Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (55 page)

The men were glad that it wasn’t them getting their ass snacked on. Elizabeth was pissed, and she was in protection mode. That meant someone was going to be in a world of pain.

The sheriff was wearing the bull’s-eye on this one.

                              *    *     *

The fun was about to begin.

Before the morning was over, the ME inside the morgue would be working on one of his own. While he wanted to make them all pay for stirring up the entire town, he knew who was the real problem.

It was the woman.

She was arrogant.

Trouble.

And needed to die.

He had his gun ready, there was one bullet in the chamber, and it was time to rid Belleville of the FBI once and for all. Now, they’d pack their shit up and get out.

There was no doubt.

He knew they were meeting, so all he had to do was wait.

As time ticked by, he became more and more nervous.

His hands shook.

His breath became quicker.

Maybe he shouldn’t do this. He was obviously out of sorts. The last time, they nearly caught him. Once he pulled the trigger, it was over.

His inner emotions warred with his soul.

Then he saw her. She looked so smug. Nerves or not, it was time to show them that the people of Belleville didn't need their help.

He didn't need their help.

Settling against the felled tree, he prepared to take the shot. It was all up to him. He’d do his duty.

He’d make the other man proud.

It was time.

There was no doubt that he’d be a real man now.

                                   *    *     *

Outside, he was waiting for them. When he saw them coming, he was prepared to fall on his sword. The entire way over, he had to do battle with his emotions. While he wanted to run his town, like he had the last few years, he knew letting the FBI help was the best way to do it.

Yeah, they were assholes, but he needed them. Once they were gone, things would go back to the way they were before them.

He hated feeling on edge the entire time they were here. It was like his life was under a microscope. While he wasn’t exactly breaking the law, he was allowing some things to slide. He’d inherited this job from his father, and that’s how it was done.

The things that went on in Belleville were out of his control. He simply had to ignore what he could, do what needed to be done, and go from there.

What choice did he have?

It was like working with the FBI. It made him sick, but he had no choice.

When they were nearby, he pulled the papers from his folder and held them out.

“What’s this?” she asked, watching him carefully.

“We had another missing person report filed. I thought you’d like to know. In the spirit of working together, I figured I could be a dick, or I could let you three take that role.”

She didn't even flinch. FBI haters were a dime a dozen. If she got offended each time someone gave her that look, or said something shitty, she’d be irritated all day long.

“When did it come in?” Blackhawk asked, protectively flanking Elizabeth. Callen was also alongside her, watching the surrounding area. After the last shooting there, they didn't want to take any chances.

“This morning. Apparently, she left her job at
‘Momma’s Pizza’
, last night, and never arrived home. My deputies checked it out, visited her home, and I did the interview.”

Elizabeth glanced over at Ethan. “Pizza, you say?”

“Yeah, she worked the counter there.”

Maybe she’d jumped down Merry’s throat a little too fast. If he was a watcher, that might be how he kept a close eye on this victim. Yeah, she was glad she apologized to Merry on this one. Pizza grease might not just be a pizza stain after all.

She focused on him. “You realized that an interview with anyone closely connected to the staff should have been witnessed by the FBI. That first interview is important. They can’t confer and make shit up,” she stated, getting irritated.

“Yeah, well, I handled it, sweetheart. This is my town, and I get to run this the way I see fit. You’re just a visitor here.”

At the snotty term of endearment, Callen glanced over at the sheriff. He was about to school the man when he saw it.

There was that quick flash.

“GUN!” he shouted, throwing his body in front of his woman and brother. On the way down, he grabbed Elizabeth and rolled, taking all their weight on the bottom.

Ethan tumbled too, after Callen slammed into his body. All four fell after the single shot rang out.

Instantly there was pain.

The scent of blood filled the air as blow back splattered around them.

Time seemed to stop.

Then, Ethan was up.

“GO! Callen’s hurt! Be careful!”

Blackhawk took off, racing toward the trees. It was a good thing that they had planned on scouting out the river today. He was in running shoes and pissed as hell.

Enough was enough.

He was catching this killer.

Here and now. There wouldn’t be a third chance to shoot at his wife.

He ran for it.

While he wanted to take another shot, he didn't have any more bullets. He’d been so self-assured that he wouldn’t miss, that he didn't bother bringing any.

SHIT!

Had he not heard that sound the second he pulled the trigger, his hand never would have jerked.

Shit!

He had only one choice—
to escape.

Taking off, he could hear the heavy footfalls of the Native man not far behind him. Carrying the weapon was slowing him down, so he tossed it aside in his haste.

As he began racing toward his vehicle, he was sick to his stomach.

The sheriff had gotten in his way.

That bullet was meant for her.

Now, he was in trouble.

Jesus!

What had he done?

He’d made a mistake and killed an innocent man.

Blackhawk was closing ground between them. The worst thing for this man was opting for a foot race with him through the woods. Ethan was pretty quick on his feet, and this wasn’t going to end well for the shooter.

He couldn’t wait to bring the hillbilly redneck in. That was if he didn't kill the man for shooting at his family.

Already, Blackhawk was worried about his brother. He saw him hit the ground and heard the sound.

Callen would have been up if he wasn’t injured.

That egged Ethan on even more.

There had to be payback. He had promised to always protect his baby brother, and that was what he intended to do. Holding his gun in his hand, Blackhawk vaulted a tree trunk resting in his way, and he saw it.

The man tossed his gun.

Okay, that was good to know.

As he slid down a gully, he saw the man up ahead. He was wearing a uniform. It was one of the sheriff’s men. Now, he only needed to get closer to find out who it was.

Heading toward the left, he knew he needed to cut him off. The road wasn’t that far away, and if he wanted to nail this asshole, it had to be now. As he circled around the man, struggling to get through the dense brush, he heard him coming. At the last second, he leapt from the trees and took him to the ground.

The deputy struggled to get away, going for his gun. With one strong punch to the face, the man’s head lolled back.

It was over.

He’d gotten him.

Rolling him over, Ethan grabbed the man’s cuffs and used them. “Deputy Davvy Weatherly, you’re under arrest.”

And if Ethan had anything to say about it, he was going to jail for life.

He was in a lot of pain.

His white button down shirt was splattered with gore and blood. When he dove in front of them, pulling Elizabeth down with him, he’d landed on his side.

Just that one action had been enough to cause a world of hurt. Now it was time to find out how bad it was.

Elizabeth was in a panic. When they hit the ground, she’d heard the sickening pop.

Callen’s shoulder was going to be jacked up.

“Jesus,” he muttered, trying not to move. As Elizabeth put his head in her lap, she tried to ignore the dead sheriff behind her. The man had paid the ultimate price. His brains had been splattered all over the place. Some were on them, and some were on the nearby wall. The shooter gunning for them had gotten his wish. He was now a killer.

She hoped Ethan caught up with him.

Safely.

“Don’t move, Cal,” she said, stroking his cheek.

“It really hurts like a bitch.”

She glanced over at the ME and anthropologists exiting the building.

“Déjà vu,” stated Chris, moving to her side. “Is Callen okay?” he asked, staring down at the dead sheriff. Since half his face was missing, he had to assume that was who it was.

“I think Callen dislocated his shoulder.”

The two doctors moved toward him.

“We have to get him out of his shirt and the Kevlar,” Chris said. “Then I can manipulate it back into place.”

“What?” Callen hissed through the pain. “I want drugs. Lots of good pain meds. How the fuck did you give birth! It can’t hurt more than this!”

Elizabeth had news for him. This was nothing. Instead, she leaned down to lightly kiss him on the lips. “You’re my hero, Callen James. You saved my life.” She knew who the bullet was aimed for. In fact, she knew it would have been her brains if he hadn’t been doing his job.

He accepted the kiss. “Say it with something to make me forget this pain,” he muttered.

Chris hated to disappoint him. “They don’t give you pain meds for this in the ER. They pop it back in. Do you really want to go there? It’ll prolong the pain.”

“Shit! No! Just do it.”

Tony helped him sit up and carefully pulled his shirt from his body. When he touched the man’s arm, he hissed in pain. “Hang in there, Callen. We have to get you out of the vest next.”

They worked carefully until he was free of his gear.

“Meredith, bag his things. We’re going to need to preserve it as evidence. He’s covered in blowback.”

Yeah, so was she.

The woman did as she was told.

“Okay, Callen, I’m going to lift your arm above your head. We’re going to count to three and pull it back into place.”

He didn't like the sound of that. In fact, that sounded like a horrible idea.

“Oh God,” he muttered.

Elizabeth climbed into his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. She was going to have to be the deadweight that held him to the ground. She’d seen this done before, and it was going to suck.

“On the count of three,” Chris stated, preparing them for what was to come.

Elizabeth took his face in her palms and stared into his eyes. “You saved the girl, so you get one hell of a kiss,” she said, bringing his mouth to hers.

Callen focused on the mating of mouths. While he could still feel the pain from his shoulder, he could also feel her lips moving silkily over his.

Some of it fell away as her hands moved over his tattoos and to his chest.

There was pain.

Love.

Lust.

Callen fell into the kiss and didn't even hear the counting. On three, his body jerked and the popping brought him back to reality.

“Oh shit!” he muttered, breaking away from her lips. He was breathing heavily, but the pain was gone.

“Thank you for being my shield,” she said softly. “You got your wish. You kept me safe.”

And despite the pain, he’d do it all over again.

Elizabeth was well worth it.

“How about you, Elizabeth?” Chris asked. “Did you fall on your belly?”

She shook her head. “Callen took our weight. I landed on him.”

Whitefox was grateful for that. When he dove at her, that was his hope. He knew he had to keep them both safe.

“I hope Ethan’s okay. I should go help him,” Callen stated, trying to get up. Elizabeth wouldn’t let him up. “You’re not going anywhere but to the hotel. You’re off duty.”