Page 79 of The Dance

Molly swallowed as she looked at the picture of Brody and me in a boat on White Rock Lake. She nodded and then started to cry. Stacey wrapped her arms around her. Without further hesitation, I dialed the police.

* * *

While Molly talked to an officer,I spoke with one myself. I had originally contacted Dallas PD before realizing that Houston seemed to be Brody’s city of choice. I told the officer that it was Brody, my business partner, and then we came up with a plan to have him brought in for questioning tonight before he could rape anyone else.

I needed to put a stop to him.

I pulled out my phone and sent Brody a text to get the ball rolling while Stacey and Molly went to the hospital for Molly to be examined.

Me: Can you meet me for a drink? Something on the financial side I need to run by you.

A few minutes later, he sent a text back.

Brody: Not in town. Can we do it Monday morning at the office?

Me: Can’t wait. You want to know this now.

Brody: I’m not in Dallas.

Me: Where are you?

Brody: I’m in Houston. We can meet for breakfast if you want to drive here in the morning.

It was after nine. If I pretended to leave right then, I could theoretically still make it before any bar closed.

Me: Text me the address of where to meet you. It’s important.

A few minutes later, he sent me his location. It was a hotel—probably the one he’d raped Molly in.

Me: I’ll take the jet. See you in a few hours.

* * *

My nerves were frayed.The hours passed as I waited to make it seem as though I was flying in from Dallas again, and it felt like an eternity, even though I spent the entire time going over the plan with Detective Garcia. I hated what was about to happen. Brody was my best friend, and I had been the best man at his wedding. I had been there when his two kids were born, the last one only ten months prior. I felt as though I was betraying him, but I had to do it.

Had to do it for Stacey.

Had to do it for Molly.

Had to do it for any other woman he’d assaulted.

Hell, he’d betrayed me and our friendship too.

“Are you ready?” Detective Garcia asked when it was time to get into the car with an undercover officer who would drive me to the front of the hotel as though he were a rideshare driver.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“There are two officers inside,” he recapped. “Once you sit down and give the signal that it’s Mr. Murphy, we’ll move in and ask him to come to the station.”

“Got it.” I opened the door of his unmarked cruiser, went to the Honda Civic, and got in.

My leg bounced up and down as the officer drove the two blocks to the hotel and stopped in front of the valet. Once I got out, I walked into the lavish hotel, took a deep breath, and made my way to the bar in the lobby. I spotted Brody at a private table and forced a smile on my face as I approached him.

“Hey,” I greeted.

“Hey. So, what’s going on? It has to be important for you to drive all the way here in the middle of the night.”

“It is,” I confirmed. “What are you doing out here, anyway?”