Stone's Mistake

by Adrian J. Smith

  Nodding, Geraldine licked her lips. “Makes sense, I guess.”

  “But she went to this bar twice, which I’m still not fully understanding why. There have been no reports of dead lesbians out there, so…I don’t know. It’s leaving me confused.”

  “You’ll figure it out.”

  “Maybe.”

  It didn’t take them long to get to the bar. It was early in the morning, and Morgan hoped someone was there to let her in. She pounded her fist on the locked door, but there was no answer. Grunting, she stepped away and looked around to see if there were any cameras on buildings nearby she could look at. There seemed to be one right outside the main door to the bar, which was a bonus.

  “They’ve got cameras it seems,” Morgan commented.

  “Yes, but no one home.”

  “Can I help you?”

  Morgan spun on her toes toward the voice. “I’m Special Agent Stone. This is Special Agent Morrison. We’re with the FBI. We were just going to ask the owner or someone who works here regularly a few questions.”

  “I’m the owner.”

  “Good.” Morgan softened her expression. She knew Geraldine would give her point on the investigation since it was her case. “Could we talk inside?”

  “Yeah.” Shifting, the owner shoved keys into the door. After turning off the alarm and hitting lights, the three of them walked inside. “I’m Hailey Kraus, by the way. I’ve owned this place for a couple years.”

  “I used to come here every once in a while like a decade ago. A lot has changed.” Morgan spun in a circle, looking around. “We’re looking for a woman who has come in here the last two nights. Was hoping you could help us find her.”

  “Sure, what’s she look like?”

  Morgan shifted a glance to Geraldine and blew out a breath. “We don’t exactly know. Was there anyone new in here the last few days? She’d likely be picking up another woman. We know she’s relatively small in size and is left handed, young, in her late twenties or early thirties.”

  Hailey leaned against the bar and bit her lip as she thought. She shook her head. “Not ringing a bell. We have a lot of people in and out of here every night.”

  “Perhaps you can look up the receipts and that’ll jog your memory. The name on the card was Samantha Gideon.”

  “Sure.” Hailey walked around to her computer and booted it up.

  “What did this Samantha do?”

  Morgan rubbed her lips together and once again glanced around the bar. “She’s a person of interest in a case. We would like to speak with her and see if she knows some information about a case we’re working on.”

  Hailey nodded. “She doesn’t target our folk, does she?”

  Morgan shifted a sharp look to Geraldine. Holding her tongue and clenching a fist, Morgan side-stepped the question. “She’s just a person of interest.”

  “Here it is.” Hailey turned the screen so Morgan could lean over the counter and see it. “Looks like she ordered a couple rum and cokes, but that’s it. Pretty standard order, so it doesn’t really ring a bell for me, but one of my bartenders could have served her, too.”

  “Do you happen to have any cameras?”

  “No. My clientele doesn’t particularly care for them. The one outside is for show. There’s no actual camera in it.”

  Clenching her teeth, Morgan shifted her weight onto one foot and handed over a card. “If she comes back, will you give us a call?”

  “Yeah. I can do that.”

  “Thanks.”

  As soon as Geraldine and Morgan were outside, Morgan let out a sigh. She had hoped that would give her more information. Her hopes were dashed except for the fact she knew she was finally in the same place as her killer. Geraldine walked to the shop next door.

  It didn’t take them long to gather up video footage from the neighboring businesses. Morgan would likely spend most of the next day going through them unless there was another major development or another hit on the card somewhere. She wanted to go to the one other place Samantha’s card had been used, but she’d have to drop Geraldine back at the office before she did that, and maybe get herself some lunch. Her growling stomach told her it was about time to eat.

  With a goodbye to Geraldine at the door, Morgan pulled out onto the road and headed downtown for the last place Samantha’s card had been used. It was a very small clothing shop. It matched similar to what she would use the other cards. She’d purchase food—always eating out—sometimes alcohol, and clothing. Other than that, she charged nothing.

  Shaking her head, Morgan walked into the small shop. The air was musty, but it was warm and welcoming. Morgan immediately looked for cameras and saw none. Clenching her jaw, she headed for the back where the register was. Her perp certainly knew where to go that didn’t have cameras to keep track of her. It was a theme she’d been discovering as she’d gone to each city tracing her killer.

  “Can I help you?” The petite woman behind the desk smiled.

  Morgan flashed her badge. “I’m Special Agent Stone with the FBI. I’m following up on a case, and there was a stolen credit card used here yesterday.”

  “Oh no! That’s awful.”

  Giving a grim nod, Morgan plowed forward with her spiel. “I was wondering if you could help me in locating the thief.”

  “Sure, anything.”

  “The name on the card was Samantha Gideon.”

  “Let me look it up.”

  After a few minutes of silence, the woman pulled up the receipt. “Looks like she purchased a dress, some pants and a couple shirts.”

  “Can I get a copy of that?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you have any cameras in the store?”

  The woman shook her head. “No, sorry. We keep meaning to get them installed. I have them in the back, but we haven’t had the time or the funds yet. Everything moves slower with smaller stores.”

  “I understand that.” Morgan let out a breath and took the proffered receipt. “Were you the one who was here when she came in and purchased these items?”

  “No. I wasn’t. I was off yesterday. I can get you the number for my partner. She was the one who was here.”

  “Your partner?” Morgan raised an eyebrow, trying to discern if she meant partner as in business or pleasure. When the woman’s cheeks tinged pink, Morgan knew it was the latter. It added an interesting layer into her investigation. “Is your store known for serving the LGBT community?”

  The woman shrugged. “It’s not a secret we’re lesbians, but it’s certainly not something we tend to promote, either.”

  Nodding, Morgan held up the receipt and then handed over a card with her contact information on it. “Thank you for this. If you think of anything else, please give me a call, or if she comes back in.”

  “Will do.”

  After leaving, Morgan spent the next two hours gathering even more footage from neighboring businesses that did have video surveillance. Loaded up with more digital footage, Morgan went to the office after picking up some food and coffee to go. She’d no doubt be bent over a computer for the rest of her day.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Morgan had gone back to her hotel room and changed before her date. She hadn’t exactly brought clothes with her that she would typically wear on a date, but she certainly didn’t want to be in her standard get-up for work. She wanted to make the distinction in her head that this was fun time and not work time. Swallowing, she pulled on a pair of clean tan slacks and a white button down shirt which she left unbuttoned at the top.

  Nerves raged in her belly. The last night she had spent on a date with Lollie had ended well enough. She was sure Lollie had wanted an invite back to her room, but Morgan was not typically the first date kind of girl. Second dates were always debatable, and it had been quite some time since she’d had a second date.

  Lollie had texted her a couple times throughout the day, and Morgan had responded in kind, letting her know she was equally excited about their planned even
ing. Lollie had requested Morgan plan the night again since she knew the area better. Determined to find out more about her date that evening than she had the last two times they’d met, Morgan put on a coat of light pink lipstick, brushed up the mascara she made herself wear and put in earrings.

  With a deep breath, Morgan left her gun in the safe and headed out. Tonight was not for work. It was for pleasure. She needed to relax. Pax had been telling her that for years. Her own mother had been telling her, not that she listened to her mother often, but sometimes she was right. Smoothing her hands down her sides to her legs, Morgan headed out and down to the front desk.

  She met Lollie at the Uptown Grill. As soon as she walked up, she felt her knees go weak. Lollie looked gorgeous. She wore a sleek green dress that flared at her waist and flowed around above her knees. Her hair was done up and twisted around in a bun at the back of her head.

  “Wow,” Morgan whispered. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Wow. You look amazing.”

  “You look stunning, too.” Lollie stepped forward and wrapped her arm through Morgan’s and rested her head on Morgan’s shoulder, much like they had been the night before.

  Taking a risk, Morgan wrapped their fingers together as they walked the rest of the way inside. After they were seated at their table with drinks ordered, Morgan’s anxiety picked back up. She wasn’t sure what to say, what to do, where to go.

  “What do you do for fun?” Lollie asked.

  Morgan let out a breath. “I, uhh, I work a lot and weird hours. So fun isn’t something I generally get to do.”

  Lollie rubbed her lips together. “That’s a shame.”

  “Sometimes. I am mainly caught up in family drama. I’m the oldest of nine kids, so they all call me when their lives go awry and want me to fix their mistakes.”

  “Nine is a lot.”

  “Yeah. I don’t know what my parents were thinking.”

  “Do you want kids?”

  “Uhh…maybe? I’m a bit old for starting a family.” Morgan took a sip of her beer and let the cold liquid slide down her throat to her belly. She needed it to bolster herself. Talk of kids was definitely not second date material. It was more like contemplating marriage material, and she certainly was not at that stage in this relationship yet, or ever.

  “You’re not old.” Lollie grinned. “And no one is ever too old to start a family.”

  Morgan snorted. “Well, I appreciate the sentiment even if it’s not reality. You want kids?”

  “Oh yes. Just two.”

  Morgan was thankful when the waiter came over to take their order and distracted them from the conversation at hand. Morgan really needed to steer them away from that type of conversation and down another path. She wanted to learn about Lollie, not about what Lollie wanted from her.

  She thought of Fiona and what they would talk about on their first date, if Fiona would ever agree to one. Clenching her jaw, Morgan tried to shift the thought from her head. Thinking about Fiona while on a date with another woman made guilt and shame flare in her belly. It was not a pleasant feeling. Fiona wouldn’t even call her back, so she was pretty sure there was no chance of them ever having a date. She’d probably ruined that by kissing her in the middle of a bloody crime scene.

  “What are you thinking? You seem so far away.” Lollie’s voice carried over the din of the room.

  Morgan jerked. “Nothing. Just something to do with work, a phone call I need to make. Where did you grow up?”

  “Out east.”

  “Out east where?”

  Lollie took a slow drink of her wine. “Kind of all over. I moved a lot.”

  “Army brat?”

  “Yeah. My dad was career army, so we moved every few years. My mom didn’t like it at all, but that was life.”

  “Ever live out west then?”

  “No.”

  “I grew up outside of San Francisco, so this is very close to home for me. I moved to get as far away from it as I could, but it just seems to follow me no matter where I go.”

  Lollie giggled and wrinkled her nose. “Maybe you secretly like it.”

  “Maybe I do. It keeps me entertained at the least.”

  Lollie reached over and grabbed Morgan’s hand. The rest of their meal sped by, and by the time they were leaving, Morgan was relaxed, slightly buzzed, and ready to take a leap of faith. When they got to her car, Morgan leaned in and kissed Lollie. Lollie freely returned the embrace, smiling against Morgan’s lips.

  “Want to go back to my place?” Morgan whispered into Lollie’s ear.

  Lollie nodded. “I think I would love that.”

  “I should forewarn you, I’m staying in a hotel right now, so it’s really just my room.”

  “Oh.” Lollie stepped away. “You don’t live here?”

  “No, I’m here for work.”

  “Hmm.” Lollie licked her lips, hesitation marking her gaze. “Let’s go then.”

  ###

  Morgan didn’t wait. As soon as they were in her room, she pushed Lollie into the door and pressed their mouths together. Her hand skimmed down Lollie’s front, barely touching her breasts, until she landed on Lollie’s hip. Their tongues tangled together, and Lollie held Morgan close with a hand at the back of her neck.

  Morgan’s body heated. She pushed herself into Lollie, melding them together as best she could. Lollie moaned sweetly and nipped Morgan’s lower lip. She pulled back and reached between them, undoing Morgan’s shirt one button at a time. It was slow and sensual.

  Lollie grinned as she pushed the blouse from Morgan’s shoulders. Morgan moved her arms to let the material fall away and to the ground. Lollie raked her gaze up and down Morgan’s chest, causing goosebumps to raise on Morgan’s skin.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Lollie whispered, reaching out and fingering the plain bra Morgan wore.

  “Likewise. But you’re going to have to tell me how to get that thing off you because it looks complicated.”

  Lollie laughed, her voice echoing in the room. She turned around and put her hands flat on the door like she was getting ready for a pat down. Morgan’s stomach clenched, but she saw the thin zipper decently well hidden in the fabric of the dress. She tugged it down, surprised when she found Lollie wore no bra and no underwear. Her mouth dried instantly, her heart in her throat, and her stomach twisting in excitement.

  “You’re certainly ready for tonight.” Morgan pressed a kiss to Lollie’s shoulder and dropped the dress to the ground.

  Lollie ducked her chin, her cheeks reddening with pleasure. “I had hoped we would end up here.”

  “You and me both.” Morgan’s lips moved to Lollie’s other shoulder. With one last kiss to the center of Lollie’s neck, Morgan reached up and tugged the clip and pins from Lollie’s hair, letting her soft brown curls fall around her shoulders. “Stunning, and so soft.”

  Lollie hummed in the back of her throat, but she stayed put while Morgan skimmed her fingers over her newly-exposed skin, the center of her spine, the curve of her ass, the slope of her waist. Morgan was entranced and consumed as she lost herself in the petite woman in front of her.

  “Will you let me touch you?” Morgan whispered.

  Lollie shivered. “You are touching me.”

  Morgan chuckled low in her throat. “No. Will you let me take you?”

  “Yes.” Lollie hissed as Morgan’s still clothed hips pressed into her back.

  With a deep breath, Morgan wrapped her hands around Lollie’s front and over her stomach. She dipped her fingers lower in circles. She scraped her nails gently up Lollie’s thighs. When Lollie let out a sweet breath, Morgan dipped her fingers between Lollie’s legs. She was wet, hot, and ready for her. Morgan used her thumb to swirl slow gentle circles, mimicking the ones she had traced on Lollie’s belly. Her other hand continued to trail over Lollie’s body, distracting and enticing. She pulled at a nipple, then the other.

  Lollie groaned, and Morgan knew she was headed in the right direction. When Lollie�
��s hips bucked, Morgan pushed into her more to hold her into place. Bending, Morgan nipped at Lollie’s neck, sucking to leave a mark on her skin, a reminder in the morning of everything they were about to do. Pleasure swirled in her belly and moved lower.

  Rocking her hips, Lollie grunted as Morgan brought her closer to her release. With her lips pressed to Lollie’s ear, Morgan ordered, “Tell me when you’re about to come.”

  “Yes.”

  “Lollie?”

  “Yes. I’m…I’m close. Don’t stop.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Morgan dashed her tongue out just under Lollie’s ear and nipped her way down the cord of muscle to her shoulder. She gripped Lollie’s hip to hold her still as Lollie’s body jerked, and she let out a rush of air. Her chest heaved with breath as her forehead rested against the metal door.

  Laughing, Lollie shifted and turned around. With her shoulders against the door, she dragged Morgan toward her so their chests were pressed together and their lips connected. Morgan cupped Lollie’s breast, squeezing, as they tangled their tongues in another long and deep embrace.

  When they broke apart, Lollie laughed again. “You certainly know what you’re doing.”

  “Sometimes experience comes in handy.”

  “Always. But the question remains, can the old dog handle some new tricks?”

  “Oh? What kind of tricks?”

  “You’ll see.” Lollie grabbed Morgan’s fingers and led her down the short hallway and toward the bed. She stepped out of her heels and turned around, climbing onto the bed and walking backward on her knees.

  Morgan shucked her pants, her panties, and her bra before she joined Lollie. She was intrigued to find out what Lollie had up her sleeve. Once they were in the center, Lollie asked Morgan to lay down. Complying, Morgan grabbed a pillow and shoved it under her head, lying on her back.

  Lollie towered over her in all her beauty. She touched herself, dipping her fingers between her legs and running her sticky wet fingers over her breasts and tweaking her own nipples. Entranced by every move Lollie made, Morgan clenched her fists, wanting to touch but letting Lollie lead.