Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (40 page)

Elizabeth wanted to scream and vomit at the same time. Their victim was kept like some pet for the killer’s amusement. “Please tell me that you have trace DNA.”

Meredith nodded. “She was repeatedly sexually assaulted. We have trace from him. Now, most will have been compromised from the water, but I should be able to get you something from the DNA under her nails.”

“How about her clothes?” Elizabeth asked.

“She’s the first victim to have them on her,” Chris began. “All the other victims were buried naked.”

That made Blackhawk think. “That’s curious.”

It certainly was.

“Chris, give me a preliminary. Ethan needs more to help me pinpoint who this psycho is.”

“She was strangled, but this time, I’m going to say that the animal who did this didn't use his hands. If you look closely at the bruising, it appears that he used the chain.”

Of course he did. Why not use what was handy?

“And?”

“I haven’t opened her yet, but I can tell you that he beat on her. I’m not a profiler, but I can tell you that he wasn’t happy when he did it. This girl was a punching bag for him. Her face, upper body, and ribs are a mess.”

Elizabeth glanced over at her husband. “Well?”

“He’s escalating. The last woman was pregnant, but he killed her. This one he didn't have long. We might be wrong about him wanting children. Maybe the last victim was just better at keeping him appeased.” The clothing thing was bugging him. “Why was she dressed?”

They thought about it.

Elizabeth began pacing. “Maybe he was transporting her. What if she tried to make a break for it? She was dressed, but didn't have shoes.”

They just didn't have answers for that.

She hated not having a direction.

“I did tox, ma’am. It’ll be back in the morning,” Merry offered. “I also have the information you requested on the mineral trace for the last victim’s teeth.”

Well, that was a positive at least.

“What do you have?”

“She was from Indiana. I can’t pinpoint more of a location, but it looked to be somewhere in the center of the state. The trace elements are distinctive.”

Elizabeth glanced over at Ethan. She could tell he was thinking the same damn thing. That was where Tony’s mother had gone missing. Was the killer using the same hunting grounds as his mentor?

This set off alarms in both of their heads. Yet, neither said anything, trying to keep the tech team out of Tony’s business.

Callen spoke up, “Did we search the data system for foster kids? Maybe she was a run away,” he offered.

That was a good possibility.

“Go for it, Cal,” she stated. “At this point, we have to eliminate everything until we find her. I want her to have a name, not fleshy victim three. Search where Meredith is pointing. That’s going to be our jumping off point.”

Just then, the doors opened and an exuberant but flushed Johanna rushed in. “You’ll be happy to know that Doctor Armstrong is a genius!”

Elizabeth lifted a brow. “How so?”

Agent Seaton held up the picture of the clay remodeling of the victim’s face.

“Yes, we’ve met. Now, what’s the point?” she asked.

He then held up the other picture. “We found her. She was a run away from a group foster home. She had some disabilities, and was in the state’s care.”

Elizabeth hopped down. “That’s damn good work from not only our genius doctor, but our dedicated team.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” they said.

Blackhawk grinned. “She nailed it.”

“Where is our illustrious doctor?” Elizabeth asked, looking around. In fact, it just hit her that Tony was MIA too. “Are they at the dig site?”

Chris spoke up, “Tony was headed there earlier. He wanted to check on the team. I thought it was best he go.” He stared right at Elizabeth, hoping she would get the point. They didn't want him anywhere near the other skull. “I do believe that his fiancée was headed there to have lunch with him. Maybe they got tied up with something.”

Elizabeth was okay with that.

“Perfect. When you see Doctor Armstrong, give her a fist bump for me.”

That they could do.

“Now, tell me more about our victim. What’s her name?” she asked.

“We have April Belmont. She was seventeen when he took her.”

Ethan made notes. “When did she go missing?”

Johanna was excited. “She’s been missing a while. It looks like our killer took her and kept her locked up. She was reported as a runaway seven months ago.”

Elizabeth thought about it. “How far along was she, Doc?”

“No more than two months,” he replied.

They all knew what that meant. They just got their clarification on whether or not the person who held her was the baby daddy. He absolutely was.

It looked like he was searching for breeding stock after all. They were on the right track, despite not having a hell of a lot to work on.

“Is there anything else you need us to work on, boss?” Johanna asked.

She thought about it.

“As a matter of fact, I do. I need you to be sneaky.”

Both agents looked surprised, and Elizabeth didn't think it was for the same reason as she meant. “What I mean is, I want one of you to call the sheriff’s office and pretend to be the media. I want all the information you can dig out of them on the location where Magdalene was found.”

They both relaxed.

From the look on Ethan’s face, Elizabeth could tell that it wasn’t her imagination. He caught it too. Yeah, something was up with her two agents.

“We can do that.”

“Great. I want to know where she was pulled out of the water. Then, we need to track it back to find out where she went in. Then we can start searching for where she was killed.”

They all knew that was a long shot, but worth it if they could find anything out.

“Okay, boss.”

As they headed out, Ethan spoke up, “I called the media. You’ll have your media circus in the morning at the sheriff’s office.”

Elizabeth grinned wickedly. “Perfect. I’m going to do what I don’t usually do.”

Chris looked up from his autopsy. “Be pleasant to the media and local law? Buy us all lunch? Smile and pretend you’re Susie Sunshine?”

She snorted. “I’m pregnant, not insane. I’m going to give the media enough to warn any black haired, blue eyed victims, and make the sheriff’s job a little harder. He’s going to be so busy handling the scared townsfolk that he won’t have time to be on our asses. It’s a win-win any way you look at it.”

Ethan’s hand went to her arm where one of the bandages was located. “You realize that’s poking the big local bear, right?” He couldn’t help but feel edgy. They had a shooter. Someone was going to be gunning for them.

Literally.

If it was the local law, she was wearing a bull’s-eye.

She was well aware. “Yes, but I have my two strong men to keep me safe.”

Callen wasn’t amused. “Yeah, that didn't feel sincere at all. I think you threw that in to appease us.”

“Hell yeah, I did.”

Both men stared at her, a little shocked that she’d admit it outright.

Ethan’s cheek twitched and Callen didn't speak.

“Really, boys. This isn't my first day. I think I can manage to keep everything under control for a little while. Seriously, chill out.”

This wouldn’t be the first time she’d said something like that. In all honesty, it scared them. Elizabeth was notoriously a magnet for trouble, and Belleville appeared to have plenty of that.

                                         *    *    *

He watched her.

She was going to be his wife.

When it was all said and done, he would have her as his own. She would be perfect. Where the last one didn't quite work out, he was willing to let that go. After all, sometimes you had to make mistakes.

He was willing to do that to find the perfect bride.

Now, he was sure she was it.

From the long black hair, to the sparkling blue eyes, this woman would be the perfect mate.

He could just sense it about her.

As he ate his pizza, she gave off a really good vibe. She was definitely the one.

Soon, she would be his.

Taking her would be easy. He knew her routine, saw everything she did, and even got up the courage to talk to her a few times.

She loved him.

He could tell.

When he took her home and claimed her as his own, she would make him very happy.

In return, he would do the same.

Then, he thought about Magdalene. The anger filled him, and he was forced to push it back down. There was no way that he would let that worthless skank stress him out.

She was gone from his life.

Now, he had new purpose.

This was his prize to claim, and he would.

Tonight, he would have a new start, and she would be a far better one. He would have perfection, and in the morning, his life would begin anew.

Tomorrow, he would be a happily married man with his blushing new bride.

                                            *    *    *

Two Hours Later

It was a good day, until he showed up at the hospital morgue. The second he walked in, he could tell something was very wrong. The man he’d asked to do the autopsy was sitting there, waiting.

It didn't bode well.

He’d given him time, but the look on his face said it all. He looked pissed off.

“Doctor Vanguard, what’s wrong?” he asked, glancing around. “Are you done with the autopsy?”

“We have a problem.”

Immediately, his mind went toward the case.

“What did you find?”

“Nothing,” he stated. “I didn't find a single damn thing.”

That gave him pause. “The killer didn't leave anything to point you in his direction?”

The ME shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. I was about to start the autopsy, and a bunch of Feds strolled in, took the body, and left me standing here. I’m a little irritated that you didn't warn me that I was possibly digging into a Federal hornets’ nest. That really sucks, Doug.”

“What?” Now it was his turn to be pissed off. Hopefully, he had just heard the man wrong.

“What did you say?”

It couldn’t be.

“You heard me. The FBI strolled in here, threatened me, and took your victim.”

How the hell did they find her?

“And you let them?” he demanded.

The man laughed, taking a seat at his desk. “What was I supposed to do? Throw myself over her and hold on for dear life?”

He opened his mouth and was cut off.

“When the FBI rolls in, taking over, favor or not, I don’t stop them. I wasn’t going to end up in jail for your case. Had I even known it was a possibility, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Consider yourself out of favors when it comes to me. You dicked me over, Doug. This bridge is officially burned down.”

He kicked the metal autopsy table in anger. “Son of a bitch! I hate that woman!”

Douglas Carlton was beyond pissed off.

As he began pacing, his temper grew. He couldn’t believe this. They weren’t going to get away with this.

Before he could say more, one of his deputies raced in. “Sir! I just got a call from HQ. They said that the media has been inundating us. Apparently, there’s a press conference tomorrow morning, and Magdalene Monroe’s name was mentioned.”

The sheriff fumed. He didn't want to take it out on Deputy Trey Stephens, but he was close to losing it.

“What the hell?”

“The FBI is holding it to release an update on the case,” he blurted. “How did they find out?”

He would be damned if he knew.

“Who took the call?” he asked, trying to breathe through the anger.

“Deputy Richmond.”

“Call him back. Tell him to give nothing else out. We’re going to get to the bottom of this, and kick the FBI out of our town once and for all. I’m done with this bullshit!” When he got his hands on that pregnant bitch, he swore he was going to make her pay for screwing with him.

Enough was enough.

He stormed toward the door, motioning to his deputy to follow. “Thanks for nothing, Doctor. The least you could have done was keep track of one lousy body!” he hissed, slamming the morgue doors behind him.