Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (73 page)

Ethan crossed his arms. “I don’t trust anyone in here. I want you and Julian to head down to the lab and keep them safe. If Rick tells them anything and slips, they may be in danger.”

Julian and Tori
agreed to the job.

“We’re going to kick the shit out of some reporters,” stated Elizabeth. “I want a copy of that damn email to see what it says.”

“It might give us something,” Blackhawk confirmed.

Callen wouldn’t bet on it being helpful.
“Yeah, or it could be a bunch of crap. We know what our record is like here in Red River.”

~ Chapter Twenty ~

The Denali came to a stop in the parking lot of the local newspaper. The three Directors watched the people coming and going and braced themselves for what was about to go down. None of them enjoyed the prospect of kissing the media’s ass, but if it meant saving the next life, they were willing to take one for the FBI team.

“What’s the plan?” Callen asked.

“We’re going in and going to ask nicely to see the email released from the police,” Elizabeth reassured.

“And if it they say no?”

Ethan fielded this one. “Then we play the game. If we hit them hard, we’ll get nothing. This time a little sugar is better than a whole lot of vinegar.”

“Did you just throw that out there for me, Cowboy?” she inquired. “
Do I need to remind you both that I can be sweet as pie.”

Both men laughed
at the humor in that statement. She could be sweet and then when the ‘victim’ least expected it, go in for the jugular.

“Okay, how about a little friendly wager?” Elizabeth knew they were betting she’d lose her temper and beat someone into a bloody pulp.
When they bet against her, it just made her want it that much more.

“I’m in for a little deal. What’s
on the table?” Callen said, grinning. “Sex or money?” That was their general bet.

She contemplated it. “If I can’t keep my cool and
get that memo, then I’ll offer up sex.”

Blackhawk grinned. “I want alone time. No offense Cal, but I want a couple hours of uninterrupted woman bouncing
, on top of the week of kink you already owe me for handling the media.”

“I should be offended by that
phrase, but I’ll let it go,” Elizabeth answered, laughing. “Since I’m about to show off the kinder, gentler me.”

“I’ll go in for that. I don’t mind a few hours of our girl naked
and perched in my lap.”

Both men thought about it and their bodies reacted. Their thoughts were interrupted by laughter.

They were both predictable. “I get plenty of sex, so I’m going for something I don’t always get.”

Blackhawk knew what was coming. Elizabeth was sadistic. “What’s this going to cost
my ego?”

“Know the t-shirts I purchased you both for Christmas to tell you we were pregnant?” the laughter started immediately, at the look on
their faces.

“Yeah?” Ethan thought bac
k to the shirt that said ‘Daddy’ and cringed.

Callen didn’t like where this was heading.

“You both have to grocery shop together while wearing them, and I get to watch.” The visual made her giggle. “And the day the baby’s born, you both are sporting it in the delivery room.”

Both men stared at her
horrified at the suggestion.

“You get hours of lap bouncing, as you called it, and I get hours of hysterical laughing. That sounds fair to me.” She wiped her eyes and found some composure.

“You’re evil.” Callen said, pulling no punches. “You should be working out of Gitmo torturing terrorists.”

“I do try, Darlin’.
Now the question is, are you man enough to take the bet? In the back of your head, you need to weigh the cost risk ratio. How bad do I want two baby daddies in those bright yellow shirts in the local store, where our neighbors can see you?”

Blackhawk contemplated it. “I’m in. You have no patience pregnant, and newspaper people piss you off before you have to talk to them. I’m secure that you won’t be able to pull it off.”

Callen shook his head. “I don’t know, Ethan. She’s sadistic and if the price is high enough, she’ll pull it off to kick our asses and laugh about it.”

“Are you in, Cal? She turned around
, pulling his mouth to hers, invading and assaulting his senses. It appeared he needed a little incentive.

His entire body came to life at the single kiss, and then he thought about
three hours of mind blowing sex alone with her, his mind was made up. For that alone he’d crawl through a desert full of scorpions. When the moan broke free, she released him from the kiss.

“What do you say, sexy?
Want part of the deal?” she practically purred, as her fingers stroked his cheek.

Licking his lips, he could taste her on them. “
I’m sure I’ll regret it, but yes, count me in.”

Blackhawk laughed
, knowing his brother would cave. The next time he was going to play hard to get, just to get that kiss. He was desperate for some ‘Lyzee Lip Lock’ himself. “Okay Baby, impress us.”

The men followed her into the building that the newspaper called home. It wasn’t a huge office, meaning that the staff would be easier to manage.

Once inside, Elizabeth took off her sunglasses and smiled at the woman manning the desk.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

Reading the name plate, she worked her magic. “Hi Marsha, my name is Director Elizabeth Blackhawk. I’m with the FBI, and I need to talk to the reporter working on the Red River serial killing articles.”

The woman lifted a brow. “ID please?”

All three of them slid their badges across the counter for the woman to see. When she nodded, they picked them back up, tucking them away.

“Can I ask why you need to see Craig?”

Here’s where it mattered most. “I’m here to discuss information regarding the case.”

The woman buzzed him and whispered into the phone. Within seconds, around the corner came a young man in a rush.

“I’m Craig Booker. Can I help you?”

Elizabeth didn’t miss the glint of possibility in his eyes. He was planning on getting information from her.
The game was on, and she was going to beat him and the sexy Natives behind her. “Do you have someplace more private? I don’t think we should discuss specifics of an ongoing investigation out in the open for prying ears to hear.”

He nodded and led her to an office in the back. “Sorry that it’s so small. We don’t have a lot of space here
to work.”

She gave him her ‘girl next door’ grin and took a seat.
Between looking sweet and innocent, she’d use her pregnancy too if need be. “That’s okay, Craig. I’m Director Elizabeth Blackhawk, and we decided to come to you and talk business.”

He looked skeptical. “Why me?”

She shrugged. “Honestly, it was random. Your paper was the first one that came to mind.”

He wasn’t sure if she was serious. “What’s with the muscle?” Craig Booker motioned towards Ethan and Callen.

“They’re my partners in the field, not really my body guards. I can manage that on my own,” she answered, patting the Glock on her hip.

Craig relaxed. “We were emailed some
details; can you check them out and let me know if they’re accurate? I’d like a one on one with you too.”

Blackhawk grinned at the man. There was a snowballs chance in
hell that was going to happen.

“The
private interview is going to depend on one thing- how forthright and willing you are to help me out. I’m more inclined to give a quote to those that play nice with us.”

Craig leaned forward. “What do you want,
Lady?” He wasn’t an idiot. The FBI didn’t come knocking without a reason.

“I want a copy of your email from the police department, and in exchange I’ll give you a quote when the killer’s caught.”

Callen and Ethan fought hard to not stare with their mouths hanging open down to their knees. She was not only calm, but she was about to jump into the media piranha pool.

“Seriously? You get a copy of something that the police emai
led out, and I get an exclusive?”

“Yep.”

“No strings attached?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “The only one is that I can’t give you pertinent details until it’s all wrapped up in a pretty bow, but I’ll sit down with you and go over the details
before we leave town.”

“Why
are you willing to deal with me? I’ve Googled you and trust me, ‘friendly with reporters’ isn’t referenced with your name online. There’s a video of you ‘accidentally spilling’ your coffee down a newscaster that made an ‘Indian’ reference, and one where you ‘accidentally’ knocked a TV reporter into a bunch of shrubs. You don’t play nice with people, so this is making me damn nervous.”

“I’m greatly misunderstood.”

He stared her in the eyes. “Yeah, I bet you are,” Craig stated, sarcastically. “How about you stop yanking my chain, and tell me the why you’re willing to talk to me for an article. You NEVER do interviews. Reporters have tried to get details on the ‘Blackhawk team’ out of FBI West, and no one’s ever pulled it off.”

Ethan crossed his arms and stared at the man. It made him sit back in his chair.

She contemplated an answer. “This is a sensitive situation, and I want the information to be portrayed as truth not slanderous hearsay. I have a special place in my heart for the Native community. The men in my life are clearly native, as are my children and father-in-law. I don’t want a bunch of wackadoos running amuck making shit up about a heritage I completely love and respect.”

He nodded
, buying it. Yeah, he was in bed with the devil, but if she came through, he’d score a Pulitzer. “Deal.”

Elizabeth shook his hand. “I want respect for the Natives involved in this and if you follow through, I’ll give you a great byline to blow the other papers away.”

Craig pulled out the paper from the file on his desk.  “I’ll go make you a copy.”

When he was gone, both men stared at her.

“What?”

“You just played nice with the paper guy.”

She started laughing. “Looks like I get hours of endless laughter, but I tell you what… I’ll still offer up some bouncing and lap perching.”

Blackhawk had never seen her
this calm with the media. “If we didn’t make the bet, would you have done the same thing?”

“Yep. I would have and this was my plan the entire time,” she admitted. “I don’t want the Natives to get a bad rap when this is done. I want to swing the popular consensus back to respect for Julian’s people.”

“I should probably be mad,” stated Callen, “but you actually managed to pull it off. It may be the end of the world as we know it.” Since he was getting time with her anyway, he’d suck it up.

Craig came back in with a copy and handed it to her. “How do I get in touch with you?”

She pulled out her card and scribbled her number on it. “No one has this number, if it gets out I’ll be coming back here, and I’ll rip off your nuts and make a necklace out of them. Then you can verify that all your Googling was indeed quite accurate,” she stated, unequivocally. “I play nice when people play nice with me.”

He stared at her
, as she handed him the card.

“That’s my private number, and my husband isn’t going to like if lots of reporters start calling me daily.
I trust you to keep your end of the bargain. Are we clear?”

“Yes,” he muttered. “I’ll be in touch
, and if you don’t keep your word, I’ll rip you to pieces in the story.”

Leaning over the desk she laughed
totally unworried. “You won’t be the first or the last. But let’s throw this out there. I’m a Fed. Do you really want to screw with someone that can ‘accidentally’ put you on Homeland Security’s watch list? Every plane you try to board will involve hours of strip searches by a man named bubba in a back room. If I were you, I wouldn’t threaten me.”

He swallowed as the muscle behind her moved towards him.

“Also, give me the recorder you have hidden to tape this conversation,” she said, having both men in her life look at her. “Now!”

The reporter stared blankly at her.

“Come on, you think this is my first rodeo?”

The man reached in under his desk
, unsecuring it from the bottom before handing it to her.