Molly: House on Fire

by R. E. Bradshaw

  “Ma’am,” he began, as if he didn’t know who she was, “I got a report of a woman fitting your description, riding in a black four-by-four, and carrying a weapon. I’m going to have to search you.”

  Molly narrowed her eyes at him. If this guy thought he was going to be patting her down, he had a rude awakening.

  “Officer, I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon and I am in possession of one. It’s in the truck. There is no need to search me. I will hand it over freely, but if you insist on a body search, I am requesting a female officer.”

  Bass considered Molly’s response to be resistance. He yanked his pistol out of its holster, pointed it at her, and began to shout. “Get on the ground! Get on the ground! Keep your hands where I can see them.”

  Leslie started coming out of the truck. Molly saw her and shouted, “Keep her in there, Randy!”

  Molly began to obey the Chief’s demands and lowered herself face down on the ground. He, of course, made her lie in mud and gravel on the side of the ditch. He sank his knee into her back and was wrenching her arm around behind her, when she heard a car pull in behind the Chief’s and car doors slamming. Great, she thought, more of his minions had arrived. She was relieved and elated when the feet she saw approaching were identified.

  “FBI. Chief Bass?”

  Bass stopped trying to pull Molly’s arm out of the socket, and spit back, “What the hell do you want?”

  “Supervisory Special Agent Danny McNally, sir. This is Agent Trainer. That’s my witness you have face down in the mud there, and I’d like to know why.”

  God bless Rainey. Molly had refused help, but Rainey had not listened. She had involved her old partner and he was following Molly. She was thanking her friend silently, while the law enforcement territorial war took place over her head. Bass ground his knee into her back, and Molly was spitting out mud and gravel, but she was not scared. If Danny was anything like Rainey, Molly had nothing to worry about, and she was not going to take this abuse much longer.

  The Chief was at a loss as to what to do. He could not very well manhandle her in front of two FBI agents. He tried to justify his actions. “She’s armed. I had a report.”

  Molly smarted off. “By the way, how is old Jarvis?”

  He ground his knee harder. “Shut up!”

  Molly refused to remain silent. “I informed you that I am licensed. Your actions are uncalled for and a violation of my civil rights. You’re doing this in front of two duly sworn officers of the law. I should be able to afford another fancy car after this or bankrupt this God forsaken town.”

  Danny came to her defense. “Ms. Kincaid has informed you of her license to carry. I’d suggest you verify that, before this goes any further.”

  The Chief let Molly up, after one more grind in the back, and shoving her face into the mud. She stood up, wiping the dirt from her mouth. Danny took control of the situation.

  “Ms. Kincaid, do you have your license with you and where is your weapon?”

  Molly made no move to reach in her pocket. “My license is in my pocket. The weapon is in my briefcase in the cab. May I reach in my pocket?”

  Danny met Molly during the investigation of Rainey’s involvement in the death of Dawson Chambers. He was a big man, whose red hair and Irish looks fit his name. He smiled at her, calm, and in control.

  “Yes, you may reach into your pocket.”

  Molly handed Danny her license. He read it and then looked up at the Chief. “She’s duly licensed to carry a fire arm in the state of North Carolina. I guess you owe her an apology.”

  Chief Bass was about to blow a gasket. His face was flaming red. He glared at Molly. “You shouldn’t have come back here.”

  Danny took a step forward, lowering his voice. “And you sir, should not interfere with a federal investigation.”

  Molly grinned at Bass, dirt in her teeth. “Be careful, Chief. You don’t want the FBI investigating your department. I don’t think Jeb could save you from that and there is a new judge in town. Keep that in mind.”

  Bass cursed under his breath, and stormed off to his car.

  Danny looked at Molly. “Well, I guess Rainey was right.”

  Molly chuckled. “How’s that?”

  “She said you were stirring up trouble for yourself.”

  Molly dusted the dirt and mud from her tee shirt. “What exactly am I a witness to, Danny?”

  Danny smiled. “I don’t know, but why don’t we talk and see what we can come up with?”

  Molly winked. “I hope you like shrimp.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Danny and Agent Trainer followed the truck back to the bed and breakfast. Molly spent most of the trip trying to calm Leslie down.

  Randy joked, “He didn’t even get the cuffs on her. You should see how mad she gets when they do that.”

  “It’s just more scare tactics, Leslie. That eliminates him as the suspect for the ringleader. He may have committed the rape, but he’s not running the show.”

  Randy gave his assessment. “That leaves the prosecutor and the judge.”

  Leslie considered this, and then added her two cents. “They are both well respected men. You better have more than a hunch and a key, before you go after them. No one is going to believe men like that would be involved in this level of corruption. A little back slapping, yes, but murder and rape?”

  Leslie was right. Molly had to find proof, short of a confession, which she highly doubted would be forthcoming. She had to set a trap. Unfortunately, Molly would be the bait. She was suddenly struck with inspiration.

  “I have the evidence to prove who raped my mother.”

  Randy and Leslie turned to look at her.

  “I am the evidence. My DNA will prove who my father is.”

  Randy shook his head. “You’ll never get a judge to sign an order for DNA comparison. You don’t have enough probable cause for a subpoena.”

  Molly chuckled. “There are advantages to being in a small town. Everybody eats or drinks coffee in one place.”

  Leslie said with Molly, simultaneously, “Pop’s.”

  #

  Molly showered the mud away when they arrived at the house, changed clothes, and was now elbow-deep in crustaceans. Danny hung around in the kitchen, while Molly and Tammy prepared the fifteen pounds of fresh caught Pamlico Sound shrimp. Gray was going to get a big hug from Molly the next time she saw her. Gray packaged and arranged the shipment of Leslie’s favorite food without a hitch. Seafood did not come much fresher, unless you were eating on the dock. Molly left the details to Gray and Lizbeth and it worked out fine. She could get used to letting people help her.

  Molly sent everyone else, including Agent Trainer, to the family room to watch basketball. Agent James Trainer was with Danny for a specific reason. He was the surveillance expert for the BAU team, assigned to track Molly’s movements. Molly discovered this when she asked Danny how he knew where she was.

  “Have you left Rainey alone with your phone?” Danny asked, smiling.

  Molly laughed. “She’s tracking me, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, and now so are we. This mess you’re in, it’s linked to our case. If we can solve your murder, then we can connect the dots. I was coming to see you unannounced, because I don’t know what I’m dealing with. I decided to hand deliver my affidavit and surprise you. Glad I did.”

  “Thank you. I was about to be patted down by that jackass, and I’m sure it would not have been pleasant.”

  Molly reached for the Old Bay Seasoning to pour in the boiling water. She was not much of a cook, but shrimp was fairly simple. Tammy was handling the salad and the cocktail sauce. Danny talked while Molly dropped handfuls of shrimp into the large steaming pot.

  “Rainey filled me in on your situation,” he made sure she was looking at him, and continued, “I know everything you told her and everything she told you, just so you know. I need you to fill me in, tell me everything, no matter how minute. You are obviously close to somet
hing, or you wouldn’t have been fired on and had the house fire bombed.”

  “You have been keeping tabs on me,” Molly said, dropping the last of the shrimp in the pot.

  Danny snatched a cucumber slice from the salad. “Not much goes on around here now that I don’t know.”

  Leslie walked into the kitchen. “That smells so good. Do you need any help?”

  Molly looked at Danny. “We’ll talk after we eat. Right now, I have a promised dinner to serve.”

  Leslie crossed to the stove and peeked into the shrimp pot. “Is this my dinner date?”

  Danny must have recognized the situation. He offered to help Tammy prepare the table, leaving the two of them alone.

  Molly answered Leslie’s question. “It’s the closest thing I could come to a date, with all that’s going on.”

  Leslie kissed her on the cheek, and teased, “I can’t believe you had fresh shrimp delivered. You must think you’re going to get lucky, after this.”

  Molly winked, a half-cocky grin on her face. “That depends on your perspective. Perhaps it is you that will get lucky.”

  Randy had been standing there for a while, evidenced by his comment. “I’m glad someone’s getting lucky. You can cut the sexual tension with a knife.”

  Leslie looked at him, but spoke to Molly. “Is he always so observant and omnipresent?”

  Molly nodded. “Yep, pretty much.”

  #

  Dinner went well. Molly was pleased with the results. Everyone was stuffed with steamed shrimp and Leslie thanked her repeatedly. It appeared that Molly was indeed going to get lucky, judging by the looks she kept catching from Leslie out of the corner of her eye. After cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, Molly spent an hour alone with Danny and James in the family room, while the others played cards at the dining table. Molly told Danny everything she knew, leaving out no detail, including her involvement in the death of Evan Branch. Danny looked at the key, took pictures, and had James scan it into his computer. There was not much he could tell her about the key, but he would check with Quantico, and he wanted a record of its existence. Molly went over her plans with him. When she finished, Danny agreed that drawing out the man in control was going to take bait, and Molly was it.

  “The connection to your case is remote, but it’s there. The men you suspect do not fit the profile of the unknown suspect we’re looking for in the serial case, but he may have learned this pack mentality from this older group of men. He’s younger and I’d say much less in control of his need to kill than the other members of his pack. He’s a lone wolf now. He’s dangerous to his friends and foes, alike.”

  Molly could think of only one person that fit that profile. “It could be my half-brother. He’s twenty-nine, and seems immature. I know he’s my uncle’s flunky. His name is Evan Clark Branch, but they call him Stick.”

  James laughed. “Stick Branch? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No, I’m afraid I’m not.” Molly stood, concluding with, “I’m proceeding with the motions and the exhumation request on Monday. I will present the key at the bank as soon as they open. I’m also going to pick up a DNA test kit at the pharmacy downtown,” she grinned, “very publicly. I think things are going to heat up shortly after that.”

  Danny stood and shook her hand. “Molly, I don’t like the idea of you doing this without backup. James will be here first thing Monday morning. He’ll shadow you.” Molly started to argue, but he put up his hand. “Trust me, no one will know he’s there.”

  Molly looked at James, who grinned and said, “I’m like the wind, there but unseen.”

  “He’s good, Molly. You probably won’t notice him at all, but until Monday, you will have a tail, an obvious one. I don’t need someone making a move until we’re ready. Understood?”

  Molly knew he was right. Her life was not the only one on the line here. Everyone in that house was in danger, as long as Molly was near. “Yes, I understand and thank you. It might be nice to have a set of eyes on my back for a while.”

  Danny smiled down at her. “Just relax tomorrow. You could probably use the break.”

  Molly walked him to the door, saying, “No truer words have been spoken. A break is definitely on the agenda.”

  Molly did not say she was ready to get on with that agenda and that it included the lovely dark-haired woman in the other room. She walked Danny and James out to their car. He pointed out the dark SUV parked on the street. Molly was already under surveillance. Tonight, the FBI would watch over them. They could rest easy and Molly could finally spend time with Leslie that did not involve the case or Molly’s past. Randy had been correct in his assessment. The sexual tension had reached a breaking point. Something had to give, and as Molly reentered the dining room, with Leslie smiling up at her, she knew it would be her.

  #

  The card game went on for another hour. Molly observed, but did not play. She spent the time listening to Leslie’s laughter, watching her interact with her friends. Leslie had a calmness about her, an ease of existence, as if she had not a care in the world. Molly knew that was not true, but Leslie was able to unwind and enjoy the moment. Molly seldom did that. She was feeling more comfortable knowing the FBI was outside. When she told the others, they visibly relaxed. Now, if she could just get Leslie alone, all would be right with the world, at least for a few hours. Randy appeared to read her mind.

  He yawned loudly, and said, “I’m exhausted. I think last night is catching up with me.”

  His head nod to Tammy, in Molly and Leslie’s direction, did not go unnoticed. He was not being very subtle. Tammy took the hint, following his yawn with one of her own.

  “Oh goodness, I’m tired too.” She turned to the clueless Brad, who was still adding up the points. “Come on, handsome. Take me to bed.”

  Brad looked up, surprised. “Are we done? I was about to make my comeback.”

  Molly could not see Tammy’s face, but her facial expression must have told Brad what was up. He looked over at Molly and Leslie, smiled, and dropped his cards.

  “Yeah, I’m tired too. I have an early shift tomorrow. Good night, folks.”

  Good nights exchanged, the others vacated the room, leaving Molly and Leslie alone. Molly was searching for something to say. She never had trouble in the past, asking a woman to bed, but her heart was pounding, and she was afraid she would stumble or say something wrong. She felt like a teenage girl, unsure, groping for words. Molly found this all amusing, at first silently, and then she burst out laughing.

  Leslie started laughing, too, though she did not know what Molly found so funny. She managed to ask, “What are you laughing about?”

  Molly gathered her breath, replying, “I have never been so nervous around a woman in my life. I seem to have lost any swagger I may have had, and I have no idea what to say to you.”

  Leslie’s laughter quieted. Her expression changed from amusement to longing in a flash. She stood up, extended a hand to Molly, and took her breath away.

  “How about asking me to come to bed with you?”

  #

  Molly shut and locked the bedroom door, watching Leslie by the bay window. The small desk lamp cast the only light in the room. Leslie was half in shadow and quiet, after leading Molly up the stairs. Molly was wondering if she had changed her mind, when Leslie turned and smiled at her. Leslie was shy now, and it just made Molly want her more. Molly recovered some of the charm she misplaced earlier. She crossed the room quickly, taking Leslie into her arms. She fixed her eyes on Leslie’s. No words were needed when Molly leaned in to Leslie’s lips, but she whispered them anyway.

  “I’m falling in love with you.”

  Leslie swallowed Molly’s words with a deep, slow kiss. The trembling and weak knees returned to Molly. She could barely stand. Molly felt other women tremble at her touch, but no one ever took her breath like this. She pulled Leslie tighter into her body, hanging on for dear life, but when Leslie’s hand slid under her shirt in the small o
f her back, Molly could not control the moan that escaped her chest. She started moving Leslie toward the bed, afraid her legs were going to fail her.

  Leslie sensed Molly’s dilemma. She pulled her lips away and whispered, “Fall into me, Molly. I’ll catch you.”

  Molly had been waiting her whole life to fall into these arms, to find someone she could trust with her heart. She did not think it was possible, but the moment had come and she realized it was here.

  Molly stared into Leslie’s deep blue eyes and replied, “You already caught me.”

  Leslie slid her hand further up Molly’s back, her fingers gliding over Molly’s bare skin. Desire took over. Molly wanted to feel Leslie’s naked body against her and proceeded to make that happen. She moved her hands beneath the bottom of Leslie’s tee shirt, sliding them up the taut muscles at her sides, pulling the tee shirt with her. Leslie raised her arms and Molly removed the shirt. With practiced skill the sports bra went next, revealing Leslie’s perfectly sculpted body for the first time.

  “You’re beautiful,” rushed out of Molly’s mouth in a hushed whisper.

  Leslie wasted no time removing Molly’s shirt, taking her sports bra with it in one smooth move. She had evidently practiced, too. She smiled into Molly’s eyes and said, “So are you,” then pressed her bare chest to Molly’s and kissed her with more hunger than before.

  Mutual moans slipped into their kiss and the pace quickened. They tore at each other’s jeans, finally managing to wiggle out of them, and tumbled into the bed. The first time Molly laid the length of her body against Leslie, a voice in her head said, “Home.” This was it, the home she never had, a safe place she could lay her head, the place she never wanted to leave. Molly’s walls were crashing down as she whispered Leslie’s name.

  Leslie was deceptively strong. She rolled Molly underneath her and took control. Molly did not resist. No previous lover of hers would have believed it. Molly ran the show, unable to relinquish power over her to anyone, even during the most intimate moments. Leslie gave her no choice. When her lips left Molly’s and started exploring her neck, her breasts, moving down her body, Molly realized the beauty of just letting go. Her cry of “Oh God, Leslie,” accompanied a soul-shaking climax Molly had never known before. Sex was one thing, and she always enjoyed it, but Molly discovered in that moment that making love with someone she was in love with was a much more fulfilling experience. The closest she had been to that was Stephanie, but that did not compare.