by Donna Raider
Father Branch’s head whipped back to Carlie. “You’re the detective the show is based upon?” He hoped he hadn’t turned as pale as he felt.
“Yes.” Detective Carlyle studied him from behind hooded eyes. “Would you mind sending in the next priest?”
Father Branch rushed to his office and locked the door behind him. His stomach was churning in so many different directions. He barely made it to the commode before puking. His hands shook. His entire body was sweating profusely. He hadn’t killed Ellen. He had only slept with her. One was as bad as the other, in his mind.
Of all people, the top detective in New York was working his case. He had to get control of himself. They didn’t seem to suspect him of anything.
##
Watcher followed Father Branch into the bar and grill. As the priest washed down his burger with a beer, Watcher considered planting something in the priest’s apartment that would connect him to Ellen’s murder. It would be simple. Plant the evidence. An anonymous call to the cops. Disgrace Father Branch. As much as he would love to see the pompous hypocrite put away for a murder he didn’t commit, Watcher decided to save him for later. He had a better use for Father Branch.
##
“Father Branch.” Father Jerry caught the older priest’s arm. “Mika is hearing confessions this morning. Our meeting isn’t starting until after lunch. It seems the presence of the police has disrupted everything. Would you like to grab a cup of coffee?”
“Yes,” the older priest agreed. “That would be nice.”
A week had passed since Ellen’s death. Detective Carlyle was slowly but surely working her way through the priests that fit the meager description she had. The victim’s body had yielded no further evidence. The blow to the face had been delivered antemortem. Every surface of the apartment had been wiped clean. All hair had been removed from the drains. It was as if only Ellen Anthony had ever been in the apartment.
The two priests discussed the murder case as they drank their coffee. It seemed all of God’s work had ceased in favor of divining the devil that had intruded in their lives. Father Branch vaguely wondered if evil always displaced good.
“Mika said Detective Carlyle would finish today,” Father Jerry interrupted Branch’s thoughts. “She has a list of twenty poor fellows who will undergo a more intense grilling at the police station. Her theory is that a priest had an affair with her and when he tried to break it off, she threatened to blackmail him, and he killed her.”
“When will we know who is to be dragged to the police station?” Father Branch hoped his tone of voice revealed how ridiculous he thought the whole thing was.
“I don’t know,” Father Jerry said, grimacing, “but if I thought my name was on that list, I would definitely be confessing this morning. I may confess anyway, just to give Priest Mika a thrill.” He winked.
Father Branch finished his coffee and excused himself. “I have to prepare for my presentation this afternoon,” he mumbled.
In his office, Father Branch poured a glass of water and downed two Advil. His head was pounding, and his stomach was surely eating its way outside his body. He chased the Advil with four antacids. Leaving his office by the back door, he stealthily made his way to the confessional.
Mika slid open the confessional window.
“Forgive me, Priest, for I have sinned.” Father Branch began the confession of his affair with Ellen. “I have sought solace in the arms of a prostitute. The evil hold she had on me is now gone. I am deeply sorry that I have committed this grievous sin.”
Mika listened to the confession. There was no mistaking the heavy English accent of her nemesis. “How was she removed from your life?” Mika asked.
“She’s dead,” Branch said simply.
“Did you kill her?” Mika led the man through his confession.
“No, I did not!” Branch almost whispered. “I was weak. I committed sins of the flesh with her, but I swear by all that is holy, I did not kill her.”
Mika gave the man absolution then sent him on his way.
The confession was troubling, but Mika was certain Branch hadn’t murdered Ellen. She was glad it was Friday. She needed some time with her wife and family.
##
Carlie keyed in the access code Leah had given her to the Cross Towers garage. She parked her car close to the elevator. Leah had asked her to give Mika a list of the priests she would need to see at the police station next week. Jacob met her in the lobby and led her to the dining hall.
“Carlie.” Leah hugged her friend and led her into the hall. “Come join us for dinner. Please sit here by me.”
A broad smile spread across the face of the hardened detective as she surveyed the beautiful family gathered around the dining table. Leah sat at one end of the table and her wife was at the other. It was like a gathering of angels. They all bowed their heads as Mika gave thanks.
Amen was like Ready! Set! Go! All the children began talking at once. Leah cleared her throat and silence fell over the room. Carlie wondered how the children had heard their mother.
“Everyone, inside voices,” Leah said softly. “Adam and Sara, why don’t you go first, since we haven’t seen you in two weeks?”
The conversation went around the table as each set of twins shared their latest adventures. After dinner, the older children went to the basement for a game of basketball and the younger ones followed Nana and Vonda to their play area. Leah, Mika, and Carlie went to the apartment.
“It’s starting to rain,” Leah noticed as she poured wine for the three of them. Carlie had shared the same incredible wine with them at Vincent’s.
“Yes.” Carlie nodded, surprised that she could hear the rhythm of the rain drumming on the roof of the penthouse. She never enjoyed the sound of the rain in her apartment that was sandwiched between two other floors.
“I love the sound of the rain.” Leah smiled. “Especially when I am just falling asleep.” She glanced coyly at her wife. A pink blush moved up Mika’s face as they made eye contact.
Carlie cleared her throat to remind the couple she was still in the room and held out a sheet of paper to Mika. “Leah said you would like to get a look at the list of priests I need to speak with next week.”
Mika unfolded the paper and quickly reviewed the list. As she had suspected, Father Branch’s name was at the top of the list. A slight frown danced across her lovely face, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Mika knew she couldn’t share with the detective what had been confessed to her. “May I make a copy?” she asked.
“That copy is for you.” Carlie grinned. She hadn’t missed the priest’s brief reaction to the list. She knew at least one name on the list had caused her concern. “Do you know anything I should know?” she asked.
“Nothing I can discuss,” Mika said softly. “As a professional courtesy, I would appreciate it if you didn’t press me on this matter.”
“Would you get us more wine, darling?” Leah wanted to ease her wife’s anguish.
“What the hell does that mean?” Carlie demanded, leaning close to the actress. “Don’t press me?”
“It means Mika has taken confession from someone and she can’t discuss the matter.” Leah reacted vehemently, her brown eyes darkening in anger. “You will get nowhere interrogating my wife.”
The detective drew back from the violent reaction she saw in Leah’s eyes. She was surprised at how forcefully Leah had defended her wife.
“I need all the help I can get on this case,” Carlie almost whispered, wondering what it would be like to fall asleep in the arms of the other woman, listening to the rain strum the roof.
##
The three visited, discussing how the events of Monday would take place. “I don’t want anyone to know we are coming for them,” Carlie informed Mika. “I gave you this list because Leah asked me to, but I need the element of surprise. It always rattles a perp when we pick them up unexpectedly.”
Both Leah and Mika esco
rted Carlie to her car and wished her a safe trip home. The couple then dashed back to their apartment to change into their tennis shoes and more comfortable clothes, to join their children in a fast-paced game of basketball.
The game was tied when Regina passed her mother the basketball and Mika lifted her wife up to the basket for an easy two points, winning the game.
“Foul,” yelled their opposing children. “You can’t lift Mom like that.” Everyone was laughing and bouncing the ball back and forth.
“Okay.” Mika laughed. “How about we let your mom take a free throw? If she makes it, our team wins. If she misses, you win.”
“Oh, the pressure,” Leah cried as she lined up behind the free-throw line.
“Don’t worry,” Adam yelled to his teammates. “She never makes a free-throw shot.”
He watched open-mouthed as his mother threw a perfect shot that arched and dropped cleanly into the basket. Her team jumped up and down around her, hugging her and chanting her name. “Queen Mommy! Queen Mommy!”
Mika lifted her up in the air then slowly slid her down her body, holding her close. She nuzzled her face in Leah’s raven hair. “You cheated, didn’t you?” she whispered.
“One never knows with a witch.” Leah giggled as she lightly kissed her lips.
##
Alone in their bedroom, Leah snuggled against Mika as she leaned against the headboard, studying Carlie’s list. Mika had one arm around her wife.
“Someone on that list is worrying you.” Leah kissed her softly on the neck and drew patterns between her breasts with her fingertips.
Mika nodded. She had always shared troubling things with her. “One of the priests was utilizing the woman’s services, but he didn’t kill her.”
“This may have been a random murder, with no connection whatsoever to your priest.” Leah shifted, moving almost on top of Mika.
She took the paper from Mika’s hands and dropped it on the floor. “Why don’t you utilize my services?” she hummed.
“But I am just a poor priest, Your Majesty,” Mika mumbled against her lips. “I could never deserve one as desirable as you.”
“Let me be the judge of that.” Leah laughed wickedly as she straddled her wife.
Later, Leah lay in Mika’s warm, protective arms, listening to the soft drumming of the rain. “I love you so much,” she murmured against her breast.
“There are no words,” Mika said as she held her tighter, “to describe my feelings for you.”
##
Detective Carlie Carlyle drove slowly through the rain-drenched night. She wondered what Mika knew. She knew from various reports that the priest was embroiled in a bitter battle in the Catholic Church. According to reports she had heard, it was a battle that could result in Mika moving up the ranks of the church or being excommunicated. Apparently, there was no common ground in the church.
She couldn’t keep her mind from going to Mika’s gorgeous wife. Carlie wondered how the two had ended up together. Obviously, they were deeply in love. No woman bore twelve children just for the fun of it. Leah looked as if she was a virgin. Her perfect body certainly showed no signs of childbirth.
Carlie recalled the first time she had seen the TV star. She took away my breath, Carlie thought. I don’t even remember what anyone else at the conference said. I was too lost in those eyes. Everything about Leah Cross was perfect: her long, dark hair; her laughing brown eyes; those high cheekbones; her full, red lips; her body; and most of all her intoxicating laugh.
Detective Carlie Carlyle admitted to herself that she was in love with Leah Cross. Leah Cross: wife of a priest, mother of thirteen children, owner of her heart.
She had been shocked when the actress had admitted to being married to a woman. She wondered about that relationship, but she hadn’t had an opportunity to pursue the line of conversation. She hadn’t had time for anything. The pressure on her from the mayor and the church was unbelievable. She had to find the killer of the prostitute. She hoped with all her heart it was not a priest.
Her cell phone blared the sound for Jennifer. She ignored it. She couldn’t talk with her right now. She was afraid her voice would somehow give away her feelings for Leah Cross. She drove for several minutes then dialed her lover’s phone. “Hi, babe. I saw you called me.” She hoped she sounded happy. Jennifer deserved happy.
##
Watcher followed Father Williams to the playground. It was the first sunny day in over a week. Children were everywhere, gleeful to be outside. Watcher wondered why they had let the old priest out of their sight. The ones who were supposed to be watching him had failed on their job. How had a monster like Williams remained in the church for so long? At what age did their desire for young boys diminish? Were pedophiles ever safe at any age?
He observed as Williams singled out a young boy, five, maybe six years old. The boy was obviously poor. His clothes were clean but had holes. He needed a haircut. Williams offered the boy a candy bar. The boy snatched the treat from the priest’s hand and darted away.
Wise boy, Watcher thought. He looked around the busy park for a parent who was accompanying the child. He saw none. He was certain Williams had chosen this boy for that very reason. He was alone in a busy park.
Watcher followed Williams back to the church then turned his attention to the bishop who was being considered for the archbishop position.
Bishop Lawrence Cantrell was a Catholic’s Catholic. Fit and handsome, he was a gentleman and a scholar. Only his slightly receding hairline gave away his age. A staunch supporter of Mika Cross, he was married. He had loudly applauded Cross when the young priest delivered a sermon based on 1 Timothy 3:2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, a vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.
Mika had used the verse from the New Testament to support her beliefs that priests should be allowed to marry. Bishop Cantrell knew that his marriage had held him back from being moved up in the hierarchy of the church, but he loved his wife. He was willing to sacrifice for her.
Cantrell was very aware that every verse in the Bible was open to the interpretation in the mind of the reader. There was so much support for marriage in the Bible, he believed with all his heart that marriage was good, and that God intended for all men to have a wife.
Cantrell had already decided that if he were named archbishop, he would request Mika Cross as his bishop. Unfortunately, Cross seemed to have no interest in rising in the church. She was content to be just a priest.
Janet Cantrell was proud of her husband’s position in the church. It gave her prestige and the respect of other women in their circles. A pretty woman, her only failing was vanity.
##
Mika was standing on the terrace, waiting for her wife to get home. She had asked Nana, Jacob, and Rachel to take care of the children for the evening. She hoped the cool night air would help her clear her mind. She was trying to find the words to tell Leah she had been called to Rome, Italy.
She knew the drill.
How long, Mika?
I don’t know.
Mika, I can’t do this.
Leah would be upset, just as she was.
Mika hated being away from her as much as Leah hated being away from Mika. She thought about chucking the whole thing and moving her family to Texas, but knew that wasn’t what God wanted her to do. God had given her many tasks. She had been many things during her two thousand years on earth: a doctor, a lawyer, a general in the Roman army, a gladiator, a Roman Senator, but the most difficult job God had given her was that of a priest.
The church was riddled with corruption and people twisting God’s words to fit their own devious purposes. It made Mika’s heart heavy. Only her unwavering faith in God and the love of her wife and family kept her thoughts light and happy.
“Darling.” Leah entered from their bedroom, where they always transported. “I was hoping you would be home.”
Mika quickly met her halfway and embraced
her tightly. Pulling back slightly, she kissed her with all the yearning and desire of two thousand years. Leah returned her kiss, eagerly exploring Mika’s lips with her tongue. A throaty moan vibrated from Leah’s lips and made Mika’s entire body tingle. She swept Leah up in her arms and carried her to their bed.
Leah sensed Mika’s need for her. Mika was rarely so demanding. As much as she liked it, Leah was unsettled by it. Mika made love to her as if she were memorizing every touch, every moan, and every whispered word of endearment. Magic Leah raised the intensity of their lovemaking to an entirely different level. Their bodies sizzled with their desire for each other.
##
Mika lay on her back. Leah collapsed onto her chest as she gasped for air. Leah quickly breathed breath back into Mika. Mika’s heart pounded so hard, it shook both of them. She slowly began rubbing her hands up and down Leah’s body, stroking her as if committing to memory every delicious curve and feel of her. Mika buried her face in Leah’s hair, hungrily drinking in the soft scent of her. Mika knew she should have given Leah her news first, but had so wanted this time of unrestrained sharing of their hearts and bodies.
As their heartbeats returned to normal, Leah sat up, still straddling Mika. “Tell me what’s wrong, darling?” She frowned.
“I’ve been called to the Vatican,” Mika said, her voice deep with emotion.
“How long?” Leah sighed.
“I don’t know.”
“Mika, I can’t do this. I can’t be without you. That’s on the other side of the world.” Her voice was somewhere between a sob and plea. “Please, don’t go.”
“It won’t be too bad,” Mika reassured her. “Rome is five hours ahead of our time. I can leave there by six p.m., Rome time, and be here at one in the afternoon. I can stay here until two in the morning then zip back there in time for my meetings at eight.”
Leah watched her face as she refigured the times.
“I could transport to your dressing room at the studio and watch you shoot your series, then we can have dinner and go home.” Mika tried to think of something else to say that would console her. “No one will be expecting anything of me here, so I will be free to spend all my time with you and the children.”
