Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (35 page)

Christina shook her head. “It’s the end of the world. Some short Native man just handed the boss her ass, and she took
one for the team. Wow!”

Callen didn’t know what to say. The pressure in his chest lessened that she did respect his job and how hard he worked.

Blackhawk saw her coming and scrambled back to his seat. He was still shocked. His wife didn’t back down to anyone, and this was a completely different side of her and scary as hell.

Elizabeth walked in, blood pressure through the roof.
“Run these Christina, please.”

The woman scrambled away with a look of fear on her face.

“What’s up with her?” she asked, rubbing the baby bump as her son went nuts. Obviously his blood pressure was up too.

Callen pushed out of his seat and crossed the room to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Everything in him softened for this woman
. His tough bad ass Elizabeth was sweet and gentle trying to protect his heart.

Her arms went to his neck, as he deepened the kiss. Wow, and what a kiss it was too. Her blood pressure began dropping.

Ethan cleared his throat as Tori, Julian and the sheriff walked into the room. Tori and Julian walked right past the couple, not even surprised.

It was James Duffy that stood there in complete shock. He looked back and forth at the two men. One
was her husband and one was kissing her. “I’m lost.”

Callen broke away, looking down into her eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Elizabeth nodded, knowing that they were back to being on solid ground again, and all was right in the world between them.

“How did it go?” Blackhawk
inquired, ignoring the sheriff and his statement. He was more than lost, but that was probably due to his family gene pool.

Tori broke it all down for her boss and then handed him the journal.  “Victim two was keeping
GPS locations of his truffle stash. We might be able to use one of these to find the actual spot where he was abducted.”

Elizabeth grabbed her sunglasses off the table. “I think while we still have daylight
, we head out to the original scene and look at the surroundings again. I don’t want Julian out here alone.”

He nodded. “Thanks,” he said, knowing he wasn’t exactly up for foraging in the woods alone with a killer.

Blackhawk didn't want him in the forest either. “Let’s head to Julian’s house and get on the ATV’s.”

They grabbed the journal, some water and were out the door. Once in the cars, Callen dug through her purse and pulled out the peanut butter. “Lunch time,” he said, grinning and handing her the jar.

“Great,” she answered, taking it from him while Ethan drove them there.

Callen was watching her intently.

Elizabeth looked around. “What?”

“I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”

She grinned. “If you can make an apple appear to go with this peanut butter, I’ll tell you the same back,” she answered, teasing him.

Callen reached into his pocket and pulled out a
candy bar. “What do I get if I give you chocolate?” he wiggled his eyebrows, lecherously.

She didn’t even have to think
about it. “I’ll give you a baby- one that I have to push out of my body in intense pain and agony for hours. You get a son and progeny for my sugar fix.”

He handed her the bar and laughed.

“Score! That was like stealing candy from a baby daddy!”

Both men stared at her, and then began laughing.

There was never a dull moment.

At Julian’s cabin, they all unloaded from the vehicles. Ethan handed keys to the sheriff, Callen and Julian. When Elizabeth held out her hand, he laughed and kissed her fast on the mouth.

“Not happening,
Baby,” he answered, slapping her on the ass as he walked past her.

“For that I’m riding with Callen,” she called after him. He didn’t seem to care
. Ethan continued laughing regardless. His wicked grin stole her breath, as she was once again reminded how lucky she was in life. The men made everything better.

“Come on Angel,” Callen said, sliding back so she was able to sit in front of him as he drove.

When she climbed on, she stuck her tongue out at Ethan and earned more laughter. Leaning into Callen’s body, she enjoyed the way he smelled. As she rubbed against him, and placed her hands on his thighs, she could tell he was enjoying it too.

“I think Ethan set me up,” he said into her ear, only loud enough for hear. “I think he knew you’d tease the hell out of me
, making me completely crazy.”

Now she looked over her shoulder and winked.

It was going to be a long drive out to the site.

Julian waited by the next ATV as Tori grabbed the journal from the back seat of the Denali.  As she walked over to him, Sheriff Duffy intercepted her.

“Why don’t you ride with a real man? Trust me when I
tell you Julian’s a dead end. Maybe we can meet up later and have a few drinks.” Duffy’s eyes glittered, as he continued enjoyed tormenting his old employee. The day was getting better and better, as he twisted the knife a little more.

Tori smiled at him and placed her hand on his arm
, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “You know what? I think I will ride with an incredibly sexy man.”

Littlemoon tensed
at her words, and yet he fought to stay calm, remembering what she asked of him. After what he did last night, he owed her that much.

“Jules, can you give me a ride,” she purred, never looking away from the Sheriff.
“Then later I’ll return the favor.”

“Yes M
a’am,” he answered, the tension releasing from his body. “Front or back?” he inquired, watching her cross to him.

“Back,” she said, hopping on and wrapping her arms around his waist. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Thank you for trusting me and not interjecting.”

Julian nodded, enjoying her hands on his abs. Now if his entire chest wasn’t aching, he might have enjoyed her sitting in front of him, where he could enjoy her rubbing against him.

Tori glanced back at the scowling
sheriff. “No offense and for the record- I kinda dig those vile, savage Indian men. They make the sex so much more fun.” She may still be upset, but she refused to watch Julian be hurt by an asshole.

Julian started laughing as he followed his bosses into the woods.

The day was looking a little bit brighter.

~ Chapter Ten ~

Friday Afternoon

The killer stood in the
trees not far from the ATV’s and watched, as the FBI headed back into the woods. Trouble had been escorted to the reservation, and there he was riding with them. It was his fault they were here. If the man just let it all go, then they wouldn’t be ripping the Rez to pieces to find him.

If the
man wasn’t a pain in the ass and always causing tension then all would be well.

It was time to watch before the judgment came.

Once he was taken, there was no turning back.

             
                            *   *   *

Walking around the original crime scene in the brightness of the day was far less creepy than after dark. It would actually be a fun place to camp, if two people weren’t killed and skinned there. The scent of death still permeated the air, ruining the ambiance.

Julian stood over to the side
of the clearing. One set of drag marks were clearly visible on the ground. “I believe this is one of the entrance points. I’m going to follow it for a little while,” he said, getting Elizabeth’s attention.

“Don’t get lost, kids,” she replied, staring at the journal in Ethan’s hands. They were
flipping through the GPS locations.

Tori stood beside him. “I’m going with Julian. I have the gun,” she said, grinning at him. “Someone has to save his ass if
trouble pops up.”

He wanted to say something totally inappropriate but he refrained. They were starting to slip back into their easy manner, and he didn’t want to screw that up.

“I’ll go with them,” offered Sheriff Duffy.

“Great,” muttered Julian.

Elizabeth analyzed the number of locations as her husband pulled out the GPS device. “We’re going to see what pops up close to here.”

They divided up and began their searches.

Julian maneuvered through the underbrush easily. It was something he’d done many times on the Rez, and despite the pain in his chest it was fairly easy moving for him. When he looked back, Tori was lagging a little as the sheriff was talking to her in low whispers. Julian slowed down, and when she was close enough, he held out his hand. Part of him believed she’d push it away, but he still reached for her.

Tori looked up into his eyes and smiled. When her fingers closed around his, she squeezed reassuringly.

“The drag marks are through here,” he said, holding a branch for her and letting it go to hit Duffy. “Oops.”

The man gave him a dirty look. “That’s
okay; I don’t mind getting smacked in the face with branches. I have a superior view back here,” he stated, pointing at Tori’s ass when Julian turned around.

Squeezing
his hand, Julian let it go. He wasn’t letting the man piss him off. Right now all that mattered was Tori was holding his hand, and they were on a trail. Stopping, he noticed the drop of blood. “Tori Honey, give me a glove and evidence bag.”

He slipped on the
latex, picking up the brown leaf with the single blood drop.

“Wow you actually found something,” stated Duffy.

Julian didn’t look up. “Yeah, it’s called having a skill. You should get one. Sitting on your ass all day doesn’t count, and neither does sleeping with Carly Kester. Anyone and everyone can do those two things.”

Tori fought to not laugh at his comment. Apparently, the hangover was dissipating and Julian was feeling a little better. Or maybe it was because the issues between them were
healing closed.

“This way,” Julian pointed, leading Tori. “That
’s the tree right there.”

Duffy looked around. “They all look the same. How do you know?”

Julian walked towards the tree. “I just know.”

Tori inspected the bark of the tree. “We have more blood. Jules, you have a pocket knife?”

Whenever she used his nickname his heart clenched. “Yeah Honey, I do,” he replied, pulling it out of his back pocket.

“That’s some small knife, Julian. Mines much bigger,” taunted Sheriff Duffy.

They both ignored him as Tori chipped the bark off the tree from the spot into a bag. “Got it,” she said, handing him his blade back.

There was crunching of leaves and all three spun around, Sheriff Duffy pulling his gun at the sound.

“Whoa, put it away!” Elizabeth said, as both men stepped in front of her to keep her safe. “You’re awful quick to pull that side arm, Sheriff.”

“I heard you coming.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s probably because we were making noise so NOT to sneak up on you.”

Callen stayed in front of his pregnant woman until the man’s gun was holstered. “You find anything here?” he inquired
, eyes never leaving the jumpy sheriff.

“Yeah, Julian found us
a blood trail and also some on the bark,” Tori said, proudly.

Elizabeth held up the journal. “This is the last set of coordinates. I’m betting he was here digging and then got clocked. What’s on the bottom of that rock?”

When Sheriff Duffy reached for it bare handed everyone objected.

“Wait!” came the chorus of protests.

“Come on! Put on a glove, Sheriff.” Elizabeth shook her head, not believing the man didn’t know to not touch evidence without one on his hand. Then again… why was she surprised?

Julian reached down and picked up the round flat stone.
“There is blood on the bottom.”

Ethan
pointed. “Want to bet if we dig, we find truffles?”

“Am I allowed to dig without gloves?” Duffy asked, sarcastically.
“Or are you planning to test each grain of dirt for a fingerprint.”

“I almost forgot how funny you were,” said Elizabeth. “By funny, I mean cross dressing crazy, not entertaining,” she got in another dig about his brother.