Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11) (61 page)

They couldn’t lose her.

Not now.

If they did, that poor girl wouldn’t be graduating. She’d be in the morgue in a black bag.

“Shut up!” Pricilla raged as she pulled the woman into the tress.

They girl sobbed even more as she fought against the woman dragging her by the hair.

Elizabeth pointed at Callen, and then sent him around the opposite direction. They were going to have to box her in. If they didn't, and she made a break, it would be a foot chase through the trees.

That would suck at night.

Elizabeth didn't want to play that kind of game with a psychopath. Things like that didn't end well, and she knew it.

“Why are you doing this?” asked the scared girl.

“I need a donation.”

“I’ll give you all my money. Please don’t hurt me,” she said, trying to pull away.

Pricilla backhanded the girl, knocking her to the ground. “What’s your name?” she asked, as she stood over the stunned co-ed.

“Garland.”

“Well, Garland, I need your bone marrow. Some sick dying person is paying a shitload of money to get it. You’re going to give me the bones in your body.”

She pulled an ax out of the duffle bag.

“I’ll have to move fast. I’m pretty sure marrow won’t survive outside the body for too long. See, I skipped that lesson in biology class. That’s what my partner was for.”

Garland tried to scurry away, but Pricilla kicked her in the head, knocking her out.

“You’re lucky. I should have made you suffer. Only, you’d scream like a weak little girl,” she stated. “That irritates the shit out of me. Women should be strong and tough, not lambs.”

When she looked like she was going to lop the girl’s head off, Elizabeth knew it was time.

“What about me? I won’t scream like a girl, but I will kick the shit out of you,” stated Elizabeth.

Pricilla jumped. “Oh, look who’s coming to my bone harvesting party. It’s the scary Fed. It’s about time you figured this out. I have to admit…you’re not all that smart. I’m about a million times brighter than you and those two Indians.”

Elizabeth moved forward. “Yeah, I hear psychopaths tend to be high on the IQ scale. Oh well. I guess I’ll just have to take what I can get. In fact, here we are, you’re only holding an ax, and I have a gun. That’s pretty much all you need to focus on.”

The woman stared down at the woman on the ground.

“The second you lift your arm, I’m shooting you. I’m going to put a bullet in your brain, and I won’t even bat an eyelash. Later, when my tech team is scraping your head off that tree, it’s them I’ll feel bad for.”

Pricilla laughed. “You know, I like you. Women aren’t often smart, tough, and leaders, but you are. When you strolled in, it was hard to be mad at you when you put that pompous asshole in his place. You’re just like me, and that’s a powerful thing. We could be friends.”

“I hate people. This is why, but since you brought him up, he was your partner. I hope you don’t try to distance yourself now. That would be so lame,” Elizabeth said.

“Nah. Why bother? By now you’ve already searched my house and have found all his shit buried under my shed. So, I know I’m going to jail. Only, I’m not going for murder. I haven’t killed anyone.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Actually, we didn't search your house yet, but thank you for telling me where to go. It makes it so much easier. High IQ, huh? Did you cheat on that test or give the person who administered it a blowjob too? I’m pretty sure a genius wouldn’t have just told the FBI where the loot is stashed. It seems counterproductive.”

The woman fumed.

“As for you not killing anyone, that’s total BS. You may not have killed any of the women, but you’re an accessory. Then you setup quite the elaborate scene with the president. Unfortunately for you, I have a pretty high IQ too. I can spot total bullshit. Next time, don’t roll the chair away. You left tracks in the fluffy carpet. That was so novice of you.”

Pricilla’s hand gripped the ax tighter.

“Also, FYI, people who are committing suicide always sign the note. They don’t type it out. That’s something you see on TV.”

Pricilla lifted her arm.

Elizabeth wanted her to charge her. She didn't want the woman swinging at Garland, she wanted her focused on her.

“You also let whoever is paying you dump funds into an account that has part of your name on it. Not smart. There’s no way a judge is going to buy that it’s a coincidence.” Elizabeth slipped her finger to the trigger of her gun. “We’re tracing them, and once we find who is behind this, that’s going to swing that door closed pretty damn fast. The only thing I don’t know is why you’re involved in this. You have a job, you had a big payout from the university to not go too public, so why the killing and organ harvesting?”

“That payout was a joke. When I got the check, I barely had enough to buy a nice car and house.”

“Yeah, luxury is a bitch.”

“So, I needed more. Someone approached me and I offered to get some help. See, I don’t like to get my hands dirty. So, Raymond, God bless his stupid soul, was the man for the job. He wasn’t right in the head. He had no empathy. He just wanted to save his university. When I offered him a way to do it, he jumped. He could keep cash coming in and maintain the shithole’s reputation.”

Elizabeth let her hang herself.

“He also could keep his job. When the trustees saw him dumping all this money in, they weren’t going to get rid of him. It was the only reason they didn't fire him.”

“And when we were called?”

“He was scared. He didn't want you here. You can see why. You wrecked a full year of planning in a week.”

“How about David Lessman?” she asked.

Pricilla started laughing. “Oh, please. He’s totally useless. I just pumped him for some little details about the frat house, redirecting everyone’s attention there. I just didn't know you had people on the inside. See, my partner, he didn't tell me that one little detail. Had he, well, then I would have had him kill her first.”

Elizabeth was grateful he’d kept his mouth shut.

“Did you know he was warning us? With each body, he gave us the next clue to the organ he planned on taking.”

She laughed. “It figures. You can’t trust a man. They’re all idiots. I would have preferred to work alone, but what can I say. I needed to hide in case this was figured out.”

“Well, you’re not leaving.”

“I’m pretty good with an ax,” she said, lifting it to touch the blade. “I just sharpened it too.”

Elizabeth watched her as she played with it, swinging it around like some twisted majorette.

Then she saw her intent.

Elizabeth dove, lifting her arm to take a shot.

Pricilla lunged, throwing the ax with as much velocity as she could.

The shot rang out just as the ax embedded itself in the tree where Elizabeth had been standing.

Only, she didn't pull the trigger.

“Nice shot, Cal,” she said. There was only one other person who could have taken her down.

He stepped out of the woods. “Thanks. I didn't want to kill her, so she’s going to be hurting for a while. I figured a jury is going to have a field day with this wackadoo.”

She agreed.

“My arm,” Pricilla moaned, holding the right side of her chest. “You shot me.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Yeah, that happens when you play with FBI agents, Pricilla. You’re going to jail.”

When she went for the knife on the ground, Elizabeth saw it coming. With her bare fist, she plowed it into the woman’s face. There was the crunch of bones.

Pricilla went out like a light.

“Well, her nose is definitely broken now,” Callen stated, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call for an ambulance.”

Elizabeth shook out her hand. “Damn it! She’s got a hard head.”

As Callen made the call, Ethan came running from the trees, his gun drawn.

“Who shot her?” he asked, looking at Elizabeth.

“Not me. You know I go for head shots. If I pulled the trigger, she would have been in hell.” She pointed toward the ax and told him the story.

Ethan holstered his gun, relieved that his brother and wife were safe.

In the not too distant parking lot, they could hear the scream of sirens as the sheriff and the medics arrived.

“Well, we solved this one,” Ethan said, grinning at his partners. They weren’t only the people he admired most, but they were the ones he loved with all his heart.

As the people rushed the scene, they moved out of everyone’s way. The cleanup would begin, and they could add one more notch to the team’s belt. It was close, but this one wouldn’t be a cold case.

They caught the killers. 

“Yeah, we certainly did. I say we wrap this up and head out of here. I want to see my kids, and we should give Wyler a couple of days off,” Elizabeth stated.

“Speaking of kids, we should get to making one,” Callen stated, only to have his brother laugh.

Then he realized Elizabeth didn't protest. For the first time in a year, she didn't argue.

“I told you I needed a couple months to overdose on Folic acid. Let’s aim for Christmas. I hate being pregnant in the middle of summer. It’s hotter than hades.”

“What the hell?” Ethan said, staring at his brother incredulously. “How did you swing that one?”

He smiled wickedly. “Ahhh, grasshopper, the student has become the teacher.”

“Come on! I want more kids too!”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Yeah, this is going to come back to bite me in the ass. You give the Blackhawk boys an inch, and they take a mile.”

Callen grabbed his woman and planted one on her lips. When he released her, she was grinning.

“I love you, angel.”

She patted his cheek.

Ethan wasn’t sure if they were busting his ass or not. So, instead of being left out, he did the same thing.

Now, this was heaven.

Elizabeth Blackhawk couldn’t be happier if she tried.

They’d won.

Evil lost.

And they’d have another day to do battle.

Sometimes it wasn’t how neatly you tied it up, but just that you got it done.

And her team did it.

Again…

Epilogue

Three Weeks Later

She couldn’t believe that Brody was moving into her place. It was something so crazy that she should have probably been freaked out, but she wasn’t.

This felt right.

As he carried in his things, she watched the pile of personal stuff grow. It was funny to think that a few months ago they were only partners.

Now they were so much more.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Brody asked, dropping his dog’s bed on the floor. “You look really freaked out.”

“I am.”

“Oh. Did you change your mind?” he asked, brushing a stray piece of hair from her cheek with his casted hand. “If you don’t want me here, I can go.”

Brody would do anything Joey needed to be happy. They’d been through a lot, and he didn't want her to bolt. If moving in with each other was going to be an issue, he’d slow down.

“What? No! I was thinking about work. Are we really going to be able to pull this off? We’re going to be driving into work together every day. Won’t people figure it out?”

He started laughing, a weight lifting off his chest. Johanna still wanted a relationship with him. She was only sweating the small details.

That was so like her.

“We can drive to work in different cars, or we can borrow a Denali. Our co-workers will just assume you’re picking me up before the day starts.”

She relaxed. “You know, you’re an idiot.”

He looked surprised. “Umm...why?”

Johanna turned to face him. “For thinking I didn't want you to move in here. We’re a couple, Brody. I don’t want anyone to ever come before what we have. The job is the job. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“The Blackhawks could break us up.”

“You know…before that seemed like a bad thing, but after what we’ve lived through, that’s really nothing. I almost lost you, Brody. I don’t want to wake up and not have you by my side, so stop thinking that I don’t want you here.”

“Even with my dog?” he teased, moving closer to her.

She went into his arms. “Even with that mangy mutt of yours.”

He brought her mouth to his and let his lips show her exactly what lived in him for her.

There was love.

There was peace.

There was the beginning of their love story.

When her hands tugged his shirt from his pants, and then slid up his body to his chest, Broderick Seaton knew they needed to do something.

Christen
their
place.

“Couch?” he asked, as Johanna rubbed wantonly against his body.

“God! Yes,” she muttered, his mouth running across her throat and collarbone.

All the testosterone in his body fired, and suddenly, moving was forgotten.

With a push, Johanna found herself on the couch with Brody over her. His hands tugged at her clothes, and hers did the same. He had just gotten her shirt unbuttoned when the doorbell rang.

They moaned.

“Are you expecting someone?” she asked, stroking him through his jeans.

“Hell no! I’ve been plotting this molestation all day.”

Johanna snorted. “Well, you’re on top, and your clothes are still intact. Welcome home. Now get the door.”

Brody pushed off her body and growled. “When I get back, I’m going to really show you bossy.”

Johanna grinned wickedly at him. “Promises, promises, Agent. You better bring your handcuffs.”

He laughed on his way to the door.

His brain flooded with thoughts about Johanna in the shiny silver bracelets, pinned beneath him.

“Holy hell,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. When he got to the entrance, he made sure his clothes were still intact and covering the evidence of his arousal.

Opening the door, he saw a woman standing there. “Yes, can I help you?” he asked.

“I’m sorry! I must have the wrong address. I was looking for Johanna Madden.”

He checked the older woman out. “She’s here. Let me get her.”

Brody turned to call for his girl. “Joey, honey, it’s for you!”

He could hear her coming.

“Who is it, Brody?” she asked, coming around the corner. When she did, Johanna stopped.

“What do you want?” she asked, all the color leaving her face.

“Hello, Johanna. I’ve missed you too. I’ve moved back, and I thought I’d stop in and see you.”

Brody moved to her side.

Johanna really didn't look good. “Honey, are you okay?” he asked, dropping his arm around her shoulders.

“No. I’m not.”

He didn't understand what was going on.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” the woman asked.

Johanna moved toward the door and slammed it shut in the woman’s face.

“Joey, honey, what’s going on?”

“If she comes here again, I don’t want you to let her in. Do you hear me, Brody?” she said.

He took her face in his hands, and already tears were beginning to fill her eyes.

“Joey, who was that?”

She sniffled. “Please promise you won’t let her in.”

He’d do whatever she wanted. “Of course.”

“I really hate her.”

“Honey, who was that?”

Johanna wanted to weep.

No, she wanted to rewind the last few weeks, and instead of Brody moving in there, she should have moved into his place. Then she never would have shown up on her doorstep.

“Joey?”

“That woman is my mother, and I have nothing to say to her.”

He didn't know what to say.

Johanna had told him that she was absent from her life, but that’s all he knew. “Okay, honey. It’s fine. She won’t bother you.”

She went into his body and held on.

Then the tears came.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Sheriff Rakin’s Office

Life had settled back into the normalcy that he loved so much. The university was trying to put Doctor Hallowell’s mess behind them, and everyone was grateful.

The FBI was gone.

The media was gone.

Life was returning.

Nick liked that best. After all, the mess had left a blemish on his town, and the people who lived there.

Sitting behind his desk, there was paperwork to handle before he could go home. When his cell rang, he glanced down at the number.

He grinned.

“Hey, bro! I’ve been trying to find you,” Nick said, answering his phone.

“Yeah, I got your messages. I was working on something here, and I couldn’t get back to you. You know…US Marshal stuff.”

Nick totally got it.

“What did you need?”

He laughed. “Have you seen the news?”

Dakota Rakin was a busy man, but he’d managed to pick up a few stories while out in the field. “Yeah, I saw the fun you were having there. Is everything settling down?”

Nick laughed. “Yeah, Dak, it is. We had the FBI here. They sent three directors to handle it.”

“Yeah, I saw Director Blackhawk on the news giving the media an update. He’s some hotshot out of FBI West.”

“What else do you know about him?” Nick asked.

“That he’s one of the up and coming power players in the Federal government. He was hand-picked by the president’s BFF, Gabriel Rothschild.”

Nick laughed. “What do you know about his partner?”

“Nothing. I don’t usually handle the west coast. When they send me out, it’s usually the east. Why?”

“You’re going to want to pick up some jobs out in Damascus,” he began.

“Why’s that?”

Nick started laughing. “Guess who’s partnered up with Director Ethan Blackhawk.”

Dak didn't have a freaking clue. “How the hell should I know?” he asked.

Nick couldn’t wait to drop this bomb.

“It’s someone you know.”

“Who?”

“Elizabeth LaRue.”

There was a pause at her name. Dakota hadn’t had anyone say that name to him in a very long time. In fact, he hated hearing it. Elizabeth LaRue broke his heart, and honestly, he still wasn’t over it.

“Dak?”

“What?”

“Did you hear me?”

“Yeah. I gotta go, Nick. I have to get back to work. I’m in the middle of chasing two crazies across country. Talk to you later.”

The phone went dead before Nick could tell him anymore.

“Dak? Are you there?”

Apparently, he wasn’t. Nick put down his phone and shook his head.

Wow!

If his brother was this pissed over hearing her name, it was probably a damn good thing that he didn't tell him that she was married to him too.

A damn good thing.

Who knew what Dak would do?