Page 60 of The Vegas Rerun
“Is everything ok Mr Redfern? Do you need me to find something for you?” she says.
“No, it’s ok,” I tell her. “I just need to check something.”
“Ok, I’ll be over there if you need me,” she says.
She’s pointing at her desk, but I’m focused on my task, and I absent-mindedly thank her without actually looking where she’s pointing.
I open the drawer for the files for people whose names begin with M, N or O, and I flick through the files. There it is.
Molly Matthews. I pick the file up and open it, looking at her personal details section. Her emergency contact is blank. That figures. She always kept her personal life close to the vest.
But she couldn’t not give her address. There it is. I already know the street and the building name; I just need theapartment itself. I feel kind of bad doing this, but I still feel a flicker of excitement when I find the information I need. Molly lives on the second floor in unit number 203. I know why I am excited – it’s the thought of seeing Molly. I feel like this every day on my way into work knowing she will be there.
I stare at the paper for a long minute. This is invasive. Wrong. And I don’t care.
I shut the file, put it away, and head back out of the office.
CHAPTER 40
JOSHUA
I driveto Molly’s apartment building before I can talk myself out of it. It’s not too far from the office building and before I know it, I’m pulling up outside of the building. The building is old looking but well kept. It’s a five-story building with faded blue siding, little balconies, and a tiny parking lot with numbered spaces. Molly’s spaces are both taken so I park in a guest space. I get out of the car and slam the door shut behind me. There’s a wind chime rattling somewhere on a balcony, a metallic tinkling that sets my nerves on edge.
I head over to the front door and find the bell for her unit – 203. I’m so glad I decided to break the rules and check in Molly’s file because the doorbells are only labelled with apartment numbers, not names.
I raise a hand and press the bell. I wait impatiently until the intercom crackles and someone speaks to me. Has Molly seriously given the wrong apartment number for her personnel file? Because the voice, while female, isn’t Molly.
“Hello?” the voice says.
“Umm hi,” I say. “I’m looking for Molly. Molly Matthews.”
“This is her mom,” the voice says, and I relax a little bit. I do have the right apartment. I wasn’t expecting a gatekeeper though. “Molly had a bit of an accident, and she isn’t seeing anyone right now.”
“I know about the accident. I’m Joshua Redfern. Molly is my secretary,” I say.
“Well, I’ll tell her you dropped by,” her mom says.
“No, wait,” I say. “I just … I need to see her. Please.”
She must hear the desperate tone in my voice because she sighs and then the lock clicks open.
“Come on up,” she says.
I whip the door open before she can change her mind. I hurry up the stairs to the second floor and find apartment number 203. I raise my hand to tap on the door, but I see it’s already ajar.
“Hello?” I call from the doorway.
“Come on in,” Molly’s mom calls. “Close the door behind you.”
I do as she says, and I find myself in a decent sized open plan living area. A woman who looks like an older version of Molly is sitting on the couch. She’s wearing cream pants and a pale green blouse which looks great with her red hair. She smiles and stands up and extends her hand.
“I’m Hayley,” she says.
“Joshua,” I say, shaking her hand.
“I’ll take you to Molly, but I’m not guaranteeing she’ll want to speak to you,” she says.
I feel my face fall with this news and Hayley looks at me for a moment.
