Page 19 of Safeguarding the Witness

Spence wasn’t trying to take their place. It wasn’t his job to be a substitute for her family. Mollie needed to make up her own mind. “What do you want? What needs to happen for you to feel all right?”

“Hard to say.” She reclaimed her hand and stared out the windshield into a quiet neighborhood with houses still lit and forest towering behind them. “When I was growing up, I had a steady support system. My dad was mostly out of the picture, but Madison was always there for me. And my cousins, Erin and Bethany.”

“The Four-Leaf Clovers,” he said, remembering the tattoo above her ankle.

“Did you know them? I think Bethany is about your age.”

Everybody at Cloverdell High knew the Clovers—four good-looking women who lived with their great-aunt. In spite of complicated and tragic events in their early years, they seemed to lead charmed lives with their caretaker providing for them. “Bethany was the oldest. She’s two years younger than me. Shy and gentle. A quiet beauty.”

“Not like Erin,” Mollie said. “She was boy crazy. That sounds old-fashioned. Do people still say that? Boy crazy?”

He shrugged. “When Erin got herself into trouble, she was usually with your twin, Madison.”

“Their friendship made me jealous,” she admitted. “They were always plotting and giggling. And I was the permanent designated driver. Good old dependable Mollie.”

“I remember you and Madison.” The twins were five years younger than he was. In teenage years, that was like a generation. He and his friends considered them to be immature but still pretty. “I dropped off my youngest brother at his Senior Prom, and I saw you and your sister. You wore a long, soft gown of pastel blue, and Madison had on a short, tight red dress. You looked like an angel and a devil.”

“Except I was the one in the sexy red dress. Madison bet me that I wouldn’t wear it. So I absolutely had to.”

“You don’t like being teased.”

“My sister could always push my buttons.” The corner of her mouth lifted in a fond grin. The memories seemed to calm her down. Her rapid breathing became steadier, and her voice dropped to a gentle tone.

When she relaxed and he glimpsed the complicated woman at her core, he found her more attractive. She was artistic but practical. Gentle but strong. She seemed careless about her appearance, which made her more beautiful. “You’re an interesting woman, Mollie.”

“Me? Not really. Dad says I’m like a Volkswagen bug. Down-to-earth, serviceable and cute. Madison is a Ferrari.”

She was too damn pretty to think of herself as a bug. First chance he got, Spence vowed to buy her a sexy dress and give her a chance to shine.

She exhaled a heavy sigh. “I wonder why Aunt Irma arranged for all of us to be together for the reading of the will.”

“Wish I could tell you.” Spence had taken several meetings with Irma Winchell, but her primary attorney had been his grandfather, Oliver Cameron. He was retired but kept a few of his faithful clients, like Mollie’s great-aunt.

“Maybe she had something special for the three of us to share,” she said. “Or some kind of family secret.”

“You can find out tomorrow at the memorial,” he reminded her. “If you decide to stay for it. If not, I can book you on a charter flight back to Denver or wherever.”

“I’m here,” she said firmly. “I’m not leaving until I have some answers.”

“Glad to hear it.” He was less pleased when she focused her gaze directly at him. Her attitude took on a sharpness that she’d shown only twice before: when she tossed her phone out of the car window and the time when she paid him a dollar to be her attorney.

She mentioned that moment. “I have a question, Spence. You still work for me, right?”

“You paid my retainer.” He nodded carefully, aware that sweet Mollie could easily switch into a devilish red demon. “I’m your bodyguard. I handle your security. And provide legal opinions.”

“I want you to find out who the hell is after me. And why.”

Before he could answer, he heard a transmission from Rossi. “We pulled over the car that was following you. The driver got out of the car.”

Spence informed Mollie. “Rossi has the driver in custody.” To Rossi, he said, “Good work.”

“It’s a woman,” Rossi said.

“What?”

“The driver of the Camry is a woman whose name is Erin Eckhart. Her four-year-old daughter is asleep in her car seat.”

Spence gave Mollie the news. “The person following us was your cousin, Erin.”