Molly: House on Fire

by R. E. Bradshaw

  Molly was a little worried. “What are you going to do to my car? You know that’s not just any car, right?”

  Rainey crossed to the office door, saying over her shoulder. “Trust me.” She stopped and winked at Molly. “Besides, while I’m working you can tell me all about your new crush.”

  Molly laughed. “How did you know?”

  Rainey grinned. “She was driving, and that’s not just any car, right?”

  #

  Molly watched as Rainey typed into a handheld computer, connected to the LFA’s onboard computer system via the USB port. Rainey had already installed wireless cameras and microphones on the front and rear of the car, including a discreetly hidden set inside. If anything happened around or in Molly’s car, it would be recorded onto a hard disk Rainey installed in the hatchback area with the car’s other systems. She was explaining to Molly how it worked.

  “Whenever you power up the onboard computer, it will kick my system on. As long as the computer is on, even if the engine isn’t running, you have eyes and ears recording. The cameras automatically adjust from day to night vision. When you’re ready to see what was recorded, plug the handheld in like this.”

  Rainey went through the process with her several times, until she was sure Molly knew how to operate the system. When she was done, she disconnected the little computer and slid it into the console. She got out of the car and pointed at the little black bag behind Molly’s seat.

  “You’re sure you know how to use the other stuff?”

  Molly nodded. “Yes, I’ve used them before.”

  The garage door to the house opened. Leslie and Katie walked down the steps to join them.

  Katie said, “We heard the car move into the garage. Curiosity finally got the best of us.”

  Rainey put her arm around Katie. “Are the kids down for the count?”

  “Yes, thanks to Leslie. She sang them to sleep. Timothy was mesmerized. I think he’s our musician.”

  Molly took in the beaming Leslie. She seemed to be enjoying herself, but was probably wondering why Molly brought her along.

  Rainey took care of that, by saying, “We’re finished out here. Leslie, I hear I need to talk to you about Molly’s client. Let’s go sit inside and do that.”

  Leslie saw the barbecue Molly had to remove so Rainey could work on the car. She pointed to it. “Did it start to smell or something?”

  Molly needed to start being honest with Leslie. Now was as good a time as any. She turned to Rainey. “Can you give us a minute? I think I have some explaining to do.”

  Rainey flashed a knowing smile. “We’ll be in the kitchen.” She pulled the puzzled Katie toward the door. “Come on, let’s make some coffee.”

  When they were alone, Molly faced Leslie. “I haven’t been completely honest with you and I would like to amend that.”

  Leslie crossed her arms, a defensive posture Molly recognized. Women do not like to be lied to, and a lie of omission was just as damning. Molly pressed on.

  “You know that I was adopted. Do you know why?”

  Leslie answered, “I know there was a fire, your father died, and your mother was forced to give you up. What does this have to do with barbecue, Molly?”

  “I don’t know any other way to say this.” Molly paused, and then said it quickly, before she changed her mind. “I killed him, Leslie. He was beating my mother to death. I hit him in the head with my softball bat. My mother and Joe burned the house down with Evan Branch in it, to cover up what I had done. My mother needed psychiatric care and she saw her hospitalization as a chance to get me out of town. She wouldn’t leave me in an orphanage. She did the only thing she could. She found a nice couple to give me the life she wanted me to have. She told me it was my one chance and to take advantage of it. I think I did that. I’m sure she never imagined I’d be back in Dobbs County today and neither did I.”

  Leslie uncrossed her arms. She took a step toward Molly, reaching for her. She grasped her arm gently and said, “Molly, you were a child protecting her mother. No one would have blamed you.”

  “I know that now, Leslie. I was ten. They told me to lie and I did. I lied to the Grand Jury. I lied to the investigators. I broke the law by doing that.” Molly pulled away from Leslie. “No one knew who and what I became, except my adoptive parents, Joe, and Judge Whitehall. No one, Leslie. Do you know what I’m saying?”

  “Yes, but why are you telling me this? Are you afraid I’ll judge you, shake my head, and turn my back on you, like the people who looked away when you were a child? I assure you, Molly, that isn’t going to happen.”

  “It might, once you hear the rest of it. I’m exhuming my mother’s body. When I do, the media will get wind of it. Jarvis will probably counteract me, by exhuming his brother.”

  Leslie finished the thought for her. “And you are going to be exposed. There’s going to be a feeding frenzy on all things Molly Kincaid.”

  “On top of that, you are in danger just by being with me. I’m receiving death threats now. I should have told you, before I asked you to come with me.”

  Leslie did not hesitate. “I would have come anyway and I’m not worried about any media frenzy.” She smiled to ease Molly’s tension. “Who knows, I might end up on the Google image search results draped on the arm of the elusive Molly Kincaid.”

  Molly wanted to hug this woman. She also wanted Leslie to know what a leap of faith she was taking. “I’ve told Randy, my old mentor, and Rainey just a few minutes ago. Now, I’ve told you. Those are the people I can trust right now.”

  “Thank you for trusting me. I know that’s hard for you. I’ll live up to that trust, I promise.” Leslie smiled to lighten the mood. “But could you please tell me why the barbecue is out of the car?”

  Molly shook her head in disbelief. “I just bared my soul to you and you want to know about barbecue?”

  “Well, I’ve tried to talk to you before about dealing with your past. You were not too pleasant. I see you’re trying to make changes and that’s a step in the right direction. If you want my advice, you’ll ask for it, so I guess that’s that, but I am concerned about my barbecue.”

  Molly accepted that answer with a smile and explained why Leslie’s to-go order was now a thawing mess. “Rainey set up a surveillance system in the car. The barbecue was in the way. I guess it’s too thawed to save now.”

  Leslie walked over and picked up the bag. She took it to the trashcan in the corner and tossed it in. She turned back to Molly. “You owe me dinner, Kincaid.”

  The words left Molly’s mouth without thinking them. “Only if it’s a real date.”

  Leslie grinned and walked up to Molly. She was closer now than ever before. Molly could feel the breath on her face, when Leslie said, “Is that the way you ask a woman out? I’m surprised any of them go with you, if it is.”

  Molly was going to need game for this woman. She could tell already. Molly put on her best smile and looked Leslie in the eyes. “Leslie Walker, would you do me the kindness of having dinner with me?”

  Leslie eyes sparkled. “Yes, but under one condition.”

  “And what would that be?” Molly asked.

  “For God’s sake, don’t take me out in Waitesville.”

  Molly tilted her head to one side in confusion. “Why? Are you afraid to be seen with me there?”

  Leslie laughed. “Of course not. It’s just the only real restaurant in town is terrible. If I’m going to get dressed up, I would at least like a good meal.”

  Molly smiled victoriously. “You have a deal.”

  Leslie looped her arm in Molly’s, as they started into the house. “Where will we be having this date? The better question would be when?”

  Molly patted Leslie’s hand on her arm. “When, as soon as we have a free evening. Where, you just let me worry about that. I assure you it will be worth the wait.” Molly opened the door and stepped aside for Leslie to go in front of her.

  Leslie chuckled, as she passed, saying,
“Well, I hear I only get one, so make it memorable.”

  Leslie went in ahead of Molly, who mumbled under her breath. “Oh, I will.”

  #

  Leslie and Rainey were at the kitchen table, in a deep conversation only two behavioral scientists could really love. Katie and Molly leaned against the kitchen counter out of earshot, sipping coffee, and watching them. A baby-monitor nearby occasionally made the soft sounds of babies sleeping, a grunt here, a whine there, but mostly silence.

  “You and Rainey seem to have settled into being parents,” Molly commented.

  Katie nodded toward Rainey. “She’s about to climb the walls. I can’t keep her here much longer, but I need a nanny to help me. I don’t want someone to raise my kids, just an extra pair of hands I can trust.”

  “How’s the search going?” Molly asked, knowing what the answer would be.

  Katie threw her hands up in the air. “Have you ever tried to clear an employee with a criminal profiler? I suspect she even ran a background check on my mother.”

  Molly laughed. “She just wants to know you’re all safe when she’s not here.”

  “I know,” Katie said, smiling at Rainey across the room. “She’s just being thorough, but if you want her to come back to work, then encourage her to settle on someone. The only person she’s suggested so far was a retired deputy sheriff with a bad back, but she could shoot straight.” Katie took a sip of coffee, and then used her cup to indicate Leslie. “So what’s the story on this one? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smitten before.”

  Over the years, Katie and Molly ran in the same social circles. Katie had witnessed firsthand the parade of women on Molly’s arm. In the spirit of the day, Molly did not dodge the question. It was becoming easier just to let loose and say what she was truly thinking, not mask it with humor or sarcasm.

  “I don’t know, Katie. There is just something about her that intrigues me. I thought it was just pheromones, but you’re right. I’m smitten.”

  “Well, if it counts for anything, I like her,” Katie said. She looked over at Molly and grinned. “She’s every bit your match, I’d say. You won’t be controlling that one.”

  Molly smiled back over the top of her coffee cup. “You got all that from watching her sing your babies to sleep?”

  Katie was never shy about speaking her mind, one of her many endearing qualities. “She’s smart, attractive, confident, and she doesn’t need you to make her happy. She already is. The cat’s out of the bag. She knows you want her. Now she just has to run fast enough for you to catch her.”

  Molly looked over at Leslie, who happened to look up at the same time. They exchanged smiles and then Molly turned to Katie, again. “Do you think she wants to get caught?”

  Katie laughed loudly, drawing Rainey and Leslie’s attention momentarily, before they went back to their analysis of Joey’s interview. Molly sat through it once with them, listening, taking notes, and being enthralled with Leslie’s knowledge and passion for her work. Katie pulled Molly away to the kitchen, where Katie was now trying to quell her laughter.

  She finally managed to say, “Are you kidding me?”

  Molly shushed her. When that did not work, Molly walked further down the counter of Katie’s expansive gourmet kitchen, imploring Katie to follow with a tilt of her head in that direction. Among other things, Katie could cook scrumptious meals and loved to have dinner parties. Katie slid her coffee cup down the counter and followed Molly, baby-monitor in hand.

  A safer distance from Leslie, Molly said, “What was that all about?”

  Katie whispered, between almost bursting into giggles, “Swaggering Molly has doubts she can catch a woman. My, but this is serious.”

  “Swaggering?” Molly said, her eyebrows raised, but she was smiling.

  Katie patted Molly’s arm, reassuringly. “Oh, it’s a very attractive swagger. You and Rainey have it. When you walk in a room, people know you’re there. And the really James Dean-y part is, neither of you care if they notice.”

  “I venture to guess, when you walk in a room people notice, Katie. I’ve witnessed a few of your entrances myself.”

  Katie waved a hand in the air. “That’s different. That’s about physical appearance. You two,” she nodded toward Rainey, “you have an air about you. It makes people curious. You demand attention without asking for it. That’s power, that’s control. You’re unsure of yourself with this one, because she makes you feel less in control. That’s good for you.”

  Molly asked, “And you know this how?”

  Katie heard a baby cough and listened until the silence returned to the monitor. She refocused on Molly. “Look at Rainey. She lost all control when she ran into me. You might be mysterious, Molly Kincaid, but the walls I had to knock down couldn’t possibly compare. Rainey trusted no one, until she had to trust me. She gave in though,” Katie winked, “I wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  “And you have a beautiful family to show for your efforts,” Molly said, lifting her coffee cup in mock toast.

  A baby stirred and began to whimper softly. Katie listened and when the whimper turned to a cry, she turned to Molly. “I have to go check on the kids. Look Molly, if she’s that intriguing, then let loose, enjoy the ride. You only fall in love once with the right one.”

  Molly took a step back. “Who said anything about love?”

  Katie patted her on the arm. “You don’t look at people you just like the way you look at her.”

  “We haven’t even been on a date,” Molly said, pleading her case.

  Katie picked up the monitor and chuckled. “I think my first date with Rainey was about three months after I moved in with her.” She winked. “We were busy before then.” She pecked Molly on the cheek. “I might not make it back down before you leave. It was good to see you, Molly.” She pointed at Leslie with the hand holding the baby-monitor. “Bring her by for dinner some time.”

  Molly leaned down and returned Katie’s kiss on the cheek. “I will. Next time, I hope the kids are up. I love watching Rainey try to deal with them.”

  Katie walked away, saying, “I know. It’s cute, isn’t it?”

  Katie left the kitchen, stopping to say goodbye to Leslie. Molly followed and stood by Leslie’s chair. When Katie was gone, she let Leslie finish the point she was making and then suggested they should leave. Goodbyes were exchanged and Rainey walked them to the door, retrieving Molly’s weapon from the safe in the foyer.

  “You be careful, Molly. Don’t take unnecessary risks and call me if you need me. I can be there in an hour.”

  “Thank you, Rainey, for everything. When this is over, we need to have a drink.”

  Rainey smiled. “Yes, a big drink, and a baby sitter.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Molly drove out of Rainey’s neighborhood and turned the car toward her home.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I need to go by my house for a minute. It’s just a few miles from here.”

  “I’m just along for the ride,” Leslie replied. “Thanks for bringing me with you. I really enjoyed meeting Rainey and Katie. I don’t think I’ve ever met two people more in love with each other, and those babies are precious. You have nice friends.”

  “Yes, I do.” Molly said, realizing for the first time that she could learn to trust people more. “Rainey and Katie are a real love story. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”

  Leslie’s voice grew somber. “Rainey is really worried about you.”

  “I know, but I can’t back out now. I have to help Joey.” She glanced at Leslie, smiling. “I was told, if you remember, that I should honor the words of a dying man.”

  Leslie surprised Molly with her reply. “I can’t believe he put you in jeopardy like this. He knew what your coming back to Dobbs County would mean for you. He should have left you alone. That was selfish on his part.”

  Molly had already worked through that in her mind. “Joe was desperate. That’s the only reason he would have contacted me.
”

  Leslie considered Molly’s response. “I just hope his desperation didn’t cloud his judgment. Maybe he manufactured this whole conspiracy tied to a gold legend. He was heavily medicated. And your mother’s death, he could have wanted it to be murder, to have a reason to involve you. Everything he said can be explained away, and if there ever was any gold, I doubt it still exists.”

  Molly reached in her jacket pocket for her cellphone. She handed it to Leslie. “Look at the last pictures I took.” While Leslie found the pictures, Molly continued. “My mother was murdered. Rainey confirmed that tonight. Joe was on to something, I’m sure of it.” She glanced over to see Leslie staring, gape-mouthed, at one of the pictures of the gold piece. “That gold piece was given to me by Evan Branch’s father. There may be more where that came from. I’ve been told it is quite valuable and a handful could be worth a fortune. It’s not a legend, Leslie. The gold exists.”

  Leslie finally regained the power of speech. “Who knows about this?”

  “You, Rainey, Brad, Randy, and a man that I trust with my life. Let’s keep it that way, until I show my hand.”

  Leslie turned in her seat. “You’re drawing him out, aren’t you? That’s why Rainey is so worried. You are setting yourself up as bait. This isn’t about helping Joey. You came back to settle an old score with the Branch family. Nothing good can come from seeking revenge, Molly.”

  “I didn’t seek this out, if you remember. I received at least ten messages from you, before I returned the call. The emails started before I even knew about Joey, my mother, or the gold — but now I’m in the middle of this and there is no way out, other than to see it through to the end.”

  “Let’s hope it isn’t the end of you,” Leslie said, as she looked out the window.

  Molly turned into her gated community, Rosewood Hills, stopping at the guardhouse. She rolled her window down and spoke to the armed guard approaching her.

  “Good evening, Jack. I’m just dropping by for a minute. I’ll be staying out of town for a bit, so if you would, have the guys keep an eye on the place for me.”