Deep Dark Mire (An FBI Romance Thriller ~ book four) (42 page)

Her attention was drawn back to the door
, as the older woman wandered over, unlocking it and welcoming them into her home.

“Is
my Desdemona with you?” she asked, concerned. “I came back this morning early with my herbs and can’t find her.” If anything happened to her other grandchild, she’d be crushed. Already her heart ached for Cordelia.

“We have her under guard
, and she’s safe back at the bed and breakfast.”

Blackhawk said nothing
, doing what he did best- simply observing the woman from behind the reflective lenses of his sunglasses. Right now in his mind he was creating a profile of the potential killer, and everything and anything this woman said or did could help him. There was no question that Morgana Adare was incredibly uncomfortable with the two men standing in her home. Apparently, she had a big issue with Natives. None of the tension was directed at his wife, which was odd in itself. Generally, she garnered the hostility of people they interviewed. Her technique was to get them flustered and rattle the cage in an effort to get them to spill whatever they were trying to keep hidden. She’d damn well perfected it, but this time it was the two silent men who were making the elderly woman edgy.

“Come on in. Do you want some tea? I just brewed some
,” inquired Morgana Adare. Her focus was distinctively on the woman before her.

“
I would love some, thank you.”

Both men declined.

Elizabeth continued, “Then we need to ask you some questions, and hopefully you can answer them for us.” Elizabeth took the tea, trying to play nice with the elderly woman. As she sipped it, the scent reminded her of granddad’s tea and her heart ached at the thought.

The old woman nodded
, wandering back into the kitchen to fetch her own cup. “Gentlemen, please have a seat,” she offered, noticing neither moved, but remained behind the woman protectively. She pointed at Callen. “You were going to marry my Desdemona?”

Whitefox’s cheek twitched. He’d remembered how Desdemona called him friend only, and it pissed him off. “I
had planned on it, but realized it was a mistake. Hopefully we can remain friends.” It was simply the truth, and he wasn’t going to hide behind comfortable lies anymore. He held no animosity towards the woman, because he was partially to blame for the debacle.

“
The three of you have this aura around you. It is one of protection and togetherness as a unit. You spoke of the shaman,” Morgana observed, peering deep into Elizabeth’s eyes. She was the only one who took off her glasses out of respect. It was obvious the men felt none of that towards the woman, and it was telling.

“
Yes, I mentioned him.”

“Ah yes, h
e’s passed over and there is emptiness in all of your lives now. But let it be known, he’s with you right now and always around you three,” she said, swirling tea in her cup.

Elizabeth was good at keeping a blank face, even when she was getting angry. Timothy and all the men were off limits, especially to the woman.

“You all have a change in your life, and a path that you didn’t suspect you’d walk on together.” When none of them answered or gave any sign of acknowledgement she continued. “They call me the bayou witch for a reason, and I know what others seldom see.”

“They call me a bitch for a reason
, and I seldom have patience for a great many things, this included,” stated Elizabeth, “Since you speak of our grandfather, maybe he’ll tell you that I view all this as bullshit.”

The woman laughed. “You’re
the protective one, I can tell and yet the men behind you are an enigma. They watch over the one that keeps them safe.” Morgana watched Elizabeth finish her tea and took her chance. She picked up the cup and swirled the leaves, reading them.

Great, now the anger was moving towards the desire to beat down an old woman.

“You’re going to have more children than just your son, and your house will be overflowing with joy. I hope you like boys and I even see a girl in the mix, possibly. They’re all around you. I need to warn you that so is darkness.”

Elizabeth didn’t say a word, but both men placed a hand on each of
her shoulders in support.

“You have blood on your soul and death follows you.
There will be more death before you leave Cypress Grove. You love with all your heart, and you share your bed with two loves.” Then she looked up at both of them behind her. “I see you as the dark bird flying over the battlefield, the caller of death and the reaper of life. Something is coming for you. The past comes for the raven and her companions and you need to be ready.”

“You can stop right there
, Ms. Adare. I don’t live for what’s coming, because in our line of work there may not be a tomorrow. I live in the present. As for death always following me, that’s fine. When you know what chases you, then you know what to expect. I rarely need someone to read my tea leaves to tell me what I already know.”

The older woman nodded.
“Someone from the past is coming back, dark bird. Someone that is tied to you both,” she pointed at Ethan and then Elizabeth. “Guard what you love, because it’s coming soon and you can’t stop fate from taking what it wants,” and now she pointed at Callen.

Elizabeth felt sick to her stomach.

“Whether you want to hear it or not, I’ve given you the warning. What you choose to do with it is up to you.”

Elizabeth leaned forward and switched it up.
“Who was Desdemona’s father?”

The woman looked surprised at the question.

“Is Cordelia her biological sister?” Elizabeth took the tea leaves in the older woman’s cup and swirled them. “We can play your game, but now it’s my turn. I see in your leaves that you’re hiding truth. You know more than you say, and you will reveal all by the end. Desdemona’s next on the list to die, and you're not surprised by it. You suspect it all started with you and your daughter.”

Morgana Adare stared into the blue eyes that taunted her. If these three weren’t protected, she’d teach the woman a lesson.

Good, she pissed her off. That’s about how she felt hearing her future without asking. Unfortunately for Desdemona’s grandmother, Elizabeth wasn’t scared by hocus pocus, and she would confront it head on. The woman held part of the truth and was keeping it to herself. “Anyone can read the future if they ask the right questions, Morgana.”

“You mock me then?”

“No, I’m damn good at my job. All three of us are, and before this is over I’ll have the truth. While you may have the gift of sight, I have another gift. I can smell lies a mile away, and while you may be feared by people in Cypress Grove that call you witch, I have seen so many scary things in my life that you don’t faze me. I’m going to find who killed your granddaughter, and the other woman found at her side.”

Morgana Adare flinched
as if slapped.

“
You aren’t so good at keeping your emotions hidden, Ms. Adare. Like us, you believe she’s your daughter. If the other woman is your child, I’ll have justice for her too.”

She shrugged
nonchalantly. “What happens in the past is just that. The past.”

“Normally I preach that same line, but here’s another one that I hope to impart to you.
Those that refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. If you think you’re immune to fate, you’re not as wise as you appear. But hey, if you don’t mind gambling with Desdemona’s life, have at it. Who am I to stop you?”

She stood
indignantly. “Get what you need and get out of my house!”

Elizabeth stood and grinned. “Sucks to be told what’s going to happen when you didn’t ask, doesn’t it?” she added. “Maybe you’ll remember that
not everyone likes strangers peeking into their future.”

Now it was time to get the DNA and get out of there. The woman knew something, but now wasn’t the moment she’d get it out of her. Let it stew and brew
, and then she’d be back and beat it out of her if need be. In Cordelia’s room, she pulled on her gloves and collected the items she needed to compare DNA.

Now all she needed was the journal
, and then they could get the hell out of Weirdsville. It wasn’t anywhere to be found. Pulling out her phone she dialed Desdemona.

“What do you want?” came the voice over the phone.

Apparently, the hangover wasn’t better. “I’m here at your grandmother’s house and there’s no book.”

“There has to be a book. I left it right on my desk,” she answered, testily.

“It’s not here. So I suggest you get yourself dressed Doctor, put on your big girl panties, and get Julian to drive you here. I don’t see it, and if you think I have time to find your shit, you're completely wrong.”

“Wow you're cranky today. You’d think
getting laid by two men would make you happier,” she whipped back, crudely.

Elizabeth paused
, looking over at Ethan and Callen. “Who I sleep with isn't your business, Doctor Adare. Private life is just that and business is why I’m calling. I’m a little busy trying to help you find your sister to be playing games. I suggest you stop being a teenage girl, sulking over something you had a hand in ruining and get your ass over here yourself. Or I’ll find a way to ship you back to FBI West.”

There was silence. “I’ll find the book
! Thanks for nothing!” Then the phone clicked off.

Elizabeth hung up and saw her husband’s lifte
d brow.

“Come on, let’s get this over to the ME office.”
Now she was cranky. There were witches telling her fortune, a bitchy ME who was holding a grudge, and a killer that she had no directionality on due to a team too busy gossiping. Today started as a really good day and now it was getting on her damn nerves.

Both men parted
for her to pass, watching her walk away; Elizabeth looked pissed and ready to kill. She might beat the hell out of anyone who was too close when the explosion went off.

The
y went to follow her and the old woman walked in front of them. “If you love her, watch her. Bad things are coming for you all.”

Ethan and Callen tensed and moved around the woman to get to Elizabeth. Nothing she said was surprising, bu
t yet it bothered each of them for a different reason. One was a husband who wanted to protect the mother of his child, and the other a man in love with a woman who held his heart.

Bad things always followed those who chased justice and death.
It was just a matter of staying one step ahead.

No one spoke the entire ride to the ME office. Finally, the brave one in the group broke the silence.

“Are you okay?” asked Whitefox
, as he gently touched her shoulder, drawing her attention.

“Yeah, Cal. I am. I just really hate people that try to read my future and use it to manipulate me.”
Of course she was thinking about what the woman said and knew. Now she was wondering if Morgana was talking to her granddaughter. Then on top of that, she was worried about Ethan and Callen and the woman’s words.

Blackhawk
forced a grin, despite the warning the woman gave them. “You just told off a bayou witch. This has to be a first for us. Usually you piss off the locals, the law enforcement, women, men, small animals and the people you work with, but never a witch. We’ve hit a new high on this one.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I’m an over achiever, what can I say?”

“I’m sorry that Desdemona is riding your ass over us being together,” added Whitefox. He knew he was going to have to say something to his ex before it was over. Hurting Elizabeth wasn’t going to be tolerated, and he needed to face his past and protect his future.

“She can say what she wants. I wasn’t sleeping with you when she was engaged to you. I was cuddling up with my husband and him alone.”

“You realize how funny that sounds when you say it out loud, right?” Blackhawk said, genuinely finding it entertaining.

“I found
you telling her to put on her ‘big girl panties’ pretty damn hilarious personally. I bet no one’s told Desdemona that before.” Whitefox leaned forward and kissed her on the side of the face. “You're so bad ass,” he whispered. “I thought it was hot when you told off Ethan’s ex, Kaya Cheek, but now that I’ve seen you tell off one of mine, it’s even hotter.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Ok, I get
it; you're both trying to cheer me up. So here’s what’ll make me a happy girl. We drop off the DNA for comparison, and we get something to eat. I’m depleted from being used and abused and when I don’t eat, I get really mean. You both don’t like me when I’m mean.” She gave them the serious look over the top of her sunglasses.

“
If you keep reminding us about last night, it’s destined to repeat itself.” Blackhawk warned. Thinking about it warmed his body, making him want to take her over and over again.

Need ripped through Callen’s body at mere mention
that they could be doing it again. It still felt like a dream. Trying to entertain her, he tried out his best mocking gypsy voice. “I see two men accosting you tonight, and while you want to say no, you will have no power to resist their charm and infamous grins.”

Now she laughed
, because the grin and charm part were probably accurate.

“I really like that reading,” added his brother. “I don’t mind you completely helpless and at our every whim.”

Elizabeth knew how to handle her husband. “Don’t make me break out the cheerleading outfit, Ethan,” she warned, and enjoyed the look on his face and the gasp from behind her. “Who was helpless then?”

“Are you being serious?” asked Whitefox. “You have a cheerleading outfit?
Seriously, a genuine cheerleader outfit that you wear in the bedroom for him?”

“Elizabeth was a cheerleader in high school, Cal. It still
fits perfectly. The tiny skirt is my favorite part.”

“Oh holy shit
! Now how am I supposed to work with that bouncing around in there?” he asked, pointing at his brain and staring at Elizabeth as he visualized it.

“Boys, you both are
too easy. All it takes is a few well-placed words and you both go blank.”

The men grinned
, as she hopped out of the Escalade. “Really, you wouldn’t lie to me. Lyzee was a cheerleader?” he asked his brother in a whisper, as they followed her into the building.

“Oh yeah, and
it’s hot. The skirt’s about this big,” and he held up his hands demonstrating. “And it has a letter on the front across the chest.” It was on the bucket list of every hormone ridden teenage boy. Who didn’t want to do it with a sexy cheerleader?

“I can’t wait
to see it.”

Ethan patted his brother on the back. “When we get home
maybe she’ll bring it out.” Blackhawk may have made light of it all on the outside, but the entire time, the bayou witch’s words bounced around in his head. He needed to be extra protective of the people he loved. No one was touching Elizabeth or Callen.