“Are you all right?” Elizabeth asked.
Grace pushed her back, just enough to see her face. “Am I all right? Are you all right? I was scared to death when I got your message and then you didn’t answer my calls. Are you hurt?” She brushed the hair out of Elizabeth’s face and caressed her cheek. Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned into her touch.
Grace softly traced her finger over her lips. “God, you’re beaut—”
“I don’t feel so good,” Raymond interrupted from the other side of the car, still propped up against the tire.
“Oh, Raymond, I’m so sorry.” Elizabeth pulled away and ran to him, cradling him in her arms.
Chapter Thirty-four
Elizabeth stopped to admire the fresh window sign of the Southern Indigent Legal Center. The new storefront, as well as SILC’s other upgrades, were compliments of Elizabeth’s father and CRAK. She smiled in approval and walked through the glass door. Amy sat at her usual post with a phone to her ear and eagerly waved to her as she passed.
SILC was the same, but very different, and Elizabeth’s stomach churned at the thought. It didn’t take long for the missing one hundred thousand dollars from the archdiocese to be traced to the clinic. Although Dan couldn’t be implicated in any impropriety, he resigned in the best interest of the clinic and named Elizabeth as his successor as supervising attorney before he departed.
Rosa Sanchez walked past with a file box in her arms and deposited it into a cubicle. “Morning, Ms. Campbell.” She beamed. “All the files have been put in alphabetical order in the cabinets.”
“Thank you, Rosa.”
“No, thank you, Ms. Campbell. You have done so much for me and Hector. Giving me this job was more than I could ever dream.” Tears welled in her eyes.
Elizabeth offered a tight smile, afraid to speak for fear that her voice would betray her. She and Rosa shared a silent bond—Father Parker. He had been a generous soul, a trusted confidant, and a betrayer. With nothing more that they could say, Rosa turned to finish her task.
Elizabeth moved to her old office and paused to look at three new filing cabinets that were efficiently lined up against the wall. A worker dressed in paint-splotched clothes had his back to her, and he reached for one of the framed inspirational posters.
“That’s okay, you can leave that.”
The man looked at the poster once more before he made his exit. She wasn’t sure why she decided to keep it, but she just knew she would feel its loss. It was too many changes at once.
She approached BD and stroked its worn black leather. “Hello, old friend.”
BD reminded her of Grace—they were both cranky, didn’t adjust well to new people, but once she got to really know them, they became a needed friend, both providing a source of comfort, although her relationship with BD was less confusing.
“Speaking of the devil.” She smiled.
“What?” Grace asked as she walked in and settled into the worn black chair on the other side of the desk.
With no words to answer the simple question, Elizabeth shrugged it off and continued to caress the top of BD.
They remained in companionable silence for a moment, and she understood that Grace was working something through in her head. Grace finally spoke, but didn’t look up. “They’ve been digging up behind the school.”
Another moment passed in silence. Despite her usual impatience, she gave Grace the time she seemed to need.
“They found twelve bodies so far. Eleven of them were kids. The adult body was under the tree you showed me.”
“The lovers’ tree?”
Grace nodded. “I expect it’s Geizler’s body. There’s still a lot more ground to cover. I’m certain there will be many more children before we’re done.”
A perverse sadness blanketed the room.
“What about Simon Fisher and the mayor?” Elizabeth asked.
“Simon Fisher is completely cooperating, and he’s confirmed what we suspected. Reynosa and Pallone took Geizler’s research journal when they were clearing out his lab in the mill. Sullivan and Simon were offered shares in IPR for their silence.” She shifted in her chair before continuing. “Reynosa, on the other hand, the true politician, is categorically denying it all, but it’s only a matter of time before he goes down. The feds raided IPR and seized all the research and records. The clinical trials and patent have been suspended.”
“I’m glad, but…” Elizabeth paused.
“The children?”
“Yeah, I mean, how many children died for that research? Geizler might have actually found the cure,” she emphasized the last words, “and it will probably be lost. It just seems wrong on so many levels.”
Elizabeth turned to look out her window, needing a moment to process it. Fred, the rat, scurried across one of the trash cans in the alley. “What about Father Parker or, uh, David Collins?” She corrected, nearly choking on the name.
“Physically, he’ll be fine. The knife missed any major organs.” A wave of relief washed over Elizabeth. He was a monster, but she didn’t want to be responsible for taking any life. “He’s being held at a maximum security psychiatric hospital. It’s doubtful he’ll ever be deemed competent to stand trial.”
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to thwart the chill that was growing inside her, and she could feel rather than hear Grace move behind her. “Grace,” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat, and she turned to face her.
“I want…” Grace’s voice trailed off, her usual confidence waning. Elizabeth assumed it was easier for her when she was filled with fear and could pull Elizabeth to her without thought, panic overruling reason; but now, Grace looked conflicted.
Elizabeth reached out and rested her open palm on Grace’s chest and slowly and deliberately slid it up to her shoulder, her neck, and then the back of her head. Elizabeth watched her own hand in fascination as though it moved of its own accord, then tore her eyes away to watch Grace, who stood motionless with her stare never wavering. “I want to kiss you,” Elizabeth breathed out, and Grace responded by ducking her head, meeting her halfway.
Elizabeth closed her eyes when she felt the soft warmth against her lips, and she craved more. She used her hand still perched behind Grace’s head to pull her forward and pushed her lips harder, then groaned when she felt a warm silk tongue slip inside. She greedily pushed harder, wanting more.
Grace’s hand traveled down her back, sliding over her bottom and gently massaging before she slipped her leg between Elizabeth’s and held her tight as she continued to thrust her tongue inside her. Elizabeth felt an explosion of warmth emanate from her, and she pulled her lips away. “Oh God, Grace.”
Grace held her as Elizabeth rested her head against her shoulder, not wanting to relinquish the moment. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time we met. You were so smug and, God, so sexy,” Grace panted out.
Elizabeth kissed her neck and reminisced about their first encounter when she approached the stout man by mistake. “Thank God, Detective Donovan, that you didn’t turn out to be the other guy.”
“Excuse me, Ms. Campbell. Mrs. Francis is on the phone, and she said it’s an emergency?” Rosa interrupted as she entered with a stack of files before she realized their position.
Elizabeth slowly pushed herself back, in no hurry to lose Grace’s contact.
Rosa turned away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a visitor.”
“That’s okay, Rosa. What’s the problem?” Elizabeth said with a false smile, her body still vibrating with the last bit of pleasure.
“Mrs. Francis’s grandson has been arrested and charged with murder, but she says he didn’t do it.”
“Oh no, here we go again,” Grace groaned out.
*
David Collins lay on his back with his wrists encased in leather straps that secured him to the metal bed frame, and his ankles were equally secured. He stared at the white ceiling. The room reminded him of a time long ago,
and he closed his eyes searching his mind for the star that once comforted him in his dark times. He found it and smiled.
“We’re not done.”
David darted his head to the corner, straining his neck, and stared in disbelief. “How—how did you get here?” he stumbled.
The voice ignored the question and repeated even more firmly, “We’re not done.”
“It’s over,” he said, his voice quavering.
“It’s over when I say it’s over,” boomed the voice. The streak of bravery that caused David’s rebellion in the cement room was fleeting, and he once again found himself cowering to the dominant power.
“Our work is not complete. There is one more.”
“Who?” David meekly asked.
“Elizabeth Campbell. She is why we’re here, and for this, she must pay.”
About the Author
A. Rose Mathieu has been an attorney in California for more than twenty years, finding her most rewarding work to be with underserved populations. By challenging laws and bringing suits for those with too small a voice, she has been able to change legislation. She writes as an outlet, crafting mysteries with a touch of comic relief. Her first try in writing began in fifth grade with a short story that won her the top award in California. To fulfill her mother’s dream of her becoming an author, A. Rose picked up the pen again and began to write.
A. Rose lives with her wife of nearly twenty years and their two children, spending weekends conquering a very busy school and sports schedule. She is inspired by their wit and imagination every day, as they develop into writers off their own.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
The Sniper’s Kiss by Justine Saracen. The power of a kiss: it can swell your heart with splendor, declare abject submission, and sometimes blow your brains out. (978-1-62639-839-9)
Divided Nation, United Hearts by Yolanda Wallace. In a nation torn in two by a most uncivil war, can love conquer the divide? (978-1-62639-847-4)
Fury’s Bridge by Brey Willows. What if your life depended on someone who didn’t believe in your existence? (978-1-62639-841-2)
Lightning Strikes by Cass Sellars. When Parker Duncan and Sydney Hyatt’s one-night stand turns to more, both women must fight demons past and present to cling to the relationship neither of them thought she wanted. (978-1-62639-956-3)
Love in Disaster by Charlotte Greene. A professor and a celebrity chef are drawn together by chance, but can their attraction survive a natural disaster? (978-1-62639-885-6)
Secret Hearts by Radclyffe. Can two women from different worlds find common ground while fighting their secret desires? (978-1-62639-932-7)
Sins of Our Fathers by A. Rose Mathieu. Solving gruesome murder cases is only one of Elizabeth Campbell’s challenges; another is her growing attraction to the female detective who is hell-bent on keeping her client in prison. (978-1-62639-873-3)
Troop 18 by Jessica L. Webb. Charged with uncovering the destructive secret that a troop of RCMP cadets has been hiding, Andy must put aside her worries about Kate and uncover the conspiracy before it’s too late. (978-1-62639-934-1)
Worthy of Trust and Confidence by Kara A. McLeod. FBI Special Agent Ryan O’Connor is about to discover the hard way that when you can only handle one type of answer to a question, it really is better not to ask. (978-1-62639-889-4)
Amounting to Nothing by Karis Walsh. When mounted police officer Billie Mitchell steps in to save beautiful murder witness Merissa Karr, worlds collide on the rough city streets of Tacoma, Washington. (978-1-62639-728-6)
Becoming You by Michelle Grubb. Airlie Porter has a secret. A deep, dark, destructive secret that threatens to engulf her if she can’t find the courage to face who she really is and who she really wants to be with. (978-1-62639-811-5)
Birthright by Missouri Vaun. When spies bring news that a swordswoman imprisoned in a neighboring kingdom bears the Royal mark, Princess Kathryn sets out to rescue Aiden, true heir to the Belstaff throne. (978-1-62639-485-8)
Crescent City Confidential by Aurora Rey. When romance and danger are in the air, writer Sam Torres learns the Big Easy is anything but. (978-1-62639-764-4)
Love Down Under by MJ Williamz. Wylie loves Amarina, but if Amarina isn’t out, can their relationship last? (978-1-62639-726-2)
Privacy Glass by Missouri Vaun. Things heat up when Nash Wiley commandeers a limo and her best friend for a late drive out to the beach: Champagne on ice, seat belts optional, and privacy glass a must. (978-1-62639-705-7)
The Impasse by Franci McMahon. A horse-packing excursion into the Montana Wilderness becomes an adventure of terrifying proportions for Miles and ten women on an outfitter-led trip. (978-1-62639-781-1)
The Right Kind of Wrong by PJ Trebelhorn. Bartender Quinn Burke is happy with her life as a playgirl until she realizes she can’t fight her feelings any longer for her best friend, bookstore owner Grace Everett. (978-1-62639-771-2)
Wishing on a Dream by Julie Cannon. Can two women change everything for the chance at love? (978-1-62639-762-0)
A Quiet Death by Cari Hunter. When the body of a young Pakistani girl is found out on the moors, the investigation leaves Detective Sanne Jensen facing an ordeal she may not survive. (978-1-62639-815-3)
Buried Heart by Laydin Michaels. When Drew Chambliss meets Cicely Jones, her buried past finds its way to the surface. Will they survive its discovery or will their chance at love turn to dust? (978-1-62639-801-6)
Escape: Exodus Book Three by Gun Brooke. Aboard the Exodus ship Pathfinder, President Thea Tylio still holds Caya Lindemay, a clairvoyant changer, in protective custody, which has devastating consequences endangering their relationship and the entire Exodus mission. (978-1-62639-635-7)
Genuine Gold by Ann Aptaker. New York, 1952. Outlaw Cantor Gold is thrown back into her honky-tonk Coney Island past, where crime and passion simmer in a neon glare. (978-1-62639-730-9)
Into Thin Air by Jeannie Levig. When her girlfriend disappears, Hannah Lewis discovers her world isn’t as orderly as she thought it was. (978-1-62639-722-4)
Night Voice by CF Frizzell. When talk show host Sable finally acknowledges her risqué radio relationship with a mysterious caller, she welcomes a real relationship with local tradeswoman Riley Burke. (978-1-62639-813-9)
Raging at the Stars by Lesley Davis. When the unbelievable theories start revealing themselves as truths, can you trust in the ones who have conspired against you from the start? (978-1-62639-720-0)
She Wolf by Sheri Lewis Wohl. When the hunter becomes the hunted, more than love might be lost. (978-1-62639-741-5)
Smothered and Covered by Missouri Vaun. The last person Nash Wiley expects to bump into over a two a.m. breakfast at Waffle House is her college crush, decked out in a curve-hugging law enforcement uniform. (978-1-62639-704-0)
The Butterfly Whisperer by Lisa Moreau. Reunited after ten years, can Jordan and Sophie heal the past and rediscover love or will differing desires keep them apart? (978-1-62639-791-0)
The Devil’s Due by Ali Vali. Cain and Emma Casey are awaiting the birth of their third child, but as always in Cain’s world, there are new and old enemies to face in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans. (978-1-62639-591-6)
Widows of the Sun-Moon by Barbara Ann Wright. With immortality now out of their grasp, the gods of Calamity fight amongst themselves, egged on by the mad goddess they thought they’d left behind. (978-1-62639-777-4)
Arrested Hearts by Holly Stratimore. A reckless cop who hates her life and a health nut who is afraid to die might be a perfect combination for love. (978-1-62639-809-2)
Capturing Jessica by Jane Hardee. Hyperrealist sculptor Michael tries desperately to conceal the love she holds for best friend, Jess, unaware Jess’s feelings for her are changing. (978-1-62639-836-8)
Counting to Zero by AJ Quinn. NSA agent Emma Thorpe and computer hacker Paxton James must learn to trust each other as they work to stop a threat clock that’s rapidly counting down to zero. (978-1-62639-783-5)
Cour
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One More Reason to Leave Orlando by Missouri Vaun. Nash Wiley thought a threesome sounded exotic and exciting, but as it turns out the reality of sleeping with two women at the same time is just really complicated. (978-1-62639-703-3)
Pathogen by Jessica L. Webb. Can Dr. Kate Morrison navigate a deadly virus and the threat of bioterrorism, as well as her new relationship with Sergeant Andy Wyles and her own troubled past? (978-1-62639-833-7)
Rainbow Gap by Lee Lynch. Jaudon Vickers and Berry Garland, polar opposites, dream and love in this tale of lesbian lives set in Central Florida against the tapestry of societal change and the Vietnam War. (978-1-62639-799-6)
Steel and Promise by Alexa Black. Lady Nivrai’s cruel desires and modified body make most of the galaxy fear her, but courtesan Cailyn Derys soon discovers the real monsters are the ones without the claws. (978-1-62639-805-4)
Swelter by D. Jackson Leigh. Teal Giovanni’s mistake shines an unwanted spotlight on a small Texas ranch where August Reese is secluded until she can testify against a powerful drug kingpin. (978-1-62639-795-8)
Without Justice by Carsen Taite. Cade Kelly and Emily Sinclair must battle each other in the pursuit of justice, but can they fight their undeniable attraction outside the walls of the courtroom? (978-1-62639-560-2)
Sins of Our Fathers Page 28
