Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“And?” he asked, knowing they’d understand.
Elizabeth told him what they learned about the death of Jeffrey’s mother.
He shook his head.
“Son of a bitch. She was run down with a car? Do we know the time frame?” he asked. “Because this feels like he was planning for this. He was thinking ahead.”
MATE chirped from her vest.
“She was killed two years ago.”
Well, there it was.
Ask and they had received.
Ethan was profiling on the run, and he wasn’t done.
“He has been laying the trap, Elizabeth. This isn’t going to be about him craving these women, or liking the corpse sex. This is going to be about you. They are all brunettes, and he’s killing them to set a stage for a game.”
Gene didn’t like this.
Her security didn’t either.
“How do we stay ahead of this?” Gene asked.
Ethan was to the point.
“We have to find him, and we have to figure this out as quickly as possible. If we let him get too far ahead, and he runs…it won’t be a regular case. It’ll be a hunt, and you know what kind I’m talking about,” he said, going there.
Oh, she knew.
Gene wasn’t playing with his family.
“I’ll suit back up. I’ll play Hunter to protect my family, and the people I love,” he said. “And I know a few Marines who would be ready to jump in for you.”
She hoped it didn’t come to that.
It was risky. Keeping the Hunters secret was a full-time job in itself. With Axelle stepping down, and a new Director coming in, she was going to have to sell it to the new boss. That was always a risk.
On top of that, she didn’t know who she was playing against, and until she did, she couldn’t put the carriage before the horse on this one.
“I’ll be okay.”
Ethan glanced at his watch.
It was heading toward noon.
“We should go to Jeffrey’s house. If he knows we’re here, and we’re pulling up the bodies, he’s going to be ready to make this as difficult as possible.”
Well, shit.
Callen was over by Chris, watching his back. When he turned his head, she motioned toward him.
He jogged over.
“We have a problem.”
They updated him, and he whistled.
“What’s the plan?” he asked. “Since we know he’s fucked this whole case, and there is no way we can figure this out without getting lucky, how do you want to handle it?”
She knew what they needed to do.
“I’m going to head out with Gene and Ethan. I need you to stick by Chris, and be hyper aware of everything. Don’t leave his side, no matter what until he gets back to the morgue. Saint is on him, but I want both of you together, and like glue.”
He didn’t mind.
Now, Callen was damn glad Takoda was back in Damascus with his wife and child.
“I don’t know who is behind this, and the morgue isn’t a secure facility.
The priest said that Jeffrey’s mother was killed in a hit-and-run, and I want to see if the man knows something.
We’re going to have to take the time to analyze each piece of evidence to see what he’s telling us, because we know there’s a story behind this. ”
Callen got it.
“Be safe. I’ll stick with him,” he said. “We have two bodies out of the ground, and Alina Mussen, the nurse who was run off the road, is missing her head too.”
Yeah, no shock.
“We have to hurry,” Ethan said. “You now uncovered the bodies. That’s going to speed up his timeline.”
Elizabeth’s heart was pounding in her chest, but not because of her own safety.
For theirs.
So, she went there.
“We’re likely going to transfer everyone back to Damascus,” she said. “When we get the bodies exhumed, and I get back from Jeffrey’s, I am likely getting us back to where it’s secure.”
Ethan agreed.
“That’s for the best.”
Well, shit.
If her profiler believed that, she knew it was far worse in his mind.
That told her all she needed to know.
She glanced over at Ivan.
“Get the kids out of here,” he said. “We’re heading back to DC this weekend, so get them home. They’re safer there, plus Wyler has chemo on Monday. That gives us less targets, and keeps it focused on me.”
He didn’t like that.
She stopped him before he could say anything.
“If I’m the only main target, all of you can stay focused on me, and I’ll be safe. If we’re scattered, I’m more at risk.”
She was right.
He didn’t like it, but he’d make sure she was safe.
“I’ll get everyone mobilized. Oh, and by the way, you had a visitor at the house,” he admitted. “Reaper.”
That was all she had to hear. He was likely checking in, and she’d have to catch up with him later.
Now was NOT the time.
“Thanks, Ivan,” she said, as he began pulling out his phone to make calls.
When her phone rang, she pulled it out of her pocket, and answered. From the number, she knew who it would be.
“Agent, are you okay?” she asked, checking in with Corbin.
He sighed.
“I’ll be fine. I’m back in Holladay. What do you want me to do?” he asked.
Elizabeth could tell from the tone that he wasn’t good, and that it likely didn’t go well with Alex.
“I’m about to head to the cemetery caregiver’s house to talk to him about his mother. We just found out that she died of mysterious circumstances. I’m going to send over her name. Are you up for research?”
Yes, yes, he was.
The bottom line was that Corbin didn’t want to think. He’d done plenty of that on his way back. Now, he wanted to just work through this, as best he could. Work would distract him.
“I’m good. Send it. I’ll get on it. Want me in the field?”
She didn’t.
“No, but can you also check in with the two detectives? They quit their jobs, but we found that this person is playing a game. I need to know where everyone is at this point to make sure we’re all safe.
This was dropped into their laps originally, and they might be part of this chess match. I can’t be too careful.”
He could do that too.
“I’ll handle it. I’ll transmit anything I find via email,” he offered.
She was grateful.
“Thanks, Corbin. Oh, and give it time. Alex is a tough nut, but once he softens up, he’s logical and knows a good thing. He’ll come around.”
He laughed.
“Then, he should avoid me like the goddamn plague,” he admitted. “Because I’m not a good thing.”
The line went dead.
Well, that was one more thing she had to handle at a later date. The last thing she needed was losing another Fed in this mess. That was problematic for her, and the division.
She was running low on team, and it would take some time to get Tora and Mac up to speed. They’d have to run a case with Gene, so he could train them, and she couldn’t lose her partner right now to training.
It was balls to the wall from here on out.
“Update, husbands, Corbin struck out with Alex, and that’s a mess. Only, we don’t have time for this,” she admitted. “It’s going to have to wait.”
Gene sighed.
“I’ll deal with the baby agent later. Let’s get this handled. Corbin can hold on for a bit. He’s pretty stable, and not at risk to sink too much into that self-loathing. We had that phase a while ago.”
She hoped so.
There were far too many balls in the air.
As she went to say something, Gene gave her the heads-up as he saw something coming over her one shoulder.
“We have company,” he said.
The homicide captain was escorting a woman toward them, and she was crying.
Already, Elizabeth knew who this would be.
A victim’s mother.
They all turned, and Raphael braced himself, standing behind Elizabeth and Ethan. His hand was on his gun, and he was watching ever move.
“Director?” Frank asked. “Do you have a moment? This is Frances Mussen. Her daughter is Alina.”
She had zero moments, but she’d never hurt a person who was mourning a victim. Alina was theirs now, and she’d get her justice.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to tell the woman how sorry she was that they were disturbing her daughter, but she didn’t get it out.
The woman slapped her hard, getting her across the face with her hand.
Frank gasped, and security moved, but she stopped them from grabbing the woman.
Oh, if anything, she understood it.
There were days she wanted to slap the shit out of just about everyone.
Today was one of those days.
“You shouldn’t be defiling my daughter’s grave!” she said. “She was killed in an accident. She deserves peace! You’re just trying to get media attention! That’s what you’re doing, and with my daughter’s remains!”
Frank held the woman back. To his credit, he genuinely looked surprised that the woman had struck her. Hitting a Fed, particularly this one, was never a good idea.
“I’m sorry, Director,” he said.
Did she believe that?
She wasn’t sure. Oh, he definitely brought the woman over to raise hell—maybe not hit her.
There was that little smugness in his voice, and likely because she’d rode his ass yesterday, and today. Someone was petty, but that she understood.
Instead, she fought for control, and she waved it off.
“Ma’am, you have my utmost sympathy in the death of your daughter, and the circumstances surrounding it. She is part of an ongoing case, and her remains will be handled with the utmost care.”
The woman screamed at her, and EVERYONE in the vicinity heard it.
Hell!
The media likely heard it too.
“You should leave her alone! She deserves peace! You’re nothing but a media whore!”
And that was it.
It was a bridge too far, and it did one thing.
Elizabeth lost her goddamn temper.
It was a long time coming, and one of those things. She was to the point, and didn’t pull any punches. Oh, she was a lot in her life, but a media whore was NOT one of those things.
Mostly, as a mother, herself, she was angry that someone’s daughter was defiled by this idiot.
To play a game.
To threaten the safety of someone she loved.
To try and kill her.
“Someone dug her up, raped her dead body, and took her head, Mrs. Mussen. That wasn’t us.
While I get that you’re upset, we’re here to help.
Me not arresting you for striking a fed is my only gift to you today.
You’ve worn out my patience. Now, Captain Volvia, please escort Mrs. Mussen off my goddamn crime scene and out to the gate where she can cry to the media that’s waiting to slow me down from figuring out who her daughter’s corpse rapist is! ” she said, loudly.
The woman looked shellshocked.
And Elizabeth hated that she’d just lost her temper.
Normally, she was good. Only, this house of cards was about to fall, and she had to get as many people as possible out from under it to save them, too.
No one said anything, knowing better.
“Callen, get on Chris, and everyone else, let’s go.
CJ, update me, and don’t let Chris out of your sight.
I mean that. If someone is going to study us, and know how to get to me, it’s going to be through the easiest target.
That’s going to be Chris. They’ll know about his illness, and they’ll know everything about my past. You’re harder to take. ”
Callen just nodded.
“Be safe,” she added.
Yeah, she was thinking about what Ethan had said about this person hurting anyone to get to her.
Losing any of her mates or partners would do that.
Wisely, he said nothing, and gave her space and time to regroup after that slap.
As they began walking away, Gene dropped his arm around her waist.
“I got you, Boo,” he said.
Oh, well, she hoped so.
Because this was about to blow up, and for the first time in her life, she was pretty sure she was going to be caught in the shitshow with her pants down.
And as a Fed, she might just not win this one.
Which sucked.
* * * The Blackhawk Family * * *
Somewhere
Waiting
Studying
Oh, she was definitely a worthy adversary, and he knew that he was almost out of time.
Honestly, he didn’t expect her to figure all of this out so quickly, but she had.
It was clear that Elizabeth Blackhawk was definitely going to play the game well.
His mentor had once told him one thing, and he never forgot it.
‘Pick a worthy adversary. It made the game fun.’
Well, wiser words had never been said. Now, for him, it was about seeing this out to the end.
He’d studied this game for a very long time. He’d been born to this person, and he knew it.
From a very young age, watching to see how a person reacted was always fascinating to him. How they reacted told him a lot about the person.
While it bothered him that she blew his game apart, and he could no longer wrack up the bodies, growing his prolific tally, it amused him that she’d come to him.
For a very long time, he’d wanted to bring the game to her. It appeared that fate had stepped in.
Now, it was clean-up time.
Because there was no doubt in his mind that she’d be even closer by the end of the day.
She was so worthy of this, that he knew the only outcome possible.
He’d have to have her.
Oh, and he would.
There had been decades of work put into this, training, studying, and learning how to manipulate and twist this so well that not even the greatest sportsman in the game could catch him.
This was his lifelong goal to become the best killer the world had ever seen.
And now, he had that chance.
With the media talking about it, and the victim’s families turning on her, it was only a matter of time before he got deep into those crevices of her brain, and found all The Darkest Spaces.
There was no doubt many.
The game was afoot, and before it was over, the truth would come out.
And the world would know two things.
All of her secrets.
And his goddamn name.