Submission

“I haven’t even unpacked the samples yet.”

“Yeah, well, do it. I need the results yesterday.”

I closed the phone and walked in the opposite direction from where Molly had gone.

MOLLY CHECKED THE address on her notepad. A modified pickup truck sat in front of the place in question, and a guy was carrying a box out and putting it in the truck bed.

“Excuse me,” she said, approaching him as she tucked the pad back into her bag. “I was wondering if you could tell me where I could find Joann Bennett?”

The guy stared at her. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m Molly Laraway, Claire Laraway’s sister.”

Since he didn’t seem to recognize her, she suspected that he’d never met her twin.

“Oh, yeah. Joann’s ex-roommate. You’ll find her inside.”

Molly looked over the items already crammed into the back of the truck. “Thanks.”

She stepped over the curb and nearer to the door, knocking on the jamb when she found the door was open.

“Miss Bennett?” she called out.

A woman carrying another box came out of what looked like a bedroom, the small living room before her empty of furniture. She looked at Molly, then put the box on top of another one, flushed from her activities. “Are you here to see the apartment?” she asked, pushing her hair back. Then she seemed to get a closer look at Molly and her face went white.

“I’m Claire’s twin,” Molly said quickly. “I was hoping you might have a couple of minutes.”

“Jesus, for a minute I thought you were her.”

“I’ve been getting that a lot lately.” She moved out of the way of the guy, who was coming back inside. “I won’t keep you long, I promise. I just wanted to ask a couple of questions.”

Joann looked at the man, who shrugged. “Sure. Why not?” She sighed. “I’d offer you something to drink, but I’ve already cleared out the kitchen.”

“Moving?” Molly stated the obvious.

“Yes. I was having a hard time finding another roommate and, well—” she lifted her left hand “—my boyfriend proposed.”

Molly smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

She moved aside again as the guy—apparently the fiancé—hefted another box and made his way back outside. “I’m sure Claire would have been happy for you.”

“I don’t know about that. Claire never met Nick.”

“So you two didn’t spend a lot of time here?”

“More like Claire didn’t spend a lot of time here. Do you mind if I work while we talk?”

“No. Go ahead.” Molly moved nearer to the door she’d disappeared into. “So you and my sister weren’t close?”

“No, unfortunately, we weren’t.” Joann wrapped a ceramic knickknack and placed it in an open box. “Truth is, we never got much of a chance to get to know each other well. She only moved in two months before she…died.”

Molly remembered her mother giving her the change of address, although she’d never had cause to use it herself.

“Isn’t that dangerous?” she asked. “Living with someone you don’t know well?”

Joann shrugged as she wrapped another item. “I’ve had at least seven roommates throughout college up until now. I’ve never run into any problems. Well, not many, anyway, you know, beyond loud nighttime activities and a piece of jewelry or designer clothing going missing. But even that didn’t happen often.” She began closing the box. “It’s hard to make the rent as a single nowadays, as you may know.”

Actually, Molly didn’t know. Straight out of high school she’d interned at a law office that had hired her part-time. Then in college she’d become a P.A. and later assistant to a local appellate-court judge. She’d never been rolling in money, but she’d never had a problem making the rent. And she’d always been single.

Joann passed her with the box she’d been carrying when Molly had arrived. “Would you like me to bring this one?” she asked.

“Sure. Thanks.”

Molly picked up the other box and followed her out into the living room, where Nick took the carton out of her hands and disappeared outside again.

“You wouldn’t happen to have come across anything more of my sister’s while you were packing, would you?” She adjusted her purse still slung over her shoulder.

“Funny you should mention that.” Joann put down the box and walked into the kitchen. A moment later she came back with a key on a ring that held a pink-haired troll with a blue ink stripe across its face. Molly immediately recognized it as belonging to Claire. She’d bought it to top off a Christmas gift years ago, and her sister had lamented that she’d put a pen mark on it during a phone conversation shortly thereafter.

Molly hadn’t paid much attention. Until now.

She took the key.

“I don’t know what it opens. Not the apartment. I already tried. And Claire didn’t have a car.”

“Maybe it’s to the place she lived before?”

Joann shrugged. “Maybe. But Nick thought it looked more like a locker key—you know, like the type you see at the bus station? Only it doesn’t have a number on it or anything.”

Molly ran her thumb over the top of the key, noticing where a line of jagged orange plastic seemed to indicate something had been removed. Nothing but the name of a popular key company was imprinted on the key itself.

“Is there maybe something you’ve remembered since Claire died?” Molly asked. “Something you haven’t told the police?”

“No. I’ve told them everything I know.”

Nick came back inside for the last box. “You ready?” he asked Joann.

“Yeah, give me a sec to double-check.”

Molly stood exchanging glances with Nick as cupboard doors were opened and closed in the kitchen, then in the bathroom. Within moments Joann was back in the living room.

“That’s it.”

“Lock up. I’ll be in the truck.” Nick disappeared again for a final time.

The key bit into Molly’s hand where she held it so tightly.