Consumed by Wrath: An FBI/Romance Thriller (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 8) (61 page)

The tech nodded. “Sure thing, Director,” he said, heading towards the vehicles.

“Did you just fire me?” she said, incredulously.

“No, you told me that you couldn’t do the job, that you couldn’t give me the results that we needed, and that this environment puts you on edge. That was your resignation. Don’t look so surprised, Ms. Lords. When push comes to shove, I don’t make my team do things that they can’t do.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“Believe it. If you really
think that I would stroke your ego, hand you a tissue, and soothe your worries, you’ve grotesquely misjudged me. I’m your boss, not your nanny. Either you’re in this to find killers and make a difference, or you’re the stone that holds us back. I have time for only one of those options and it isn’t the last one.”

She started to walk away.

“I’ll need your gun and badge.” Blackhawk said, emotionlessly.

When she handed him both, he nodded
, and then whistled. The techs who were left on the scene all stopped moving. Only, instead of fear there was confusion. Normally, it was Elizabeth who did that.

“You have ten minutes to wrap it up.”

They moved quicker.

Pulling out his phone, Ethan called FBI West, and spoke to Jameson. He wanted a ticket wait
ing for Veronica at the airport on a regular flight, and he wanted her access revoked ASAP.

When the man guaranteed that it would be done immediately, he hung up the phone.

Okay, now that his one issue was solved, Blackhawk could move onto the next one at hand. Scanning the area, he began to let his mind take in all the things he was seeing. The killer picked this location for a reason. He added it to his building list of information percolating in his brain.

He had a little trip to take before heading home. There was something that he needed to pick up. After he got it, he would check on Elizabeth. No doubt, she was in good hands, but still he was worried.

Tonight, he would take his first shot at a profile since he had been taken. Despite the cool calm look on the outside, Ethan Blackhawk knew the truth.

He was scared out of his damn mind.

             
                  *   *   *

He stared around the field filled with games and different kinds of foods. The Spring Fling was kicking off, and he was thrilled to be part of it.

Never in his life did he believe that he was going to get to showcase his skills. The
chili cook off was coming, and once everyone in town tasted his amazing cooking, they too would see how fantastic the recipes he used truly were. Granted, they wouldn’t know it was his genius in her pot, but next year, that would all change.

His heart skipped in his chest, as the female deputy walked past him.

Whew! He managed to remain calm. It wasn’t easy. Whenever he thought about being caught, all he could think of was spending his days locked in jail eating prison food.

Yuck!

It’s not that he wasn’t used to eating tasteless, bland food, as he dined out around Salem, but still.

Why risk it?

Blending in, he slipped into the crowd and went off to enjoy the festivities. This only came once a year, and he wanted to relish every second.

When he got home, the chili would be done cooking
and it would be time to switch it out.

Maybe he could taste a little before he let it cool. Some onions and cheese, and …

His belly rumbled.

Yeah,
it would need some quality control, and he simply couldn’t wait.

He needed it that bad.

Like he always did…

~ Chapter Seventeen ~

       
Sunday Night

When he pulled up to the house, there was a sense of peace that overwhelmed him. Just seeing the cheery lights in the windows helped calm his nerves. Part of him was worried about Elizabeth, and how she was doing, and the rest of the fear was related to jumping back into the profiling pool, head first.

Getting out, he headed to the trunk and pulled out
the present for his wife.

Yeah, Valentine’s Day was over, but that didn't mean he didn't know the way right to her heart.
Where some women liked flowers and other trinkets when they hurt, his woman was anything but typical.

This was bound to cheer her up.

Leaving his present in the hall, he headed in to where he suspected that he would find them. Indeed, his brother and wife were on the couch. Callen was sitting in the corner working on his tablet, and Elizabeth was lying there with her head delicately cradled in his lap.

When he dropped his messenger bag, she glanced over at him. He didn't even have to speak. She was up and across the room heading right at him. Opening his arms, she buried her face
beside his throat.

Immediately, the sniffles began.

“Lyzee, my love,” he crooned into her ear, as he hugged her to his body. “I missed you so much. Are you going to be okay?”

She nodded. “Now I am. Callen was amazing,” she murmured.

When he snickered, she stared at him. “I didn't mean during sex. I meant in cheering me up, you pervert.”

He winked at her.
Either way, it served its purpose and made her smile. Callen would sell his soul just to see that wide grin and sparkle back in her eyes.

She was aware that he was trying to cheer her up with laughter. It was just his way.

“I may or may not have something that will also make you smile,” Ethan added, caressing her cheek. He could tell by her eyes that she had been crying. When he leaned down to kiss her, the scent of his brother’s cologne lingered on her body. It reminded him of home and their unbreakable union.

Pulling free from her grasp
, he headed back to the foyer where he left it. “Close your eyes,” he ordered.

When he carried it in, Callen began laughing.

“Can I look?” she asked.

Blackhawk set it up. “Yes, you can now.”

When she did, her eyes lit right up. “Cowboy, did you buy me a whiteboard for the vacation house?”

He started laughing. “It
’s the gift that keeps on giving, so of course I did. I know the way to your heart. It either has to sparkle, bark, or have horrible smelling markers.”

She hugged him.

Indeed, this removed some of the demons from her eyes. It was the least he could do for his wife and family. He was determined to get back in control of his life and begin leading once more.

“Does this mean that you’re going to give me a profile?” she asked
, hopefully. Elizabeth hadn’t put the pressure on, because she was still a little worried that it would make him backslide into the depression that he was just now pulling away from.

“I’m ready to carry my weight on the team. I only hope that it’s up to my usual standard,” he said, trying to convince himself
, more than them, of that.

“I have no doubt,” Elizabeth said.

Ethan took his seat beside Callen and pulled out his tablet. Pulling up his notes, he began.

“Our killer is going to be male. I’m basing this strictly on the fact that these bodies are being dumped in a remote location on Native land. He’s carrying them there, and I don’t believe for one minute that it’s part by part. Our prime example would be Jefferson Harris. He was a decen
t sized individual. We know that the killer isn’t completely de-fleshing the bones, so that’s going to add up.”

She wrote it down on the board. “Okay, handsome. What else?”

“Normally, I would be able to give you more regarding his ethnicity. My gut tells me that he’s Caucasian, simply based on the fact all his victims were, but then I have one little thing that keeps tripping me up.”

“What is it?” Whitefox asked.

“It has everything to do with him using the Native dumping site with such familiarity. Why there? Is it because the land is off in the middle of nowhere, or is it culturally significant to the person doing the killing? I’m toying with the idea that this is a revenge thing.”

Callen spoke up, “How so?”

Elizabeth got it immediately. “What better way to reenact your retribution on a group of people who you believe caused your ancestors harm?”

“Precisely. Why scalp the white man when you can eat him.”

Callen was creeped out. “That’s really gross.”

“Again, it’s just a beginning theory. I’m still mulling it around in my head. As soon as I’m sure, I’ll let you know, Lyzee.”

Pausing, she thought back to something the chief had said. “Runningwolf told us that Jason got into a domestic squabble with a woman he was living with, right?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“She was an outsider. So, could he be focused on that too? Is it possible that if it is him, he’s focused on that incident? Because of it, he ‘lost’ his identity and walked away.”

“Good point,” Blackhawk said, glad that his wife had his back. That one thing totally slipped his mind.

She wrote both ‘Native’ and ‘Caucasian’ on the board. “Let’s keep pulling this apart and see what we get,” she suggested.

Blackhawk nodded.

Immediately, Elizabeth sensed his hesitation. “Before you begin, I want to say something.”

Ethan glanced up. “Yes?”

“I’m proud of you. Yeah, you may think you’re off your game, but I can tell you that you’re not. You’re facing the biggest fear that you have, and taking control. I think that Ethan is fully back, and I’m willing to trust everything that you’re going to tell me.”

He stared at her, touched at her faith in him. “Thank you, Elizabeth,” he said, softly.

“I feel the same,” added Callen. “You, my friend, are bad ass. You are grabbing this one by the horns and owning it, and that speaks a great deal about the man you are.”

Ethan took a deep breath.

“You’ve got this, Ethan,” she reassured.

He had a little more faith in his process, now that the people he loved were in his corner and supporting him completely.

“I believe that the killer is addicted to cannibalism.”

They both stared at him.

Elizabeth finally spoke. “You mean like when someone is addicted to smoking?”

He nodded. “I know I generally do this alone, but if you and Callen don’t mind
, I would like to get a second opinion on this,” he stated, picking up his phone.

“Anything that you need to do, Ethan,” Callen said, supportively.

Elizabeth was a little taken aback and began to worry. Maybe their pep talk didn't have the desired effect, after all. Ethan never used other people when constructing his profile. “Okay.”

Blackhawk
stared into her eyes. “I need to ask about the psychology of addiction. It’s out of my realm of expertise and nothing more.”

That gave her reassurance
.

Dialing, he placed the phone on the table on speaker phone. When the woman answered, she already knew who it was.

“Yes, Director, what can I do for you?”

“Doctor
Gaines, I’m here with my partners, and we need to discuss something with you.”

“Is it personal or work related
?” she asked. In the background, there was talking. “I can ask my husband to leave if it’s related to our sessions,” she clarified, wanting to offer him privacy.

“No, it’s
about the profile that I’m working on, and I’m a little out of my league here.”

There was more hushed talking, and then silence. “Okay, I’m ready. What do you need to know?”

“We have a cannibal. I need to know everything about the psychological make-up of someone who consumes flesh.”

She thought about it for a few seconds. “First off, this is a rare topic to find in the field.
Man eating man is not only taboo, but generally frowned upon by almost everyone.”

“Yeah, because it’s gross,” Elizabeth said, honestly.

Doctor Gaines laughed. “I have to agree with you there, Director. Generally, the only time it comes up in polite society is when there is a need for it to happen out of necessity of survival, or someone on a drug bender. As of late, there have been some instances where someone on bath salts has assaulted victims and eaten their faces off.”

She placed her hand over her stomach.

“Uh, Doctor Gaines, our wife is pregnant and if you could see the look on her face…”

“I
’m so sorry, Director. I didn't know. Congratulations,” she offered, cheerily.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth replied. “Please continue.”

“As I was saying, it’s rare and doesn’t happen often.”

“What can you tell us about the person
who would partake in eating another human?” Blackhawk asked.

“The eater, as I will call him, will find a sense of euphoria from
devouring flesh. There will be a perceived high. It won’t just be about the consuming, but the entire process.”

“Can you please explain, Doctor Gaines?” Elizabeth asked.
“I’m used to Ethan’s methodology, since he’s the only profiler I work with. Psychology of mental illness needs to be broken down a little bit more for me.”

“I certainly can
, Director. It will be all about the process start to finish. The killer will enjoy the picking of the prey, the hunt, the chase, and also the preparation of the flesh. It will be ritualistic in nature. Each step will naturally progress to the next.”

She thought about it. “So, what you’re saying is if I we
nt to his house and dropped dead, he wouldn’t eat me?”

Both Callen and Ethan looked horrified by her even putting that out there for the universe to contemplate.

“I’m sure the men in your life are giving you quite the look,” she said, before addressing the question. “I know just from speaking to Ethan that he’s quite attached to you. I would venture to say Director Whitefox is too.”

Callen spoke up, “I’m more than
attached to her.”

Doctor Gaines laughed. “The doctor in me has so many questions that I’m dying to ask.”

“Yeah, we’re used to that,” Elizabeth said.

“Well, to answer you, no, he wouldn’t likely eat you. It wouldn’t be the same thing. You weren’t picked specifically. H
e would want to take a person who had reasoning and rationale in his mind. While the flesh to him may taste the same, it would be missing the most important thing.”

“Which is?” Ethan asked, as his stomach turned by the conversation. He didn't exactly like the idea of his wife being someone’s dinner. Oh, he liked dining on her, but that was an entirely different thing.

“It’s about the rise in dopamine. He would want the entire process, not just the consumption. If you were to find your cannibal and ask him what the flesh tastes like, he likely couldn’t tell you specifically, since he isn’t focused on it for flavor. When he sinks his teeth into a human, it fires off the dopamine receptors in his brain and gives him a high. Think of it like drugs. He’s addicted to flesh, and that’s why you likely have multiple victims.”

“So, if we can figure out how he hunts, we can find out who he is?”

“Yes, you can.”

“How did he start doing this?” Callen asked. “I’m sorry, but maybe I’m just a simple minded person, but I don’t know who would wake up one day and say
‘I think I’ll eat a person today’
,” he said. “Who does that?”

Doctor Gaines understood. “It would start
as nothing more than a fantasy. It was most likely, something dark and brooding and possibly with tones of sex beneath it. In his mind, he might get turned on, and then relate it to the eating of flesh.”

“Great, so I have a cannibal that’s horny?” Elizabeth opted to lighten the mood. When the doctor began discussing darker desires, Callen’s face said it all.
She really hoped that he wasn’t relating his love of rough sex to something as vile as cannibalism.