Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (17 page)

They stared at him.

“Ethan.”

“I can’t, Lyzbeth. I broke the rules, and we all know what matters most in this situation.”

When he purposely dropped the nickname Dakota had used, she knew he was barely in control.

He was going to blow.

This was proof.

“Be safe, Ethan,” she offered.

He didn't even acknowledge her. He was too angry to even look her way. Instead, he slipped into his long, black wool coat, and headed out.

Elizabeth didn't hesitate. She walked over to the office door and peeked her head inside. “Seaton and Madden, I need a favor.”

They stood from the worn couch and headed her way.

“Yes, ma’am?” Brody asked.

“Remember that favor I once did for you?”

How could he forget? She was the only reason he had gotten Johanna back in his life. She’d broken the rules, letting him read her personnel file.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I need your help, Broderick.”

When she used his name, he knew it was going to be off the record.

“Anything, Elizabeth.”

“I need you to tail Director Blackhawk and keep me apprised of his every move. He’s off duty for the day, and I don’t know where he’s heading. I can’t do my job if I’m worried about him.”

Johanna patted her on the arm. “We’ll make sure he’s okay, Elizabeth.”

She relaxed. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

They grabbed their gear and rushed out.

“Doctors? Feel free to join us.”

They headed back in, and Elizabeth took a seat on a metal table.

“I swear, Lyzbeth, I didn't mean to piss anyone off. I figured we had history, and if we fell into the sack, it was no big deal. We’re adults.”

This time, Callen did growl.

“What’s his problem?”

Elizabeth hated discussing their private life, but it was already out in the open. “Callen is my other husband. I’m Polyandrous.”

He started laughing. “You have two men in your life and wouldn’t marry me? Wow! That’s an ego shot. I’m a little skeeved out to know that you’re doing two men at once.”

It was Tony who came to Callen’s rescue. “Actually, Marshal Rakin, it’s not that odd among Natives. Over a century ago, when their numbers were dwindling, the braves took the same woman in hopes to keep their bloodlines going. Brothers often married the same woman. If one died in battle, the kids were taken care of. Anthropologically, it’s survival of the fittest at its finest.”

“We aren’t in the eighteen hundreds anymore. There are rules, and you follow them.”

She started laughing. “That’s priceless. You just came in here and kissed me without my permission. If I remember correctly, every day on the job, you broke countless rules and called it work. I call bullshit, Dak. You shouldn’t be preachin’ rules to anyone.”

He grinned.

“My woman is carrying my baby,” Callen said. “You’re lucky my brother got to you first. Had I, you wouldn’t be talking.”

The man raised his hands. “Okay! I get it! You’re sharing her. Fine by me. We cut our ties years ago.”

“I’m so glad I have your permission,” stated Callen, cracking his knuckles. “Here, I was actually worried.”

Delaney Moore moved closer to her partner. “Are you going to let us help or not? Right now, Bonnie and Clyde probably have someone, and you’re screwing around. This is time better spent.”

She was well aware, and had Dakota not come in there like some cowboy Casanova, they’d all be out in the field.

She pointed at the woman. “Let me introduce myself. I’m in charge here, and you can shut it. If I wanted to listen to someone drone on and on, I’d listen to my own voicemail message, so zip it.”

She went to speak, but Dakota stopped her. He recalled Elizabeth’s temper. If they pushed, it was only going to leave them on the outside looking in. Despite what happened, they’d both committed a big foul.

The ball was in the FBI’s court.

Elizabeth was surprised he stopped her. Yeah, Dakota Rakin must have wanted on this team and badly.

“What do you know about the killers?” she asked, beginning to pump him for information.

“Are we officially part of this?”

“Are you ever going to put your mouth or hands on my body again?” she asked. “I won’t be able to stop them from hurting you, and your partner is right. We don’t have a hell of a lot of time.”

“You used to be easy. I miss those days.”

Callen started toward him, his teeth clenched. The man was dangerously close to getting hurt. He only had so much patience, and it was wearing thin.

“Hey! Call off the Native. I’m only yanking your chain. I won’t touch you again. Okay? You have my word, and you know me—it’s as good as gold.”

She was well aware, but Elizabeth stayed between the two men anyway. The last thing she needed was for Callen to lose it too. They saved this one with Ethan, but she might not get that lucky with a second assault.

Callen moved back to his spot, but he never looked away. The man across the room waved at him, trying to provoke him, and that made him want to break him. When this was over, the dick was going to be hurting.

“Knock it off. If you don’t, I’ll let him wipe the floor with you, Dakota, and you won’t like it.”

“The bigger they are, the harder they…”

“Punch,” said Callen, glaring at the man. If he thought he was safe, he was wrong. “Trust me. It’s going to hurt.”

Elizabeth prayed for calm.

This was a mess, and all she wanted to do was not have any more bloodshed. This was why she never told the men in her life about her past dating conquests. It was always a bad idea.

“Knock it off, Dak,” stated Delaney. “We came here to find the killers, not piss off the Feds.”

He closed his mouth.

“Tell us about Bonnie and Clyde.”

“Well, they’re bat shit insane.”

They all looked at Elizabeth when he used the term.

“What? You think I’m the only person in the world who uses that phrase?” she asked. “Newsflash…he got it from me, okay?”

He laughed. “I did. Know what else I got from you?” he asked.

Callen tensed. If the innuendos kept up, he wasn’t going to make it. He could completely understand why Ethan snapped. Callen was easy going, but this man was pushing him to his limits.

“Dakota, tread lightly,” she warned.

“What? I was talking about food. I got my love of deep fried pickle chips from you.”

She started laughing. “You were such a virgin. Someone had to school you. Anything fried is a gift from heaven.”

Callen stared at them. She’d never shared that tidbit with him, or Ethan, to his knowledge. It pissed him off.

“Anyway, the case?” she said, hopping onto the table. When she glanced over at Callen, he was seething. Subtly, she patted the spot next to her. Normally, they perched together, and she liked it. Plus, if he joined her, he might stay calm.

Well, she’d be able to jump him if he went for the Marshal.

Callen didn't hesitate. He crossed and sat there, still watching the man.

“Delaney and I have been chasing Bonnie and Clyde across the country. It started in New York where they killed six couples. It was brutal, they left a few clues, and then they disappeared. We were alerted by the FBI office out there that there were fugitives.”

“So, you know their real names?” Elizabeth asked, as Callen made notes. “That will make it a million times easier.”

They looked at each other before Dakota spoke, “No, we don’t have a damn clue who the hell they are. It’s a mystery.”

“Then why are you chasing them? Marshals don’t get involved in a cross-country chase unless they have a name to go with the crime. The Justice Department calls you in as the hired bounty hunters.”

Neither said a word. They were aware that they shouldn’t be working it, but it was personal to them. This was about settling a score.

Their silence spoke volumes to Elizabeth and Callen. They weren’t going to play that game.

“If you want in, you’ll want to be honest. I can dig it up myself, but that will piss me off. An angry Elizabeth is a mean one.”

No one disagreed there.

Delaney spoke, “They killed one of our own. The last couple was a Marshal and his mistress.”

That had her attention.

“His mistress?”

Dak stood and began handing out copies of the files he’d made. He knew if they were given access, he’d need to supply all his notes. It was a culmination of a year’s worth of work.

“Yeah, you see, Bonnie and Clyde like to stalk people who they feel deserve it. They focus on cheaters, law breakers, and anyone else they think are dealing in secret dirty deeds. Think of them as some sick and twisted take on Robin Hood. They kill the morally corrupt, and then keep the money they poach from the dead victims. That’s how they keep moving on. They like the wealthy for a reason.”

Great.

That sounded like fun.

“We tracked credit cards to the West coast and picked them up there a year ago. They don’t strike fast. It’s slow, methodical, and with deadly intent. Once they find their targets, they patiently take them out, and then move on. It’s all around Christmas. They like to end on the twenty-fifth, and then go under. We never hear from them again until the following holiday season.”

“It’s frustrating,” Delaney said.

Elizabeth weighed it all.

“So, if they’re here, it’s going to be a blood bath. There won’t be a warning, and they’ll have studied their prey.”

That was curious because she’d got her warning from them. Apparently, she and one husband were morally corrupt.

Yeah, this was just freaking peachy.

“Callen, show them the note.”

He turned his tablet around and showed the two Marshals their little holiday greeting.

“Holy shit! Their MO is changing. To our knowledge, they never left a message. You’re tagged to die.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed. I’ve also noticed that they picked us, and not Ethan. The question is why?”

They all thought about it.

Delaney thought about it. “Which one are you legally married to?” she asked.

“Ethan is my husband on paper. Callen and I had a ceremony, but we can’t register it.”

“That’s why,” Dakota stated. “He’s going to be seen as your side action. You’re cheating on your husband. Ethan was excluded because they may see him as the victim.”

It made sense.

Unfortunately.

“Bonnie and Clyde like the beautiful people. It’s like they have a big ol’ hard on when it comes to killing anyone who’s attractive. You’d be the lure,” he said, pointing to Elizabeth. “They probably saw you on the news, and you piqued their interest. As three directors, you probably make some decent money.”

“We do.”

“You probably live in a nice house too.”

“We do.”

“You have a happy family, right?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Well, that’s why they picked you. They’ll see you as some cheating whore who deserves it.”

Elizabeth lifted a brow when Dakota used those words to describe her. She didn't think it was coincidental.

“They can think what they want.”

Callen spoke up, “She’s not cheating, and she’s definitely not a whore. She’s the mother of our children.”

“Yeah, well, they’ll want to kill her, and you, because you’re dipping your stick in her.”

Callen dropped his arm over her shoulders. There was no way in hell they were hurting her. He’d keep her safe.

“There’s something you should know,” Elizabeth offered.

“Oh, do tell,” Dakota teased. “I love gossip.”

Callen tried his best to ignore the man. What he wanted to do was grab him by that thick mop of brown hair and bash his head on the table until his blue eyes rolled out of his head.

Yeah, that would make him very happy.

“They already tried to blow us up.” She told them about the bomb in the torso. “They did a shitty job of it. As you can see, we’re fine.”

“That’s not good. They don’t tend to stop at anything when it comes to killing. If they missed, they’ll come at you harder the next time. They won’t screw up twice.”

Chris spoke up, “Do you have the autopsies of the other twenty four victims?”

Delaney handed them over.

Quickly, Chris looked through the first couple. It only took a few minutes, before he looked up.

“To me, it looks to be the same. The heads were left for the families, they raped the women, and there are no penises anywhere to be found from the men. I’ll go through the rest of the files in the next day or so. Maybe I’ll find something.”

“We’ve had an ME take a look,” Dakota stated. “No one was able to pick up anything.”

Chris looked offended.

In fact, so did Tony Magnus.