We go to the door, I show my ID, but Lara’s is in the black hoodie she gave to Joshua. Exchanging a glance, I’m not sure what to do.
The doorman doesn’t even hesitate. “No ID, no entry.”
“Joshua has it—it’s in my wallet in his pocket,” she says, clasping her hands like she’s begging the guy. “You’re his uncle, right? I’m Lara… Molly’s sister.”
He does a double take, brow furrowed. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Are Joshua and Molly inside? I could go and find them—”
Lara cuts me off with a glare. I know she doesn’t want me to go without her. Still, we’re running out of time.
“They just ran in.” Another group of people crowds up behind us, and the guy waves us in. “Hurry up and come back as soon as you have it. Don’t make me come looking for you.”
I doubt he’ll leave this spot, but Lara thanks him. I give him a twenty for the cover charge, and we pull the door open. Electric guitar chords blast us in the face, and we push inside, making our way to the center, around to the staircase leading to the small booth overlooking the dance floor.
“Think he’s up there?” I’m right in Lara’s ear doing my best not to blast her eardrum.
Still, she pulls back and rubs her ear. “It’s so loud!”
We both look up, and I see a flash of light behind the closed blinds. Our eyes meet, and we run to the steps. A velvet rope is stretched across the bottom, but we push it aside. A male voice shouts behind us as we run up to Gavin’s office, and I’m digging in my pocket for my badge. It’s no good here. I’m out of district, but they don’t know that.
Catching Lara’s shoulder, I hold her behind me as I reach for the door handle, crouching as I push it open and run inside. It’s a small space, but it still takes me a second to register what’s happening on the other side of the door.
Joshua is on the floor, his head bleeding. Gavin’s back is to me, and against the wall, lifted by one of his meaty fists is Molly. Her face is purple, and her eyes are closed. He’s strangling her, and from the looks of it, she’s almost gone.
“NO!”
It’s the last thing I hear before another sharp pop!
Blood splatters against the wall in a flash, like someone threw a balloon full of red paint.
Gavin’s body flies forward as his grip on Molly releases.
I dash forward to catch her falling body, dropping to my knees and holding her up as she gasps for breath.
I look over my shoulder, and Lara stands with her arm still raised.
Molly’s small pink gun is in her hand.
21
She built the kingdom she wanted.
Lara
The gun in my hand feels too small to have taken down the man who was such an enormous presence in my life for so long.
The shot felt too quiet.
The room feels so still.
Like the calm when low tide is pulled out by a storm.
Just as fast, it all comes rushing back. I’m across the room, on my knees beside Mark when the men storm into Gavin’s office.
“Molly?” Tears blur my vision as I stroke her hair away from her face.
She’s not okay. Her eyes are bloodshot, and she can’t speak. Closing her eyes again, she seems to go to sleep.