Flesh and Blood (A DI Amy Winter Thriller) by Caroline Mitchell (best love novels of all time .TXT) 📗

What surprised her was Molly’s reaction prior to Gary’s arrest. Amy caught the panic in her eyes long before they approached. Had she known they were coming for Gary? Amy prayed that her young protégée had not been involved. At least now they could talk on their own. The office was cooler today. The worst of the heat had passed. It would make the journey to London a lot nicer if it held.

Amy nodded an acknowledgement to Molly as she sat in the hard plastic chair. Flipping two tubes of sugar, Amy tore them open and spilled them into the contents of her coffee cup. The coffee was lukewarm now, but much appreciated.

Molly smiled nervously, suddenly tongue-tied.

‘Be honest with me, Molly,’ Amy said, staring her down. ‘What have you got yourself mixed up in? Is it Gary? Are you tied into all this? Because if you are . . .’

‘No, not at all,’ Molly interrupted, sitting bolt upright in her chair. ‘I was gutted to find out about Gary. I can’t believe how stupid he’s been. I remember when I was on FaceTime with Matty, and I came out to find him near the door. He’d been listening in all along . . .’ Molly’s words faded as her sense of betrayal became evident.

‘So, if it’s not Gary, then what?’ Amy leaned forward, her words firm. ‘Don’t make me prise this out of you, I don’t have the energy.’ She gave her coffee a stir before taking a sip.

Molly pursed her lips as she bought a few seconds of time. ‘I’ve been ill for half of my life. In and out of hospitals since I was a baby.’ She stared at her hands, which were clasped tightly on her lap. ‘I had a heart transplant when I was twelve. I nearly died. That’s why Mum and Dad never took me anywhere. They’re very protective of me.’

Amy remained silent, relieved that this was as far as her confession went.

‘Mum was scared I’d pick up infections, so she wrapped me in cotton wool.’

‘Is that it?’ Amy said. ‘Because you looked terrified coming in here.’

‘That’s bad enough though, isn’t it?’ Molly’s eyes flicked up towards Amy’s face. ‘You asked me in interview if anything was worrying me, anything that would cause you concern. I should have told you then. But I was scared you wouldn’t take me on.’

‘But you’re OK now?’ Amy relaxed into her seat as she sipped the rest of her coffee. She failed to see what Molly was getting so worked up about.

‘Yes, I passed my medical when I joined. But I should have been upfront with you.’

But Amy simply smiled. ‘Why on earth did you think I wouldn’t let you join because of that?’

Molly’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. ‘Because that’s how I’ve been treated all my life. Mum home-schooled me. I wasn’t allowed to go to parties in case I picked up germs. I couldn’t go on public transport. We didn’t go on holiday. But that was as much about her as me. My heart is strong.’ Slowly, Molly undid two buttons on her blouse to reveal a scar running down her chest.

‘And that’s everything?’ Amy said, as Molly rebuttoned her blouse.

‘But . . .’ Molly’s eyes moistened. ‘I lied. I should have been upfront.’

‘You should have,’ Amy agreed. ‘Because I could have put your mind at rest. I checked your medical records, Molly. I knew all about your transplant.’

Molly’s lips parted in surprise. ‘But . . . you never said anything.’

‘Because I didn’t think it was relevant. But if there’s anything worrying you in future, you’ve got to come to me . . . Perhaps there was a time in Gary’s career when he could have done the same,’ she added sagely. ‘It’s not the trouble you get into, it’s how you handle it that counts.’ The words were said with authority. Amy had always held her hands up to any wrongdoings and faced her punishment head on. But a team without trust was built on shaky foundations.

‘I’ve grown up putting a brave face on everything.’ Molly’s words were tempered with regret. ‘Mum suffers from anxiety. I’ve always been the strong one. I coped with things by pretending they weren’t happening and focusing on the good.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with being optimistic,’ Amy replied. ‘But you’ve got to develop some better coping mechanisms than putting on a brave face. You can’t blame your mother for this. Do you think I’d be a good DI if I put my failings down to Lillian?’

Molly shook her head.

‘Because your mum may be anxious, but at least she cares about you. You need to have this conversation with her, not me. Be honest with her. Stand on your own two feet.’

‘Sorry,’ Molly replied, her chin giving a little wobble.

It pained Amy to see her reduced to tears. ‘Molly, stop apologising. You’re a brilliant investigator with a bright future ahead of you. But take my advice: be more Xena Warrior Princess and less Princess Bubblegum.’ Amy’s frown eased. ‘What have I always told you? As the only two women on this team, we need to have each other’s backs.’ She leaned forward, her eyes wide as she pressed her point home. ‘I’ve got your back.’

‘I’ve always thought Princess Bubblegum was pretty cool,’ Molly snickered, tears of relief trickling down her face. She quickly brushed them away. ‘Thanks. And I swear, I’ll come to you in future if anything is worrying me.’

‘Make sure you do.’ Amy’s words came on the tail of a sigh. She glanced at her watch. ‘We’re pretty much done here, apart from debrief. When that’s done, you can take the morning off. Get on a couple of rides, play those silly arcade machines.’

‘But . . .’

‘No buts.’ Amy raised her hand. ‘Just be back by two. Go on. It’s been a pretty emotional few days. We need you at peak form for when we start back at Notting Hill.’

‘Thanks, ma’am.’ Molly flashed a smile. ‘I appreciate it. And maybe we can talk