Page 44 of Rekindled

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The buzzing of Molly’s phone woke her from her sleep. She was certain it wasn’t morning, but maybe she was wrong. She fumbled around in the dark, trying to grab the glowing, vibrating nuisance. Her hand finally made contact, and she yanked the phone to her.

The clock read 1:15 AM and the name Hank flashed across the screen. Typical. He didn’t think about time the way the rest of the world did, but she knew he was calling about Spencer—and despite how they ended things the day before—she needed to know the truth.

Molly answered the phone. “Hello,” she croaked out, her voice scratchy from only a couple hours of sleep.

“Hey there, Molly. It’s Hank.”

“I know,” she said, trying to keep the testiness out of her voice. “What’s up? Did you get to the bottom of those files? Do you know who sent them?”

“I did. It turns out, the information is fake. It was never sent between the actual two people whose names appear on the email. It was just made to look like it had been with fake accounts and records.”

“Do you know who did it?” Molly asked, sitting up in her bed.

“I think it’s someone he knows. I don’t have a name, but the IP address is registered to a house in Bayfield.”

“Thanks, Hank. I’m going to get back to you in a bit, but I need to call Bernie first.”

“Okay, Molly. Just call me back if you need anything else.”

“Will do,” she said before ending the call.

She quickly clicked the icon for her boss. It rang twice and he picked up. “What is it, Molly?” he asked with a tone that made it clear he wasn’t happy. “This better be good, considering the hour.”

“It is,” she stated emphatically. “Hank was able to figure out the USB drive I was given was faked.”

“Really?” Bernie stated in shock. “I honestly thought the allegations were going to be true. There was so much evidence against Spencer Conrad.”

“It was an intricate ploy. I think someone wanted to frame Spencer to discredit his wins. How did you first get turned onto the allegations against Spencer?”

“I was sent an anonymous tip via email,” he confessed. “It looked legitimate, which is why I sent you to investigate. I figured with your connections to the town, you’d get further than any of my other reporters.”

“I need you to forward me that email, Bernie. I’m going to have Hank look into it. I think whoever sent the email, also put the USB drive in my purse. They were using us to try to get the false accusations published.”

“Be careful, Molly,” Bernie warned. “If that’s the case, this person is really set on burning Spencer Conrad to the ground. People like that are really dangerous.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. When I know more, I’ll get back to you,” she said before hanging up.

As soon as Molly received the email from Bernie, she forwarded it to Hank, asking him to look into to it and see if it was connected to the files on the USB drive.

Molly tried to go back to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t rest. She couldn’t stop thinking about the fact she had destroyed her relationship with Spencer, and she had done it over a bunch of lies.

Guilt cascaded over her, and tears formed in her eyes. Why had she done that? She was scared. She had been scared since the moment she stepped foot back in Bayfield. She didn’t want to get hurt again, and it was easier to ruin their relationship before she could get hurt by it again.

The urge to pray flooded Molly. She folded her hands and spoke out loud to God. “Dear Lord, please help me. I’ve made such a mess of things. I should have trusted Spencer, and I should have trusted You. I’ve made a mess of everything, but You’re capable of fixing anything, God, so I ask You to intervene and make things right between Spencer and me.”

Her phone buzzed, causing Molly to jump slightly. She picked it up off her nightstand and looked at the screen. Hank was calling again.

“Hello,” she said with anxiousness. “So, was I right? Are they connected?”

“Your hunch was correct, Molly. The same person who sent the email, also made all the fake information on the USB drive.”

“Thanks, Hank. I owe you big for this one. You’re helping me save the man I love.” This time, she didn’t want to take back the words. She said them, and she meant them. She loved Spencer Conrad, and she was going to do whatever it took to make things right.

She took in a deep breath, let her finger hover above the screen for a couple of seconds, then pressed the icon for Spencer. The phone rang three times before he answered.

“It’s rather late to be calling,” he said in a cold tone.

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