Page 9 of Blackstone's Heart
"Fair enough. Just a bit of warning, tell your jarhead buddies not to expect any strip teases or hot shower scenes. I find out they invade my privacy and I'll rip all your balls off and hand feed them to you." Krista growled.
Ethan’s eyes twinkled at the comment. “You’re still the same spitfire Krista I remember.” Shaking his head, he sat beside her once more. “I promise you, my team aren’t like that. Look, I better get going if I’m going to meet Harker and Fortner. I’ll send Lance and Tony over right away. If it will make you feel better, call that agent of your over. Okay?”
Krista snorted. “Fine I’ll call Jerry. But I’m not responsible if her drools or gropes one of your men. Especially if they’re good looking.”
Ethan couldn’t help and laughed at the picture of Tony and Lance being grabbed by another man. After he programed his personal cell into Krista’s phone, he said he and his other guy would swing by after meeting with Harker and Fortney to check-in. Climbing onto his bike, he watched as Krista stood at her door and waved.
He felt his heart skip at the picture. Back when they dated, she used to do the same thing every time he left after a date with her or after he had been over visiting her brothers. Something about the gesture had always made him feel warm all over, but seeing Krista do it now. The warm feelings seemed to shoot not just to his heart, but straight south as well. Pulling on his helmet, he backed out of her drive and headed to meet with Grant.
Chapter 3
Grant and Ethan walked into the Federal building in downtown Austin. After leaving Krista’s, Ethan had met up with Grant back at Blackout and the two had headed straight here. On the drive over Ethan filled his team mate in on Krista’s home layout and her reaction to Blackout being brought in. Grant had been impressed with the precautions that Krista was taking but agreed with Ethan that she could use a little help.
"So, you told me that you know these two Feds we're meeting?" Grant asked.
"I used to. They are friends of Krista's youngest brother Danny. Jimmy Fortner and Cain Harker were both on the football team with me, Hayden and Danny. Cain was also a track star. We used to run in the same circles when we were kids. I'll tell you this, if Danny didn't trust them he wouldn't have told Krista to go to them." Ethan replied as they waited.
"I'm looking forward to meeting her." Grant said absently as they waited at the security desk for Jimmy and Cain to come down. When Ethan's head snapped toward him, Grant lifted his hands in surrender at the dark look in his friend's eyes. "Whoa there Hoss, I just meant she sounds like a cool chick."
"Krista isn't a chick." Ethan growled, literally growled.
Grant lifted a brow. "What the hell's crawled up your ass? You claiming her or something?"
Ethan fell silent. What the hellWAShe doing? He was acting like some barbaric caveman over a woman that he had no right to claim. A woman he hadn’t seen in nine years. He had his chance with Krista Jameson twelve years ago, but chose Uncle Sam over her. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Before he could respond, the elevator opened and Jimmy and Cain stepped off, heading right for him and Grant.
"Well I'll be dammed. If it isn't Ethan Blackstone." Cain grinned, extending his hand to Ethan. "Been a long time hot shot."
"Fuck you Harker." Ethan laughed, clasping the man's hand. "Hey Jimmy. Still putting up with this asshole?"
Jimmy shrugged. "Yeah cause no one else will."
"Kiss my ass." Cain retorted. “Come on up guys. We got everything ready for you.”
Ethan just grinned as he and Grant followed the two into the elevator. "Jimmy, Cain, meet one of my teammates, and my weapons specialist Grant Whitney. Grant, Jimmy Fortner and Cain Harker."
Ethan was silent as Jimmy and Cain filled him and Grant in on the progress of their investigation. So far they had found nothing that pointed to who Krista's stalker was or even where he was. The two federal agents finished their report as the elevator car stopped on the floor of their offices. The four stepped off and Jimmy continued as they moved toward the end of a long hall.
"The letters don't tell us much of anything. Our analysis guys say there is a ninety percent chance the writer is a man. Something about pressure point and letter characteristics." Jimmy continued.
"The paper and envelopes are generic. Standard college ruled notebook paper and plain white envelopes that any jackass can buy at Wal-Mart. The ink from the pen used is again, generic. A simple Bic pen, maybe a Papermate. Nothing telling." Cain added, leading them into a conference room.
On the table were two boxes. Looking in them Ethan saw one contained the letters and the other held the gifts. Nick had been right, this guy sent stuffed animals, jewelry, there were even boxes that had probably held chocolate. He and Grant began slowly pulling out the contents of the boxes one piece at a time.
"This everything?" Grant questioned as he slipped on the forensic gloves and began removing the letters.
"For the moment. There are two letters, the most recent, that are still in the lab. Ms. James's agent brought them in yesterday." Jimmy nodded.
"She got two at the same time?" Ethan inquired as he began going through the gifts, noting that the two called Krista, Ms. James. That meant they didn't know who she really was. He would have to ask her why she hadn’t told them.
"Only because two arrived together. Last week was a four-day holiday so there was a mail delay." Cain stated.
Ethan fell silent as he and Grant continued to work. The first thing that struck him about the gifts were that they weren't expensive. Hell, the stuffed animals looked like the kind you would find at a carnival or one of those crane machines at most grocery store or arcade. The jewelry was the same way. If he had to guess he'd say one of those jewelry kiosks at a mall or something.
"You're frowning boss." Grant pointed out, pausing to look up at him.
"Huh?" Ethan lifted his head to face his weapons specialist.
"You're frowning. What are you thinking?" Grant pushed, putting the letters down.
