Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files #8) - Jim Butcher Page 0,22

Maybe I have the wrong number. I was calling to speak to Harry Dresden?

I frowned, my mind taking in details despite my tempers bid to take over the show. The voice was familiar to me; rich, smooth, adultbut the speakers speech patterns had an odd hesitancy to them. Her words had an odd, thick edge on them, too. An accent?

Speaking, I said. Annoyed as hell, but speaking.

Oh. Is this a bad time?

I rubbed at my eyes and choked down a vicious response. Who is this?

Oh, she said, as if the question surprised her. Harry, its Molly. Molly Carpenter.

Ah, I said. I clapped one palm to my face. My friend Michaels oldest daughter. Way to role-model, Harry. You sure do come off like a calm, responsible adult. Molly, didnt recognize you at first.

Im sorry, she said.

The s sound was a little bit thick. Had she been drinking? Not your fault, I said. Which it hadnt been. For that matter, the interruption might have been a stroke of luck. If my head was still too scrambled from that afternoons automobile hijinks to remember to unplug the phone, I didnt have any business trying to cast that spell. Probably would have blown my own head off. What do you need, Molly?

Urn, she said, and there was nervous tension in her voice. I needhellip; I need you to come bail me out.

Bail, I said. Youre being literal?

Yes.

Youre in jail ?

Yes, she said.

Oh my God, I said. Molly, I dont know if I can do that. Youre sixteen.

Seventeen, she said, with sparks of indignation and another thick

s.

Whatever, I said. Youre a juvenile. You should call your parents.

No! she said, something near panic in her voice. Harry, please. I cant call them.

Why not?

Because I only get the one call, and I used it to call you.

Actually, I dont think thats exactly how it works, Molly. I sighed.

In fact, Im surprised thathellip;I frowned, thinking. You lied about your age.

If I hadnt, Mom and Dad would be here already, she said. Harry, please. Look, thereshellip; theres a lot of trouble at home right now. I cant explain it here, but if youll come get me, I swear, Ill tell you all about it.

I sighed again. I dont know, Mollyhellip;

Please? she said. Its just this once, and Ill pay you back, and Ill never ask something like this of you again, I promise.

Molly had long since earned her PhD in wheedling. She managed to sound vulnerable and hopeful and sad and desperate and sweet all at the same time. Im pretty sure she wouldnt need half that much effort to wrap her father around a finger. Her mother, Charity, was probably a different story, though.

I sighed. Why me? I asked.

I hadnt been talking to Molly, but she answered. I couldnt think who else to call, she said. I need your help.

Ill call your dad. Ill come down with him.

Please, no, she said quietly, and I didnt think she was feigning the quiet desperation in her voice. Please.

Why fight the inevitable? Ive always been a sucker for ye olde damsel in distress. Maybe not as big a sucker now as I had been in the past, but the insanity did not seem much less potent than it had always been.

All right, I said. Where?

She gave me the location of one of the precincts not too far from my apartment.

Im coming, I told her. And this is the deal: Ill listen to what you have to say. If I dont like it, Im going to your parents.

But you dont

Molly, I said, and I felt my voice harden. Youre already asking me for a lot more than I feel comfortable with. Ill come down there to get you. You tell me whats up. After that, I make the call, and you abide by it.

But

This isnt a negotiation, I said. Do you want my help or not?

There was a long pause, and she made a frustrated little sound. All right, she said. After a beat she hurried to add, And thank you.

Yeah, I said, and eyed the candles and incense, and thought about all the time Id thrown away. Ill be along within the hour.

I would have to call a cab. It wasnt the most heroic way to ride to the rescue, but walkers cant be choosers. I got up to dress and told Mouse, Im a sucker for a pretty face.

When I came out of the bedroom in clean clothes, Mouse was sitting hopefully by the door. He batted a paw at