Past Will Haunt (18 page)

That made her laugh.

“So, we really can hang out more?”

She munched on a piece of toast. “If you want to, I’d love that. I wasn’t yanking your chain about me liking you. I think you’re pretty cool, Mr. ME.”

Before he could reply, her cell phone began ringing. Elizabeth glanced down at the number, and it was familiar. Dispatch was calling, and that meant only one thing.

Answering, she spoke quickly. “I’ll be right there.”

There was a pause as the person on the other end spoke. Elizabeth cut them off.

“No need to call him. I’ll notify the ME on the case, since we’re having breakfast together. We’ll see you there.”

Chris stared at her. Had she just admitted that they were together at six in the morning?

Surely, people would talk.

When she hung up, he didn't get to speak.

“I’ll grab your clothes, Chris. Eat fast, because it’s going to be one hell of a long day. We’re talking marathon.”

“Another one?”

“Yep, and we have to get there. You’re driving so I can make some calls. Oh, and PS...I’ll have to use your car today. The Denali is at the bar since I had to leave it there to drive you here. Until I can get over there, you’re going to have to trust me with your ride.”

“I trust you, Lyzee. You’re my friend.”

She could practically see the hearts floating above his head. This was going to be bad. She should probably tell him to pound sand, but her heart told her otherwise. She really liked him, and that was a dangerous thing for both of them.

Something in her gut told her to keep him in her circle. He needed her, and she needed him.

“Great, but if I dent it, don’t tell me I didn't warn you. I drive them like I stole them. It’s sort of my thing. I like stressing Gabe and the Capitol police out as much as possible.”

He placed his hand over hers. “It’s only a car. You’re my friend. That matters so much more.”

“Yeah, you say that now.”

Chris grinned.

Elizabeth pointed at his food. “Down it, and fast. We roll out of here in five minutes.”

He didn't argue.

Chris was in too good of a mood.

He had a friend, and she was a smoking hot babe. If the other nerds could see him now, they’d swallow their tongues.

He couldn’t wait to see where this went. It looked like his life was finally looking up.

CHAPTER FIVE

Crime Scene

When they pulled up, all eyes were on them, and they knew it. When Elizabeth got out of the passenger seat of Chris’s ride, the entire tech team stared like they were a spectacle. It wasn’t so much that she was hopping out of a very pricy Mercedes, but that Chris Leonard was driving her to the scene.

It was barely six thirty in the morning. If that didn't tell the tale, then the fact that he was wearing the same clothes from the night before did.

It was like a big neon sign over his head flashing,
‘I scored with the woman beside me’.

“Where’s Agent Spencer?” she asked, ignoring all their looks. If there was one thing about Elizabeth, she didn't give a shit about what anyone thought, especially when it came to her friends. Chris mattered, so she would hold up under their speculative stares.

Carol Spade, the head tech, pointed at the vehicle pulling up not far behind Chris’s car.

Livy jumped out and waved to the agent behind the wheel. Apparently, she got to work really early.

Or she got a ride in with Gabe.

Elizabeth waited for her to meet her. “Where’s the Denali?” Livy asked, checking out the shiny ride.

“I came in with Chris.”

She stared at her.

“Did you…?” she asked, staring over as the ME got into his gear.

“He slept over. We didn’t have sex. It was a long night. I’ll explain later. We’ll grab coffee after this.”

“You better! I’m curious as hell. You don’t ever ride in with a man.”

“Yeah, well rules are meant to be broken,” she said, pulling off her sunglasses. “You know me.”

Yeah, Livy did, and this had to mean something. Elizabeth didn't flaunt her sex life to anyone. In fact, she was like a freaking nun. There wasn’t one to show off.

“More importantly, how did your night go?” Elizabeth asked while Chris was still getting ready. He didn't like anyone touching the body before he saw it, so this was going to be his show.

“We kissed, and he asked me out tonight.”

“You better go.”

“Are you insane? I got my girly gear on under this suit. I’m ready. I’m also making him dinner at my place. I plan on locking him in and having my wicked way with him.”

Elizabeth fist bumped her. “Hell yeah! You better. Getting laid britches are the best. I can’t wait to live vicariously through you.”

“You rode in with the ME. You should have had some fun last night. He keeps looking over at you. I’m sure he would have been up for it.”

She laughed. “No comment.”

Livy wouldn’t let it go. As she pulled out her little notepad to make notes once they got inside, she was grinning like a fool. “I’m betting the ME wouldn’t mind seeing your britches,” she added.

Elizabeth was well aware, but once they threw down the friendship card, sex was off the table. She didn't screw people she called buddy. It ruined the bond.

“Not going to happen. Work relationships are a bad idea.”

“Hey! I work with Gabe, and I want a relationship!”

She smiled. “Hey, that’s your choice, but you know how it can get jacked up. I’m not saying it won’t work for you, Livy, but it won’t for me. You’re actually a catch. I’m like hooking a water moccasin on your fishin’ line. I get all bite-y and mean. Someone could die.”

She laughed. “You have a very valid point. You are a total shrew.”

“Yeah, don’t I know it?”

When they noticed the ME was ready and in his gear, they headed his way. “Are you all set, Doc?” she asked.

He had his serious face on. “Yes, Lyzee.”

Livy glanced over. No one called her that but her, Gabe, and her daddy. This was new. She seriously doubted that nothing happened last night. There was no freaking way her partner was handing that nickname out.

That never happened.

When Livy opened her mouth to say something, Elizabeth pointed at her. “Later.”

Instead, they followed Chris up the walkway. The cops at the door looked green. All three of them were pretty damn sure this was going to suck. When she saw one of the cops, he looked familiar. Was it the same cop at the other scene?

“Officer Connolly?”

He glanced over at her.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“You look sick. Do you need a minute?”

He shook his head. “I’m good now, Agent. It’s just bad in there. He really lost it.”

“Lost it?”

He nodded his head. “Yes, ma’am. You never get accustomed to this kind of thing. Ever.”

She was aware.

Elizabeth grabbed the paper booties that the one tech was handing out. Carol was staring at her and then Chris, and then her again.

She wanted to wipe the smirk off her face.

Elizabeth hated assholes. She especially hated bullies who crossed that line. When someone was both, she wanted to make them bleed.

She’d grown up in the south, and she was an outcast in certain circles there too.

She didn't talk like them, dress like them, and her daddy was the sheriff. Moonshining families didn't like her family simply because he wore a tin star.

She’d been the victim of obnoxious behavior countless times, and that’s why she always rooted for the underdog. Nastiness pissed her off.

“Where are you in the process?” he asked Carol as he started his job.

“We started with the photographs, Doctor. It’s worse than the last one, but we didn't move her. Are you sure you can handle it?” she asked, snideness present in her voice.

“Can you handle me writing you up?” Elizabeth asked. “You’re so busy riding my ME, that you’ve forgotten who’s in charge of this scene. We are.”

She glanced at Elizabeth.

“I do my job, Agents.”

“You just touched that door frame without gloves on,” Elizabeth said. “You just contaminated the scene. Your hair isn’t pulled back, and you’ve now left trace. I suggest you head to the van and get ready to dust that entire frame. You let Doctor Leonard do his job, and you try and do yours. Well, better than you are now.”

The woman’s mouth formed a stiff line.

Elizabeth noticed Chris was trying not to smile. Once inside, that amusement faded. There was blood everywhere. The dining room walls were coated.

“Holy shit,” he muttered.

Yeah, he could say that again.

As they moved closer to the body, she could see what had been done to her.

She was practically butterflied.

“Get me a chair,” Elizabeth said, pointing at a tech. When one was pulled over, she climbed up on it.

“What do you see?” Chris asked.

“I know her.”

They all stared at Elizabeth with a curious look on their faces, Livy included.

“Not personally. Chris, she was at the bar with us last night. While we were there, I’m pretty sure I saw her.”

He noticed everyone was staring at them. Elizabeth just spilled the beans. Now everyone really was definitely thinking that they had rolled out of bed together.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes. I don’t forget a face. I have an excellent memory. Look at her from up here.”

She hopped down and held out her gloved hand to help him up. If he was hung over, she didn't need him falling onto the victim.

Chris took her hand and climbed up.

He saw it.

“You’re right. She was there. While we were at that table, she was at the bar, the fourth stool down. Right?”

She was proud of him. “Yep. She was wearing black. I remember thinking that her skirt was really short and if I tried to wear that, my daddy would have kicked my ass,” Elizabeth said. “Where are her clothes?” she asked.

A tech held out the bag. “We have one black skirt. It appears to have been cut from her body.”

They watched her work.

Elizabeth’s mind was spinning a mile a minute.

“What else do you see, Chris?”

“She’s laid out like some…”

“Art work,” she finished for him. “We’ve been thinking he’s just cutting her apart because he’s a sicko, but he’s doing so much more. He’s peeling back layers to reveal something.”

He looked ill.

“He’s nuts.”

Yeah, they knew it.

Livy climbed up next. “Get me the camera,” she stated. From her vantage point, she got the picture. “Do we have this angle from the last woman?”

They all looked around.

Elizabeth knew the team dropped the ball. They had taken up close pictures, but this was something more.

This was a message.

“What about the files from Boston?” Livy asked. “Do we have shots like this?”

Chris handled this one. “The files aren’t complete. They’re sloppy at best. The autopsies were handled by the city, not the FBI. I saw the notes the ME made, and they aren’t really up to standard.”

Elizabeth knew what that meant.

They needed to take a trip to visit the person who did the original autopsies.

Chris moved toward the body. He was shaking. Maybe it was the beer or maybe that he ate before a crime scene, but either way, he was feeling it.

Elizabeth was steady. While the first victim was a shock, she was adjusting to the carnage.

“Livy, can you handle this?” she asked. “I need Chris to help me with the files outside.”

Livy knew what she was doing. When she got her partner alone, she was going to grill the hell out of her. “Yeah, I got it.”

Chris looked confused. He wasn’t sure what the hell she was talking about. All the files were back at the office.

“Doctor, are you done here?”

“Yes, I am.” He focused on the team. “I want you to carefully bag her. I’ll work on her at the morgue. Try and roll her splayed out flesh back toward the body the best you can. I know it won’t be easy.”

The team began working.

“Where are we going?” Chris whispered, keeping his voice low.

“We need to get you to your car. Get in.”

When he stripped out of his paper suit, booties, and gloves, he held them in his hand.

Elizabeth whistled. A tech glanced over. “You have a job. When an agent or ME strips out, you be there to bag it. We don’t toss anything that’s been near the victim. We might find trace that transferred from the floor to the gear.”

The woman rushed over with an evidence bag. She gathered everything.

Chris hopped in his vehicle, and Elizabeth joined him.

He looked like he was going to puke.

“Breathe,” she said, hitting the air conditioning.

“I don’t know if I can do this job. I’m seriously beginning to think I’ve made a horrible mistake. I wanted to help people, but I’m not sure I can pull this off.”

There.

He said it.

She grabbed her sleeve and used it to wipe the beads of sweat on his forehead. Chris was having a rough one.

They all were.

“You can do this job. I have faith in you.”

“What if I made a mistake?”

Elizabeth turned his face so he was staring into her icy blue eyes. “Listen up, Doc, you didn't make a mistake. You just need to get your bearings. This is a hard gig. That’s why not everyone gets picked to be an ME for the FBI. They only take the brightest and best. You graduated at the top, right?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t just have a medical degree, right?”

He shook his head. “I graduated from med school and studied for a degree in forensic pathology.”

“Well, there you go. You can do this. You’re new. How long have you been working for the FBI?”

“Four months, three days, and one hour.”

She sympathetically touched his cheek.

“What if I’m failing at this?”

Elizabeth figured that was the issue. Chris likely never failed at anything. He was smart, and he probably cruised through school. Now he was having to work for it.

“The team hates me, Carol likes to bust my ass, and I’m beginning to believe that I deserve it.”

“She’s a bitch. Techs need someone to keep them in line. When you see the other ME’s head out, what do you notice?”

“They don’t take any shit.”

“Exactly. You own this. This is your team. I run the investigation with Livy, but you’re the big man here. You’re the ME. I can’t do my job without you, Chris.”

“I’m letting you down.”

“If you quit, you are. If you put on your big girl panties, tell them to fuck off, and then do the job, you’re making me proud. If you do that, I’ll have your back no matter what. I can promise you that.”

He closed his eyes, trying not to see the woman inside the house on the table.

“When I started this job, I wanted to help people, but I figured as an ME, I’d be dealing with shotgun blasts, drowning victims, or assaults. I never thought…”