Prologue #5
Christopher Anthony was her one son, and he was a precocious teenager—quiet, smart like her, and handsome like his father, Callen.
“On top of that, the FBI office down here is short of MEs, so who would I call in?” she asked.
Raphael had been well aware.
“I was hoping you didn’t do it. That would be a bad idea.”
Yeah, thank God the local area had a decent ME.
“Just in case he’s trying to tell me Chris is a target, or get me to bring him out of safety, I have to be hyper aware of that. I won’t risk him.”
That was an understatement.
She doted on Chris because he was sick. Not only that, but he was also the one of them that didn’t carry a gun. Even Ethan, who was also a doctor, went everywhere with a sidearm.
She was to the point.
“We’re heading to DC.”
MATE chimed in.
“I found one thing that ties Corpus Christi to Texas and Washington, DC.”
Oh, and Elizabeth already knew what it would be.
It was another flashing neon sign directed to her.
There was a festival in DC that she ALWAYS brought Addison to religiously. It was the first week of June.
And who was Addison?
Chris and her daughter.
Again, this pointed her toward Chris being the target next, and that wasn’t happening.
“There is a major Eucharist procession and mass in Washington DC called the Corpus Christi. It’s related to the body of Christ, which is what the name means.”
Elizabeth held up his note and read it out loud for MATE and the security guys.
‘An offering was made, the Eucharist done, and I have left my presence. Three women were sacrificed, and all because of one’s whorish ways. Call Director Blackhawk at the FBI, and give her this note and the bodies. She’ll know what to do.’
Then, she explained.
“He killed a nun to see if I’d tie it to the word Eucharist, and if I’d see the license plate.
The six on the clock had the hand pointing down, and the three points east. He left me those clues to see if I could figure out the next body drop.
It’s not him going religious, per se, since that’s not his MO, but it’s him telling me that the next body dump will be tied to that.
He wants me in DC, for the next part of his plan. ”
Raphael whistled.
“Elizabeth, he’s really testing you. You could have missed any of those things, and we would be way behind.”
She was aware.
For now, she was on her game.
“The Grave Robber has been watching me for so many years. He’d know I was Catholic.
He wants us back in DC. He’s going to drop more bodies soon.
I’m sure he’s just trying to figure out who to take.
Those victims were only a day old, max. That means he’s not had time to get to DC and do massive damage.
It takes time to fly from coast to coast.”
This dude was out of his goddamn mind.
“We’re staying off the radar and likely right behind him. That’s right where we need to be.”
Pulling out her phone, she recalled that she needed to talk to Gabe.
When she put the video call through, and he popped up on the screen, he looked concerned.
“What’s up?” she asked.
He held up a file.
On it, there was one name. As soon as she saw it, Elizabeth knew where this was headed.
‘Von Donore’
Well, fuckity.
This was ill-timed.
“Gabe, I do NOT have time to handle The Hunters right now. You can’t be serious. I’m in the middle of the biggest chase of my life!”
He nodded.
Oh, he was incredibly serious. While he sympathized, there wasn’t anyone else who could do this. The Hunters were Elizabeth’s team.
“The military is up my ass about the leaks in their ranks. They want answers, Elizabeth. It’s either get The Hunters onto the case or come back to DC and talk to them for hours at a time. They are about ready to block all intel to us. They want resolution, ASAP!”
Holy.
Shit.
Balls.
Not only was she chasing a nut, but now she needed The Hunters mobilized to keep the intel?
She was spread thin.
“I’ll get MATE the information. Where are you?” he asked. “Are you able to swing in?”
This was terrible timing.
“I’m in Texas. I just caught three bodies thanks to The Grave Robber. He’s sending me to DC for the next batch. I was en route there, and keep that classified!”
Who was he going to tell?
Only, now, he was curious.
“Do you have the next set of bodies yet?” he asked.
She shook her head.
Well, then, he had bad news.
“Deputy Director, duty calls. I know you’re stressed out, but they need to get moving on Von.
We need this handled. He tried to steal US government money, and he betrayed our soldiers.
People died. More people will die. I know this is a problem right now, but I can’t send anyone else. I mean, I can send Ethan…”
Oh.
Hell.
No.
There was no way she was sending anyone out with Devon Slater running free. That could be dangerous and stupid all at once.
Because she knew she had no choice and was already in the air, she glanced over.
“Notify the pilot,” she told Uriel. “We’re going to NOLA. We’ll pop in, get The Hunters set up, and we’ll get in the air as soon as we can.”
He nodded and made the call to Jim to let him know they were on the way back.
“Do you have this?” Gabe asked.
She laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
“Of course. Who needs sleep, rest, or to not have to stick their hands in some dead woman’s uterus?” she asked, rhetorically for shits and giggles.
He paused.
“Pardon?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t ask. You really don’t want to know.”
Well, he was pretty sure of that. Elizabeth said some crazy things, but this…
Yeah, he let it go.
“If you get in over your head, call me. I will help you,” he admitted. “You’re not handling this alone, Lyzee.”
Then why did she feel so goddamn alone?
Because that was exactly how it was. Elizabeth was out there taking on the world.
Instead of snark, she just played nice. It was too exhausting to even go there.
“Thanks, Gabe.”
“Come see me when you hit DC.”
She wasn’t sure if she’d have time. So, she couldn’t make that promise.
“If I can get there, I’ll be there. If not, don’t hold your breath. I have to chase Devon, and once The Hunter thing is handled, that’s my priority.”
Gabe sighed.
“I can’t believe he’s a sicko like this. He seemed like such a decent person—his father, too. They donated to my campaign.”
She didn’t miss a beat.