Free When the Dead by Michelle Kilmer Page B

those emotions she is carrying, she shouldn’t be
alone. I’ll ask Molly if she’ll take a roommate.”
    “Whatever. I’m going back to my place.” Tom left as though he hadn’t just
saved a life; two lives. He didn’t wait for a thank you and he didn’t want one.
Isobel went back inside to the group to deliver the good news. The group broke
up and Molly and Isobel went upstairs to see Jill.
     

In Good Hands
    “I don’t
mind having her as a roommate. It isn’t my apartment anyway. I think it will be
great for her to spend some time with Gabe too,” Molly decided as they walked
the last few feet towards 305. “She has her first baby coming and she needs to
focus on that . . . instead of Austin.”
    Jill’s apartment door was wide open. They found her passed out in the
master bedroom, luckily on the bed. She was breathing softly, a men’s blue dress
shirt, darkened in areas by her tears, was pressed to her nose.
    “I’ll stay here and wait for her to wake up,” Molly offered.
    “She’s in good hands with you, Molly. Thank you.” Even though Molly was
young, twenty-two Isobel thought, she was smart, kind and she wouldn’t leave
Jill’s side.
    “Well, it will be good for me too. More than you know,” Molly smiled
gently.
    On her way out, Isobel closed Jill’s door and glanced at Vaughn’s across
the hall. She considered thanking him but alone she didn’t feel as brave.
     

Molly Mathay, Caretaker
    Evening.
The rescue earlier brought attention to the building again. The pounding was
the loudest it had ever been. Ben had been trying to trick his mind into all
sorts of alternative sources of the noise. Construction, a loud horror movie,
etc . . . but it only worked for a few minutes. He resorted to wearing earplugs,
like some of the others, while he read a novel he’d borrowed from Edward. The
story made him smile and it felt good to do so. Isobel had left to check on
Jill again before going to bed for the night.
    The door to 305 was closed so she knocked and it took only a second for
Molly to open it. Her eyes were watery and red, as though she’d been crying. Isobel
followed her into the living room where Jill was sobbing heavily. Tissues were
strewn across the couch, the coffee table and the floor. The men’s dress shirt
from earlier had followed Jill into the living room. She had it draped over her
belly. It felt wrong to Isobel to be intruding on such a personal moment.
    “Sorry for the mess,” Jill acknowledged her without looking up.
    “You don’t need to apologize. I’m really happy you made it back. Can I
sit?” Isobel asked as she gestured to the couch.
    “Yeah, um . . . yeah,” Jill said, pushing a bunch of used tissues from
the cushions to clear a spot, adding them to a pile on the floor.
    “Have you had a chance to eat?” Isobel asked. She saw a bowl and plate on
the side table.
    “Molly heated up some soup and toast.”
    A film had formed on the top of the soup as it cooled and the slice of
bread was only missing its crust. She had barely touched the meal. Molly felt
hungry still and planned on eating the leftovers later.
    “Did Molly tell you about moving to the second floor? We think it would
be good . . . for when the baby comes.” Isobel asked.
    “Yeah she did. I’d rather not stay up here. Even though Tom saved my
life, it doesn’t make up for the years he’s been a complete asshole. When he
came out to the car to get me I didn’t want to get out because he’s been
indecent to me in the past. Austin and I almost moved out of this complex because
Vaughn tried to force himself on me in the stairwell last year. No one knows
about it because Austin thought it would only cause more trouble for us, and
Vaughn would just claim he was drunk anyway. Now he might think somewhere in
his messed up head that I owe him. I can’t sleep with him across the hall.
Besides, this apartment is full of Austin.” Jill looked around and started
crying again and Molly came quickly to