on the wall.

“Oh, I knew you looked familiar. I just couldn’t place the face.”

Ethan didn't buy that for a second.

“What can you tell me about the night Magdalene Monroe disappeared?” Ethan rattled off the date, waiting for him to say anything.

After all, they heard this was the last place she’d been. Maybe the killer had found and stole her from the bar.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Miss Monroe is a minor. She wouldn’t be in here. We follow the law.”

Ethan glanced over at his brother. “Callen, do it.”

Standing, he pulled his badge out and cleared his voice. “I’m going to be going table to table in a few minutes. You all need to have your ID out and ready for me.” He pointed at a few young looking men having a beer. “You three specifically. If I find out you’re minors, our buddy Barney is heading to jail and getting shut down.”

Blackhawk watched the owner break into a sweat. “I don’t think the sheriff is going to be able to look the other way, especially after I prove you’re selling to minors. This would be out of his jurisdiction. I’ll be calling in ATF.”

The man swallowed.

“Listen, we don’t want to give you a hard time,” Ethan stated, “but if you don’t answer my questions, keep lying, and try to evade, I’m going to bust this place down to pet grooming.”

He nodded. “Okay, she was in here. Miss Monroe wandered in, had a few drinks, danced with a couple of men, and then left.”

“Who was all over her? I’ve seen her picture, and you can’t tell me that on a Friday night, some horny man wasn’t picturing her naked in the back of his truck.”

Again, he swallowed.

“Barney, spill it.”

The man did just that. “Russell Beston was all over her. She was dancing, and he was more than happy to feel her up while she was drunk.”

Blackhawk scribbled down his name, knowing it wasn’t the first time they’d heard it. Not only was he beating down a man who was having sex with Magdalene, he was trying to get into her drunken pants.

Interesting…

At least now they had another lead to tie this case together. This might help them track down the killer.

“You’re not going to tell the sheriff, are you?”

Oh, he was pretty sure that was never going to happen. “Tell him what?”

The man smiled. “You Feds aren’t all bad. Are you sure you don’t want a drink? It’s on the house.”

He stood. “Don’t push your luck. My good mood can come crashing to a halt pretty damn fast.”

The man nodded, not wanting to piss them off.

Outside, they climbed into the vehicle.

“Elizabeth?” Callen asked, knowing neither man wanted to leave her alone for long.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Heading out, they didn't see the person watching them.

They didn't notice the look of malice on his face.

They were too lost in the moment.

But he wasn’t.

No, he was ready to kill.

                                              *    *    *

Somehow, Jaxon talked him into going back to the lab. It wasn’t really difficult, because Tony knew what he needed to do. If anything, he had to apologize to the people he worked with. While he was still mad, that didn't give him any right to act the way he did.

It was his work place, and he’d crossed a line.

The second he was in the door, Chris stood. Kicking the techs and Jaxon out, he faced down his friend.

“Chris.”

“Shut it. I have something to say to you, and you’re going to listen to me. You lost it once on me this week, and I let it go. I’ll be your target of anger if it means keeping our family safe. Today, you lost it on Elizabeth. That was so damn wrong, that I don’t even know where to start.  We get that you’re screwed up over this, but you actually verbally attacked our pregnant boss.”

Yeah, he was well aware.

“You need to hear the truth, no matter what the consequences. You weren’t kept out. What happened was Elizabeth was building a wall around you to keep you safe. If that ended up not being your mother, she didn't want to needlessly hurt you.”

He was well aware.

“I just felt…”

“I said, shut up. The entire time, she knew this had the potential to blow up. You think everyone knew behind your back, but that’s not true. Merry and I were the only ones other than the bosses. We wanted to be ready if this was your mother. We didn't want you walking in and getting hurt, which happened anyway.”

He understood.

“This was a fine line to walk, and Lyzee knew there was a chance that she’d lose you. So, what did she do? She made sure your fiancée didn't know, in case you needed to lean on her.”

“I did need her.”

“Know what else? Elizabeth made herself the bad guy, knowing you’d hate her. She took on the entire thing, ordering me to not say anything. That way, when this went to shit, you’d still have your friends. She was willing to sacrifice her feelings for yours. That’s love, Tony. Not once was there intent to do harm. What you did was cross a line.”

He was aware.

“When you were shot, I wasn’t there, but the techs told me that she took off her own shirt to staunch the blood flow. I’ve been in that position, her hand up in my groin holding me to life. She didn't have to do it. She didn't have to fight for you, but she did. How many times did she save us? Out in the field, how many times did she stand in front of us, acting like a shield? When our jobs nearly cost us our lives, who loved us enough to go to bat for us, Tony?”

His eyes filled with tears, because Tony knew Chris was right.

“When your birthday rolls around, who remembers? In twelve years, when have you not gotten a card?”

“She does.” He knew Chris was right.

“When Jaxon left you, who sat at your bedside at the end of shift after working all day? Elizabeth. She wanted you to have company, just like we did for her when she was shot. That’s what a family does.”

The emotion filled him.

“When you were released, did you go home to your cold, empty house to be alone?”

“You know I didn't.”

“Yeah, and the reason you didn't was because they shuffled their family around to give you the apartment above their garage. I’m betting you had dinner with them every night, watched sports with Ethan and Callen, and were welcomed in as part of their family too.”

Yeah, he was.

They never made him feel like anything less than a part of their circle. It was why he healed physically. Without Jaxon, he wouldn’t have wanted to live.

“When you were ready to quit, who located Jaxon and set this whole thing up?”

He sighed. “Elizabeth.”

“Exactly. Not once has she ever done anything to hurt either of us. We’ve watched her grow from that newbie agent to someone who could be cold and callous in her job, and she never did that. When she left the FBI and came back, who did she offer the jobs at FBI West to without an interview?”

“Us.” And he was grateful.

“She’s tough, but under that is love. I think you know that.”

He did.

“It came down to the decision to hurt you then or later. She tried to protect your heart. Lyzee was willing to incur your wrath to keep you from falling apart for no reason. You may be mad, but because of what she did, you now have proof, and you can face the truth, not the what-ifs.”

Tony felt even more defeated. “I don’t know what to do now.”

He didn't think the man before him was talking about the skull and his mother.

“Simple. You find her and talk it out. You were always going to be let in, but privately. Not like this. I’m sorry you were blindsided, but it wasn’t our intent. We didn't want the memory of your mother to become fodder for the techs. We wanted more for you, and for her.”

Tony rubbed his eyes.

“Where is she?”

“At the hotel working on the whiteboard.”

He headed toward the door. “Are Callen and Ethan there?” he asked.

“It would serve you right if they were, since you tore into their pregnant woman, but no. They’re not.”

Well, at least there was that. He might just make it through the apology after all.

Heading out, Tony went to find his friend. There was so much he needed to say to her, most importantly that he was sorry.

                                              *    *    *

She was awake, and he couldn’t wait to have his fun with her. Normally, with the other women, he just took them, regardless if they were conscious or not.

Not this one.

He realized that may have been his problem. He wasn’t treating them well. This time, he was going to remedy that.

Bonnie Anston was going to know that she was special.

As her eyes opened, he waited beside her, completely naked.

There was something sexy about the way her blue eyes fluttered open, searching the room for some explanation of where she was.

The previous night, as they traveled further out of town, she’d been worried. He didn't want to put marks on her, but in the end, he’d had no choice.

He had to hurt her.

But now, he’d make up for it.

“Where am I?” she slurred, trying to move her securely bound hands. She glanced up to see them restrained to the headboard.

“Home, love. You’re with me at our home.”

She didn't understand.

“We’re married now. You’re my wife.”

Okay, that sounded so wrong. Had she been drinking? Then why was she bound around her wrists and ankles?

“I waited until you woke up to give you some medicine to sleep better. I wanted you to be well rested for our night together.”

That sounded horrifying.

“What?”

“We’re going to consummate our marriage.”

With that, he rolled over onto the top of her body and began touching her.

Bonnie tried to scream, but his hand found her mouth. When he covered her nose too, she then began struggling for air.

“Don’t make me hurt you, sweetheart. Just relax and enjoy our baby making.”

Her eyes went wide. She struggled against the bindings, unable to get free.

“Hush, love. This won’t hurt a bit.”

When he slid into her, she closed her eyes and choked on a sob. She couldn’t believe this was happening. He looked so normal, so sweet, and gentle.

He was a monster.

And she was trapped in hell.

                                              *    *    *

He knew it was risky heading to the hotel. Tony was well aware that Elizabeth could kick his ass right before telling him to pound sand.

After all, he’d deserve it.

Chris had been right. He’d let his anger out, only it was directed at the wrong person. He should have directed it more productively toward the killer.