A Touch of Murder

by Donna Raider

  A hand went up at the front of the parents’ group. “Mrs. Stuart, perhaps you could tell us what the PTA has accomplished under your leadership.”

  “Well, we…help stage the Fourth of July parade every year and we sponsor the hotdog-eating contest at Oktoberfest…” Bitsy was interrupted by another parent.

  “But what have you accomplished for our school? I understand we desperately need to resurface the tennis courts.”

  “The band program needs instruments and the playground equipment at the middle school needs to be replaced,” another parent added. “What have you done to enhance our children’s educational experience?”

  Principal Day took the microphone from Bitsy and attempted to calm the parents. “It is easy to criticize people who work for free. Bitsy gets nothing for all her hard work. If any of you would like to volunteer to head up the PTA this year, I am certain Bitsy will be happy to vacate the position.”

  “I nominate Leah Cross.” Juanita Vega stood. “She is smart, aggressive, and a hard worker.”

  “Mrs. Cross, will you please come to the microphone?” Principal Day invited. He didn’t know Leah Cross.

  A heart-stopping beauty stood at the back of the room. Her voice filled the cafeteria. She had used the same voice to direct soldiers on the battlefield. She didn’t need a microphone.

  “Principal Day, Mrs. Vega, thank you for the vote of confidence, but this is our first year in the school district. I am certain there are people much more qualified than I to head the PTA.”

  “Damn right,” Bitsy huffed.

  Mika inhaled deeply when she saw Leah’s back stiffen as she pulled herself up to her full height. You should have kept your mouth shut, Bitsy, Mika thought. Now you have challenged her.

  “Perhaps Mrs. Stuart can give you a brief description of what she has planned for this year and I can do the same.” Leah smiled. “Then you can vote.”

  Bitsy grabbed the microphone from Day and began to talk. “We will have a toy drive for underprivileged children and a food drive at Christmas for those who need food.”

  Bitsy seemed to search her mind for any other projects.

  “Bitsy, you haven’t named a single thing that will raise money to pay for the projects the school needs,” a man in the crowd spoke up. “That is what the PTA is all about. What will you do to raise funds to help our kids? I’d like to hear what Mrs. Cross has in mind.”

  Leah had been racking her brain to come up with fundraising ideas. She remembered how successful the annual fair had always been in her town. She stood, still at the back of the room.

  “Please, Mrs. Cross,” Principal Day said, “would you mind coming to the front of the room so everyone can see you?” If they see you, they will vote for you, he thought.

  Leah moved to the front of the room and took the microphone. “I believe we can enlist the help of the community and have an Oktoberfest around Halloween. We can have a haunted house that will be open for two weekends and then a fair the last weekend of October. This is a strong community. I am certain we can all pull together to make this a tremendous success. I would like to ask Mrs. Vega to act as vice president and fundraising coordinator.”

  “I would be honored to work with you.” Mrs. Vega beamed. She had always wanted to get involved, but Bitsy never did anything to involve others.

  Bitsy grabbed the mic from Leah’s hands. “Of course, it is too late to undertake such a grandiose plan for this year. We will need at least a year to plan and implement such a plan.”

  “I believe we can do it this October.” Leah shrugged.

  “Our family will certainly support my wife in this effort.” Mika stood and smiled at the woman that made her world turn.

  Lexi stood. “My firm will volunteer to decorate the haunted house,” she volunteered.

  “We can get jump houses,” another woman called.

  “I will have a food booth and donate the profits to the PTA,” Lucile offered.

  Murmurs of approval ran through the crowd. “Let’s take a vote, now,” someone shouted.

  Day took the microphone. “If the two candidates will leave the room, we will vote.”

  Bitsy stomped toward the hall. Leah elegantly followed her. There was no comparison between the two women. One was sullen and prissy. The other regal and gracious.

  After a few minutes, the door opened. “Congratulations, Mrs. Cross, you are our new PTA president.”

  ##

  “You certainly made two of our little ones happy tonight.” Mika laughed as she watched her wife dress for bed. “They are so excited their mother is PTA president. Must be like being the children of the queen.”

  “What do you think?” Leah asked.

  “I think the only thing better than being the children of the queen is being the wife of the queen.” Mika grinned mischievously as she pulled Leah into her arms. “You were very impressive tonight.”

  She kissed Mika lovingly. “I will begin wearing pajama bottoms tonight,” she informed Mika. “The babies are about eight weeks away.

  “Um, I knew it was just a matter of time.” Mika kissed her chastely. “I love you, so much.”

  “If we have to abstain, this is probably the best time.” She frowned. “You will be busy with the Pope’s visit and I will be busy with Marked for Murder and the Oktoberfest. Strangely, Oktoberfest is the most important to me.”

  “From the moment I met you, your priorities have always been your family. I thank God for that.” Mika kissed her lightly.

  “Sara and Jennifer called this afternoon,” Mika said. “They have settled in New York and Jennifer has already performed two major surgeries.

  “Sara is going to Geneva in the morning. Rachel and Jacob are still here, as are Regina and Matt. They have taken over Sara and Jennifer’s house. It is now home to some new kind of supercomputer. Regina and Matt built it themselves. It is faster than any computer ever built and more durable. They said something about solving the throughput problem and speeding up simulations and calculations. They are just too smart for me, Leah.”

  “I know, darling,” she agreed. “Adam and Amber are insanely excited about a tiny piece of bone they found in the river silt. It looked like a toe to me. They have set up a dig site and started cataloging things they are finding.

  “Amber said North America’s oldest inhabitants have been discovered in Texas. Some place called Buttermilk Creek around Salado. They date back some fifteen thousand years ago. That is nothing compared to the two-million-year-old hand found in Tanzania.

  “Adam thinks we may have a site similar to Buttermilk Creek on our ranch. He wants to reroute the river, to what looks like the original riverbed, so he can dig in the current riverbed. He thinks an earlier civilization would have camped on the banks of the original river, which is now our river. Is that okay with you?”

  “Of course.” Mika smiled. “We raised them to be inquisitive. I would never stand in their way when they are in search of answers. Just as long as they don’t get too close to our cave.”

  “Amber is keeping her auto dealership in White Plains, but I think she is planning to open one here, also.” Leah added, “I think everyone but Sara and Jennifer are planning on making their home in Texas for the time being.”

  “What about you. Does Texas suit my queen?”

  “I am happy anywhere, as long as I am with you, baby.” Leah kissed Mika deeply.

  “Okay, don’t tell me I am cut off and then kiss me like that,” Mika laughed, holding Leah tightly against her. “You know it is very difficult to abstain when one is married to the most desirable woman in the world.”

  “I adore you, darling.” She kissed Mika chastely.

  ##

  Lucas Omen was happy. When Rachel’s family had started talking about the end of their vacation, a hard lump had formed in his chest. Then Rachel informed him she would be staying in Texas.

  He had ridden his horse over early so they could go on a horseback ride together. He watched Rach
el as she led her horse from the stables and easily swung into the saddle.

  He had been her constant companion for the past three months and found his days were deliriously happy when he was with her and depressingly lonely when she was away.

  As they rode through the courtyard, Rosa brought out a picnic basket and handed it to him.

  “I thought we might ride to the river and have a picnic lunch.” Rachel smiled.

  He wondered if she cared as much for him as he had allowed himself to care for her.

  The heat of Texas summers could be debilitating, but this summer had been extremely mild in the area around Godly. Lucas smiled as he recalled Mika telling her wife she had arranged the weather just for her. There was no doubt in Lucas’s mind Mika would do so, if she had the ability. Lucas had never seen two people so much in love.

  September had brought much cooler weather, making horseback riding a true joy. He rode beside Rachel. An occasional breeze enveloped him in her scent and made his heart stop momentarily.

  “I have to go to Houston next week,” Rachel informed him.

  “Houston?” He frowned. “Why?”

  “My job.” She laughed. “Like you, I have to work for a living. I have to be in New York in October.”

  “Oh.” He sighed. “I thought you were going to make your home here.”

  “I am,” she said, “but my job requires me to travel. I won’t be back here until November when Mom’s babies are due.”

  “I don’t even know what you do.” He scowled. “You never talk about your work.”

  “I am an astrophysicist and a quantum physicist,” Rachel replied.

  “Well, now I know.” Lucas laughed out loud.

  “Yes, now you know.” Rachel joined in his laughter. That was all the information she was willing to give him.

  ##

  “This is surely what heaven looks like.” Lucas smiled as he lifted Rachel from her horse. They had ridden to the same waterfall and pool Leah and Mika had discovered on their first visit to the ranch.

  “It is lovely.” Rachel looked around at the fiery red and golden yellows of the trees just beginning to change colors. A rabbit darted from the bushes, ran up the trail, and then disappeared into the underbrush. Lucas’s dog was right on his heels.

  “Oh, will he kill the rabbit?” Rachel gasped.

  Lucas laughed. “He’d have to catch it first. So far that has never happened.”

  The picnic lunch was delicious, but Lucas had no appetite. The thought of two months away from Rachel made his stomach churn. He leaned back against the rock formation on which they were sitting.

  “Rachel,” he said, inhaling deeply, “I have developed strong feelings for you.” He held his breath, waiting for her reaction.

  “I have feelings for you, too, Lucas.” She smiled shyly. “I don’t feel we know each other very well. There is much about me you don’t know, and I am certain there is much about you I don’t know.”

  He nodded slowly. “We have a lifetime to get to know each other.” He smiled. “All I ask is that you give me that opportunity. I’m not trying to rush things.”

  “I definitely want to know you better, Lucas Omen.” For the first time in their relationship, Rachel leaned against him and kissed him softly, slowly. Her full, sensuous lips ignited a fire he knew he could never put out.

  ##

  “Mom and Mika will be here tomorrow.” Sara gently removed the medical journal from Jennifer’s hands and leaned down to kiss her.

  “Um, it will be good to see them.” Jennifer moved over so her wife could slip between the sheets. “Maybe we can have dinner with them tomorrow night.”

  Sara put her arms around Jennifer and pulled her against her. She loved the way her wife fit her. She loved everything about the doctor. She loved the feel of her soft breasts against hers. She loved her smile and kissing her lips. She loved the way Jennifer’s strong arms pulled her tightly into her. She loved getting lost in the depth of her green eyes.

  “I love you,” Jennifer whispered into her ear as she kissed her neck and cheek.

  They made love, taking their time. They explored every inch of one another as if for the first time. What started out as slow and easy always ended in fiery passion that left both breathless.

  Jennifer stroked Sara’s golden hair as she held her wife in her arms, bringing her down from the high they both had shared. “You are so beautiful,” she hummed. “So desirable.”

  Sara propped herself up on her elbow and looked at the woman who had become her rock, her port in life’s storms. Jennifer was always so calm and easy, so patient. Sara knew she was a demanding lover, but Jennifer always welcomed her advances, always sated her desire.

  “I fear I ask too much of you.” Sara snuggled her face between Jennifer’s breasts.

  “So far, you haven’t.” Jennifer laughed. “Ask me twenty years from now, when I am fifty-four and you are still thirty-four.” Although she laughed, the thought of growing old while Sara remained forever young bothered her. She loved her wife so much. She cringed at the thought of not being able to please her. She wondered if Sara would ever take a younger lover.

  “You know, Mom told me that she and Mika have a great understanding.” Sara grinned. “If either of them is unavailable for intimate relations, they simply wear their pajama bottoms to bed.”

  Jennifer laughed, thinking about the amorous couple. “I wonder how often that has happened in the past thirty-five years.”

  “For Mom, once a month.” Sara grinned. “For Mika, Mom said never. She said Mika always whines like a baby the few days she wears pajamas bottoms to bed.”

  They both laughed as they pictured the beautiful, blonde woman following her wife around like a lovesick puppy.

  “She definitely knows how to push Mika’s buttons.” Sara laughed. “Much like you push mine.”

  “Umm,” Jennifer hummed as she caressed her wife’s ample breasts.

  “Don’t push those buttons, unless you are ready to start something again,” Sara said huskily.

  “What do you think?” Jennifer grinned salaciously as she straddled her wife.

  ##

  Holding her wife in her arms, Mika looked around the penthouse. Mika kissed Leah gently before letting her go.

  “I will have James bring the car around.” Mika pushed the button that would bring their driver online.

  “Priest Mika.” The man’s voice practically smiled over the line. “Welcome back.”

  “Thank you, James. We will be down in a few minutes.”

  “I’ll have the car out front when you are ready,” James informed her.

  Before they got onto the elevator, Leah clutched Mika to her. She closed her eyes and let the scent of the blonde permeate her senses. The softness of her body pressed against Leah. The security of Mika’s arms wrapped around her. Mika’s pure essence engulfed Leah.

  “Baby, please, be careful,” Leah sobbed against her breast. “I can’t survive without you.”

  “I promise, darling.” Mika cupped Leah’s chin with her forefinger and lifted her eyes to gaze deeply into hers. “I will never do anything to hurt you.”

  ##

  Leah was welcomed to the set by a big round of applause from her coworkers. Everything was ready to shoot only the scenes that required her presence.

  Although the presence of Carlie’s security team outside Cross Towers made her feel a little more at ease, she still worried about Mika. Leah counted the minutes until she could meet Mika at noon.

  Carlie sat on the stool in Leah’s dressing room as Haley touched up the actress’s makeup. “It has been positively boring without you two.” She grinned. “Not a single Catholic has been murdered.”

  “Have you made any progress with the murders you do have?” Leah asked.

  “Dead end.” The detective scowled. “Seriously, we have missed you.”

  “There you are, darling.” Scarlett King entered the room. She bent and quickly kissed Carlie on t
he lips. “Leah, it is truly good to have you back.”

  “Thank you.” Leah smiled. “Looks like things are still good between the two of you.”

  Scarlett nodded and held out her hand so Leah could examine the diamond on her finger. “Engaged.” She grinned, hugging Carlie’s shoulders.

  “Congratulations,” Leah said. “I am so happy for both of you.”

  “You and Priest Mika should join us at Vincent’s for dinner tonight,” Carlie suggested.

  “Sounds like fun.” Leah nodded.

  ##

  Mika had spent the entire morning with Bishop Cantrell. Lawrence had smiled shyly when he told Mika he was dating a lovely lady who often volunteered at the church.

  Lunch with her wife was a shopping trip to purchase baby clothes. Mika had enjoyed it immensely. Mika liked the way heads turned when Leah walked down the street. It never occurred to her that they might also be coveting her.

  The priest and her staff were discussing the catering for the various functions scheduled for the Pope’s visit when her phone heralded a call from Sara.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Mika greeted her eldest daughter. “What a wonderful surprise. Where are you?”

  “Right now, I am in Geneva, but by six I will be home. Jennifer and I would like to have dinner tonight, at Vincent’s, with you and Mom, if you have time.”

  “Your mother and I always have time for you. What time?”

  “Seven thirty okay?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll let your mother know.” Mika smiled. “Love you and give Jennifer our love.”

  ##

  Leah was standing on the balcony, looking out over the city. There was much she loved about New York, but was glad Texas was to be their new home. She shivered involuntarily as she thought about their cave.

  Strong arms slipped around her. “Are you cold?”

  “No, darling.” She turned in Mika’s arms. “I was just thinking about you and our cave.”

  Mika kissed her resolutely, determined to savor the feeling of her wonderful lips, while avoiding awakening the desire sitting at the base of her stomach.

  “Dinner at Vincent’s tonight.” She kissed Leah lightly, still holding her in her arms.