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Molly felt her shoulders lift as more of her tension fell away. From a girl who rarely ventured out into the world to someone who now had friends she felt she could count on. She would hold on to that when she met with the District Attorney.
She didn't feel so alone anymore.
Molly had seen the District Attorney, Valerie Wielding, in court and seen her surgically dissect the lies of one witness and nearly reduced a defendant to tears, as his crimes were proven one by one in front of him.
But... She'd also see the District Attorney do everything she could do to protect the innocent victims in those cases. She was like a fierce mama bear with elegant clothes and pumps with three-inch heels that looked like she could be at home on a Paris runway.
After nearly an hour of conversation at the doctor's posh dining table, Molly was feeling a little like a Christmas lawn decoration in the light of day, deflated and motionless on the grass.
"I know this is all hard to hear, but I'm telling you what will likely happen."
Molly nodded. "Even if I do recover my memories and can reconstruct the transcript, without the tape to corroborate the statements by Eddie Simons, they won't accept the transcript as a faithful record."
Valerie reached out and set her hand on Molly's. "It would already be difficult getting the transcription in on its own. The defense team would offer up a challenge based on the Sixth Amendment."
Molly's gaze dropped to the tabletop and listened to the words in her head in regards to the United States Constitution. She'd have to remember to thank her eight grade teacher Mrs. Witchy. "The right to confront witnesses against them."
Nodding, Valerie gave her an almost-smile. "And without the tape giving his words in his own voice, they could argue that you were making up the transcript. And," Valerie shifted slightly on her chair as she leaned in a little closer, "they would certainly dig up what they feel would be a relationship between you and Detective Rafferty. Then they could argue that you're doing this for him. To help his investigation or career. If that were to happen and the public believed that there was bias on your part-"
"I wouldn't be able to work for the courts, the police department... or anything like them, every again."
"That's something we'd have to consider, but it would come down to you, Molly."
Molly hated this. She hated it with a passion that she didn't know she had the energy for. "I don't want to lose my job. I like doing it. I like helping people. Especially because I can do it hiding away. Being alone and in that quiet is what I've craved forever.
"But you're right. There is something between myself and Jacob. Or, at least I think there is. That would make any testimony I give biased because of that."
Valerie shrugged, but it was a look that belied how on-the-nose her comment was.
"The amount of time that we'd spend trying to prove otherwise would take the focus off of the other evidence. Which," she sighed, "we don't have a lot of at this point."
Molly shook her head. "I feel responsible for this happening. I dream about that night, or rather the big dark empty space where my memories should be. It's... it's terrifying, being locked away in the dark when I've lived my life both hating and counting on my odd skill. And now when I really need it, it's gone."
The District Attorney gave her hand a squeeze. "You had nothing to do with this, Molly. You did your job and did it well. I've never had a complaint from the court staff when you've been a court reporter and your coworkers count you as one of, if not the best, in the office."
Molly smiled and still she heard the unspoken words from the District Attorney, or perhaps it was her supervisor who had omitted the words on her own. There were a couple of people in the office who didn't like Molly's speed and/or her accuracy. They saw it like it was a competition between the people who did transcriptions.
Molly saw it was doing her job and helping the innocent.
Still-
There was a knock at the door and Molly sat back in her chair, her head turning toward the doctor, who made his way across the room. He turned his head back over his shoulder as he neared the door. "Molly, that's going to be Detective Rafferty. Do you want me to tell him to go away?"
"No. No..." She stood up, gently extracting her hand from the District Attorney and then settled her hands at her sides. "I need to talk to him." She turned and looked at the District Attorney. "Do you need anything else from me?"
Valerie stood and shook her head. "I'll keep in touch as the investigation continues. I am sorry that this happened to you."
Molly managed a smile. "I was in there after hours. I don't blame anyone."
Nodding her head, the District Attorney spoke one last time. "Security has already re-evaluated the situation in the records building. When you come back, they'll walk you through the additional security measures that they've put in place."
The front door opened and Molly heard Doctor Webb's voice rumble through the room. "You might as well come in, Detective. We've found ourself with an open house somehow."
The District Attorney reached out and gave her shoulder a squeeze before turning around toward the door.
Jacob stood just inside the doorway on the left and Miriam was standing beside Doctor Webb, her arm wrapped around his and her hand held gently in his hand as well.
The District Attorney moved first.
