‘The lying was one thing, the feeling her up was another.’
‘It would never have worked out, not with how she felt about cops.’
‘I think she was just set in her ways with that. She got it in her head back then that cops couldn’t be trusted. They never found who robbed the bar when her dad was held up all those years back either.’
‘So you think she could get over her distrust?’
‘I think if she stopped to think about it, to re-address her concerns, she’d see that she was just a scared kid who was traumatised by the accident and deeply affected by losing her brother. She doesn’t hate cops, they just remind her of what she lost that day… Like how you can’t eat Mexican food because it reminds you too much of the three days of leave you had to take after that take out taco from the food truck I told you not to buy last month.’
‘If it’s so easy for her to get over it, then call her up,’ Jason said. ‘We’re going to need her help with this investigation. She could give us a better idea of who we’re looking for, if she would talk to us.’
‘I tried calling her,’ Blake said. ‘I think I’ll give her a few more days to calm down, then bring up the investigation.’
‘Ok,’ Jason said, going back to his list. ‘But we’re up against it now, and we don’t want any blood on our hands. If Choker goes after—‘
‘With the help Molly has already given us we’ve got an idea of who Choker might target, and they’ve been warned. We’ve increased patrols in their areas and offered them police protection. Choker isn’t getting anyone else, not now that we know what we’re looking for.’
‘A needle in a haystack,’ Jason said. ‘But at least we know which haystack to look in now.’
‘Then less chit-chat and more good old fashioned police work.’
Direction was one thing for the investigation, but he didn’t have it in his life. Molly was out there in the world, and she would feel alone again. He didn’t want that for her. She felt that he’d betrayed her, he’d hurt her, and he certainly hadn’t helped her opinion of cops. He’d say it was all in the line of duty and that was true, but it didn’t explain the curl of guilt that existed in him whenever he thought of her.
‘Don’t mourn the bastard!’ Vanessa asserted. Molly drew her focus around to her friend. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean Alex or Joey… I meant—‘
Molly held up her hand. ‘It’s ok, I get it. You don’t have to say it.’
‘That bad, huh?’ Vanessa asked, sitting opposite Molly in Ashton’s window seat. ‘You can’t even hear his name.’
‘I don’t want to hear his name,’ Molly said, and rolled her head onto the glass again while she dragged her knees up to her chest and embraced them.
‘I just can’t get over it… he was a cop the whole time. I suppose that explains why he rejected my advances, but… the whole time, really?’
‘Uh, no, I think he went down to the recruitment office the day after he got here. They promote to detective pretty quickly, I hear… Yes, this whole time, Vanessa!’
‘Ok, no need to get snide about it,’ she huffed.
‘Sorry.’
‘Come on, honey,’ Vanessa said. ‘It’s closing time and there’s no one here. Let’s get you away from the bar. We’ll go to Mason’s and laugh… do you remember laughing?’
‘Uh, I’m here!’ Joel said from his usual stool at the bar.
Molly let her head sway in his direction. ‘You’re always here,’ she said. ‘You haven’t left this block since I got out of jail a week ago… We know that you’ve been sleeping at Mason’s.’
‘Strength in numbers,’ Joel said. ‘That’s what we’ve decided. Right, Mason?’
‘Sure,’ Mason said.
Her neighbour, and closest friend, was at one of the tables on the other side of the room. Since she had been arrested the bar had been like a ghost house; word got out fast around here. But Joel and Mason were always here to keep her company, and Vanessa had been here every day and night, even when she wasn’t working. Her three friends were trying to keep her spirits up, but that only made her feel worse. The men were the ones whom she feared were in danger, yet they were worried about her.
‘Ok,’ Molly said. ‘Let’s go next door.’
They locked up and cashed out, so that they were all ready to leave at the same time. Grabbing a couple of bottles of wine, Molly ushered her group to the cellar. Using the key, on the new lock, always made her think of Blake. Despite only being employed here for a short time, his presence was everywhere. The cellar lock had been installed by him. The trapdoor he had used to come to her rescue. The light switch at the foot of the stairs had been repaired by him.
Molly remembered him laughing in her bed and scrambling about trying to find peanuts. His image was in her bathroom, it reflected to her in the mirror every time she removed her clothes. Even the office held memories, and every time she saw the file cabinet blocking the function room door she recalled the teasing they shared and the deal they made.
Up the stairs was as bad as down, and she couldn’t bring herself to think of the kisses they shared in the kitchen and in the hallway. So whenever the flashes of the memories surfaced, she distracted herself. Pleasure like that couldn’t have been real, she convinced herself that she was exaggerating it in her own mind… she had to be.
‘Are you ok?’ Mason asked her, and he loosened their previously joined fingers to stroke her shoulder.
‘Fine,’ she asserted.
‘I hate this,’ Vanessa screeched as they descended the stairs to the cellar. ‘There are bugs everywhere!’ She screamed and almost bowled them all down the stairs when she flew forward.
Molly had to admit that she had never seen any bugs down here. At least none so significant that she remembered them… well except for Blake. He had been down here and she remembered him, he was certainly a parasite.
‘It’s in my hair!’ Vanessa screamed again.
Molly’s lips curled up, but she forced them together to contain her laugh. Vanessa was darting about, shaking her head and mussing her hair with her hands.
‘Nessa!’ Molly shouted.
‘Stop for a second,’ Mason said, but he got an elbow in the ribs when he tried to approach the still-screeching Vanessa.
Molly couldn’t help herself any longer and the laugh burst from her gut. Mason supported himself on the wall as he rubbed and soothed his ribs, while Joel ran away from the hollering Vanessa.
‘Help! Help me!’
‘Nessa!’ Molly said, struggling to breathe. ‘There is nothing there!’
Vanessa stopped and peered at her. ‘What?’
‘There’s nothing there,’ Molly said, sucking in measured breaths as her hands went to her stomach, which was aching from the hilarity. ‘Oh, I think I’m going to be sick.’
‘Me too,’ Mason said, hooking his arm around Molly’s neck. ‘That girl has some force in her.’
‘Aww,’ Molly said, and kissed her fingers then placed them to his ribs over his shirt. ‘All better.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, and kissed her hair.
In the furthest corner of the room, Molly shifted a wooden crate into position for them to stand on. She slid her fingertips along the ceiling above her head, seeking out the required groove. When she located it, she pushed upward to remove the panel in the ceiling, which was actually a section of flooring in Mason’s living room.
Mason gave her a foothold to pull herself up into his apartment. As kids they had snuck into each other’s places like this all the time. At the time they didn’t believe that their parents knew of the secret entrance, but now it was obvious to the youngsters that the older generation must have known.
‘I didn’t know this was here,’ Vanessa said, when her head poked through the floor. ‘I knew you guys went to the cellar to get to Mason’s, but I didn’t know about how you got there.’
Molly took her hand and helped her up. Mason handed Molly the wine and the men climbed in too. By the t
ime the floorboards were put back in place, Molly and Vanessa were on the couch with four glasses of wine full in front of them on the coffee table.
‘We should drink to something,’ Vanessa said when the men flopped in the armchairs.
‘To life,’ Molly said, and raised her glass. ‘May we live ours to the full for those who weren’t given the option.’
They all clinked glasses and drank. Molly slumped back on the couch and blew her hair from her face.
‘Have you heard from him?’ Vanessa asked.
‘You’ve asked me that every day this week,’ Molly said.
‘And you’ve yet to answer me.’
Molly grumbled. ‘He called a couple of times. He left voicemails, just to check how I was, and he asked if I wanted protection.’
Vanessa scoffed. ‘He wasn’t concerned about that when his partner was arresting you, was he?’
‘The cops have been on the phone here, too,’ Mason said.
Molly sat up and propped her elbows on her knees. ‘You never said.’
‘They asked if we wanted any security.’
‘Take it,’ Molly said. ‘I would rather know you were safe.’
‘We know how you feel about cops… especially now,’ Mason said. ‘They’ve been driving by here more often.’
‘I know,’ Molly said, and slouched again. ‘I’ve noticed.’
‘I know you have,’ Mason said.
‘Did they ask you about protection?’ Vanessa asked Joel.
He nodded. ‘I said if they had a crack team of young, hot, horny female officers who wanted to cover my ass, they should send them right over.’
‘What did they say?’ Molly asked on a laugh.
‘They said no such department existed,’ Joel said, and slugged his wine.
‘Funny,’ Vanessa said. ‘Because they have a male department of that genre.’ Every pair of eyes in the room fell on her. ‘What? I meant Blake.’
‘We know what you meant,’ Molly said. She dragged herself forward and topped off her glass. ‘You should consider it. I need to know you’ll be safe.’
‘We know how she does it, the killer,’ Mason said. ‘I doubt either of us will be crazy enough to let any woman tie us up with anything in the near future.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on Joel being so smart,’ Vanessa said.
‘I might be a perv, but I don’t have a death wish… Unless it’s you, Mol. I’d let you tie me up.’
‘Aww,’ Molly said, and raised her glass to him, which he reciprocated. ‘That’s probably the closest Joel has ever been to romantic.’
‘If my experience was anything to go by, then you’re fucking right,’ Vanessa said, and gulped at her wine.
‘Hey you loved it, baby, don’t even deny it,’ Joel said, and winked at her.
‘Save me,’ Vanessa asked the ceiling.
‘Put music on,’ Joel said.
Mason went to the stereo and flicked it on. ‘Just pick your tune carefully,’ Vanessa said.
‘She means don’t play the death tune,’ Molly said.
‘It was just played at Alex’s though, right?’
‘The neighbours called to complain about the music,’ Molly said. ‘It’s how they found him. Something must have startled her to leave and not turn off the stereo. When they checked the stereos of the other victims there was a CD with the tune on it in every one. It must have been the last thing they heard.’
‘Lovely,’ Joel said. ‘When I go home, I am checking my collection for that song and burning every copy.’
‘Good plan,’ Molly said.
Mason turned up the music and took his seat again. ‘Oh, I love this,’ Vanessa said. ‘What’s her name again?’
‘Norah Jones,’ Molly and Mason said at the same time.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Vanessa said.
‘We need something more uplifting,’ Molly said, because she didn’t need a reminder of her date with Blake. She leapt over to the stereo without asking permission and pulled out the first CD that looked like it had a bass line. She shoved it into the stereo and blasted it.
‘I can’t hear myself think now!’ Vanessa screamed over the music. ‘Aren’t we a little old for this kind of dance music?’
‘What did we just say about living life to the full?’ Molly asked. ‘Now shut up and dance.’
Taking the hand of her employee and friend, Molly pulled Vanessa to her feet. Though her wine sloshed onto the floor, Vanessa laughed and grabbed Molly so they could hold onto each other and bounce to the music.
‘I’m coming here for a party every night!’ Joel shouted to Mason. ‘Do you think they would take off their clothes if we asked?’
The men were appreciating the view. Molly was startled when Vanessa drew her into a hug. ‘You don’t need him,’ Vanessa whispered into Molly’s ear.
Sharing a moment of understanding meant a lot to Molly. But tonight wasn’t meant to be for melancholy, so when the track finished and the next one came on, she scrutinised the seated men. ‘Why aren’t you two up?’ Molly shouted to the men.
‘You two are doing a great job,’ Mason said.
‘I don’t know about him, but I’m already up,’ Joel said, and winked at the women.
‘That’s my Great Grandmother’s cushion you have on your lap,’ Mason said, and sipped his wine.
‘Tell her I’m grateful for the cover,’ Joel said.
‘Put something on that we can sing to,’ Vanessa said. Taking her turn at the stereo, she hit stop and took out the CD. While Vanessa perused the options Molly registered the sound of a shrill ring, which had her whipping around to Mason.
‘What is that?’ Joel asked.
‘I know what it sounds like, but…’ Molly trailed off.
‘It might be that short,’ Mason said.
‘Blake fixed it!’
The ringing was that of her smoke alarm. She raced to the front door and rattled it, but it wouldn’t open. Mason urged her aside and unlocked it. She threw open the door and ran out into the street.
The orange glow reflected on the damp asphalt made her whole body heave, and she didn’t want to look at her business, at her home. Knowing there was no choice except to face it, she flipped around and clamped her hands to her mouth.
‘Holy fuck!’ Joel shouted.
Various people crowded around and the scream of the sirens split the night air, and eventually screeched to a halt only feet from her.
‘Come away from here, Mol,’ Vanessa said, and wrapped her friend in her arms.
‘It’s all I have left!’ Molly said. ‘I can’t leave! I have to be here! I have to look!’
Molly had regretted the action of turning around to look from the moment she’d done it. Through the glass of the front windows all she could see was the orange and red flickering glow devouring her livelihood. One pane blew out and Molly collapsed onto her knees.
‘You can’t stay here,’ Mason said, attempting to take her hand, but she tugged it back.
All three of her friends crowded around her, but she was mesmerised by the flames. The wind blew the smoke away from them down the street. But the smell was still toxic.
‘Come on, Molly,’ Joel said. ‘Let us get you away from here.’
‘Please, Mol, this isn’t healthy,’ Vanessa said, stroking Molly’s hair.
Molly sat back on her feet, then let her body slump against the asphalt. Her spirit faded, the cracks and heaves of wood split her heart.
‘You shouldn’t watch this,’ Mason said, his voice brimming with pity.
Bright lights flashed across her face from the trucks used by the firefighters who were trying to quell the blaze. They could work as fast and as hard as they liked, but only one thing played around in her mind. Ashton’s would be closed tomorrow night. For the first night ever since her parents bought it. Ashton’s would shut its doors.
‘You’re shaking,’ Mason said.
‘You’re going to get hurt. There’s glass and debris fly
ing everywhere,’ Joel said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
‘The damage is done, sweetie,’ Vanessa said. ‘It doesn’t help you sitting here and watching it.’
‘I have no place else to be,’ she breathed, knowing that there were tears on her cheeks but unable to bring herself to care. She was numb, completely hollow. Being hurt didn’t even blip on her radar.
‘Move!’ a voice bellowed through the melee of emergency services, shouting, and destruction.
None of the noises moved her enough to react, though she doubted that any of them were directed at her. Her view cleared when her friends stepped aside, but Molly’s head fell because she just couldn’t look at it anymore.
An arm hooked under her legs, another swooped around her shoulder, and then she was lifted off the ground. She had no fight left in her, the killer could take her right now and it wouldn’t matter. Her body slumped against the solid form carrying hers across the street. When her eyes drifted shut, a bolt of recognition fired through her. She knew that scent. Soap, man, cologne… all that was missing was the blood.
‘Blake?’ she whispered.
‘Shh,’ he said.
The sound of a car door opening met her ears and she was placed inside the vehicle. Though he’d positioned her to sit, she didn’t try to. Molly fell onto her side and curled her feet up under her. Someone reached over her and stuffed something under her head for support.
‘What happened?’ he asked.
‘Leave me,’ she mumbled. ‘Just leave me here.’
‘Don’t do this, Mol. Don’t let them break you.’
Burying her face in the soft fabric propping up her head, she registered the concentrated scent of him, meaning the item had to be a sweater, or something. Then tipping her head around, she found his gaze, and immediately her chest sank.
They were alone together in the back of his truck, and he sat next to her curled legs, leaning over her with his arm draped along the back of the seat.
‘What is there left to fight for, Blake? If someone wanted to hurt me, they knew just how to do it.’
‘Help me,’ he said. ‘You can solve this with me, I know you can.’
Reluctant Suspicion Page 18