Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) Page 7

  His heart fluttered.

  Holy shit!

  He couldn’t stop staring into her pretty eyes.

  “But for the record, I will admit that I like the other director better,” she stated, grinning.

  Tony didn't want to see her eaten alive, but he didn't want to break a friend’s trust. At some point, the woman would figure it out. Once Ethan arrived, it would only be a matter of time.

  “You’ll adjust to her,” he reassured.

  Jax laughed at that. Somehow, she didn't buy that. “Yeah, okay, Doctor.”

  At the sound of her voice, his heart fluttered even more. Something about this woman caught him off guard. He was going to enjoy working with her.

  Then, he realized he had less than twelve hours to do just that. All the pleasant feelings left him, and his heart dropped.

  “Can we get over there, Tony?” she asked. “I’m dying to see what’s beneath those wrappings. I haven’t seen a body which was mummified with frankincense in years. The smell takes me back to burial sites in Egypt.” Yeah, that sounded wrong, but it beat out the atrocities she had seen in so many pits all over the world.

  He loved her enthusiasm. That was lost in so many people in their field. “Certainly, Jax.”

  When they arrived at the holes, Doctor Legend was already working on the first victim. He was running his hands across the body, feeling for something.

  “What can you tell me besides the obvious, Doctor?” Elizabeth asked.

  He glanced up. “Right here, there’s damage to the body,” he said, touching the place where the heart would reside. I can feel broken ribs, but there’s also something here out of place.”

  “Can we open it up?” Doctor Armstrong asked.

  “No,” he replied.

  “Still? Why not?”

  Doctor Magnus answered before Elizabeth could reply. “Since the outside wrappings were compromised, we need to hope the killer, or whoever did this, has left us some trace beneath the bandages. If he or she did, we may have an easier time of finding the perp. For us, it’s not about the discovery of the body, but the ability to stop the person doing this.”

  “That’s logical,” she admitted. “I understand now. I apologize for not getting it at first. This is a little new to me.”

  Elizabeth was curious. “What did you do before the FBI, Doctor Armstrong?”

  “I worked for a few governments around the world. I was in charge of helping them extricate bodies from the earth.” She left it at that. Jax didn't want to talk about the countless mass graves she had to sift through. They still plagued her dreams and gave her the willies.

  Elizabeth needed a little more on the woman, since it was obvious that Jaxon Armstrong was holding back. So, she was going to go to the source.

  “Director, we’ll help Doctor Legend,” offered Tony.

  She took that as a signal that he was going to make sure nothing happened to compromise the remains. In fact, when she focused on him, she noticed something.

  Tony was smiling, and not just his normal happy-go-lucky grin. This one was completely different. His eyes were twinkling again.

  Hmmmm. This was very interesting.

  “I’m going to make a call, Callen,” she stated.

  Yeah, now that she was on the scene, he wasn’t leaving her side. “I’ll keep you company. I think the doctors have this under control for now.”

  Walking away, she glanced over at him. “I’m going to call Gabe. I want the details on this anthropological tsunami.”

  He didn't blame her. Once Doctor Magnus left in the morning, Elizabeth was going to have her hands full. In fact, so would he, because they were a team.

  On the third ring, Gabe answered his private line.

  “Hello, Lyzee. How are things treating you?” he asked, calmly. Gabe was well aware why she was calling. He knew it was only going to be a matter of time. Elizabeth was smart, and this was going to stir up the hive, big time.

  “Gabriel Rothschild, you are a jackwagon. You sent me one hot freaking mess. I have a newbie anthropologist who is making me nuts. I had to get on scene and tear her a new one. What did I ever do to you?”

  He started laughing. “Elizabeth.”

  “No, don’t you dare. What were you thinking? You pulled some young doctor out of a hat, didn't you? I get that you like testing people with your sick mind games, but now me too?”

  Gabe sighed, knowing she had him dead to rights. “I need you to train her. The potential is there, but she needs the discipline. Remember your first anthropologist?” he reminded her.

  Elizabeth glanced over at Tony. He’d been just as wild and free spirited. She’d had to break him too. “Yeah, I do, since he’s still working with me.”

  “Jaxon Armstrong is smart, willing, and excellent with bones. In fact, my anthropologist might be smarter than yours,” he taunted.

  “Gabe, I have a new ME, head tech, two agents, and now this? If you think you can try and taunt me into taking this on, it’s not going to work.”

  There was a pause. “Are you telling me the great Elizabeth Blackhawk is being beaten down by a little redhead? Wow. I never saw this day coming.”

  And yet the taunting continued.

  When she didn't reply, he had no choice but to go with honesty. “You can break the best of them, and you’ll get her to be field ready in a matter of days. If I send her out with other agents, they’ll never contain her. You’re my only hope.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “You’re sadistic, Gabe. Send me her full dossier. I need to see what mess you’ve gotten me into now.”

  She was on the verge of cracking. “I’ll owe you a favor,” he offered, knowing she was just about there. It was rare for him to put that on the table, but with family, he’d do it.

  “Plus, I want the budget to have both your disaster and my anthropologist on the scene with us.”

  He began to protest.

  “It’s that or nothing, Gabriel. Take it or leave it.” When she hung up the phone, Elizabeth noticed Callen was staring at her. Before he could say anything, she stopped him.

  “In four, three, two…”

  Her cell beeped. Staring at the message, she grinned. “I got my way. I get two anthropologists on this one.” Then, it occurred to her that she had a pretty big issue to overcome before celebrating. Tony was on vacation in half a day. She pondered how to approach this. Did she take the boss or the friend route?

  “Do you think he’ll do it?”

  She had no idea. “Doctor Magnus, I need you for a minute,” she called, getting his attention. While he hustled over, Elizabeth noticed the woman in the hole with Doctor Legend was watching Tony. It was the same stare he had been giving her.

  This was curious.

  Apparently, there was some little spark hidden under all the academia. Maybe this had some merit.

  “Yeah, Director Blackhawk?” Tony asked, stopping in front of her.

  “I need a huge favor.”

  He stared at her. That sentence rarely came out of her mouth. “Uh, is this by any chance like your last favor? You know, the one where Chris and I got to watch you dressed up like a stripper? If it is, count me in!”

  Callen gave him the look but knew the man was harmless.

  “Do you seriously want to be buried in one of those holes?” she asked, pointing at the man beside her.

  “I’m kidding. What do you need, Director?”

  She couldn’t believe she was doing this. “I need you to cancel your vacation and stay here with us. I’m not telling you to do it as your boss, but I’m asking as your friend. I need you on this assignment. Is there any way you can do it for me?”

  He stared at her incredulously. It was shocking, because Elizabeth was big on making her team take downtime. She didn't want anyone burning out, and now she was telling him the exact opposite.

  “Why?”

  “I need a babysitter for the lovely Doctor Armstrong. I would greatly appreciate if you can stay here and train her.
You’re one of the absolute best in the field, and you’re quite capable of running a scene without me standing over you. Her being around you would be nothing but beneficial.”

  “And?” he asked.

  “Plus, she’s wild, out of control, and I don’t have any patience with watching newbies. I have four bodies in a grave. That’s more than enough to keep me busy.”

  He grinned at her. Hell yeah! He wanted to be sicked on the woman. In fact, he was going to offer to stay without getting paid. Now, he needed to play this just right. “What do I get if I stay?”

  She stared at him. “What do you want?”

  “Three things,” he said, grinning. “Baby daddy, sex of offspring, and one more research paper on the family.”

  Callen tensed. He didn't like blackmail to begin with, but he especially didn't like it when his woman was concerned.

  “One condition,” she stated.

  “Shoot.”

  “Your lips stay sealed and the paper doesn’t use our names, like the last one. We deserve privacy, and after Ethan’s abduction, we need that more than ever.”

  There was no way he’d compromise his friends. “It’s a deal.”

  “The baby is Ethan’s, and Charlie is a girl. That’s really her name too.”

  Callen glared at him. “If you tell anyone, I’ll be getting my brother, and we’ll be hurting you, Tony. I mean it. This isn't a game. This is our life.”

  He glanced over at Elizabeth. “Do you think I’d risk you?” he was appalled. “I was busting your ass. I would have stayed anyway. You’re my only friend left, Lyzee. I wouldn’t ever hurt you.”

  She felt bad for the man. The tone of his voice showed how upset he was to be doubted. Obviously, Tony didn't know that he had lots of people who loved him. “We know, Tony.” Patting him on the cheek, she tried to offer him some reassurance, “That’s why I told you. Had anyone else tried that, I would have kicked their ass.”

  He let out the breath he was holding. “Can I go play in the holes now?”

  “Have at it, my friend.”

  Tony Magnus headed off.

  “He’s lost without Chris,” she stated, walking beside Callen. “I think he likes the other doctor. He’s staring at her like she’s something new and shiny. Tony’s apt to study things, and he’s definitely thinking about more than just a research paper when it comes to her.”

  Callen laughed. “You’re going to play Cupid, aren’t you?” he inquired, knowing her well enough. She absolutely was going to jump in and stir the water.

  “Hell yes, I am. Now that his BFF is off with his new wife, the good bone doctor needs a new focus.”

  “Why?”

  Elizabeth didn't have to think about it long. “Because, he’s my friend and I care about him. I want him to find love.”

  Before reaching the bodies, they stopped in to check on the rest of the team. Merry Peyton was running around directing her techs. It was very reminiscent of the way Christina used to do her job. When they watched her, calm settled over them.

  “I think she has this,” stated Callen proudly.

  Elizabeth watched her check the progress to make sure all the trace was being handled correctly. Because of the rain the previous night, they were working in the mud.

  “Merry,” she called.

  Immediately, the woman raced over. “Yes, Director?”

  “How’s it going?” she asked, motioning to the surrounding area.

  “We pulled everything from the people who had contact with the victims. I have all their DNA and fingerprints. I also took hair samples, because it’ll be easier to cross check if we find any on the shrouds.”

  “Good work,” she said, honestly happy. Maybe they would survive this one too.

  “Thank you, Director,” she stated. “I’d love to talk, but I have so much to do. If you don’t mind…”

  Elizabeth watched her rush away. “It’s official. I’m in love with Merry. You found a good one, Callen!”

  He laughed. “Why are we calling her that?”

  It didn't take long to explain. “As a matter of fact, I’m feeling very merry myself.”

  That had his attention. “Like really hot sex back at the cabin later?” She went up on her toes and whispered in his ear. When his entire body went rock hard in reaction to her words, Elizabeth couldn’t help but grin.

  “I can’t wait to carry you back to my love shack in the woods,” he murmured. “I’m going to have my way with you a couple of times.”

  She could only hope so. When he patted her on the ass, her pulse jumped. “Callen!” she hissed. It was hard to get upset when the simple action turned her right on.

  Damn baby hormones.

  Callen knew it was half-hearted. “Later, you can show me how upset you are. In fact, I’ve been a very bad boy. Maybe you should bring your handcuffs and teach me who is boss.”

  It made her laugh and flush all at once. Oh, she’d be giving him a lesson he’d never forget.

  As they approached the burial site, all three doctors were leaning over the graves. “What can you tell me?” she asked, waiting for something.

  Doctor Legend spoke up, “Well, I have good news and bad news for you,” he offered. “Which do you want first, boss?”

  “Give me the good. I’m hoping it will soften the blow when you tell me what I already think you’re going to say.” This wasn’t her first crime scene, and Elizabeth knew how her ME’s rolled.

  He was good with that. “I can tell you right now that ID’ing the victims won’t be so bad, because they’re well preserved. We should be able to get a good set of prints or DNA.”

  Elizabeth braced for it. Here it came.

  “Unfortunately, that smell, the one which may or may not remind you of Christmas, is frankincense. It was used by the Egyptians many years ago. It’s going to make TOD a bitch. You’re looking at four very well preserved bodies. I’ll be able to hopefully give you how they died, but when that occurred isn't going to happen. With the temperatures in the ground and the amount of frankincense, we’re going to be shit out of luck.”

  Awesome.

  “So, basically if no one filed a missing person report on them, we have no damn idea of when they were taken?”

  “Yep. Did my good news soften the blow?” he asked, grinning.

  “No, why?”

  “Because I have more bad news,” Zane began. “I need to get these bodies into a chiller and out of these wraps soon. The longer they’re out in the air, the worse the pickling effect is going to be. You don’t happen to have a spare morgue lying around, do you?”

  Yeah, this is why they hated being in the field. They had bodies on the Rez, and for all they knew they could be Native. Housing them was destined to be a bitch.

  She glanced over at Callen. “The Black Mountain Reservation has a police department. How big is their space?”

  He started laughing at the ridiculousness of that question.

  “Okay, I’ll take that as a no. I’m going to have to head off the Rez and into town. It looks like I’ve got to go play nice with some local cops. These could be citizens of Devil’s Lake, so they might be willing to accommodate me.”

  She hoped.

  Now, Callen stopped laughing. Elizabeth was not known for getting along with many people, especially police. She found them irritating, bothersome, and generally a pain in her ass.

  This was bound to get ugly.

  “You’re not going alone,” he stated.

  Elizabeth glanced over at him. “If by that statement, you think you’re joining me, you can’t. You have to stay here and watch the scene to make sure our doctors are safe. When there are only two of us, we have to divide and conquer.”

  Callen didn't like that at all. Everything in him screamed in resistance to that suggestion. Pulling her aside, he led her to a quiet spot not far from the bodies, tucked behind some trees. “Please take the two agents you came with. I don’t think I could handle it if anything happened to you,” h
e whispered.

  She saw the pain in his eyes. Both men were super protective normally, but while she was pregnant, they were out of control.

  Elizabeth was just lucky this was Callen. If Ethan were here, it would be a million times worse. He took overprotective to the extreme.

  “Okay, Callen. I’ll take them. While I’m on the road, I’ll get housing from Ethan. It’s going to be dark soon. I want to get these bodies out of here. Zane can start the autopsies in the morning. He’s going to be too tired to focus, and we need this done right.”

  He understood. Staring down at his woman, he was drawn to her lips. “I’m feeling the need to touch you, Lyzee,” he whispered, low enough that only she could hear.

  She glanced around making sure the coast was indeed clear. “One kiss, Callen. You can spend hours touching me later,” she promised. “I’m sorry that’s all I can give you for now.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers for one single taste. Nothing in his life ever made his heart pound quite like kissing the woman he loved.

  Slowly, his lips moved over hers as they remained off by themselves. They both knew it wasn’t professional, but after nearly losing one third of their unit, they made a promise.

  Always take the moment, because it could be your last.

  Breaking away, he opened his eyes. Her brilliant blue ones stared lovingly up into his. Here was the woman he loved. It was almost two years, and he couldn’t imagine not being with her.

  “I love you,” she whispered, running the pad of her thumb over his lower lip. “Until the day I die, I’ll always be yours, Callen,” she vowed.

  He swallowed. Whenever she’d whisper those words to him, his heart would skip in his chest. His life, over the last few years, had changed vastly. It went from having no one to love to having this woman.

  She meant everything.

  “I love you, Elizabeth. I can’t wait for you to have Charlie, so I can knock you up,” he teased.

  She started laughing. “Nice one,” she offered. “Here I was impressed with your romantic streak.”

  There was no other woman he’d rather be romantic with in his entire life. Yet, there was a time to show her, and it wasn’t now. As her birthday approached, he was getting ready for it. Oh, he’d knock her socks off.