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“I guess you’ll go to Juneau,” she finally says.
“I don’t know. I might’ve damaged that bridge beyond repair.”
“Doubtful. You have his child.”
Jillian. An ache moves through my stomach, and I don’t feel like arguing anymore. The hotel rises before us, and I follow Molly through the revolving door. A stone table holds an enormous dispenser of iced cucumber water, and she stops to pour a glass.
She’s taking a sip when her phone lights up, and we both jump. “It’s Joshua,” she hisses, slamming the glass on the counter.
Turning the face so I can see it, his text reads, Brisbee said he’ll see you. Be at Café Solstice tomorrow noon.
Again, I feel sick and anxious. Molly is excited. We go to the elevator, and she paces the small box as I watch the numbers count up to five. The door bings, and we get out, going quickly down the short maze to our rooms.
I stand at my door, waiting as she opens hers across the hall. “Want to meet for breakfast?”
“I’ll probably sleep in,” she says.
I have no idea if I’ll sleep at all. “I’ll call you when it’s time to go.”
“I’ll meet you in the lobby at eleven-thirty.”
She goes into her room, and the door slams shut. I slide the card and enter mine. A large bed fills most of the space. No sheet, only a thick, white comforter is on top of a covered mattress. My mind swirls as I stand in the doorway trying to plan what could happen tomorrow. I have no idea what to expect from this meeting.
I’m startled when Molly’s door across the hall slams again, and I dash to mine, only to see her disappearing through the stairwell exit at the end of the hall. She’s practically sprinting, and by the time I get there, she’s gone. I hurry back to my room and go to the window, straining my head to try and see the street below.
I don’t see anything.
I don’t know where she went or why.
Grabbing my phone, I text with trembling fingers. What are you doing?
Two seconds pass…
Five…
No reply.
I feel sick. Did she hear from Joshua? Is she going to confront Gavin alone? I’m nervous and anxious and worried, which is ridiculous at this late date. She’s demonstrated over and over her ability to survive, to exact her justice and get away with it.
Still…
Gavin is a different matter altogether. He’s as much of a survivor as she is, and while her previous victims were clueless and easily duped, Gavin is smart. He knows us, and he’ll know why we’re coming. He’ll know what he has to lose.
Coming here, waking these demons has never been my plan.
Since I had Jillian, I’ve realized the choices that had to be made for our lives to turn out as they did, and I want to distance us from these nightmares. I thought getting out of there would set me free, but instead, I’m chained by this never-ending quest.
It might be freeing her, but Molly’s relentless pursuit hasn’t given me satisfaction. It has left me hollow and alone. I walk through the silent room to the window and look out into the night wondering what she’s doing right now and why she feels like she needs me here.
Maybe Roland is right, and I’ve done enough. I’ve sacrificed more than I ever imagined for her. I have my own daughter now, my own family. Perhaps it’s time to cut Molly loose and let her follow her dark path without me.
I prepare for bed with concrete in my stomach.
Before I shut off the light, I text her one more time. Tell me what’s happening.
The only response is silence.
5
