Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) (69 page)

“I’ll get them to you.”

“Thank you,” she said, grinning at both men as she disconnected the call. “See boys, I too can play nice when the mood suits me.”

Blackhawk laughed. “Yeah, you’re a re
al peace ambassador.”

“Once we get those files I can try and connect this all,” stated Elizabeth, ignoring his comment. “We could have means and motive for the wife. He wanted the money and then wanted her gone and out of the way.”

Blackhawk weighed his options. “We need to tie him to the club. If we can get the agents to show he was anywhere near there, then we can bring him in
for questioning.”

“Don’t we have enough already?” inquired Whitefox. “We have a fire ax, we have that his wife
was a victim of arson, and we have that he’s now the fire inspector and he could be tampering with evidence. How easy would it be to bury the investigation as he just happened to become the new inspector?”

Elizabeth thought about it. “We’d have to exhume the dead wife and have her re-examined
to get more proof.”

Blackhawk actually laughed. “The Callister family is wealthy, powerful and not going to like that at all. The file says she’s buried in the family mausoleum on the grounds of the estate. I’m going to guess that they want nothing to do with the husband and grandson.
Wouldn’t the wife be buried by the husband when he finally died?”

“I’m not going in the ground,” she said, shaking her head. “Hell no. I’ve
personally seen too many corpses pulled from the ground to ever be comfortable with being buried.” Elizabeth stated, enthusiastically. “You boys want me beside you then we can all go in one big urn.”

“Yeah, well Natives don’t traditionally believe in cremation, Lyzee,” said her husband. “So we have an issue right there.
Our customs versus your fears.”

“Well shit. Both of you are going to be buried aren’t you,” she said shuddering.

“Yep,” they said together laughing.

Callen shrugged. “
Could we be buried beside granddad and dad eventually?” he whispered, the hurt coming back. The simple idea of losing his father now too, made his heart ache.

Both Blackhawks heard the distress.

“Okay, here’s the deal. If I go first, I get cremated. When you both go, you divide me in half and put me in two urns and place me with each of you. Just make sure the urn is sealed. I don’t want any of your creepy crawlies in there with me. If either of you go first, you’re shit out of luck. No one’s digging your non embalmed, worm fest up.”

Blackhawk laughed
at her description. “If that’s what you want, I’ll have our attorney place it in our will.”

Elizabeth looked at both men. “Yeah, it’s what I want.” Elizabeth wanted to spend her afterlife with the two men that mattered during her life.

“Can we change the subject here?” asked Whitefox. “I’m creeped out that our woman is pregnant and talking about dying. I haven’t been doing this death thing long enough to be numb to it yet.”

The pain was evident in his voice. Crossing to him, she wanted to offer him reassurance. Elizabeth sat in his lap and Callen leaned his forehead against her cheek. “It’s okay, Cal.
I’m not dying for a long time and neither is your child.”

He nodded.

Ethan intervened and refocused the conversation back on track. Everything in him would be deeply disturbed by the conversation as well, if he allowed himself to dwell on it. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and one of the cars at the club will tie back to Patrick, and we can bring him in,” hoped Blackhawk.

Elizabeth thought about it. “I think we give Patrick Wells a tail for the next couple of hours. I want to know what he does, where he goes and if he sees anyone.”

“I find it odd that Patrick Wells must have been alerted that we have another victim, and all the sudden he doesn’t show up to watch the autopsy.” Callen said, enjoying the feel of Elizabeth against his body. Her scent was lulling him and offering peace. As she drew patterns on his shoulder where her initials were tattooed on his body, he could feel the warmth spread through him.

“Maybe he knows we suspect him. We weren’t exactly fri
endly when we were at his house,” Elizabeth mentioned. “Maybe he doesn’t like the feds, or that we’re holding back. Then again, it could be that little bomb you dropped in his lap, asking about his wife.”

“Or he’s worried that we’re close.”
Blackhawk pointed out the obvious to both of them. “He is the most likely suspect.”

Elizabeth thought about it. “I’m still hung up on two other people. William Thomas was there the day Lulu was abducted, and
he knew other women that worked there that were killed. Then we have good old Fred. He manages the club and was secretly recording the women and enjoying every damn second of it.”

“Three strong candidates for murder, and not a scrap of evidence to directly indicate which one,” Blackhawk said, crossing his arms. “We have a big mess here.”

Elizabeth was about to agree when the intercom on her desk buzzed, and Ethan stood to answer it. “Yes Ginny?”

“Mr. B. you’re ten thirty appointmen
t is here for interview. Mrs. B, Agent Christensen, and Cyra Austin are in the coffee room waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Ginny,” stated Blackhawk. “I’ll come out and get Ms. Cocheta.”

Elizabeth stood from Callen’s lap. “Both of you be safe today when you head out to interview the bouncer. Will you please suit up in Kevlar for me?” she asked, not liking that she wasn’t going to be there with them. Immediately, Elizabeth went to Ethan and hugged his body to hers. “I love you, Cowboy.”

Ethan found it ironic that she was worried about them, when she had the more dangerous assignment that night. “I’ll see you tonight at the club. Make sure you’re miked and wired Elizabeth.” He ran his fingers over her cheek. “I love you,
baby.” Dropping a gentle kiss to her lips, he enjoyed the way her hands slid up his back and held him to her. Breaking away, he sighed. “Be safe, Lyzee my love.”

She stared up into his eyes. “
I’ll be safe I promise. See you later, Cowboy.” Elizabeth released him, and he walked away.

Callen
went to her and pulled her into his arms. “You make sure you don’t risk yourself or our child, angel. I can’t live without either of you.”

She nodded, and went up on her toes to kiss him.
Reluctantly, Elizabeth pulled away. “You keep yourself and your brother safe for me.”

“I will. I love you, Lyzee.
If your gut tells you it’s bad, listen to it and get back here in one piece.”

She saw the worry in his eyes and it hurt her heart. “I love you, my love,” she whispered, running her fingers across
his cheek and lips. “See you tonight,” she grinned.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Callen answered, laughing. “I’m sure it’s going to torture both of us.”

“Damn it! Looks like I’m too predictable.”

Whitefox laughed
, as he walked away. At the door he turned around one more time.

Elizabeth blew him a kiss, and placed the hand that held his ring on it over her belly.

Now it was time to get down to business.

It was time to play stripper.

Catch a killer.

And get
home safe to the men she loved.

                                *    *     *

Ethan Blackhawk strolled out to the lobby to find the woman waiting for his attention. When he found her sitting nervously across from Ginny, there was sympathy for the Native. If she never left the Rez, then FBI West was a culture shock.

Ginny was talking to the woman, being friendly as usual, but that didn’t seem to be relaxing
her at all.

“Ms. Cocheta?” he asked, walking towards her with his hand out in welcome. “I’m Ethan,” he said, dropping the formality, since this wasn’t business related.

She stood and accepted his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she answered, observing the man. “You look just like your father did years ago,” she stated, “minus the suit.”

Blackhawk laughed. “I don’t think he owns a suit,” he answe
red, leading her to his office.

The woman noticed the name plate beside his office door
and the one beside it. All the rumors on the Rez were true. Ethan Blackhawk was powerful, and so was his wife.

“Please, have a seat. Can I offer you some coffee or tea?” he asked, watching his brother wander in.

“Tea would be nice, thank you,” she answered, observing the other man.

Ethan buzzed Ginny and requested two coffees and a tea. “This is my brother, Callen Whitefox. I’m sure dad mentioned him too.”

“Oh, yes he did. He talks about you both a great deal, and your son CJ. He loves that boy.”

“Nice to meet you,” Callen said, offering her his hand
politely. It wasn’t lost on him that the woman didn’t remind him of the type of woman his father would chase after. Both his mother and Ethan’s were completely different than Bly Cocheta.

Vastly!

Ethan grinned. “My son is very attached to him too
, which is why we asked to see you today for this interview, Ms. Cocheta.”

“Please, call me Bly,” she said, taking the tea from the woman that brought it in.
“Thank you.”

Ginny simply nodded, not wishing to interrupt her boss’s interview.

Ethan observed the woman in his office. She seemed well mannered, and he wasn’t getting any bad feelings about her as of yet. She kind of reminded him of his grandmother, what he remembered of her. She’d died when he was fairly young. Bly Cocheta was a short woman with some lines on her face. Obviously there from years of hard work and worry for her children. Her black hair was pulled back and
circled her head in an intricate braid.

“My father said you might be interested in working for us,” said Blackhawk.

“I am,” she answered.

“Here’s our situation. Elizabeth is our wife.” He used the term for both men and waited to see if she reacted.

“I’m very aware, your father told me about her and how both of his sons were madly in love with her.”

Callen grinned. “Madly is probably a mild word in this case.”

She smiled warmly. “If you’re worried I’ll care that both of you are sharing a woman, I won’t. I was raised on the reservation my whole life and my grandmother was in a relationship with two brothers. It’s not something that bothers me at all.”

Blackhawk nodded. “She’s pregnant with our second child. Right now our father takes care of CJ
full time. He’s trying desperately to keep the house together, but he’s wearing down. We need someone that can help him out. I don’t want another childcare provider per say, because that would hurt dad’s feelings, but I do need back up for him in case he becomes overwhelmed.”

She understood. “Your father is a proud man, and
if you tried to replace him he’d be hurt.”

It was blatantly obvious that the woman had an emotional connection with their father.
Possibly even an attachment. No wonder he was always ‘taking a walk’ on the Rez. Ethan suspected he now knew why. His dad had a girlfriend, and he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that.

“Elizabeth, our wife,” began
Whitefox, drawing their attention, “is adamant that anyone that we bring into our house be Native. She wants our children to be raised with the language, the customs, and food of our culture.”

Bly nodded and began speaking in their native tongue, and then waited for the reply. She was curious to know if the boys spoke the language. Immediately, Callen replied and then laughed, apologizing for his brother. Ethan sucked at conjugating the verbs.

“I’m not that bad, Cal,” he said laughing. “But he’s right. I can’t speak it as well as Elizabeth and Callen. I do understand it though, so I’m trying.”

She nodded. “Your wife also speaks it?” she asked, curiously.

Both men nodded. “Elizabeth takes our culture very serious. So please don’t assume she’s a mere outsider. As I’m sure our father has told you, she’s one of us Blackhawks.”

“He’s spoken highly of her.”

“Here’s the other situation,” started Blackhawk. “This pregnancy has made her abhorrent to meat. Since we’ll be asking you to help dad out cooking, we need it to be as meat free as possibly until she’s over the sickness.”

“I can do that. What is her favorite meal?”

“Fry bread,” they said at the same time, and then began laughing.

“I’ll make sure she eats more than just fry bread.
When you’re growing a child you need more healthy choices. I’ll assure she’s well fed. I raised picky children. I can be devious in the kitchen if need be.”

Blackhawk grinned
, already liking the woman. “Here is our offer for the position. Since we work odd hours, it will be a Monday through Friday job. The hours will probably be ten a.m. to seven p.m. I will admit there are days we work late hours. Keeping FBI West running isn’t a nine to five job, unfortunately.”