Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (59 page)

Christina pulled on micro goggles to get a closer look at the string. “Yeah, and there’s needle holes in the shaft. It looks like this feather was sewn into something.”

Ethan knew exactly where that feather came from. “In authentic warbonnets, the feathers are sewn into the leather strapping. In
mass produced reproductions they’re glued.”

Eliza
beth considered his words. “Can you tell me if that’s a real feather, Christina?”

She nodded and snipped a piece of the feathers into a small vile. “I can test them chemically, but I can also guess if you want?”

Both Doctors Leonard and Magnus looked appalled at the words. They weren’t big on speculation.

The team laughed
when the ME made a sound somewhere between an objection and choking noise.

“Well, not so much as guess, but observe scientifically the similarities and differences between the feathers.”

Chris Leonard relaxed at her rephrasing. “Thank you, that was so much better.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Okay, real or fake, Christina?”

She stared at the feather and ran her fingers over the fine details, and then finally glanced up. “In my opinion, this is a real feather. When you stare at the fronds closest to the stem, there isn’t any seaming like on the manufactured feather. It’s all one piece.”

“Test it for confirmation. We want one hundred percent certainty.” Blackhawk wanted no room for error.

She continued, “I also tested your peyote. We had a sample of dried herb dropped off and brought down.” Christina pulled up her report on her tablet and shot it over to Elizabeth, Ethan and Callen’s electronic equipment for later access.

“And?” Callen asked, glad that the man complied with their request.

“We took some and burned it, and it indeed has the exact chemical reaction, make up, and composition as the peyote we found in the extinguished fire.”

Callen started laughing. “You had a peyote party and didn't invite the Natives?” He grunted when Elizabeth gave him a firm jab to his ribs. “Ouch.”

His brother wisely kept his comment to himself or he’d be next.

Elizabeth
ignored him and considered what she was saying. “How many different types of peyote are there?”

Christina tapped her chin. “There’s one
main plant. That’s the Lophophora williamsii. The sample we obtained isn’t strictly that species. We have a definite hybrid and that means the combination and possibilities are endless. You’ll have a different looking cactus but you could retain all the hallucinations and drug effects.”

“Is the sample we received the original plant?”

She scanned the report and nodded. “You have the real deal, and we know that it had to be transported in from south of here. It’s not native to this location due to winter climate.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “So basically it’s a dead end
and to find the plant I’d need four thousand agents and a small miracle.”

“Yes and no. You can’t trace it to a source. It’s too common and
totally illegal, but I can tell you that it’s generally used in rituals and religious rights so likely originated on a reservation. Only Natives can get permission to use it for ceremonies.”

Tori thought about it. “Anyone else find it a coincidence that the
shaman had access to it and does ritualistic rites, and so does the killer?”

Julian strolled in at that moment, hearing the conversation he added what he knew. “I remember my dad using it with the council for
ceremonies. He once said they used it to channel the Great Spirit. It helped them make the appropriate decisions for the tribe.”

Elizabeth considered
what they were saying. “Again we’re pointed back at the council. First we have a shaman with access and now a whole council known to use it.”

Tori went to Julian’s side and ran her fingers over the red mark on his cheek. Gently
, she placed a kiss over it and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He dropped a kiss to her forehead, grateful to have her drain away most of his stress with a simple touch.

“Christina run everything and send me the reports,” stated Ethan, glancing down at his watch. “When everything’s
processed, head out for the night.”

She nodded. “Absolutely boss.”

“We’re going to be working out of our rental tonight if anyone needs us,” Elizabeth added. “Julian and Tori will be there with us. Get his father’s journal copied. I want it back to him by tomorrow to return to his mother. Am I clear team?”

They all saluted in jest.

She shook her head and mumbled. “They’re all out of their damn minds.” But because they were the best, she’d tolerate it the insanity.

                                          *   *   *

There was no place like home, and even though the rental wasn’t their actual sanctuary, there was still a sense of peace as they pulled up into the driveway. The lights were on as darkness began to fall. It just felt… homey. Maybe it was because it was simply a very long day or possibly because they knew what waited for them when they arrived.

Babies!

Elizabeth raced to the house, wanting to get her hands on both her children and snuggle with them on the couch. Once inside, she found Wyler feeding Catherine and CJ playing on the floor with colorful baby rings. “Oh, my little loves!” she exclaimed, grabbing CJ from the floor and kissing him all over his face. His laughter was the best medicine for a long day steeped in death.

As he giggled, Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. She’d missed him so much. The little boy was her chubby cherub, and he
resembled his father more every day. “Let’s go get little Cat,” she whispered in his ear, kissing his neck.

“How was your day,
Sweetheart?” inquired Wyler, handing her his granddaughter and following her to the couch.

“Long
.” It was the only word in her mind to describe it. “I’m glad to be here,” she replied, tucking her legs under her on the couch and cuddling her kids.

Wyler dropped a kiss on her forehead and sat across from her, as his son’s wandered in carrying their tablets
, a whiteboard, and files.

“She gets to cuddle the kids, and we get to play pack mule,
how is this fair?” stated Whitefox grinning. His heart skipped in his chest, as he watched the woman he loved, essentially holding all three of their children at once. Catherine was cradled in her arm while CJ perched on her lap, leaning against her baby bump. Callen’s eyes filled with tears, as emotion threatened to spill over.

“It is pretty awe inspiring to watch isn’t it?” asked his brother, knowing what he was thinking.
It was the same for him too. Whenever the woman he cherished held their kids, his heart overflowed with love.

Family was precious. Never had he believed he’d be worthy of this amazing gift, and now he couldn’t imagine a moment without it.

“It renders me speechless.” Callen admitted. “As a kid, this was my wildest dreams, and it gives me so much peace to know our children won’t ever feel the emptiness.”

Ethan dropped his arm around his brother and pulled him against his side. “We’ve got you, Cal,” he whispered, knowing the man still hurt inside because of his mother and past demons.

He leaned on his brother’s strength, as they stood there and watched Elizabeth love her children.

Bly Cocheta entered and nodded at the men. “Since you’re home, I’ll retire for the night,” she said, walking out of the room and not acknowledging the woman on the couch.

Blackhawk was confused. “What happened?”

Elizabeth shrugged and went back to the little girl in her arms. “She made an unkind comment about Callen.” She let it go at that.

Whitefox crossed to her, dropping a kiss first to CJ’s head and then to his daughters. “She had her audacity handed back to her by the little woman here.”

Wyler spoke up. “Then I had a conversation with her, and I think she’s more
irritated at me than anyone else.”

“I’m sorry, Dad,” offered Elizabeth. “I didn’t want your relationship with her to become the target of her animosity towards me.”

“Elizabeth! You didn’t do anything. If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out. Don’t worry, Sweetheart. I’m not looking for a wife. I’ve told you before that I married my soul mate and destroyed it. I’m very happy with my life as it is. If Bly wants to be angry, that’s on her. I won’t carry anger and let it eat away at me.”

Blackhawk didn’t like this entire mess. When he came home, he liked peace and harmony there. If the woman was going to make shitty comments and rock the boat, she’d be replaced in a heartbeat. “How about we
focus on dinner? Julian and Tori will be arriving soon.”

Wyler stood. “Want me to start it?”

He shook his head. “No, we’re ordering pizza. I’m too tired to do anything other than use my brain and lift my hand to my mouth,” he admitted.

“I’ll order,” offered Callen. “I’ll get the usual and one loaded with vegetables for Elizabeth.”

She couldn’t wait until this pregnancy was over and she could go back to bacon, burgers and dead animal. This was the longest exposure to salads she’d ever had to tolerate. It was a good thing she was madly in love with little EJ, because normally no one came between her and the carnage.

Ethan wandered over to the kids. “Can I steal one, or do you plan on hogging all the offspring all night?” he questioned, laughing.

Winking, she released her hold on his son. “Have at him, but you leave that baby skin on him. I plan on kissing it off later.”

He tossed his mini man in the air and caught him, both of them laughing. “I missed you little buddy,” he whispered, kissing his chubby cheeks.

CJ screamed in joy and then riotous giggling broke out. All the sudden the boy went silent and looked like he was on a mission.

Wyler grinned. “He wants to yank on your hair,” he explained.

Elizabeth started laughing. “He may look like you, but he’s so my kid.”

Ethan pulled his hair free, and indeed his son went right for it and tried to eat it. “You’re just like your mother.”

She winked. “Callen, can you hold Cat? I need to set up that board and get ready for the rest of the team.”

Immediately, he was by her side,
taking his little girl and leaving delicate kisses across her face. “Daddy missed you,” he crooned in her little ear as he breathed in the scent of lotion. “I love the smell of baby,” he admitted, and both men laughed. “What?”

“Son, you don’t ever admit that out loud,” Wyler teased, grinning at his boys sitting side by side holding their children. He was eternally grateful that he was able to be part of their lives.

“I’m with dad. You sounded like a girl,” Blackhawk said, laughing. “What a wuss.”

Elizabeth objected from across the room. “Hey! Was that an insult about my gender?”

He winked at her and she grinned, grabbing a marker. They watched her write down the names of the victims.

At the knock
Wyler crossed the room to answer it. When he opened the door, there stood Tori and Julian. “Agent Christensen and Mr. Littlemoon, come in,” he offered, stepping back and allowing them access.

“Thank you, Mr. Blackhawk,” Tori said, politely.

“Please, it’s simply Wyler. The family is in the living room.” They all walked in together. “I have something that I was compelled to give you, and I hope you’ll accept it,” he stated, walking to a box on the floor.

Julian took a seat on a couch, Tori at his side.
He watched the man carry it towards them.

“I started it when Elizabeth told me you rescued Agent Christensen from the VA.” Wyler placed the box on the table. “My son tells me you just recently became engaged, and I believe that’s why
it needed to be made.”

Opening the box, Julian reached in and his face filled with excitement. “How did you know?” he asked, pulling the sculpture from the
package.

Tori gasped in pleasure. “It’s Weeko and Wakanda.”

Julian ran his hands over the beautifully carved sculpture. If there was one thing he loved in life other than Tori and his horses, it was Wyler Blackhawk’s art. He owned one of the totems in his front yard. “This is amazing.”

“I had a dream of two horses running side by side, and it felt like it needed to be yours,” he admitted. “I see that it has significance for you, and that’s proof to me that it has the perfect home.”

When Julian had been to ‘Fort Blackhawk’, he’d loved the wooden sculptures that Wyler had made Elizabeth. He never sold his little treasures. They were always a gift, and this one meant a great deal to him. He ran his fingers over the ‘W’ on the base and grinned. “I love it.”

Tori
jumped up and embraced him. “We’ll cherish it forever.”

Wyler
focused solely on her fiancé. “I hope when you look at it, there is peace and calm.”

It was like he just knew the turmoil brewing in Julian’s gut. “Thank you, Wyler,” he too got up and hugged the man.