Page 21 of Amazing Grace
“The only way to find out is to call.”
“I know, but I’m not on the best terms with them. They were pissed when I left Jeremy. On the outside, he was perfect son-in-law material, you know? Handsome, made good money… They thought I should’ve given him another chance.”
“Maybe now they’ll have a different opinion of him,” Grace said. “He was a criminal. Surely, they wouldn’t have wanted you to stay with him knowing that.”
“No, probably not,” Molly said with a sigh. She picked up her phone, stared at it for a minute, then thumbed her mom’s number. “Hey, Mom. It’s me. Yes, I’m fine. I’m okay. Of course, I heard about it. I’m the one who found his body.”
Grace could hear Molly’s mother yelling over the phone for her husband, then demanding to know what had happened, why hadn’t Molly answered her phone? They’d been calling for two days. And was Mollyreallyokay, and was it true Jeremy had been murdered?
“Oh, you poor thing!” Molly’s mom sobbed. “We read about it online. You must be devastated.” She said Molly should come home immediately; her father would book her a ticket.
“No, mom. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s only a four hour drive – it would take longer than that to fly out of Grand Junction or Montrose. Besides, I’m not coming home. First of all, I can’t, because the police told me to stay in town. Secondly, Jeremy was a creep and a thief. I tried to tell you that when I left, but you wouldn’t listen. I’m sorry he’s dead, but I don’t miss him at all.”
“Was he really a thief? You know, your father and I invested with him and made some money. Maybe not as much as he thought we would but…”
“Mom, he was running a Ponzi scheme. You’re lucky you got out when you did. People losteverythinginvesting with him.”
“Oh, my God…” Molly’s mother sniffled loud enough for Grace to hear. “That can’t be true—”
“Molly? Molly is that you?” a deep voice rumbled through the phone.
Molly rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad, it’s me. Listen, I’m fine, but I need a favor. Did Jeremy ever mention the names of people who may have invested with him?”
“Why?”
“Dad, can’t you just trust me?”
There was silence for a long moment. Then Molly’s mom got back on the phone. “Dad went to look for the papers Jeremy gave us when he was trying to get us to reinvest.”
“You mean he tried to get you to give him moneyagain?”
“Yes, and a lot of it. More than we were comfortable giving him to invest. We didn’t tell you because we didn’t want to come between you and him.”
“Mom, I stopped loving Jeremy over a year ago. That’s when I left. When did he contact you last?”
“About six months ago. I always thought you’d go back to him. Now I’m glad you didn’t.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “I’m so happy you didn’t give him another red cent. That’s when things went really bad, and the scheme collapsed.” She turned to Grace. “Jeremy tried to get my parents to reinvest just before the whole thing went south.”
“Who are you talking to, dear?” Molly’s mom asked.
“My friend, Grace. She’s been helping me.”
“Oh, how nice, dear. But I really think you should come home. Daddy can call and talk to the police. Surely they know you didn’t have anything to do with Jeremy’s death!”
“I don’t want to come back, Mom. Summit Springs is my home now. I’m happy here, and even dead, Jeremy isn’t going to ruin this for me, too, like he did Denver.”
“How did he ruin Denver?”
“He took money from all my friends’ parents, and lost it all, that’s how. Nobody was speaking to me. That’s why I moved out here.”
“Oh, hon…”
Then Molly’s dad got on the phone again. “Do you want me to email you this list? It’s pretty lengthy.”
“Yes, Daddy, please. That would be great.”
“Listen, kitten. You want to come home, you just say the word, okay?”