Rude Awakenings

I spent the morning brushing Murphy on our balcony, cleaning, and making a grocery list. It was a lazy Sunday and things have calmed down quite a bit for me now that I’m no longer looking for work. I’ve decided to work at Bruno’s until New Years’ to cash in on the holiday money in an effort to replace the large investment check I had to write for The Glass Penny and put a buffer in my checking account but after that, I’m out. I’m feeling pretty optimistic about it.

I was looking forward to grocery shopping. I found this yummy-looking tortellini bake recipe online and wanted to try it. Supposedly it only takes 20 minutes to cook and you all know how much I love Italian food.

“Ready to go, Molly?” I asked. I put the list in my purse and went to open the door. The smile on my face disappeared immediately.

“What are you doing here?” I asked angrily.

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that my partner and I will be in the area if you see anything suspicious.” Detective Geordi gave me a facetious smile, “Please feel free to take my card and give me a call if you see anything…or change your mind about confessing to arson.”

He handed me his business card and walked away, whistling a jaunty tune. Molly had seen and heard the whole thing.

“What was that about?” She asked as we left.

“They still think I burned down Eddie’s theatre. I can’t believe this. I’m going to call Shelby as soon as we get back. This is harassment!”

We walked to Molly’s car and she was quiet until we got in it.

“Well….did you?” She asked.

“Did I what? Are you seriously asking me if I committed arson!?” I was livid.

“Obviously, Faith, your alibi doesn’t seem to be as rock solid as you thought it was if they are basically following you all over town and surveilling our apartment. And no one ever actually asked you if you did it.”

“Molly, I did NOT light Eddie’s theatre on fire! I can’t even believe that you’d think I was capable of doing that!”

“You were pretty angry with him…” She said turning out of the parking garage.

“MOLLY! I did not burn down his theatre! I was at work!”

“Well, obviously, they have more on you than you think they do. The police don’t just follow people without good reason or evidence, Faith!”

Molly was irritated.

“You mentioned you got into it with Brad over him giving you an alibi for your apartment fire, do you think he could have lied to make it seem like you WOULD do this kind of thing? Just how short with him WERE you?” She asked.

I know I was rude to Brad but he wouldn’t try to get me convicted of serial arson for not wanting to catch up with him, right?

“Molly, that is outrageous! Brad would never…”

“Well, I suggest you figure SOMETHING out because I am not really enjoying the cops showing up at my apartment whenever they feel like it, okay?”

I sat back in my seat and let out a deep breath. This was our first roommate fight since moving in together and it had taken me completely off-guard.

“Molly, what is the problem? Why are you so angry? It’s not like the police want to question YOU!”

Molly looked at me indignantly.

“You have NO idea, do you?” She asked angrily.

“About what!?” I held my hands up at my sides.

“Faith…I have been risking my career for you! The only reason you were offered the position for The Glass Penny a second time was because I basically told Zeke and his rich old lady friend that if they didn’t offer you a contract I wouldn’t do it. They didn’t WANT to offer it to you because they think you burned Eddie’s theatre down. EVERYONE thinks you did it, not just them. Ashley and Nick and Riley…none of them wanted to work with you… I am the only one who has been defending you and you’re acting like this arson business with the cops isn’t a big deal!”

“I…oh.” I said. I was incredibly hurt. “Molly, I…I’m sorry. But I don’t know what to do here. It IS a big deal but I didn’t do it. I guess I just figured that would be enough for the police to leave me alone. I mean…I gave them TWO alibis…what else am I supposed to do?”

She pulled into a parking lot at the grocery store and parked the car.

“Why don’t you call Mike and see if he can help exonerate you or something?”

“You know why I can’t call him.” I said quietly and looked down at my hands.

“Well, maybe you need to ask yourself what you would like to do more: go to jail or call Mike.”

She slammed her car door and walked into the store.

The trip and subsequent ride home were filled with an icy silence. I tried to apologize to her again for being such a pain in the ass but she didn’t want to hear it. I put the groceries away when we got home, left a message for Shelby at her office, and started to make dinner.

“I’m staying at Calvin’s for awhile.” Molly said as she came out of her room with a duffel bag.

“Molly, please, you don’t have to leave…”

“I just want some space, Faith, okay? Just leave me alone for a bit.”

I was hurt but I nodded. I understand Molly’s frustration and anger and I wish this all wasn’t happening. I don’t want to lose Molly as a friend so I sat down at the dining room table with my cell phone and took a shaky breath.

I had a very important phone call to make.