Why did I agree to have lunch with her? Molly asked herself as she replaced the receiver.

But she knew why. Despite what Philip had cautioned, she wanted to tell Fran that for some reason Annamarie Scalli had seemed afraid.

And not of me, Molly thought. She wasn’t afraid of me, even though she was convinced I killed Gary.

O God, O God, why are You letting this happen to me? she asked silently as she collapsed onto one of the bottom stairs.

Now she heard her own sobs. I am so alone, she thought, so alone. She remembered her mom on the phone yesterday: “Dear, you’re right, it’s better we don’t come up yet.”

I wanted Mom to say they were on their way to be with me, Molly thought. I need them here, now. I need someone to help me.

At 10:30 the doorbell rang. She tiptoed to the door, leaned against it and waited. I’m not going to answer it, she thought. Whoever is there has got to think I’m not home.

Then she heard a voice. “Molly, open up. It’s me.”

With a sob of relief, Molly unlocked the door and a moment later began crying uncontrollably as she was hugged by Jenna.

“Good friend, best friend,” Jenna said, tears of sympathy in her eyes. “What can I do to help?”

Still sobbing, Molly nonetheless managed a laugh. “Turn the clock back a dozen years,” she said, “and don’t introduce me to Gary Lasch. Failing that, just be around for me.”

“Philip isn’t here yet?”

“He said he surely would be here at some point. He had to go to court.”

“Molly, you’ve got to call him. Cal got a tip. They found a trace of Annamarie Scalli’s blood on the ankle boots you were wearing Sunday night, and also in your car. I’m sorry. Cal hears that the prosecutor is going to have you arrested.”

45

After Calvin Whitehall got a call tipping him off that traces of Annamarie Scalli’s blood had been found on Molly Lasch’s shoe and in her car, he went immediately to Dr. Peter Black’s office.

“We’ve got a brand-new three-ring circus in the making,” he announced to Black, then paused as he scrutinized him closely. “You don’t seem that upset about it.”

“Am I upset that Annamarie Scalli, a potential troublemaker, isn’t out there anymore? No, I’m not,” Peter said, a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“You told me there wasn’t a shred of proof of anything, and that if she had talked, she would have incriminated herself in the process.”

“Yes, I did say that, and it’s still accurate. Nevertheless, I find myself suddenly very grateful to Molly. Sordid as all this publicity will become, it has nothing to do with either one of us, or the hospital, or Remington Health Management.”

Whitehall considered his partner’s words.

Peter Black always had been intrigued by Cal ’s ability to sit both very still and very quiet when he was concentrating. It was as though his powerful body became rocklike in its stillness.

Finally, Cal Whitehall nodded in assent. “That’s an excellent point, Peter.”

“How is Jenna taking all this?”

“Jenna is with Molly right now.”

“Is that wise?”

“Jenna understands that I will not tolerate photographs of her linked arm-in-arm with Molly showing up in the newspapers at this time. Once the merger is complete, she can be as helpful to Molly as she chooses. Until then, she’s got to keep a certain distance.”

“How much help can she be, Cal? If Molly goes to trial again, even that hotshot lawyer won’t be able to get her the kind of deal he got from the prosecutor last time.”

“I’m aware of that. But you must understand, Jenna and Molly are like sisters. I admire Jenna’s loyalty, even while I have to keep it reined in at the moment.”

Black looked at his watch impatiently. “When did he say he’d call?”

“It should be any minute now.”

“It had better be. Roy Kirkwood is coming in. He lost a patient the other day and blames it on the system. The patient’s son is on the warpath.”

“ Kirkwood is immune to a lawsuit. He did want extra tests. We can handle the patient’s son.”

“It isn’t about money.”

“Everything’s about money, Peter.”

Peter Black’s private phone rang. He picked up the receiver, listened for a moment, then touched the conference button and lowered the volume. “ Cal is here, and we’re ready, Doctor,” he said, his tone respectful.

“Good morning, Doctor,” Cal ’s commanding voice had no trace of its customary arrogance.

“Congratulations, gentlemen. I believe we have achieved another breakthrough,” the voice on the other end of the line said, “and if I’m right, all other accomplishments will pale by comparison.”

46

When Fran arrived at Molly’s home at one o’clock, it was immediately obvious to her that Molly had been crying. Her eyes were swollen, and even though she was wearing light makeup, there were traces of blotches on her cheeks.

“Come in, Fran. Philip got here a little while ago. He’s in the kitchen, watching me make a salad.”

So Philip’s here, Fran thought. I wonder what brought him up here in such a hurry? Whatever it is, I bet he won’t be happy to see me on the scene.

As they walked down the hall to the kitchen, Molly said, “Jenna was here this morning. She had to leave just a few minutes ago to meet Cal for lunch, but you know what she did, Fran? She pitched in and helped me get the house cleaned up. Maybe the police should have to take a course in how to execute a search warrant without leaving a mess.”

Molly’s voice was brittle. She sounds like she’s on the verge of hysteria or a breakdown, Fran thought.

It was obvious that Philip Matthews had come to the same conclusion. His eyes followed Molly constantly as she moved about the room, as she took the quiche from the box and put it in the oven. The entire time, she continued to speak in the same rapid, edgy voice. “Apparently they found Annamarie’s blood on the boots I was wearing Sunday night, Fran. And a trace of her blood in my car.”

Fran exchanged a heartsick glance with Philip Matthews, certain that his expression of concern was a mirror of her own.

“Who knows? Maybe this will be my last meal in this house for a while-isn’t that right, Philip?” Molly asked.

“No, it isn’t,” he replied, his voice tense.

“Meaning that after I’m arrested, I’ll get out on bail again. Well, that’s the nice thing about having money, isn’t it? Lucky people like me can just write a check.”

“Stop it, Molly,” Fran snapped. She crossed to her friend and grabbed her shoulders. “I started my investigation with the premise that you killed your husband,” she said. “Then I began to have doubts. I felt that the police should have done more digging in their investigation of Gary ’s death, perhaps considered a couple of other possibilities. But I admit I was troubled that you were so intent on finding Annamarie Scalli. And then you found her, and now she’s dead. So while I’m still not sure if you’re a pathological killer, I continue to have very real doubts. I think there is some crazy web of intrigue going on around here, and you’ve been caught in it, like someone trapped in a maze. Of course, I may be wrong. You may be what ninety-nine percent of the world seems to think you are, but I swear to you I’m in the one percent zone. I’m going to go for broke to prove you are innocent of the deaths of both Gary Lasch and Annamarie Scalli.”

“And if you’re wrong?” Molly asked.

“If I’m wrong, Molly, I’ll do my best to see that you are placed in a facility where you can be comfortable and secure and be treated.”

Molly eyes brightened with unshed tears. “I will not get weepy again,” she said. “Fran, you’re the first and only person who has indicated any willingness to pursue the possibility that I may be innocent.” She glanced over at Philip. “Including you, my dear Philip, who I know would slay tigers for me. And including Jenna, who would put her hand in the fire for me, and including my parents, who if they thought I was innocent would be here right now, raising hell. I think-and hope-I am innocent of these two deaths. If I’m not, I can promise you I won’t be around to trouble people much longer.”