You've all gone quite, hope that means you are still reading and enjoying. What are your current thoughts on the ring leader? Still got a way to go but I hope I get the balance of mystery vs romance right for you all.

Chapter 13

It was late by the time they got back to the bar; Molly was almost dead on her feet, yawning even as Sherlock ordered them both a nightcap. He still wanted to interrogate her about some of the details of the autopsy as he hadn't been there whilst she'd conducted it. He also told her about his run in with the local police.

'I'm fairly convinced that the Inspector is part of the cabal. He was very keen to shut things down, he even went as far as deleting the photographs of the symbols from the police cameras though I still have my own copies. He also made a call soon after he arrived and whilst I didn't hear what he said his actions told me he was conferring with someone who was telling him what to do, and I doubt that was another police officer. It would make sense to have someone fairly senior in the police involved.'

Molly just hummed in response as she sipped her Baileys and Sherlock looked down at her sitting next to him, his face softening. 'Come on, let's get you to bed. You've got about as much stamina as John.'

'Why, do you often wake him up first thing for sex?' Quipped Molly as she yawned once more.

'I used to but he rejected me once Mary came on the scene.' He laughed at Molly's stunned expression, 'joke Molly. You really are tired aren't you to fall for that one.'

He followed her up to what was now their room, Molly having pretty much abandoned her larger room apart from showering and storing her clothes.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep with her head on Sherlock's chest and his arm wrapped around her. He, meanwhile, lay in the dark listening to her breathing and thinking through the events of the last day or so. He was surprised by how natural it all felt with Molly, how easy the transition appeared to be from friends to lovers. She was already such a big part of his life that it now seemed madness that he hadn't tried this earlier.

He was getting more and more worried about this case though. There was clear evidence that whoever was running things had no qualms about killing someone, Rev. Tucker's death proved that. How far would they go to keep their secret hidden and what did this mean for Lily? He felt as though he were missing something obvious, as though he already knew the ring leader but hadn't recognised them for whatever reason. He needed to revisit the Bennett's, talk to Melissa again, after all that's where this had all started. Once that was settled he closed his eyes and let the sound of Molly's breathing lull him into sleep.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

The next morning it was very much Sherlock who awoke Molly. She came too to find him nuzzling her neck with one hand on her breast and his erection pressed into her backside. She hummed in approval as she stretched; taking the opportunity to press herself against his hardness hearing him groaning delightfully in response.

His hand left her breast momentarily until he slid it back into place but this time under her nightdress so he was touching her bare flesh. Molly felt heat flooding to her core and she ground herself back against him aching to feel his hand or more on her clit. He pinched on her nipple loving how responsive she was to him.

Gradually he turned her to him so he could lean in and capture her lips in a kiss. So what that they both had morning breath, he didn't give a damn, he just wanted her, needed her.

He could feel her pressing herself against him, squirming under him and it just made him feel even more turned on. His erection was pulsing and he knew he was rutting against her desperate for some kind of friction.

He could smell her arousal and it made his mouth water. He made quick work of removing her clothes and when she was lay naked in front of him, all shaded in greys in the early morning light he knelt between her open legs before bending to smell her more deeply.

As he licked and tasted her the first time he heard her groan and felt her hands thread into his hair pulling on his follicles in a way that made his head spin with desire. He had never before realised how sensitive his hair was. It took all his will power to stay where he was and continue his teasing rather than just take her for his own pleasure alone. He wanted her with him though, wanted her to derive as much enjoyment as he did.

It didn't take him long to deduce how she preferred oral sex, how she got more turned on by him entering her with his tongue. Within only a few short minutes he was rewarded with her first orgasm and her pulling on his hair and calling his name. By the time he entered her with his erection he knew he was already leaking and close to his own release. He hadn't realised until this moment how much he had missed sex and he had never known how good it could be when there was an emotional connection, and Molly was the right person for him, without a doubt.

As he pressed into her he could feel his body starting to let go, the relief at finally being able to relieve his aching need for her. She moved with him, her hands on his back and sliding down to his backside pulling him into her harder and further, telling him with every breath and sigh that she was with him and he wasn't hurting her. He could feel his need and his release starting to build driving him on making him thrust into her harder and deeper. She felt so tight and hot and wet, slick with desire for him. He knew she was close to a second orgasm and so he lifted her knee higher up until he could hit that spot inside her that he knew would cause her to unravel. And unravel she did, she cried out his name mixed with expletives which just took him over the edge with her. He could feel himself give a final deep thrust as his seed released inside her pulsing and rocking as he came down from the natural high.

He collapsed onto her knowing she could take his weight, knowing she relished it, feeling her hands aimlessly drawing patterns on his back as her feet locked over his backside.

It seemed to take them a while before they wanted to separate. Sherlock found a peace in her arms that he so rarely experienced. His mind felt calmer and clearer after sex which was a relief as he didn't want this to be a complication.

After one last slow, drawn out kiss he pulled away and they set about getting ready for the day ahead.

This time Molly showered alone but it was a much happier experience. She could barely keep the grin off her face as she washed her body and hair. She let her fingers slide over the love bite on her breast and the one on her hip biting her lip and reminding herself for the thousandth time that she was having sex, no not just sex, amazing sex with Sherlock Holmes and he wanted to be with her. She ignored the nagging voice which sadly reminded her that he didn't love her.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Sherlock informed Molly of his desire to revisit the Bennett house over breakfast, 'I need to go back to the source, back to the start of this whole event and that is the disappearance of Lily. Someone close to her knew of her plans to lose her virginity that night and that is what triggered her abduction.

Melissa greeted them well enough when they arrived showing them into the spacious front room. She was still looking pale and drawn as she had the day before in church but when Molly saw her again all she could remember was the spike of jealousy that had run through her when Melissa had propositioned Sherlock in front of her in Baker St.

As they sat down side by side on the settee Molly couldn't help herself and she put her hand possessively on Sherlock's knee. She felt rather than saw him glance down at her hand and then at her face and knew she was colouring but she held her smile and kept her eyes on Melissa who was offering them tea or coffee.

'Nothing, thank you. I need you to tell me about all the men in your life and Lily's life. How many have been here to the house or interacted with Lily either here or at school or any other environment. I'm not talking school friends or boys her own age I'm talking men.'

Molly noticed two spots of colour in Melissa's cheeks at the implications of Sherlock's questioning but she seemed to square her shoulders and make her decision before embarking on a very open and honest list of the men she dated both before and after her marriage to her husband.

'And are you aware of the rumours circulating the village about your husband and Meredith the landlady of the local pub?'

'Sherlock!'

He finally turned to Molly gently removing her hand, 'Molly, I need to ask these questions, please don't interrupt unless you have something pertinent to say.'

He turned back to Melissa leaving Molly in a maelstrom of emotions, everything from hurt and humiliated to angry to ashamed that she had acted like the worst kind of girlfriend, the sort he would hate.

Melissa pursed her lips, 'yes, I've heard those rumours and I've also suspected them of being true although I have no evidence and no real desire to find any. You have to understand that this is a marriage of convenience to a certain extent. When I moved here my husband had left me, I was a single parent with little to no money. I don't kid myself that I have any burning desire for a career, I'm no feminist, never aspired to be independent and strong. No, I wanted a husband and preferably a rich one. Hugh fit the bill perfectly. I give him a certain level of respectability, I host dinner parties for his golf buddies, provide him with an appropriate plus one to events in the City. It's a win win. What he does in his own time is his own business, I just ask for discreetness.'

'And where is Hugh now?'

Melissa glanced at her watch, 'he's either still on the golf course finishing his round or he'll be in the club lounge enjoying a whiskey.'

Sherlock stood and said his goodbyes. As he started to walk out with Molly trailing behind Melissa clutched at his arm, 'is there...do you think there's still hope...for Lily?'

The look in Melissa's eyes was almost too painful for Molly to see and she felt sorry that she had been filled with such petty emotions when this woman was clearly desperate and anxious for her only child.

Sherlock softened ever so slightly and smiled, 'yes, yes there is still hope. I will find your daughter.'

Melissa's only response was a slight sob of relief.

So, was he right to call Molly out or not? I'm interested to hear your opinions on it as always.