Dead Shall Speak (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 10) (69 page)

“I didn't mean…”

She pointed at him. “There’s a reason you’re in the lab and we’re not. You risked your life when you should have come to us. We would have saved her.”

“He left me a note.”

She glared at him. “Are you suggesting, Doctor Magnus, that after twelve years I wasn’t smart enough to sneak up on a half-baked, fruit loop maniac?”

He was shocked at her anger. He honestly thought she’d be glad he’d taken down a killer.

“What if it were Ethan or Callen?” he asked, getting angry. “Would you have just let them die? No! You would have done the same thing!”

Everything around her stopped. She stared at him. “Get your arm tended to and then get back to the hotel. You’re going back to FBI West.”

He opened his mouth to protest.

Ethan stepped in, siding with his wife on this one. “If you’re smart, Doctor, you’ll do it.” That was his warning to a man they called friend. It was obvious that Tony didn't see that Elizabeth had been scared for him. Tony had buried them in a shit fest.

“Doctor Armstrong, you’re not going back to Quantico. I need you to run the dig site. It’ll be shut down in a day or two.”

She clung to Tony. “Yes, Director.”

He stood up, incredibly angry. “So this is my punishment? Like a child?”

She stared at him. “Act like one, and you get treated like one. I’m your fucking boss. You seem to have forgotten that. Above everything else, Doctor Magnus, it’s my job to keep you alive in the field. You made that damn near impossible.”

Before he could speak, the agents appeared in the door. “Director,” called Madden.

“Yes?”

“You have to see this. We found something in the back. I don’t know what to think of it.”

She took that as her cue to leave. When she was gone, Ethan and Callen stood there staring at Tony.

“Go ahead. Yell at me. I had to save Jaxon. She matters to me, and I had to do what I did.” He would make no apologies—not to Elizabeth—not to the men he called friends. In life, you had to do what needed to be done.

Jaxon was his future.

Ethan wanted to smack the man senseless—not only for talking to their wife like that, but for being clueless.

Instead, Callen took over. “Why do you think she’s so mad at you, Tony?” he asked.

“Because I screwed up and didn't let her be the boss, so now I’ll pay.”

Callen shook his head. “While you nearly lost Jaxon, she’s mad because she nearly lost you. Everything you’re feeling, she’s experiencing too. You’re like her brother.”

His words resonated.

“I didn’t get hurt.”

Ethan didn't want to hear it. They were done cluing the man in. If he didn't get it, he didn't get it. Far be it for them to force it down his throat.

“I hear the ambulance. We need to get the women looked at. We’ll see you back at FBI West on Monday morning. Make your first stop my office.”

“But…”

The look Ethan gave him had him backing down. When the two men walked away, he held Jaxon to his body. “Are you okay, honey?” he asked.

“Yes, are you?”

He thought about it. “No. I think just royally screwed up.”

Elizabeth was grateful to be out of that house. Her temper was flaring, and she really wanted to kick Tony’s ass. Behind the house, she found her agents beside a rundown shed. It was covered in weeds, broken lumber and looked like it was ready to collapse.

“What did you find?” she asked.

Broderick Seaton leaned down and yanked on a board. When he pulled, something white moved from the shadows.

Elizabeth immediately knew what it was.

There was a skull.

“Call Chris and tell him that we need him to get out some remains. We’ll need two body bags for this one. The killer isn't the only corpse at this house of horrors.”

Elizabeth stood there examining the remains. She could see the telltale trace of men’s clothes housing the skeleton. Well, it looked like they found Johnny Antonio’s missing father.

Case closed.

Normally, when they wrapped up an assignment, there was that sense of accomplishment. They would head home, curl up with their kids and celebrate. Instead, what was coming was nothing more than a nightmare. There would be no celebration.

Not for her.

Not for them.

Instead, she was going to be kissing them goodbye.

Shit!

She wanted to cry. The emotions overwhelmed her. Having to leave was going to hurt.

It twisted her gut.

Elizabeth knew that in a few hours, her heart would be breaking.

For her and the men, the nightmare was continuing.

                          *     *     *

Wednesday Night

Saying goodbye sucked.

After cleaning up the mess in Belleville, helping the mayor work on the town’s image in the media, and pulling their team together, they knew they were done.

Only, one of their entire team wasn’t getting on the jet. As they stood at the private airstrip, it was time to part ways.

They let the team climb onboard as they waited. No one wanted to say the words, but they knew it was inevitable.

Finally, Elizabeth broke first.

“God! I’m going to miss you both so much,” she said, going into their arms.

The men wrapped around her, holding their woman tight. It was as if they held on, she couldn’t slip away.

“I wish I was going with you.”

Callen wanted that too. “Come with us. Don’t go, Lyzee. The job isn't worth it. We want you to come home and stay there.”

She heard the pain in his voice and completely understood what he was feeling. A part of her knew he wasn’t just talking about Oracle. “I can’t, my love. You know that. This is who I am. If I run now, what does that say about me? I have to finish this. It’s almost done. I need the next month before we hand this off to Nathaniel Carter. Then, I’m home.”

He still held her.

Ethan stroked her cheek. “Will you think about us?” he asked, gently kissing her lips. When his lips moved from hers, Callen took his turn.

Finally, she could speak, “Every second of every day,” she promised.

They knew that was as good as it was going to get.

“You have a vehicle in the parking lot. It’s not registered to us or the FBI,” he stated.

“Thank you, Ethan.”

Callen squeezed her hand. “I know we won’t hear from you, but if you can, try to get us a message.”

She touched his cheek. “I have my ways. Speaking of which, I left you a surprise. You’ll understand when you see it,” she offered.

They didn't speak.

Each one of them was dying of a broken heart.

“I’ll see you in a month.” Releasing their hands, she took a step back.

Ethan’s fingertips brushed her baby belly. “I love you, Charlie,” he said. “You’ll be here soon. We’ll be dreaming about the day we meet.”

Callen lovingly stroked her bump. “Keep your momma safe, baby bird. We look forward to having you in the nest.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Go,” she whispered. “Before we can’t do this.”

The men sucked it up and climbed the stairs into the FBI jet. Once inside, they stared out the windows.

The engines started, and she walked backward toward the building. Elizabeth wanted that one last moment to memorize their faces.

As the jet doors closed, and they began rolling, she lifted her hand to wave.

“I’ll see you in a month,” she stated, resting her hand on her belly.

When the jet started the fast roll down the runway, she still watched.

Tears filled her eyes.

“I love you,” she whispered, watching the two men who anchored her life fly away.

It was time.

Badass Elizabeth Blackhawk was needed.

The switch was flipped.

She had a job to do.

Whether she liked it or not.

~ Chapter Twenty-Two ~

               
Salem

                            Friday Night

She had to take the long way into Salem. If she drove through town, she risked being seen. One of the deputies might spot her vehicle and follow her.

It was a risk she’d have to take.

When she left Belleville, Elizabeth had to make sure that no one followed her. It was the long route, but it enabled her to pick up more supplies and think.

For now, she couldn’t worry about the men in her life. She had bigger fish to fry. Elizabeth had to keep Oracle safe until the handoff. Deep in her gut, she hoped Nathaniel Carter was ready for this. Something big was coming.

She could feel it.

As she pulled into the driveway, she hit her lights. The curtain in her office window fluttered, and she knew she was being watched. Stepping out, she waited for the porch light to go on. The last thing she needed was to sneak up on an edgy Marine.

When the door opened, she saw them.

“You’re back,” stated Avalon.

Elizabeth wished she was happy about that. Now, she only hoped her voice wouldn’t give her away. “Yeah, miss me?”

Jagger laughed. “I hope you brought supplies. We’re trapped here. I’m shocked the sheriff hasn’t done a drive by.”

She shrugged. “He’s a friend. I had my husband call him and ask him to keep his men far from here.”

“No one’s supposed to know.”

She was aware. “I trust him. If anything, he’s more at risk than we are.”

It was good enough for Jagger.

“As for supplies, we’re loaded down. I picked them up in nine different towns on my two day trip.” Then, she tossed him cash.

“Will this be enough?”

She hoped so. “We only have to stay hidden for twenty eight more days. We should be good.”

Yeah, if they didn't have to move.

“I’ll get the supplies,” he offered. He didn't want her carrying them, or going into labor. That was just a bad idea.

“Thanks.”

Elizabeth headed in with Oracle. “How are you, Avalon?” she asked.

“I’m okay. Did the right brother survive?” she asked, grinning.

“You knew it had nothing to do with the men in my life, didn't you? If you’ve seen everything else in my life, then you knew it was Tony who was going to battle to survive.”

She nodded. “You never asked which brother, now did you?”

She had a point.

“Why did you do it?”

“You needed to be with them. Sometimes, rational has to go out the window, and you have to take a leap of faith.”

Yeah, she was well aware.

Elizabeth held out her arm so the woman could hold onto it. “I'm starving. This kid is insane.”

She rested her hand on her belly. Then, she rattled off a date.

“What’s that?”

“Her birthday.”

“You know, that’s freaky. I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Elizabeth stated.

She simply laughed. “I love your home.”

“Yeah, I grew up here.”

“I can tell. The ghosts whisper your name. Charlie and Sam are here.”

Shit!

“You don’t say?” she said, keeping her voice completely neutral even as she looked around for the two men she lost in this town.

‘Keep us safe, Dad and Doc,’
she whispered in her mind.

Elizabeth Blackhawk couldn’t wait until this was over. Twenty eight days couldn’t go fast enough.

                          *     *     *

FBI West

Monday Morning

Tony had lots of time to think about what he’d done. As each day passed, it became more and more clear. In the moment, it never occurred to him that Elizabeth had been worried about him. Sometimes, he took for granted that he did indeed have family.

Now, he was aching over the loss of it.

Once arriving home, it only took Jaxon a couple days to arrive. After the FBI had left, the university shut the dig down. There was no way they were going to build anything on that land.

They thought it would be in bad taste.

A team from Quantico was there working on the wrap up. Gabriel Rothschild had cut the team a break by sending in his own people to deal with the media and the mess.

He wished he could be happy, he wasn’t. 

While Tony loved having Jaxon with him, the impending doom was making him sick.

He was pretty sure he was going to be shit canned after this meeting. He’d broken a slew of regulations.

In his mind, it was only a matter of time. He only hoped his buddy, Chris Leonard, would clean out his locker. When he tried calling him at work, the man was closed lipped. He was still pretty mad at him too.

Tony had made a big mess of this.

As they were escorted into Ethan’s office, both he and Jaxon found both men there. Ethan was wearing a suit, his red power tie tucked behind the starched white collar. Callen was in a blazer, a white polo shirt peeking from beneath.

Neither looked happy.

“Have a seat.”

They did just that.

“I’m in deep shit, aren’t I?” he asked. “Am I fired?”

Ethan took his seat. “Unfortunately for us, Elizabeth won’t let me can your ass. While Callen and I voted for your dismissal, she said it wasn’t happening. It has to be unanimous, and she wants you here.”

He would kiss her when he saw her.

If she’d let him.

Blackhawk continued, “What you did, Doctor, was careless, arrogant, stupid, and dangerous. You’re an anthropologist, not an agent. I’m still digging out of the shit mess this made when you discharged your weapon not once, but three times into your brother’s chest.”

He swallowed.

“The only thing saving your ass is that Bonnie Anston was so hysterical, she couldn’t keep her story straight. All she remembers is Johnny Antonio rushing you. Fortunately for you, she didn't know that Jaxon was really your fiancée. She believed that the man was plain crazy.”

He held his breath.

“I know I jumped the gun…”

“We figured it out right after you got the note. We were on our way to get him when we found out about your adventure. Had you come to us, we could have avoided this. We could have interrogated the man. We might have even found out the identities of the women his father took. Now, their families have to wait for closure. Do you know how long that’s going to take?”

“I…”

Callen pointed at him. “Zip it, Doctor. You’re in enough shit.”

The man had never been more freaked out in his life. He’d never been on this side of Ethan or Callen’s anger. In fact, he’d never seen anyone get them this pissed off.

Except Elizabeth.

“I’m sorry.”

Ethan nodded. “All actions have consequences. Yours will too. You’re going to be stuck in-house the next few weeks. You won’t be leaving the morgue.”

Oh crap!

They were sadistic. There was one sure-fire way to break him, and this was it. He was grounded. His only chance was Elizabeth, and she was nowhere to be found.

“No field work?” he asked, horrified. If they wanted to hurt him, this was how to do it.

“No.”

“Shit,” he muttered.

Jaxon stroked his arm reassuringly.

“That’s going to be boring.”

Blackhawk grinned ferally. “Oh, you won’t have time to be bored. We’ve made sure of that.”

Crap!

He was screwed.

“You’re going to be stuck training a new staff member. There will be hours upon hours of paperwork. You’re going to have bleeding fingers by the time you’re done.”

This was shitty.

Could they be this cruel?

“Normally, we do the paperwork, but since I’m so damn busy cleaning up after your little shit fest, you’re going to be cleaning up after ours.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

Blackhawk turned toward the woman beside him. “Doctor Armstrong, have you resigned from Quantico?”

“No, not yet.”

“Good. That makes my life easier. We seem to have an opening for a forensic artist on staff. We often have to borrow Gabe’s, or contract out to the university. We’d like to offer you the job. I’m sorry that it can’t be for the position of anthropologist, but we have one.”

“Yeah, unless he pulls that shit again,” added Callen. “Then there will be an opening.”

Ethan agreed. “Yeah, that’s a definite possibility. At this rate, just sit back and wait. He’s prone to screw this up. Apparently, he’s lost his damn mind.”

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“It’s yours if you’d like it.”

Tony stared at them. “Seriously? I fucked up, and she’s getting a job despite it? I don’t understand.”

Blackhawk brushed invisible lint from his sleeve. “You’re family, Tony. Forgetting that is what got you into trouble in the first place. I’ll be honest. All of this was Elizabeth’s idea. When she’s back, you can thank her.”

Jaxon bounced. “I’ll take it!”

They made him sweat it, but they still had his back. They were family.

“Get her started on her paperwork. I’ve already spoken to Gabe. He’s sorry to be losing you, Doctor.”

In all actuality, he was glad. The marshals were digging around, trying to ask too many questions about her. It was time to move Doctor Armstrong. They needed to keep her safe.

She rushed them and hugged both men. “Thank you!”

“Again, this wasn’t us. This was all Elizabeth.”

Or Cupid, as they liked to call her.

“I want to thank her.”

Callen shook his head. “She’s away on a case.”

“Alone?” Tony asked. “While pregnant?”

Then he saw their faces. They were worried. That didn't sit well with him.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” he offered. He knew how close they were. This had to be hard. They were a unit, and they worked well as one.

“Thank you,” they replied together.

“Go get your paperwork done,” Ethan stated.

When they were gone, Blackhawk hugged his brother. They rested their foreheads against each other’s.

“Twenty five more days,” Callen said, counting it down.

Thankfully, it was slipping away.

“Is she okay?” he asked.

Pulling the small burner phone from his pocket, he typed in a message.

‘We miss you already. We can’t wait to hold you in our arms.’

Ethan hit send.

Both men waited in eager anticipation for a return text. This was the little surprise she left for them. They were giddy when they found out.

It didn't take long for a message to come in. It was a picture of her smiling, blowing them both a kiss. Under it, there was a short message.

‘Yee haw, Cowboy and Indian. I love you both, and always will. See you in twenty five days.’

It appeared they weren’t the only ones counting the time and waiting for it to pass.

“Let’s go grab some coffee,” Ethan suggested, dropping his arm over his brother’s shoulder. They had their confirmation that Elizabeth was safe.

That’s all they needed.

“I can’t. I have therapy.”

Ethan forgot. Today was the day. “Want me to go with you?” he asked hopefully. While Elizabeth was away, he wanted to help his brother through this.

Only, he had to let him.

Callen looked over at the man watching him with so much love in his eyes.

“Yeah, I think I’m ready for that,” he admitted. “Since Lyzee can’t be here, I think I’d like my other partner to be there.”

Together, they headed toward Doctor Gaines’s office.

“I have your back, Cal. Until the end of time, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make you feel safe.”

Didn’t he know it?

While they might be missing one third of their hearts, they had more than enough to hold on until she was back.

Love didn't break.

Sometimes, it simply bent.