by Donna Raider
“So, while mitochondrial DNA can be traced back to the beginning, male DNA can only be traced back one generation. And I thought heart surgery was complicated.” Jennifer laughed as she kissed Sara.
##
Latimore Cruzar checked out the room he had rented directly across from the Catholic church. He set up the stand for his rifle and looked out the window at the church’s massive oak doors. It would be easy to shoot Priest Mika Cross as she exited the church. He smiled as he thought about destroying the priest’s perfect little world. Maybe he would console the widow later. Cruzar grinned salaciously as he thought of holding Leah Cross in his arms.
He would fly out of New York after killing the priest then return in early October when the Pope arrived.
He sat up his rifle and sighted it for his shot. He was using the most destructive bullets on the market. When it entered the priest’s pretty face, it would explode, virtually ripping her head from her shoulders. He knew the wedding was at two tomorrow. He looked at his watch after he completed all the arrangements for his kill. His phone rang. He smiled when he saw it was Sean.
“Got time for dinner?” Sean asked. “A little celebration before you leave town. My treat.”
“Sure.” Lat laughed. “Where?”
“Why don’t I pick you up at your place in an hour?” Sean suggested. “I have planned something special for your last night in town.”
“Great, see you in an hour.” Lat grinned into the phone.
Sean showed up in a fancy car with two beautiful women. “One for each of us.” He grinned at his friend as he introduced the women. “Take your pick. I will take the other.”
Sean knew Lat preferred blondes and was not surprised when he quickly slid into the back seat with Candy. Sean smiled at Lisa as he pulled the car away from the curb.
Sometime around midnight, the four of them returned to Lat’s apartment. Lat was totally wasted. Sean had dropped four Rohypnol into his drink earlier. He was leaning heavily on Candy as they rode the elevator up to his apartment. The blonde dumped the man onto his sofa and followed Sean into the hallway, handing him her black bra and panties. Sean paid both girls and thanked them for a wonderful evening.
“All we did was eat and dance.” Lisa frowned. “This is a lot of money for you showing us a good time.”
“I’m sorry my friend couldn’t hold his liquor. You both were wonderful.” Sean smiled as he closed the door and locked it.
Lat was dead to the world, but just to make certain the man slept for several more hours, Watcher injected him with a heavy dose of morphine. This should knock him out for the next two days. Watcher was tempted to kill Lat right then, but knew if he did, a new killer would be sent in his place to kill the Pope. He preferred the devil he knew. He put Lat’s fingerprints on several .338 Lapua Magnum bullets. A plan was formulating in Watcher’s mind. It just wasn’t quite complete.
Just to set the stage, Watcher removed all of Lat’s clothes. He fastened a black bra around Lat’s neck and wrapped a pair of black panties around his hand. He stripped the covers from Lat’s bed then tossed them back onto the bed in a heap. He sloshed a can of beer onto Lat’s clothes and dribbled whiskey over the man. He emptied every liquor bottle from Lat’s bar into the sink and washed the liquid down the drain. He did the same with the beer in his refrigerator. He scattered the empty bottles and cans all over Lat’s apartment. It looked like a frat party gone bad.
##
Mika was lying on her back. Leah was on her side, facing Mika. Mika turned her head to find chocolate eyes staring into hers. “Good morning.” Leah brushed her lips lightly with Mika’s. “Today we become in-laws.” Leah raised her eyebrows.
“Yes.” Mika grinned. “You are about to become the dreaded mother-in-law. You know, some say a mother-in-law is scarier than an evil queen.” Mika firmly ran her hand down Leah’s leg that was thrown over her abdomen.
Leah chuckled softly as she stretched, pressing her body hard against Mika’s. “What do you think?”
“I think this one is equally scary and desirable.” Mika moaned as Leah eased on top of her.
Later, Mika watched Leah dress. She was exquisite. Everything about her was perfect. She had selected an elegant burgundy dress that complemented her raven hair. The neckline was higher than usual, with a straight line across her chest. A single strand of pearls with matching earrings completed the look.
“You are breathtaking.” Mika exhaled softly as she watched Leah slip on her high heels.
The elevator dinged and delivered her beautiful children into their living room. All the males wore white tuxedos. They all fit perfectly, caressing their broad shoulders and tapering down to their narrow hips. They looked like a gathering of angels.
The older girls all wore strapless, floor-length, chiffon sheath column dresses. The younger girls wore knee-length chiffon A-line V-neck sleeveless dresses.
All the dresses were a pale lavender color.
Leah inspected each one of her children. They were perfect. In her heart, she knew there had never been a gathering of such beautiful children. She smiled at Mika, silently thanking her for these wonderful offspring.
Amber wore a gorgeous, fitted white silk dress that hugged her body then flared out below her knees into a beautiful train. Her flaxen blonde hair curled around her lovely neck and shoulders. Adam liked her hair down.
Sara had opted for a similar white wedding dress. Her thick blonde hair was parted in the middle and pulled into a chignon. Blonde tendrils fell in loose curls on each side of her face. She was glamorously beautiful.
Two limousines transported them to the church where Jennifer and Adam were waiting.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Latimore Cruzar heard a clanging in the distance. It felt as if someone was beating a bucket inside his head with a giant sledgehammer. He tried to sit up, but the effort sent excruciating pain through his skull. He fell back and lay still, trying to stop the noise. After several minutes, he realized the clanging was his alarm clock. Why had he set his alarm clock? He never used it unless he had an important engagement.
“An important engagement!” He jerked upright, almost blowing the top off his head. He sat still, trying to ease the pain. Every fiber in his body wanted to lie back down.
He looked at his chest. Something was on it, a bra. It took him several seconds to realize it was hanging around his neck. He squinted at something hanging from his arm, a pair of women’s panties. The clanging continued. Struggling to stand, he pulled himself toward the alarm clock, leaning heavily on his furniture to keep from falling.
He slapped his hand on the alarm button and silenced the offensive noise. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs. It only resulted in more pain and near blindness. He stood, reeling from the effort to move.
Very slowly, he inched along the wall to his bathroom. He looked into his mirror, expecting to find his head in halves. He was surprised that he had no injuries. He felt as if he had been hit by a truck.
He filled his sink with cold water and drank from it. His mouth was dry, and his throat was painful from the parched feeling. After drinking like a dog, he shoved his face under water, letting the coolness soothe him. When he finally raised his head, he inhaled deeply, causing the pain to return and threaten to spew from his ears. He wanted to shake his head again, but remembered the agony that motion had caused earlier.
Blinking his eyes seemed to be the least painful motion he would make. He stood for a long time, letting the water drip from his face. He thought about getting into the shower and letting the hot steam wash away whatever this was.
He vaguely remembered beautiful women and Sean. Still staying close to the wall, Lat moved to his bed. Only then did he realize he was naked. One look at his bed told him he’d had a good time. He slowly lowered himself to his bed. Why did I set the alarm for noon? he wondered.
He looked around for some reminder of last night. The last thing he remembered was dancing with Candy. It had been
more like groping Candy. She hadn’t seemed to mind. I guess she was agreeable to a little time in my bed too, he thought.
His eyes fell on a napkin with a date written on it. “May first, a good day to die” was written in his handwriting on the napkin. A good day to die.
He closed his eyes and tried to drive the pain into the darkness. He finally stumbled back to his medicine cabinet and took four ibuprofens with a large glass of water. He started the coffee pot. It was one o’clock.
Lat dressed, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. He poured a cup of the strong, black liquid and blew on it to cool it enough to drink. After finishing the second cup, the hammers that threatened to split open his head had diminished to dull taps.
He sat at the table, his head resting in his hands. He had never had a hangover like this. He wondered what they had drunk the night before. He toyed with the napkin, turning it in a circle on the table. A good day to die. He wondered if someone was supposed to die today.
A good day to die. He ran the phrase through his mind. Priest Mika Cross. The name screamed at him from somewhere in the depths of his throbbing brain. Priest Mika Cross. He was supposed to kill Priest Mika Cross today.
He stood up abruptly and paid dearly for it, as his head threatened to leave his body. He steadied himself until the convulsion of misery subsided.
Unsteadily, he made his way to the street and hailed a taxi. He had the cab let him off a block away from the church. Even though his head was screaming in torment, he ran to the apartment where his gun was waiting.
Watcher saw the glint of the sun off the barrel of the gun as Lat settled in to take his kill shot. For a brief second, panic shot through Watcher. He had failed. He had failed to protect Priest Mika Cross.
Mika was the last in the entourage leaving the church. Watcher grabbed her arm before she reached the door. “You are in grave danger,” Watcher hissed as he nodded across the street.
The priest strained her eyes to see outside the church. Across the street, she saw the same glint of steel Watcher had seen. “My family,” she cried, trying to wrest her arm from the strong grip of the stranger.
“They are in no danger. It is you they want dead.” Watcher pulled the priest deeper into the church. “Go out the back. Don’t show your face in front of the church.”
“W-Who? W-Why?” Mika stammered. When she turned to the stranger for answers, the man with the slight English accent was gone.
“There you are, darling.” Leah walked toward her. “Everyone is going to the reception.”
Mika caught Leah and turned her around so she could see the sun glinting off the gun barrel. “Someone wants me dead,” Mika whispered into her ear. “I don’t know who.” Mika felt Leah stiffen in her arms. “You go with the children. Don’t try to confront the sniper. I will be at the reception when you get there. I don’t want to ruin the children’s wedding day.”
“Mika, I…”
Mika was gone. Leah hurriedly joined her children in the car, and they headed for the reception.
Leah silently cursed Rose Jordon, certain the foolish woman had given out information about her family and the wedding.
##
“Ahh,” Lat cried out involuntarily as the ringing of his cell phone split through his head. He turned it off and concentrated on his kill.
He waited an hour after everyone had departed from the church. Somehow, he had missed the departure of Priest Mika Cross. He had never in his life missed a kill. His brain started banging against his skull again. It was after three and his stomach was growling for something to eat. Maybe food will make this headache go away, he thought.
Lat packed up his rifle and turned on his cellphone. The call had been from Sean. He returned his friend’s call.
“Hey,” Sean answered pleasantly. “I was getting worried about you. I have been calling you. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” Lat answered. “I was just about to go for something to eat. Want to join me?”
“Great minds…” Sean laughed. “Our regular place?”
“Yes. I believe a greasy burger and fries is just what the doctor ordered. Give me an hour. Okay?” Latimore was glad Sean had called. The Irishman was his first and only friend.
“Perfect,” Sean agreed.
Latimore Cruzar crossed the street to the Catholic church. He tried the heavy oak doors. They were locked. The church was empty. “Where the hell is Priest Mika Cross?” Latimore said out loud.
##
The reception/dinner, held in the ballroom of the prestigious Cross Towers, went off without incident. Friends and relatives were happy for the couples. Father Darius danced with Sara and shyly told her he was very happy for her.
Both couples sneaked away to their room to change. Everyone wished the beautiful couples well as they entered the limousines and headed for their respective sailboats. Leah had helped each couple stock their boat with food and clothing they would need for their honeymoon. She was well versed in honeymooning on a sailboat.
##
Sean waited patiently for Cruzar. He sipped his beer as he calmed his pounding heart. He had almost skipped the wedding, confident that Lat would be dead to the world until midnight. Only his desire to see Rachel Cross made him sneak into the church hours before the ceremony.
He had given Lat enough drugs to keep a horse down for twenty-four hours. His heart had stopped when he first saw the glint of the sun on Lat’s moving rifle. He couldn’t believe the man had managed to get to his rifle in time to shoot Priest Mika.
“Sorry I’m late.” Lat grinned wearily.
“Man, you look like something that washed up on the beach and rotted all day in the sun.” Sean grimaced. “What did Candy do to you last night?”
“I am not sure.” Lat smiled. “Whatever she did, I was certain I was going to die this morning. We must have drunk everything in sight. My head is killing me.”
“I took the liberty of ordering our burgers and fries.” Sean smiled as the waitress placed their food and two more beers on the table.
“Thank you, nurse,” Lat addressed the waitress as he downed his beer.
“Easy, man.” Sean frowned. “The hair of the dog and all that.”
“What would I do without you?” Lat smiled at Sean as the waitress replaced his empty mug with a full one.
“Try to make that beer last more than thirty seconds.” Sean laughed as Lat attacked his burger with a vengeance. “Now, tell me about Candy. You two left us around eleven.”
“It was one hell of a night.” Lat wiggled his eyebrows, wishing he could remember it. “You know gentlemen don’t kiss and tell.”
“Yeah.” Sean laughed.
##
“I don’t like this one bit.” Leah paced the floor, fear and rage building within her. “Someone is trying to kill you?”
She had spent a sleepless night, clutching her wife protectively in her arms. She was angry, tired, and in a foul mood. She wanted to take some action but had no idea what action to take.
“Obviously it isn’t someone who knows anything about me,” Mika tried to ease her mind. “Or they would know they can’t kill me with a bullet.
“Honestly, darling, you’re the only one who knows how to kill me.” Mika smiled. Mika knew in her heart that they rarely spoke of how they could die.
“Who would want to kill you?” Leah almost snarled as she pondered her own question. “You are so wonderful. You do so much good. I just can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill you. You are goodness personified.”
“I am certain I have made enemies in the church.” Mika frowned. “You know not everyone agreed with my stand on celibacy.
“I know there was a lot of grumbling among the clergy about my daughter marrying a divorced woman. Of course, there are the thousands who would love to console my beautiful wife, should I die. It could have been any madman with a cause.
“Just as there are those who wish the Pope dead because he chooses to follow the Bible instead of
dictates put in place by men.”
Leah switched on their smart TV and pulled up a YouTube video. She glared at Mika. “Watch this, Mika,” she commanded.
The video was a promotion for a new bullet that was more a buzz saw than a bullet. They watched as the video showed the bullet hitting a large pumpkin. The pumpkin exploded, going into many different directions. Mika started to speak, but Leah held up her hand for silence.
Then she clicked on another video. This one demonstrated the lethality of a hollow-point bullet. The bullet was fired into a large watermelon. The ensuing explosion left only small fragments of the melon’s red meat lying on the stand where it had been sitting.
“Unless I am badly mistaken, darling,” Leah said with a glower, “either of those bullets could easily remove your beautiful head from your shoulders.”
Mika stared in silence. She wasn’t a connoisseur of guns and had no idea how lethal they had become. Mika swallowed hard, trying to get her vocal cords to work. For the first time she realized the true danger her family faced.
Mika sank onto the sofa beside Leah, her knees weak. Mika’s stomach was in a turmoil. She had never worried about death. She knew she would always prevail in hand-to-hand combat, but with these bullets, an unsuspecting victim would never know what hit them.
Mika knew that she would be dead if the stranger in the church hadn’t warned her of the danger. Mika stared at her wife in silence. Leah collapsed in Mika’s arms, deep soul-racking sobs coming from her throat as she clutched Mika to her.
“I can’t lose you,” Leah cried. “I can’t live without you. I wouldn’t want to live without you.”
“It’s okay, baby,” Mika consoled her. She gently stroked Leah’s hair and kissed the top of her head. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”
Mika spent the rest of the day in her office, on her knees. Her initial reaction was to take her family and run; run to another galaxy where they would be safe. Mika knew that was not what God wanted. As darkness slipped over the city, she emerged from her office. Leah was sitting on the sofa, her legs pulled up beside her. She was reading the Bible. Mika knew that she, too, was searching for solace.