here.
Really?
She grimaced. Im sorry. I justhellip; I really need your help. I just thought that if I could talk to you in person about it, you might behellip; I meanhellip;
I sighed. Regardless of how intriguingly rounded her tight shirt was, she was still a kid. Call a spade a spade, Molly, I said. You figured if you could get me to come all the way down here, youd have a chance to flutter your eyelashes and get me to do whatever it is you really want me to do.
She glanced aside. It isnt like that.
Its just like that.
No, she began. I didnt want this to be a bad thinghellip;
You manipulated me. You took advantage of my friendship. How is that not a bad thing? My headache started rising up again. Give me one reason I shouldnt turn and walk away right now.
Because my friend is in trouble, she said. I cant help him, but you can.
What friend?
His name is Nelson.
In jail?
He didnt do it, she assured me.
They never did. Hes your age? I asked.
Almost.
I arched an eyebrow.
Two years older, she amended.
Then tell legal-adult Nelson he should call a bail bondsman.
We tried that. They cant get to him before tomorrow.
Then tell him to bite the bullet and spend a night in the lockup or else to call his parents. I turned to go.
Molly caught my wrist. He cant , she said, desperation in her voice. Theres no one for him to call. Hes an orphan, Harry.
I stopped walking.
Well, dammit.
Id been an orphan, too. It hadnt been fun. I could tell you some stories, but I make it a personal policy not to review them often. They amount to a nightmare that started with my fathers death, followed by years and years of feeling acutely, perpetually alone. Sure, theres a system in place to care for orphans, but its far from perfect and it is, after all, a system. It isnt a person looking out for you. Its forms and carbon copies and people with names you quickly forget. The lucky kids more or less randomly get tapped by foster parents who genuinely care. But for all the puppies at the pound who dont get chosen, life turns into one big lesson on how to look out for yourselfbecause theres no one in this world who cares enough to do it for you.
Its a horrible feeling. I dont care to experience even the faded memory of itbut if I just hear the word orphan aloud, that empty fear and quiet pain come rushing back from the darker corners of my mind. For a long time Id been stupid enough to assume that I could handle everything on my own. Thats vanity, though. Nobody can handle everything by themselves. Sometimes, you need someones helpeven if that help is only giving you a little of their time and attention.
Or bailing you out of jail.
Whats your friend Nelson in for?
Reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. She took a breath and said, Its kind of a long story. But hes a sweet guy, Harry. There isnt a violent bone in his body.
Which emphasized to me just how young Molly really was. There are violent bones in everyones body, if you look deep enough. About two hundred and six of them. What about your dad? He saves people all the time.
Molly hesitated for a second, and her cheeks turned pink. Urn. My parents dont like Nelson very much. Especially my dad.
Ah, I said. Nelsons that kind of friend. Things started adding up. I asked the loaded question. Why is it so important for him to get out tonight?
Wait for it.
Molly let go of my wrist. Because he might be in danger. The weird kind of danger. He needs your help.
And there it was.
Sometimes its almost as though Im psychic.
* * *
Chapter Nine
» ^ «
Boyfriend Nelson had been arraigned two hours before. His bail had been set at enough money to make me glad that over the past year I had made it a habit to keep a chunk of cash around, just in case I needed it in a hurry. I got the fisheye from a hard-faced office matron as I counted it out in twenties. She counted it, too.
Thank you, I said. Its a wonderful feeling to be trusted.
She did not look amused. She pushed some papers at me. Sign here, please. And here.
I signed, while Molly hovered nervously in the background holding Mouses leash. Then we sat down and waited. Molly fidgeted until they brought her