Blood Shall Run (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 15) Read online

  FBI Jet

  The team was ready for their first case working out of the new unit. This was pretty much like any other case they worked, but this time, they answered to Elizabeth, who in turn answered directly to Gabe.

  They all knew there was a lot riding on this one.

  The other Feds at the office were going to be watching, waiting to see if the new team, headed by a woman they assumed slept her way to the top, could pull it off.

  Basically, they were praying to see her fail.

  Well, none of them was going to let that happen. They were in this together.

  “Are you nervous, Ma’am?” Merry asked, when Elizabeth kept clicking her pen as she stared off into space.

  “No, not really nervous. I’m more anxious. I like to hit the ground running, and the flight always makes me worry.”

  Callen patted her hand on his thigh. “Ethan will be here before you know it.”

  That was exactly what she was worried about—not so much them, per say, but him being all alone. She had Callen, and they would roll over anyone who tried to jack with her team.

  “Who’s our contact, Merry?” Elizabeth asked, as her tech flipped through the dossier that Gabe had put together for them.

  “We have two detectives. The lead one is Boone Savage, and he’s been a veteran of the force for the last fifteen years. He’s got a degree in criminal justice from a local college, and he’s got a spotless record.”

  “Great. The other one?” she asked.

  “Detective Rolland Le Bleu is his partner, and he’s only been in the city for the last year or so. He’s done stints on other police forces, but he’s moved around a lot.”

  “That doesn’t sit well with me. Why do cops job hop?” she asked.

  Johanna Madden spoke up, “Possibly because he can’t play nice with other cops?” she suggested.

  Yeah, that was what she was going with too. She’d only held two jobs in her life after college. A Fed and a sheriff, and one was to run and hide.

  That’s it.

  A cop was a cop was a cop, unless they were married and the little woman’s job required relocation.

  “Are they married?” she asked.

  Brody spoke up, as his fingers slid across the keyboard. “Neither is married. Detective Le Bleu was at one time, but he’s down as divorced. The IRS has the last time a joint tax return was filed as seven years ago in Memphis.”

  That’s all she needed to know.

  “Were going in assuming he’s going to be the tough one. Since he’s not the lead, let’s deal with Detective Savage on this one. Merry, you’re going to play liaison with him because frankly…”

  “You don’t play well with cops?” she asked.

  Elizabeth laughed. “Yeah, among other things. We’re in their house, we’ll be using their morgue, and we’ll have to play by their rules.”

  “I’m assuming they touched the bodies,” Chris stated.

  Elizabeth glanced over. “Yep, there were full autopsies on each and every one of them. The first four were victims of random crimes, the last two were hookers who got a little too lackadaisical and ended up with this nut job.”

  Callen kissed her on their joined fingers. “I’ll run interference so you can have time to get your bearings. Don’t stress it, angel.”

  She appreciated that.

  “Oh, and the local law officials are calling this guy a ‘Jack the Ripper’ wannabe.”

  They all groaned.

  That meant if he had a title, he was going to end up in the media at some point. If they had a dollar for every killer who took out a prostitute that earned that title, they’d eat well on this case.

  “Yeah, I know. I wasn’t happy either. If this is what the killer is trying to emulate, we’re going to be all over the damn papers.”

  Just then, the cabin door opened. “Director, we’re going to be touching down in five minutes. Your husband has vehicles waiting for you.”

  “Please tell me it’s not some chauffeured ride where I’m going to get mean.”

  The co-captain laughed. “It’s your customary vehicle, Director.”

  That calmed her down.

  “When we get on the ground, we’ll all hit the police station together,” Elizabeth stated. “I don’t want to send you and Merry into the lion’s den,” she offered to her ME.

  “I appreciate that. I’m already going in at a disadvantage. I have to work from the reports. Who knows if the ME running the show was an idiot or not?”

  He had a point.

  She looked over her seat at the techs riding in the back of the jet. Most of them were sleeping or listening to music on their ear buds.

  “Between you four and Callen, we have to make this one count. All eyes are on us, and I’m the only female director at the FBI running a division. If we fail, I don’t only look bad, but Ethan does too. So, let’s do this one for him, okay?”

  Callen loved her so much.

  She wasn’t worried about her own street cred. She was worried about his. That was true love if he ever saw it.

  “No problem,” Brody stated. “We owe you guys this one.”

  “You and the missus don’t owe me anything. Just do your job!”

  With that, the plane touched down, and it was time to show the naysayers that she wasn’t just a pretty face. Elizabeth Whitefox-Blackhawk was so much more.

  Above all, she was good at her job, and a class act ball buster.

  It was time to show them where she got her nickname from…

  Badass Elizabeth Blackhawk was back.

  And with a vengeance.

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  Airport Terminal

  He was nervous, but it was time to face the music. He could see the fancy FBI jet unloading at the gate, and he was waiting for them to exit the plane.

  It was risky hitting them up here at the airport, but Boone really needed in on this case. He didn’t like to let loose ends go, and this case, to him, was a huge loose end.

  It was bugging the shit out of him, and he had to see it through.

  As he watched the gangway, he could see shadows moving toward him. They were coming, and it was now or never. As the Feds walked through the gate, he was a little taken aback.

  It was Elizabeth-freaking-Blackhawk.

  She was the Fed everyone wanted to work with, and simultaneously wanted to stay off her radar. As of the last few weeks, the news had run a million stories on her, and they all painted her in one way.

  Tough.

  Well, it was now or never.

  As Boone Savage approached her, the large Native man beside her had already spotted him. He could tell. Callen Whitefox was focused on him. His gaze was trained on him, and he couldn’t blame the man.

  He was her partner.

  They always had your back.

  “Elizabeth Blackhawk, ma’am?” he called, stopping in front of them.

  She stopped. “Yeah, and you are?”

  He held out his hand. “I’m Detective Boone Savage. I’m the man in charge of the case here in New Orleans.”

  She smiled. “Well, well, Detective. I was just coming to look for you,” she said. “You saved me a trip.”

  Elizabeth went to move around him, but he stayed in her path. He was ready to beg if need be. Boone wanted—no needed—to work this case.

  “Uh, are you joining us, or do you want to stand here and have a conversation?” she asked.

  He followed after her, but he wasn’t focused on the head Fed anymore. Behind Elizabeth Blackhawk was another woman, and she was gorgeous. Her lavender eyes, and silky black hair, had his attention.

  “Detective?”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Elizabeth laughed as she checked her weapons at the gate. “I introduced you to my team. I’ll do it one more time, and then I tattoo it on your hand.”

  He blushed.

  “Sorry, Director.”

  She let it go.r />
  “This is Doctor Christopher Leonard, and he’s my ME. This is Meredith Peyton, and she’s my head lab tech. The two smiley ones are agents, and my left and right hand wo-and man. Agents Madden and Seaton, say hello.”

  They waved.

  “We’re ready for you to brief us, as we head to the morgue.”

  “Director Blackhawk?” he asked, getting her attention.

  “Yeah?”

  “I want in. I don’t want to be shoved out. I want to work this case with you and your team, and I know I can be an asset. I’m from this city, and I know these streets inside out.”

  She laughed.

  “Please?” he added.

  Elizabeth went to turn, and she noticed that her head tech was staring at the man. Make that openly leering.

  Interesting.

  Merry didn’t ogle anyone or anything, unless it was under a microscope.

  Well, that was until now.

  Then again, Boone Savage was someone worth checking out. He was clearly Native American. His skin was tan, his brown hair was pulled back, and the only thing that screamed mixed heritage was the blue eyes. His were almost the same color as hers, and they made him look extra exotic.

  And she knew exotic.

  Look at the men in her life.

  “You’re in.”

  Callen stared at her like she had three heads, horns, and a pair of breasts stuck to her forehead.

  “What?” she asked, keeping a straight face.

  Had she hit her head? Granted, she told Merry she was acting as a liaison, but this?

  What the hell happened?

  Callen knew his brother was going to shit a brick when he found out there was another Native on the scene, and she was playing nice.

  “Nothing,” Callen muttered.

  Elizabeth loved when they were off guard.

  “Thank you, Director. I appreciate the opportunity.”

  “Let’s head out,” she said, when all of her team had checked their guns and ID’s.

  As they were heading out to the vehicles, Callen whispered so only she’d hear. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  She grinned. “Look at Merry.”

  Callen casually glanced over his shoulder. The woman had moved closer to the detective, and she was clearly checking him out.

  “Cupid?” he asked.

  She grinned. “Hell yeah. Get out my wings. I feel like making a match.”

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  Fort Whitefox-Blackhawk

  Three P.M.

  Ethan got word that his wife had landed in New Orleans, so he wanted to head out to be at home with his kids. Since all of his meetings were done for the day, he had the luxury of doing just that. As he left the building, of course there was media camped out not far from his car.

  When the news broke that he’d been offered the position with the FBI, BNN, and all the other news affiliates, went crazy. There were rumors of his and Elizabeth’s divorce, thanks to his brother destroying the marriage. The speculation kicked up, and if anything, it was irritating. For now, the media was pecking away, looking for dirt.

  Unfortunately for them, it didn’t exist.

  Ethan took the job to further his career, and so Elizabeth could return to her roots.

  That’s it.

  Nothing more.

  Now, he was left alone to play with the media nuts each and every day.

  It was on his last nerve, but he kept telling himself that it was part of the job. If he wanted Gabe’s job one day, he needed to get accustomed to it.

  He had media all over him.

  As he headed to his ride, and back to their house, he ignored their questions. There was no point getting worked up with the insanity. If he paid them any attention, he’d have one hell of an ulcer.

  “Home, please,” he stated.

  He didn’t look up the entire time he was driven home. He, instead, had been flipping through his phone looking at all the pictures of his family. They grounded him. Whenever he was lost, seeing their smiling faces brought him back to center.

  Elizabeth.

  Callen.

  Their kids.

  It was how he got through it all.

  Ethan had past issues with being sucked into the job. While his wife was away, and he was flying solo, he didn’t want to slip up. By staring at her picture, he was able to focus on the underlying truth.

  He was a lucky man.

  At the gate to his property, the driver rolled the window down and keyed in the access code.

  “You’re home, sir. What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?”

  Ethan pulled out his phone and looked at his schedule. “Eight, if you don’t mind.”

  “See you then, sir.”

  Ethan headed toward the house. There was a protection duty following him. He could hear the secondary car pull up behind the Lincoln.

  “I’m in for the night,” he offered to the man who headed his way.

  “Works for us, boss. Have a good night.”

  Ethan headed in to see his family. Once in the door, he could hear the mayhem, and it made him smile. Immediately, he began snapping pictures of the kids to send to his family—especially Chris. He knew the time apart would be hard. It was his first case away from Bethe.

  “Ethan! You’re home,” Wyler said, coming around the corner.

  “Yeah, I am, Dad.” He hugged his father. “How was everything today?”

  “It was good, son.”

  Ethan stripped out of his suit jacket. “Where’s Maeve?” he asked.

  She popped her head around the corner. “I was making a blackberry pie, Director. Then I’ll be headin’ home for the night, unless you are needin’ something more from me. Well, you or your father.”

  Ethan smiled.

  He couldn’t help it.

  He had to admit, the woman’s Irish lilt cheered him up. He was about to make a comment about pie when he noticed his father.

  He was giving him THE look.

  It was clearly a warning.

  Elizabeth had been right. Wyler wouldn’t care if there wasn’t something there. Clearly, Cupid was on her game.

  “Thanks, Maeve, and come to think of it, I do need a favor,” he began.

  Wyler braced for it.

  That amused Ethan even more.

  “Sure, sir.”

  “First, it’s Ethan. I really wish you’d call me that. When I’m home, I like to feel like I belong here.”

  She smiled. “I can do that, Ethan.”

  “Secondly, I’m heading out on business tomorrow night to meet up with Elizabeth and Callen for a case. Is there any way that you can possibly stay overnight the next few days to help out? I’ll compensate you for your time.”

  Wyler stared at him.

  His face said it all.

  He thought this was a joke.

  “I can stay and help, Ethan. It would be my pleasure. I love these little ones, so that is payment enough.”

  “Do you have kids yourself?” he asked.

  “No, I’ve always been takin’ care of other people’s and never had time to find that one person who would give me a family.”

  Ethan knew he was probably going to regret this, but he went with his wife’s gut.

  “Thank you, Maeve. Dad, can you come upstairs? I need to have a conversation with you.”

  Wyler looked worried, but he followed anyway. When they were upstairs, Ethan closed the door.

  “What’s going on with you and Maeve?” he asked.

  The man looked surprised. “Nothing, son! I haven’t touched her. After the Bly mess, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t cross any lines. I promise.”

  Ethan began stripping out of his suit. “Now how about you tell me what you really want to do when you see her? Elizabeth called you out on this, and I’ve seen it myself just now when you were panicked.”

  “Ethan.”

  “Dad.”

  The older man sighed. “I’m an
old man.”

  “You’re not old. You’re in the prime of your life. You’re in better shape than half the agents who work for me. Age is simply a number.”

  “She’s a child.”

  Ethan laughed. “She’s older than your children, so we’re pretty sure she’s past the child stage—unless you’re trying to tell me something.”

  The silence remained between them.

  Finally, it was Wyler who caved.

  “I don’t want to screw it up and lose my grandkids because I was attracted to a woman.”

  There.

  He said it.

  “That’s better. At least you’re telling me the truth now. That I can respect.”

  “I won’t make a move on her. I can’t. She’s not even fifty. That’s….”

  He searched for a word.

  “Absolutely normal in this day and age?” Ethan offered. “You don’t look your age, so I’m not sure what the issues is.”

  He looked uncomfortable.

  “Elizabeth thinks she likes you, and I think she does too. I think that while we’re away, if you were to pursue that avenue, I don’t think she’d mind. I wanted to tell you that we certainly won’t.”

  “This is awkward. My son is telling me to have sex with a woman. I’m pretty sure this is backward.”

  Ethan laughed as he pulled on a pair of beat up jeans. “Yeah, tell me about it. I can’t believe I’m telling my father to get laid. It seems like something Elizabeth should be doing.”

  The man laughed. “Probably.”

  Then he stopped.

  “What?”

  “Promise me you won’t hate me or get mad?”

  Ethan hugged his father. “Dad, I love you. I won’t ever hate you. We had our rough moments, but we’re good. You’re my blood, and that matters. Plus, Elizabeth would kick my ass if I upset you. You’re her favorite Blackhawk of them all.”

  He figured he should just go for it.

  “She reminds me of your mother.”

  Ethan wasn’t shocked, especially since Callen had told him the same thing earlier. Apparently, Maeve and his mother, Catherine, had a lot in common.

  “Does she? How?”