Molly: House on Fire

by R. E. Bradshaw

  His cigar stained, gravelly voice answered after the second ring, “This better be good. I’m in the middle of landing a barracuda.”

  “Where are you?” Molly asked.

  Horace grunted. “I’m on my dock. Where the hell do you think I am?”

  Molly chuckled. “And you wonder why I don’t like to swim off your dock? The fish in there have teeth.”

  “Oh, this one has teeth, but I suspect she keeps them in a glass at night.”

  “Been raiding the old folks home again, have you?” Molly teased.

  “What can I say,” Horace’s gravelly voice came back. “It’s not tourist season and the pickin’s are slim.”

  “I have a feeling you aren’t hurting for female companionship.”

  Horace chuckled. “No, but I’m ready for the gold digging hotties to come back for the summer. They have a lot more stamina.”

  “They will find you overdosed on Viagra one day, I’m sure.” Molly said, with a tinge of honesty.

  “What a way to go,” Horace shot back. “Now, what can I do for my favorite lawyer today? I can hear it in your voice. What shithead DA pissed in your Wheaties?”

  Molly launched into the whole story. She left out no details, except her involvement in the death of Evan Branch. When she finished, Horace took a deep breath. He was thinking and Molly allowed him the time. Just when she was about to prod him to answer, she heard him clear his throat.

  “Kincaid, what aren’t you telling me?”

  Molly answered quickly, “I should think finding out I’m the daughter of a drunk and an abusive psychopath would be enough personal revelations for the day.”

  “I’ll admit I didn’t know your particulars, but I knew you had a backstory. A young woman as driven as you were, had to be running from something. But that’s not all of it, is it?”

  Molly sighed. The time had come to reveal the dark secret she kept locked away for so many years. “I omitted something about the death of my father.” She paused, before finally saying the words aloud. “I’m the one that killed him. My mother covered it up by burning the house down with him in it. She made me swear to tell people I wasn’t there and that is what I testified to in front of the Grand Jury. I was given up for adoption shortly afterward and I never saw my mother again.”

  Horace did not miss a beat. His mind was already working through the situation and plotting. He spoke to the woman on the dock with him. “Honey, go on up to the house. I need some privacy for this one.” Then Horace was back talking to Molly. “You were too young to be held responsible and a case could be made for appropriate force in the protection of a loved one. The perjury, if anything, will be a slap on the wrist from the Bar for not coming clean. You’re going to take some heat for this. Everybody likes to take shots at the best, and you’re at the top of the heap, Molly. The best thing you can do is solve the murder of your mother and put these bastards behind bars, before they file a civil suit and go after your assets.”

  “Bastards? Do you think there is more than one person involved?” Molly asked.

  “There is always more than one person when money is in the mix. If what you say is true, then this gold legend is well known. I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few people aren’t hunting that gold piece, and I’d be willing to bet there’s more where that one came from. They’ve tracked the treasure to you, Molly. You might be the only person alive these people have left to question.”

  Molly looked out the windows, surveying her surroundings out of habit now. “That thought had crossed my mind,” she said into the phone.

  “I’ll find out what I can about the coin, without making any noise. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something. You watch your back.” Horace paused and then added, “Hey kid, don’t think I think any less of you. If that’s the worst thing you’ve ever done, then you’re the most honest lawyer I know, including me.”

  “Thanks, Horace. That’s good to know,” Molly said, feeling more relieved than she thought she would. “I’ll call you if I find anything out in the meantime.”

  “Hey, if they run you out of town, you can always come down here and help me chase women.”

  “I’ll leave the women chasing to you, old man. I’ve sworn off them for a while. They’re nothing but trouble.”

  “You need to get laid, Kincaid,” Horace said, and then he was gone.

  Molly stared at the phone. He was right. She had not been steadily involved with anyone since breaking off her relationship in August, with the lovely Dr. Dana Fox from San Antonio. The long distance, purely sexual entanglement worked for both of them, until Dana wanted more. Molly did not give more, not to Dana, not to anyone. Molly knew she had a reputation as a player. It was not really true. While she was subject to bed a pretty woman on occasion, she was not out hunting the bars at night. Molly simply took advantage of what women offered her, from time to time. It had been months since she took one of those offers, too long.

  The few actual relationships she had often ended badly, when the other woman realized she would never have all of Molly. The final straw was usually Molly’s perceived betrayal of the woman’s trust, either emotionally or physically. No matter how clear she made it to these women, they never understood why she could not love them as much as they loved her. For seventeen years, Molly thought it was because she had loved Stephanie and let her heart be broken. Now that Stephanie’s ghost was long gone, Molly was beginning to wonder if the root of her reluctance to fall in love was a result of her own abandonment issues. She loved her mother and she gave Molly up. She loved Stephanie and she left Molly for someone else.

  “Now is not the time to psychoanalyze yourself,” she said, her voice whirling around her head in the small circular room. Reenergized by her confession to Horace, she bounded down the steps, saying, “Time to play lawyer.”

  #

  When Molly made it downstairs, carrying her leather portfolio-style briefcase, which hid a locking concealed-carry pocket for her pistol, Randy was waiting. He had replaced his Bubba attire with a dark gray three-piece suit. He smiled upon seeing Molly.

  “Now, there’s the boss we all know and love. Did you have everything you needed?”

  Molly let out a small chuckle. “More than enough, thank you.”

  Randy had taken his mission seriously. He continued, “You don’t look like you wear makeup, but you do. I couldn’t figure out what you used to get that natural look, so I brought it all.”

  Molly wore as little makeup as possible. Most of what Randy brought was for the formal occasions she was forced to attend, where evening makeup was expected. Randy, it appeared, had dumped her whole makeup drawer in a small suitcase.

  Tammy walked into the room. She paused and smiled widely. “My, but you two make a handsome couple.”

  Molly and Randy looked at each other and burst out laughing. Molly was proud to be a lesbian, but she did not wear it on her sleeve. She didn’t think whom she was sleeping with was anyone’s business, but she was the “well-known lesbian attorney.” Every time her name appeared in the paper, those words accompanied it. They did not call the DA a “well-known heterosexual attorney.” Why they insisted on describing Molly that way was beyond her. She never denied it, but Molly did not begin her acquaintances with information about her sexuality. She could not say the same for Randy.

  Tammy asked, “What’s so funny?”

  Randy turned to Tammy. “Well, the only thing we have in common romantically is we were both in love with the same woman once, but not at the same time.”

  Molly met Randy through Stephanie. Randy and Stephanie had been lovers when they were in high school, before discovering they were more compatible with same-sex partners. They remained best friends. Molly often wondered if she hired Randy to keep Stephanie in the fringes of her life, but he turned out to be a talented attorney and she never regretted her decision. Molly laughed harder when she saw Tammy’s face.

  “Oh,” Tammy said, her expression of surprise pr
iceless.

  Randy added, “And now I prefer my lovers with accouterments not offered by the female sex.”

  “Oh,” Tammy said again.

  Molly felt like she should say something. “I hope the fact that we’re gay doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

  Tammy laughed, waving a hand in the air. “Oh no, not at all. My best friend is a lesbian. You’re both just so pretty and she is too. You know the media makes all the lesbians look like man-haters and the gay boys like fairies with little wings, not that there’s anything wrong with that. To each his own, I say. I just wish people could see you’re just normal folks, you know?”

  Molly grinned. “I don’t know how normal you’ll think Randy is, after a few days with him. He keeps his wings tucked in, but I suspect you’ll see them before too long.”

  Randy slapped Molly hard on the shoulder. “Come on, Butch, let’s take that overcompensating sports car of yours for a ride.”

  Tammy followed them to the door. “I’ll have dinner ready about five, but if you need something before then, just ask.”

  Randy could not resist. “Tall, dark, and handsome, with a side of leather — if you can find that out here in the sticks.”

  Tammy laughed. “Honey, you’d be surprised what you can find out here in the country.”

  Molly grabbed Randy’s arm and pulled him through the door. Her jovial mood disappeared. “You keep your pecker in your pants down here. I don’t want to find you beaten silly by a bunch of rednecks.”

  “Whoa!” Randy said. “You’re really scared. I’ve never known you to be afraid of anything.”

  Molly thought it only fair to tell the people that would be near her what was going on. “Tammy, I don’t know what Brad told you, but I’ve been receiving threats. Joe did too. He thought that was why Cheryl was killed and that is why I’m here. You keep the doors locked and the alarm on.”

  Tammy nodded. “He told me a little bit, enough that I have my pistol tucked in my ankle holster.”

  Molly looked down at Tammy’s leg and saw the tell tale bulge at her ankle. She smiled back at Tammy. “Good. Just so we all know what we’re dealing with.”

  Randy looked from Molly to Tammy. “Being surrounded by pistol packing women should be reassuring, but I’m feeling a bit inadequate.”

  Molly pulled him toward the steps. “That’s okay, you charm them long enough for me to get off a shot.”

  “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better, Molly.”

  “Just duck when I say so.”

  Tammy called from the porch, “Y’all be careful, now.”

  Randy looked down at Molly. “What in the hell have you gotten us into?”

  #

  On the way to the jail, Molly filled Randy in on the details, including her role in the death of Evan Branch. With no need for directions anymore, she took a circuitous route through the tree-lined streets to the old courthouse, giving her time to tell the story. When she finished, she waited for Randy’s reaction. She pulled into a parking place near the courthouse, turned the car off, and listened to him breathe. Finally, he turned in his seat to face her.

  “Molly, I don’t know what to say. I had no idea you went through all that as a kid and to find out your mother was murdered. This must be agonizing for you.”

  “I’ll understand if you want to distance yourself from me. There may be some fallout from this and I don’t want it to taint your reputation, as well.”

  Randy grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I’ve never known anyone with more integrity than you, Molly Kincaid. I’m sticking by you, no matter what. Besides, you’re going to need a good attorney.”

  Molly gave Randy’s hand a return squeeze. “Thank you. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to back out gracefully.”

  Randy opened his car door. “Let’s go to work, boss. We’ll deal with whatever comes, together.” He turned to her. “Don’t worry, Molly. I’ve got your back.”

  Molly grinned. “I knew I hired you for something other than your pretty face.”

  Randy smiled mischievously. “You know it’s my tight ass that turns you on, admit it.”

  Laughing, Molly said, “I haven’t been turned on in so long, your ass is looking pretty good these days.”

  Randy stood up beside the car and closed the door. Molly did the same. He looked over the top of the car at her, shaking his head from side to side, saying, “Now, that is a damn shame.”

  “What?” Molly asked, joining him as they walked down the brick sidewalk toward the courthouse.

  “I’m going to have to revoke your ‘player’ card. There are women all over the Triangle that would jump at the chance to bed the ‘well-known lesbian attorney.’ You must not be trying very hard.”

  Molly rarely discussed her personal life with anyone. Randy knew only what he observed, which was not much. She just told him her darkest secret, and for some reason Molly continued to share with him. They had truly crossed the last line between boss and employee to friend. Trust was hard for Molly to invest in someone. Maybe not having anything to hide from him, made it easier to let down her guard with Randy. Molly began by telling him something she had only recently realized.

  “I’m not interested in flings anymore, Randy. So far, that hasn’t really worked out too well for me in the relationship department. Not that I was looking then or even now, just reevaluating my customary dating habits.”

  “Wow!” Randy skipped in front of her, walking backwards while he talked. “Are you okay? That’s the most you’ve ever said about your love life as long as I’ve known you.”

  “Walk beside me. You’re causing a scene.” Molly watched as people checked out the handsome couple in expensive tailored suits. Randy returned to her side. She continued, quietly, “I wasted a lot of years waiting, comparing everyone to a first love. I don’t think you can ever find that again, once it’s gone. After the opportunity with Stephanie presented itself last fall, I realized it was only perfect in my head, not in either of our hearts.”

  Randy leaned down, so he did not have to talk loud. “I can’t believe you didn’t take her drunk ass to bed. That must have been difficult to pass up.”

  “Yes, that was difficult. She is still absolutely fascinating to me, but it wouldn’t have changed anything,” Molly commented. “I think I used Stephanie to keep me from falling too hard again.”

  Randy laughed. “Lord Molly, you have been spending too much time alone. Stop trying to analyze everything and just live, girl. When you least expect it, you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

  “Well, it won’t be anytime soon. First, I have to get my ass out of this mess.”

  Randy only repeated, “When you least expect it.”

  They turned up the steps to the courthouse and Molly came face to face with a memory. She smiled up at him. “Hello, Sam.”

  Randy gave her an inquisitive look.

  Molly pointed at the statue. “He and I are old friends.”

  Randy looked up at Sam. “Must be surreal to be back here.”

  Molly stopped to give Sam a pat on the leg. “If you mean being in the last place on earth I want to be, then yes, it’s very surreal.”

  Randy looped his arm through Molly’s. “Well then, we shall dispense with this business, post haste, and get ourselves back to Durham. This too shall pass, Molly, and life will go on.”

  Molly leaned into him. “When this is over, remind me to buy you a drink.”

  He patted her hand. “Honey, if I get you out of this unscathed, you’re going to owe me a car.”

  #

  Molly and Randy were checked into the Dobbs County detention center’s attorney-client meeting room, after having their briefcases searched and passing through a metal detector. Molly left the Walther in the car. The room was a ten by ten foot square with gray walls and a bare fluorescent light fixture in the center of the ceiling. A small table and four chairs dominated the room. A barred window looked out on the parking lot. The detention c
enter and judicial building were built on the rear of the existing courthouse, after Molly moved away. It was barely twenty-five years old, but showed the wear and tear of constant use and little maintenance.

  Randy pulled out a chair for Molly and then sat down beside her. He took a legal pad out of his briefcase, placing it on the table. He was all business now, something Molly admired about him. Randy could be flighty and rarely made it through a conversation without some off color remark, but as an attorney, he was as good as they came in Molly’s estimation. His courtroom performances, and that was exactly what they were, would have made Daniel Webster proud. Molly was more certain than ever that she made the right decision, in making Randy a partner.

  Molly was retrieving her own note pad when the door scraped open. A deputy stepped in, holding the heavy metal door out of the way. Molly heard chains tinkling and dragging on the floor. The prisoner was being escorted into the room. She stood up and Randy followed her lead. Each time Molly experienced that sound, her heart quickened. Guilty or innocent, being locked in a room with a person in chains made her pulse race. It was a good feeling, oddly enough. Flirting with danger heightened Molly senses. The adrenaline rush was similar to driving fast cars, tight rope walking with death. This was where Molly felt in the most control. She was at home amid the chaos of other people’s lives. Molly found her passion within the hallowed halls of justice, defending the rights of others. Some people jumped out of airplanes to get their thrills. Molly Kincaid went to court.

  Body language could tell a lot about a person. Molly could tell only one thing about Joey Erickson when he walked in, he was big. With biceps bulging out of the short-sleeved orange jumpsuit stretched tightly across his impressive chest, the prisoner looked like a gladiator being led to the ring. He made no attempt at eye contact with anyone. He moved methodically to the chair opposite Molly’s, sat down without being prompted, placed his cuffed hands on the table, and turned to face the window with a blank stare. The only visible sign that Joey Erickson was aware of his surroundings was the slow continuous tapping of his right index finger on the table. Molly knew from her previous experience with Asperger’s that this was his way of coping with anxiety. The light, steady tap-tap on the table was reassuring to him.