Page 137 of Trust No One

“There’s fresh coffee in the pot. And more bagels than we can eat in a week.”

“Thanks.”

I followed Judson as he strode toward the kitchen. Ken always brought flowers or candies. Judson wasn’t that smooth.

Judson grabbed a cup, poured some coffee, movements unhurried, no trace of the stress of a triple homicide.

“Molly,” he said, keeping his voice easy. “I’m Judson,” he said. “Remember me? I came to dinner at your house with your parents. And I drove you home from the hospital.”

“Sure. Mommy made pasta. You strapped in my car seat.”

“That’s exactly right.” He remained on the other side of the island but leaned toward her as he spoke. No edge. No desperation. Just two folks talking. Most cops radiated need—the itch to close cases all-consuming—but not Judson.

Still, Molly studied him warily. She wasn’t as charmed by him as she had been by Ken. She had figured out that Judson wanted something. Ken did, too, but he was slicker.

“I’m sorry about your mom and dad.”

Her brow knotted. “I want them to come home.”

“I do, too. I knew them when we were all kids. Raine, too. We went to school together.”

“I saw the picture Dad had of everyone.”

He grinned. “I guess I’m a lot older and fatter now.”

A slight smile.

He slipped out his phone. “Got another picture I’d like to show you. Do you mind looking at it?”

“Okay.”

Soon Molly’s numbness would wear off and she’d realize how her life had changed. Judson understood this, and that’s why he hadn’t delayed this visit.

He showed her a shot of Gabe, Molly, and Amy. “Looks like you three were having a fun day,” Judson said.

Molly took a bite of bagel. “We went to the zoo. I liked the giraffes.”

“Can you tell me who the lady is?”

There was a dollop of cream cheese on her chin. “It’s a secret.”

“Your dad told me her name is Amy. Is that right?”

Surprise raised the girl’s brows. “Yes.”

“She’s smiling. She looks happy here.”

Molly shrugged.

“Did you see Amy a lot?”

“Sometimes.”

Leaning closer, I wiped the cream cheese dotting her chin. “It’s okay to talk about her. The old secrets don’t matter now.”

A young face shouldn’t have such a deep frown. “Daddy liked Amy. He made her laugh.”

“What did they talk about?” Judson asked.