Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) (24 page)

Then again, that may have been the plan.

Callen hung up the phone. “We have to be there by six tonight. There’s a meeting at five at the main building. Chief Molala and his head of the council, Red Darkeagle will be there.”

She glanced down at her watch. “We should just make it, as long as the meeting with Wade Dixon doesn’t take too long. I hope he’s not going to try and play games. That makes me cranky.”

Callen kissed her on the cheek. “Yeah, well I hope he does screw with you. I love watching you get all mean and bitchy.”

She snorted. “Come on, you goof.”

Heading up the sidewalk, they stopped at the front door, only to find it locked. Pushing the buzzer, a voice came over the intercom.

“Yes?”

“FBI. We need to speak with Wade Dixon,” she stated.

“I’m sorry, but he’s not available.
You can make an appointment and can come back later.”

Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

“Or you can open this door, and I can talk to him right now,” she suggested.

“Sorry. He’s not available. I have an opening next week on Tuesday.”

Callen wanted to get all giddy with happiness. He could tell when she pulled off her sunglasses that it was on. Someone was going to be bitch slapped something fierce. It was always fun to see what Elizabeth pulled from her bags of tricks. Callen had no doubt it was going to be painful for this woman.

“
No, here’s the plan. You’re going to open the door, or I’m going to have my entire team camped out in this parking lot. It’s going to all go down right beside that big shiny Mercedes.” She glanced over at Callen. “Run the plate. It’s the most expensive car in the lot. I’m betting it’s the boss’s ride.”

He did what she asked
, and it only took a minute. “It’s registered to a Wade Richard Dixon.”

Great.
Now, she could call the woman’s bluff.

“I’m calling my team to sit behind that vehicle, and every other one in the lot. The first person out
of this building gets arrested for hindering an investigation. So, if you’re off the clock in the next couple of minutes, guess again. You’re going in first, and then I’m taking in your boss. When he asks why, I’m going to tell him that it’s for jackassery and tomfoolery on your behalf. Want to bet he gets really pissed?”

The buzzer sounded.

“Nice one,” Callen said, offering her a fist bump.

“Yeah, well I hate being screwed with.”

Walking in, they headed right to the blonde woman behind the desk. “Are you the one who I just spoke to?”

She nodded. “I’m just doing my job.
I was told that he didn't want to see anyone today.”

Frankly
, she didn't care. When the cops came a knocking, that superseded anyone’s directive.

“Who are you, and where’s the boss
? Before you screw with me, you’ve already used up your one shot at staying out of jail.”

She still hesitated.

Callen leaned forward to try and manipulate her. He whipped out his most reassuring smile and piled on the charm. “Sweetheart, you better listen. No job is worth getting tossed in jail. Be a good girl and buzz your boss for us.”

That seemed to work.

When the woman was distracted, Elizabeth leaned over to whisper, “If you don’t put the ‘Blackhawk grin’ away, you’re going to jail too. It’s called Couch Prison, and you’ll be sleeping there a long time,” she stated, trying not to laugh. “In that penitentiary, you handle your own sexual gratification.”

Callen patted her on the ass while the woman was
mumbling into the phone. “I need to keep your blood pressure down while you’re growing a child. If that means a grin, I’ll use it.”

She stared at him.

Obviously, Elizabeth wasn’t kidding. “Or not.”

Now, her lips curled up at the corners.
Sometimes, she had to lay down the law with the men. She trusted Callen, but he ruined her fun.

“Mr. Dixon will see you
now.” She handed them two badges and pointed at the elevator. “You can ride it up to the fourth floor. His is the only office up there. You won’t miss it.”

“Thank you,” Callen said, leading Elizabeth
over to the elevator. Once inside, he lifted her chin to give her a gentle kiss on the lips. “Try and stay calm.”

“You know you’re getting as bad as your brother, right? You stopped my fun, you pat
ted me on the ass, and now kissy face on the clock. Have you lost your mind?”

“Yes, I’m crazy about you. Sanity went out the window a long time ago.”

She sighed. Sadly, when it came to Callen, she couldn’t tell him no. In fact, she was a puddle of mush for both men in her life. When the hell had she gone so soft?

When the door opened
, they saw him waiting.

Elizabeth had to be honest. He wasn’t what she expected. Here, in her mind, she pictured an older balding man, but he was young. She could place him around Callen’s age.

“Mr. Dixon,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Yes, I’m sorry but the receptionist downstairs didn't give me your names.”

“I’m Director Elizabeth Blackhawk, and this is my partner, Director Callen Whitefox. We’re with the FBI and need to ask you a few questions.”

His eyes trailed down her torso to the badge and gun on her hip. Obviously, she wasn’t kidding.

Leading them past a large desk, they entered into his inner sanctum. “I’m sorry, but my secretary is off today, Directors, can I offer you some tea or coffee?”

Callen noticed the man was enthralled with Elizabeth. His eyes never left her once. While he couldn’t blame him, he could plan his demise. Yeah, this was his karma for the grin downstairs.

He should know better. There were times he and Ethan swore their woman was in cahoots with the devil.

“No thank you, sir,” she replied.

“I have to say, I didn't know Feds were this pretty. I almost want to break the law so you’ll come visit me again.”

His grin said it all. The man was going all out, trying to charm his way into her pants. Unfortunately for him, Elizabeth wasn’t buying it. She’d be breaking something alright-
more like his arms or face.

“Yeah,
The FBI only hired me to be the law’s arm candy. I’m just a pretty face.”

He laughed before taking his seat. “Well, they chose really well. Although, I thought FBI agents wore boring black suits and tried to blend in.”

Elizabeth glanced down at her jeans, boots, and bright blue shirt. “Yeah, well I don’t really follow rules well. Like right now, I want to dangle you outside that window for trying to stall. Then, I want to drop you, just to hear you scream like a girl.”

Immediately, the smile was gone.

Yeah, she wasn’t stupid. While his charm may work in the business world, it didn't do jack shit for her. She was immune to it.

“What can I do for you?
” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

“Do you know Emelia Southland?”

He was good at the game, and his face showed nothing. Callen knew Elizabeth was going to have her fun with this one.

“Yes.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not particularly. I believe I answered your question, Elizabeth.”

She started laughing. If he wanted to be a jackwagon, she knew a sure fire way to play that game. “Well, Wade, you certainly did. So, here’s my next question, and maybe you can help me with that one too. Why the hell is her dead, mutilated body on my morgue table?”

Yeah, the smarmy look was gone from his face now. If he was going to be a dick, she was going to show him how it was done.

“What?” he asked, sitting forward. There was no way that he heard her right.

“I asked why your employee was dead. Maybe you can answer that question, and yes or no, really won’t do.”

“Emelia is dead?”

She looked over at Callen, who was trying to keep a straight face. “Director Whitefox, am I not being clear? I do believe that both times those questions were quite simple.”

He shrugged. “I understood them. So, I’m not sure what’s hanging him up. You didn't ask them in a foreign language.”

“She was
my secretary.”

Elizabeth stared at him. “Did you fire her?”

He looked confused. “No, she’s on vacation this week. On Monday, we’re flying out to do business in Seattle. She took the next couple days off to take care of personal business.”

There was one thing that was bugging the hell out of Elizabeth about this conversation. “Wade, here’s my issue. You just told us she ‘was’ your secretary.”

It took him a few minutes to get what she was saying. Finally, it registered. “You said she was dead. That would mean she wasn’t my employee anymore.”

She lifted an eyebrow. Generally, when a person knew someone was dead, they’d use the past tense. He just found out, so that would mean his mind wouldn’t be caught up with it quite yet.

That was very interesting.

“How did she die? You said she was mutilated.”

“Her heart was cut out.” Taking the tablet from Callen, she slid the autopsy photo across the table.

Once he looked down, the color drained from his face and the look said it all
.

“Don’t puke on
the equipment. The FBI makes me jump through hoops to requisition new gear,” she stated. “Now, how about you start talking? We already know she was your secretary, that she was traveling with you, and that you don’t do well looking at dead bodies.”

“Here I thought you were pretty and a lady. Now I see you’re vile and mean.”

“Yep, you got my number. That’ll teach you to rely on first impressions. Now, enough about me. How about I tell you what I know about you? From your reaction, I’m betting you had more than a work relationship with the victim.”

“Emelia, her name was Emelia.”

Again, he used the past tense.

“So, care to tell me where you met? I like to hear
all the sordid details. I’m crazy like that.”

“
We first met at church, and you’re right. We did have a relationship. Mostly, it was off and on again. There was nothing serious between us.”

She didn't buy that
at all.

Neither did Callen.

“So, you met her at church. How long ago?” she asked.

He closed his eyes
, trying to think. “Eight years ago. She’s worked for me just as long.”

Callen continued making notes.

“You said it was off and on. Can you tell me why?” Elizabeth looked around the room. Much like her office at FBI West, the man had a bookshelf right behind him. On it, there were family photos.

“We didn't want permanency. She liked dating other people
, and I didn't want a commitment.”

Yeah, maybe
that was because he looked to be married. There was a ring on his finger and a smiling family behind him in the photographs.

“Why is there a hole in her chest
?” he asked, refusing to look down at the picture. “Is that how she died?”

Callen took a shot at it. “Someone cut out her heart.”

That was all it took. The man rushed from the room, slamming the door to his private bathroom.

While they wai
ted for him to finish retching, Elizabeth pointed out what she had noticed. “He’s married.”

“Want me to run him?”

“Yeah, do it fast. I want to hit him hard as soon as he comes out. We have a dead secretary who was bed hopping with her married boss. Get me the wife’s name. Maybe she found out and decided to cut out the mistress’s heart. I know I’d do the same if I found some woman’s prints all over your sexy Native hide.”

Callen began typing
. As it began pouring in, he scanned the man’s information. “That’s a dead end,” he warned, showing her. “He’s filed as widow. It looks like his wife is dead.”

That was interesting.
First a dead spouse, and now a dead mistress. That didn't look good for him.

At all
.

Just then, the door
to the bathroom opened. “I’m sorry. I didn't expect this today. Now, I’m just not feeling well. Can we wrap this up? I want to go home.”

“
Not going to happen. We’re far from done. I still want to know about your family, Wade. You have a wedding ring and family photos, but you’re sleeping with your secretary. Is it because your wife is dead?”

Gone was the sickness and in
its place was anger.

“Feeling guilty? Is your heart broken?”

He was up and out of his chair so fast, it flipped over. As he rushed her, Callen managed to intercept him, slamming him in to the desk.

“Try it and after I beat the hell out of you,
then you’re going to jail for assault on a Federal agent,” he hissed in the man’s ear.