Page 23 of One of Us Is Guilty

‘Patrick has been great. I’m all up to speed with—’

‘Did I hear my name being used in vain?’ said Patrick as he wandered into the kitchen. He moved straight for Vanessa, putting a proprietary arm around her waist.

‘Not everything is about you,’ said Vanessa. ‘I’m just asking Molly if she’s finally found her feet. It’s not easy, running after you and making sure you’re organized and on time, and in the right place.’

‘Molly has been a breath of fresh air. She’s doing great,’ he said, and stood beside Vanessa so he could face Molly.

‘Thank you both,’ said Molly. ‘I’m really grateful for the opportunity. I enjoy the job. I really do. You’ve both been so kind and, well, really generous.’

As she spoke those last two words, she emphasized the point by placing her finger on her chin, flashing the same wrist on which hung the bracelet.

Vanessa’s jaw clenched.

‘I’d better get back to Geoff in the war room. He wanted to go over your schedule for the week. There’s a lot of meetings still to finalize and I have calls to make,’ said Molly.

She spun around and headed for the door.

Before she reached it, Patrick called after her. ‘You’re doing great, Molls.’

So, he had a pet name for her now, too.

‘Is she really doing great?’ asked Vanessa.

‘She’s wonderful, yeah,’ he said. And then, after a moment, ‘Why do you ask?’

‘I don’t trust her. Something about her feels off, like she’s hiding something,’ she said.

‘That’s all in your head. She’s fine. Look, I’m really sorry about the party. My father said the campaign comes first.’

‘It’s okay,’ she said, then broke from her husband’s grasp, turning to face the kitchen window. In the reflection, she saw him walk away.

With every step, his gaze fixed on the figure up ahead.

The figure of Molly.

Vanessa knew right then that Molly could destroy everything. She also knew Molly had courage. She had stood there, in Vanessa’s kitchen, and flaunted that bracelet. That was brave, or stupid. Or both. There was a lot more to this young woman than Vanessa had first thought.

Vanessa could no longer ignore this situation.

Molly Green was a lot smarter than the ditzy wannabee models that Geoff usually hired. What was worse, Molly seemed to be hiding that intelligence.

There was no other way around this. Molly had to be dealt with.

One way, or another.

5

Patrick Vanderpool

January 3rd

Six weeks prior to the murder of Molly Green

‘I might have to cancel that Hamptons thing,’ said Patrick, from the bedroom.

As he let those words into the air, he froze in front of the bedroom mirror, his tie pinched between his fingers, collar up, ready to make his attempt at a half-Windsor knot, head cocked to the side, listening for a response from their adjoining bathroom.

Nothing.