The Spy You Trust

Chapter 10

“It’s been two days, Durell. We need to find her. She’s the key to this whole thing.” Marcello was pacing in his office as Durell sat in a chair watching him.

“I know, sir. We have the license plate of the car they used to escape. Sooner or later they’ll mess up and we’ll find them.” Durell sounded confident in his prediction.

Marcello stopped pacing and looked at him. “This is your fault. You let those children get the better of you. We could be moving along in our plan right now if you hadn’t let them take you down.”

Durell opened his mouth to argue but knew it was no use. “Yes sir. I’ll do better. I’ll get her back.” Just then his phone went off. He looked down at the text message he’d just received. “Sir. They found them.”

“Well? Where are they?” Marcello slammed his hands on his desk.

“It looks like they were just spotted outside the city of Chicago. Do you think they’ll stop there?”

Marcello’s face grew a wicked smile. “Oh, I’m positive they will. It’s the one place Molly always talked about visiting. Go. Find them. Bring her back.”

Durell nodded and stood up to leave.

“Oh, and Durell? Kill the other two. They’re of no use to me anymore.”

* * *

Molly sat in the backseat of the car. She still couldn’t believe that Charles had lied to her and been sleeping with Layla this whole time. She looked out the window at the city flying by. Her whole body was stiff from being stuck in the car and she wanted some space from her two allies. Not to mention that her right arm started to itch under the cast they received at the emergency room.

Layla didn’t want to stop at all until they reached Chicago, but Charles insisted. He wanted to be sure that Molly’s arm healed properly. That meant seeing a real doctor. So, after being sure they were far enough away from Los Angeles, they made a quick pitstop at an emergency room in Nebraska.

Now, they were finally in the city that Molly had always wanted to live in. She couldn’t enjoy the view like she wanted to though. Her mind was too occupied with thoughts about Charles and Layla and how they had lied to her.

Molly glanced back at the front of the car to get a look at Charles. This was the longest she hadn’t talked to him. She was used to talking to him every day for at least five minutes. Now here she was. Two days of not saying a word except to the E.R. doctor. She almost broke her silence and spoke to him when Charles turned his head towards Layla and gave her a loving smile. His betrayal hit her all over again and she turned her attention out the window.

Charles pulled the car up along a less busy street. He parked in front of an apartment building and turned around. Molly turned her head to look at him.

“So, um, this is it. I called and the apartment I put on hold last week is available.” Charles tried to give Molly a smile.

Molly angrily looked back out the window at the building. It really was nice looking, but there was no way she was going to admit that to Charles.

Layla sighed and opened her car door. “Come on. She’ll follow.”

Molly scoffed at Layla for assuming what she would or wouldn’t do. Charles looked hesitant and sad but got out of the car anyway. He walked around the side of the car and grabbed their bags as he waited for Molly.

‘I could either sit here all day or go inside.’ Molly thought as she considered her options. Suddenly the idea of a nice warm shower became appealing to her, so she opened the door and hopped out of the car. She grabbed the crutch she obtained at the emergency room and followed Charles and Layla to the front door.

After a long elevator ride to the 11th floor, Charles stopped in front of apartment seven. He took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. Inside, the apartment was fully furnished and stocked with food. The kitchen connected to a large living room that had two doors leading to the bedrooms. The bathroom was attached to each bedroom in the middle.

Molly didn’t even wait to give Charles or Layla a chance to say anything before she went into the closest bedroom and slammed the door. Leaning her back against the door, she took a few deep breaths to try to control her anger. She looked around and realized that the room was decorated for her. It was exactly how she told Charles she would’ve decked out her room at the institution if she could have.

Molly’s heart softened a bit as she took everything in. She couldn’t believe that Charles had done all of this just for her. He really was like the big brother she always wanted. Not wanting them to come in, she went into the bathroom and started the shower. She heard Layla saying something to Charles in the living room, so she went back to her bedroom door and cracked it a little to listen.

Charles was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

“Hey. You okay?” Layla asked sitting down next to him.

“She hates me. And I don’t blame her, Layla. I lied to her for six years! I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me for this.” Charles let out a sniffle. He was crying.

Layla put her arm around his shoulders. “Hey. Yes, she will. It was just a big shock to her. Imagine if you found out she was dating someone you hated. You’d be pretty mad too.” She took her hand and lifted his chin so he was looking at her. “But you’d forgive her. You’d get over it for the sake of your friendship. Just give her some time.”

Charles stood up and walked around the coffee table. “Time.” He scoffed. “It’s been two days! Two days she hasn’t talked to me! Trust me. That girl knows how to hold a grudge.”

Layla rubbed her temples. “Okay, listen. Don’t get mad though, alright? Are you sure that you don’t want to tell her about… ya know?”

Charles just stared at her.

‘Oh great. What other secret is he hiding from me?’ Molly thought as she kept listening.

“Really? She’s already not talking to me. Do you really think she’ll ever get over it if she finds out about it now?”

Layla stood up and was using her hands for emphasis. “I don’t want to fight. I was just thinking, if you wait until she forgives you about lying to her about us, she’s just going to get pissed all over again when you tell her about her abilities. But, if you tell her now, she may come to accept it around the same time that she accepts you and me.”

‘What the hell? What abilities do they keep going on about?” Molly’s face contorted in confusion.

“I already told you, I need time to think. It’s hard to assess her state of mind when she’s mad at me and we’re stuck in a car. She can’t handle it. If it ruins our friendship, then let it be damned. Molly’s not strong enough right now.” Charles stated like that was the end of the conversation.

Molly had enough of them talking about her behind her back. She swung the door wide open and limped out into the living room.

Charles jumped when he saw her come out. “Oh! Hey Molly. I thought you were taking a shower. Did you want something to eat?”

Molly glared at him and put her casted arm on her hip.

Layla stepped forward. “How much of our conversation did you hear?”

Molly turned towards her. She had enough with the lies and secrets. She raised one eyebrow at Layla.

Layla started to walk closer to her, but Charles grabbed her arm.

“Don’t.” He whispered.

Charles pulled her back gently and Layla turned and looked at him. He shook his head no and turned his attention back to Molly.

“So, if you’re not hungry, is there something else that you’d like?”

“How about the damn truth.” Molly spoke for the first time in days.