Trapping the Gazelle

Chapter 18

"Kiera," Melissa said standing at the front door of Kiera's cottage, "Thank you so much for seeing me on short notice."

"Of course Melissa," Kiera said as she hugged her, "Anything for a friend. Please come in. out of the cold." Kiera noticed light snowflakes falling from the dark cloud.

Kiera stopped hugging Melissa and stood to the side to let her in. Kiera noticed the bodyguard standing by a dark sedan. Kiera saw Melissa look over her shoulder and nod towards the bodyguard. The bodyguard's face tensed, and then he opened the car door and slipped into the driver seat, closing the door.

"Your bodyguard does not look happy." Kiera noted as Melissa walked into the cottage.

"He is not happy." Melissa retorted with a huff as she removed her coat and shook snowflakes out of her raven colored hair, "He feels that he needs to be always by my side."

"I guess that is what you pay him to do." Kiera suggested, but watched her friend for any kind of reaction to this comment.

Melissa looked around the cottage unconcerned by the question. Kiera noticed how relaxed the woman looked as she looked at some of the pictures on the walls.

"Would you like to talk in my office or here in the living room?" Kiera asked breaking the silence.

"Your office would be a better place to discuss my findings and issues." Melissa said still looking at the pictures. Kiera did notice that Melissa clenched and unclenched her hands as if she did not know what to do with them. "Is Ryan home?" Melissa added turning to face Kiera.

"No, he is out inspecting some hospitals in the area for future investments." Kiera lied. Kiera really knew that Ryan was really out trying to find out more information about Doctor Hakim.

"It sounds as if he is a busy man." Melissa asked in a nonchalant voice, but Kiera did pick up a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"He is quite busy." Kiera answered, "Care to follow me into the office."

Melissa nodded and followed Kiera. Kiera led her into the office and she sat down on the couch. Melissa sat down on the couch next to her.

Kiera swallowed as Melissa sat next to her, "So you have results from the MRI scan?" Kiera asked.

"Preliminary results," Melissa answered, "I have not had time to complete a full study of the scan, but my assistant is helping out, since I'm at the conference in London this week."

Kiera noticed Melissa drumming her fingers on her skirt nervously as she spoke.

'What is she nervous about? The conference or what she has to tell me?' Kiera thought.

"Is it a big conference in London?" Kiera added.

"I guess so," Melissa shrugged, "A lot of old men trying to tell me what is important." Kiera saw Melissa roll her eyes in exasperation. "Anyways from the preliminary results it does appear that the virus entered through that cut on her index finger." Melissa reached out and lightly touched Kiera's right index finger.

Kiera noticed how Melissa finger slowly trailed down her index finger. The touch caused Kiera to shiver slightly from the soft contact.

"I guess that confirms my theory then." Kiera said trying to maintain control of her voice. Kiera then thought about the text she had sent to Kate, asking if she could find a copy of the video.

'That was at least four days ago.' Kiera thought, 'It is odd that she has not responded back yet.' Kiera made a mental note to call her.

"That is where we are right now." Melissa said quickly and then looked around room. "We also noticed that it has infiltrated your body, but has slowed down its advance."

Kiera wanted to ask more about the result, but saw her friend avoiding eye contact with her. Kiera sighed and then spoke, "Melissa we could keep up with this small talk all day, but I know something is troubling you and you want to talk to me about something."

Kiera saw her friend shake her head and smile slightly, "You were always good at getting straight to the point."

"Please tell me what is bothering you Melissa and I know that the discovery of a new virus would excite you more than make you feel unease." Kiera said with a small smile.

Melissa took a deep breath and spoke, "You know my husband died a while back."

"Yes you mention that on the phone, would you like to talk about his death?" Kiera probed laying her hand gently on Melissa to calm her down.

"I have recently received new information about his death." Melissa said letting the last words hang in the air.

"And you want to tell me about the information," Kiera added, "I'm assuming." Kiera felt Melissa place her other hand on top of Kiera's hand.

"Our summer home, located outside of Rome burned down last year around the spring." Melissa began, "At first it was ruled an accident by the local authorities, but I knew they were hiding something from me."

Kiera listened as Melissa spoke, but something caught her attention, 'Did she say on the outskirts of Rome?' Kiera thought, 'It has to be a coincident.'

"You have reason to believe that this was no accident?" Kiera inquired.

"Exactly," Melissa answered angrily, "I hired a special team to investigate the supposed accident and you know what they found." Melissa said through gritted teeth as she held onto Kiera's hand.

Kiera watched Melissa carefully. Melissa was indeed angry. Her brow creased together, she leaned forward in a threating posture and her voice shook with fury. Kiera felt as if anger was directed towards her.

'Why would she be angry at me?' Kiera thought leaning away from Melissa involuntarily and saw Melissa trying to recover her composure.

"Sorry I'm not angry at you Kiera." Melissa said with a deep sigh.

"Then who are you angry at?" Kiera asked trying to relax her shoulders, which had tensed up from the confrontation.

"I'm angry at the local authorities who are covering up my husband's death." Melissa answered, "The fire was deliberately set by someone."

"Okay, what do you mean by deliberately set?" Kiera probed deeper.

"The investigators I hired discovered that the fire was set in the boiler room, which was consistent with the fire department investigation report."

Kiera felt confused, "Well couldn't it have been an accident. Boiler room fires can be common." Kiera asked, but knew by Melissa look and how her hand tightened around hers. There was more to this story.

"That is where the two reports differ." Melissa explained, "The people I hired, discovered explosive residue in the boiler room similar to plastic explosives." Kiera saw how Melissa struggled to remember what the report said, but Kiera knew it was an act. Melissa knew what she was going to say. She always knew what to say.

Kiera saw that Melissa waited to let this sink in. Kiera had the strange feeling that Melissa was trying to connect Kiera to this event somehow. She saw how Melissa stared at her, wanting an answer. Kiera felt cold fear travel down her spine.

'Is Melissa somehow involved with the murders?' Kiera thought, 'That is impossible, she is a high profile person.'

"You think that the local police and fire department are covering up something, because their own fire investigators would have discovered the same thing." Kiera asked slowly reading the look of suspicion on Melissa face.

Kiera felt uneasy, "I don't know if you ever gave me your husband's name." Kiera said a bit too quickly as she tried to change the subject, "It could not have been a Victor by chance?" Kiera tried to stop saying the name, but it was too late.

Kiera observed Melissa staring at her intensely. Melissa eyes widened for a fraction of second. Kiera knew it was surprise or shock. It could be at the mention of the name, which suggested she heard the name before or knew him. On the other hand, it could be that Melissa felt confused by why Kiera would ask such a thing. Kiera waited to see how Melissa would respond.

"Why would you say that name?" Melissa feinted indifference towards the name, but Kiera knew she hid something by the way she feinted indifference.

'She does know that name, but it could mean anything.' Kiera thought feeling a bit frustrated. Melissa was good at covering up her emotions.

"I heard about the name in the news earlier this year." Kiera shrugged, and tried to come up with something, "A Victor died in a house explosion earlier this year on the outskirts of Rome. It was on CNN."

"I heard about that fire too." Melissa replied shortly.

"So I thought maybe it was this Victor person." Kiera said trying to give a reassuring smile.

"Well I will tell you something Kiera." Melissa replied then paused and Kiera held her breath, "I would never in a million years marry a man named Victor." Kiera saw and heard disgust in her voice and on her face.

Kiera noticed Melissa looking away for a brief second, 'What is she hiding from me?' Kiera thought.

"Do you know what his nickname would be?" Melissa asked as her voice grew an octave and she answered her own question. "It would be Vic. That is a horrible name."

"I'm sorry Melissa..." Kiera said, playing it off, as she did not know what to say, "I did not know names were important to you."

"Names are very important to me Kiera." Melissa retorted, "You know how much a names mean to me and how society views those names." Melissa challenged Kiera as she leaned closer to Kiera.

"So what was your husband's name?" Kiera asked making her voice sound timid as she leaned away from Melissa.

"It was Demetrius." Melissa said and Kiera noticed how she gave Kiera a challenging look.

"I see what you mean by names." Kiera said lightly trying to disarm the tension in the air, "I believe that was the name of a king, but isn't that a Slavic name." Kiera smiled and chuckled a bit.

"Damn you Kiera," Melissa growled, but Kiera also noticed her smile a bit, "First of all it is Greek names and how Slavic." Melissa huffed and continued not waiting for Kiera to answer. "I come her for your advice and I'm treated with suspicion."

"Melissa I'm sor..." Kiera tried to say, but Melissa cut her off.

Melissa leaned in close to Kiera and Kiera leaned back falling over onto the couch as Melissa fell on top of her. Melissa gripped her wrist, pinning them over Kiera's head with one hand, and kissed her. Kiera's eyes when wide with shock and she tried to push Melissa off, but Melissa used her body to pin Kiera to the couch.

Kiera moaned involuntarily as Melissa tongue parted her lips. Kiera felt her body responding to the kiss. She pressed herself against Melissa and spread her legs slightly as she felt Melissa's soft hand run up her inner thigh. The feeling brought back memories from for earlier days.

'What is she up too?' Kiera thought.

Kiera gasped as Melissa finger pressed against her sensitive spot between her legs. Melissa kept kissing Kiera feverously as she rubbed Kiera through her cotton underwear. She then felt Melissa move her hand up to the waistband and slowly slide her hand into her panties. Kiera moaned louder and thrust her hips upward as Melissa soft fingers parted her lips. Suddenly Kiera heard something from outside the door.

"Hey Lucy, I'm home!" Kiera heard Ryan yell out.

Kiera moaned again as Melissa pressed her finger lightly against her sensitive spot.

"Hey Kiera are you home?" She heard Ryan call out, "There is a dark sedan outside of our house."

Melissa seemed to sense that Kiera was close. She rubbed her finger against the spot faster. Kiera panted and closed her eyes. Her body trembled and she tried to stifle the climax as her body tensed. The climax rocked through her entire body and she clenched her hands into fist. Finally, Kiera slumped against the couch and Melissa stopped kissing her. Kiera watched as Melissa pulled her fingers out from between her legs and licked and sucked on her finger slowly.

"You always did taste good." Melissa said huskily as she licked her lips. Kiera bit her lower lip trying to catch her breath.

Suddenly there was a knock on the office door, "Hey Kiera, are you in your office?" Kiera heard a slightly concerned tone in his voice.

"You better answer him before he sees us like this." Melissa smirked.

"Yes, Ryan." Kiera answered trying to control the tremble in her voice. "I'm with Melissa right now."

"Okay," Ryan said, but his voice sound hesitant, "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," said Kiera, "I'm a bit hungry, and can you make us some lunch?"

"Okay." Kiera still heard hesitation in his voice. "Will Melissa be joining us for lunch?"

"No thank you Ryan," Melissa purred, "I have other matters to attend to, but thank you." Kiera noticed that Melissa stared at Kiera with hungry eyes.

"Okay," Ryan said, "I will prepare something for us." Then Kiera heard Ryan walking away and whistling a light tune.

"What the hell do you think you were doing Melissa?" Kiera said feeling her face flush with pleasure and embarrassment.

"You were too much to take,"Melissa replied as she let go of Kiera's wrist and stood up, "The memory of those college days were too much to handle."

Kiera blew a lock of hair out of her face and sighed. She watched Melissa carefully. She noticed the calculated look on her face as Melissa took out a compact from her purse and fixed her lipstick. Kiera knew that Melissa had deliberately done this to cover up something.

'What are you planning Melissa?' Kiera thought as she sat up and smoothed out her skirt.

Kiera knew Melissa always thought two steps ahead of everyone else. She was a smart woman, who planned everything. If something did not fit into the plan. Melissa would abandon the plan. Kiera knew that she was the only failed attempt for her plans to have Kiera for her own or at least Kiera thought so.

Kiera remembered how lost she felt when she transferred to the University of California from Oxford. Lonely and heartbroken, Kiera attended each class in a daze and then back to her dorm room to cry in her bed. Her parents wanted her to stay at the ranch, but Kiera wanted to be independent. Then one day, in the beginning of her final year. Kiera came back to her dorm room to find a raven haired, jade green-eyed woman sitting at her desk.

"Who are you and why are you in my room?" Kiera asked in uncaring voice.

The woman jumped up and smiled brightly, "I'm Melissa Cohen," The woman introduced herself in a bubbly personality, "I'm a transfer student from Israeli, how do you do Kiera?"

Kiera rolled her eyes, dropped her books on the ground and laid down on her bed. She pulled the blankets around her and ignored the woman. To Kiera's surprise, the woman would not give up on her. Melissa would constantly talk to her, even when Kiera did not want to listen.

On one night particular, Kiera read a psychology book in bed. When she heard, the dorm room door open then slam shut. Kiera looked up from her book to see Melissa leaning against the door breathing hard. Kiera sighed and looked back at her book.

"What are you reading, Kiera." Kiera heard Melissa say in a slurred voice and Kiera smelled alcohol on the woman's breath.

"Are you drunk?" Kiera said in a shocked voice.

"Well look who decided to talk." Melissa said in a haughty voice, "Miss high and mightily."

"Leave me alone." Kiera said in a deep Scottish accent as anger flared through her. Kiera put her face deeper into the book.

"Well I need someone to help me finish this bottle." Melissa said and Kiera felt the bottle tap against her book.

"Finish it your damn self." Kiera growled and threw the book on the ground.

"Ooh look who is getting all emotional. Is it your time of the month?" Melissa laughed then burped.

Kiera opened her mouth to retort, but then closed it. In spite of her dark mood, Kiera started to giggle and before she knew it, they were both laughing. Kiera held out her hand for the bottle and Melissa still laughing handed it over. Kiera took a long pull from the bottle and coughed a bit as the whiskey burned her throat. The whiskey numbed her and suddenly all the heartache and pain melted away.

Throughout that Friday night, Kiera talked about everything that had happened. At first, it was small talk, but as she drank more, the floodgates opened up and she told Melissa everything that happened. She talked about coming to California from Scotland against her will. How she missed the rolling hills of her beloved land. Kiera then talked about Ryan. How they met and when they first made love in her bedroom.

Thinking back to that time, she remembered Melissa not talking much, but just listening as Kiera drank more. The one thing she remembered clearly was waking up in a daze the next morning with a pounding headache. As she opened her eyes, she stated for a moment in confusion. Suddenly her eyes flew open wide and she sat up straight in bed with her hand going to her mouth.

Melissa was lying next to her in her bed. The shocking part was that they were both naked. Kiera head had been lying on Melissa's large breast thinking it was a pillow. Melissa opened her eyes slowly and smiled. Kiera scrabbled out of bed, stumbling and mouth moving, but no words came out.

"Well good morning to you too." Melissa said with a mischievous smile.

"What...what just happened?" Kiera asked, "Did we...no...did we?" Kiera rubbed her temples trying to sort out last night, but everything was a blur.

"Oh yes we did." Melissa replied stretching, "And you were quite a wild one." She laughed.

"Oh god," Kiera sighed sitting down on the bed, "I can't believe I did this."

"Kiera," Melissa said rolling her eyes and wrapping her arms around Kiera. Kiera felt Melissa large breast pressing up against her back. "You needed it badly." Melissa breathed into her ear.

Kiera remembered stiffening at the contact, but then relaxing as Melissa gently bit the nape of her neck and licked her earlobe.

"See it is not that bad." Melissa soothed as her hands caressed Kiera's n*****s.

"It is just that I have never done this before." Kiera sighed and closed her eyes enjoying the gentle kissed on her neck.

"Either have I," Melissa added and Kiera turned her head to look at Melissa.

Kiera knew by the tone of her voice and the sincere expression on her face. That Melissa was telling her the truth as least Kiera thought she was at the time. Many other times throughout the school year, they enjoyed each other's company. Melissa wanted Kiera to move in with her after college and they could work together. Unfortunately, things did not work out in Melissa's favor. Kiera graduated a year early and the CIA recruited her. Before she knew it, She was in CIA training camp and heading to her first duty station in Chicago.

A knock on the door brought Kiera back to the present. She looked around quickly and saw Melissa still fixing her makeup, but she also watched Kiera. Kiera stood quickly and straightened her skirt and blouse. She ran her fingers through her hair trying to fix it. She heard the knock again.

"Is it alright if I come in now?" Ryan asked from the other side of the door.

"Yes Ryan we are finished for today." Kiera said giving Melissa a stern look.