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“Hello?”
“Hi, uncle Sonny. It’s Molly.”
“Molly? Molly’s on the phone!” Sonny calls out. “Karl’l be here in a sec. He’s just in the other room. Here, lemme put it on speaker…”
Molly smiles as she listens to Sonny press the wrong button on the phone, and then the right one.
“Molly, I’m here,” says Karl, a bit louder than necessary. “You feelin’ okay? They gotcha on the good stuff?”
“You don’t hafta yell, Karl. We’re on speaker.”
Molly puts her hand to her mouth and tries not to laugh, because it hurts her abdomen. She has to double down when Sonny continues talking at the same register Karl had been.
“Lou called us, he said ya got shot? In the spleen, was it? We’re so glad you’re alive.”
“Yeah, the doctor said my wound is healin’ up nice. Sittin’ around in the hospital is gettin’ kinda boring, though - especially now that I’m not on the good stuff anymore.”
“We wish we could come visit, but it’s such a long drive up to Duluth. And Karl’s got court tomorrow.”
“Yeah? You still pluggin’ away at it, Karl?” Isn’t he like, 70? When’s he gonna retire?
“Oh, yeah. I only get wiser as I get older.”
“Is that what they call it?” Molly chuckles.
“So what happened, Molly? Lou said there was a blizzard, and some fella with a bazooka? How’d ya make it outta that one?”
“Yeah, well, I shot him. He’s in the hospital too. But he’s not the one who shot me.”
“You took down a man with a machine gun?” Karl exclaims, and Molly has to hold the phone away from her ear. “I’m so proud of you. See, Sonny, those shooting lessons I gave her did pay off.”
“So who shot ya, then? Lou didn’t gimme an answer to that. Was it that fella you’re all lookin’ for, do ya think?”
“Well, it’s complicated.” Molly furrows her brow. “It was a blizzard, see, and none of us could hardly see anything. So the fella who shot me… he didn’t know it was me he was shootin’. I coulda shot him just as easy. …He’s a police officer. Duluth PD.”
“Molly, I’m getting in the car right now. We’re going to sue the pants off of him, his captain, the city of Duluth - you’ll own half the state by the time this is over.”
“No, no, Karl, no need for that. This fella, he’s - he’s a friend. He’s been helpin’ me with this case I’m workin’. And - and sendin’ me flowers.”
Molly winces in anticipation for her uncles’ silence while they process this. “Yeah, I know how it sounds. But he’s a really sweet guy. Mild-mannered.”
“Most mild-mannered people don’t shoot their coworkers, Molly.” Karl states.
“Like I said, I coulda been the one to shoot him. When I shot my guy, all I saw was his outline. And yeah, maybe Gus shouldn’ta been a cop, but not everyone’s cut out for it.”
Sonny finally chimes in. “Molly, do you… you’re not thinkin’ about pursuin’ this fella, are ya?”
“Well, if I did, I got ammunition to win any argument with him.” Molly laughs. “…I dunno. This is gonna sound kinda weird, but… he reminds me a little bit of you, uncle Sonny. He’s sweet.”
“That’s awful nice’a you to say, Molly. But Karl and I, we’re just lookin’ out for ya, is all.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Sonny has ever shot anyone by accident before. …Unless it was during wartime, in which case he has immunity.”
“See, Karl, why do you get to make excuses for Sonny but I can’t for Gus? I think if anyone’s allowed to make excuses for him, it’s me.”
“Well, if you go on a date with him and find ya don’t like him, just gimme a call. I tell ya, Molly, you’re lookin’ at a six-figure settlement -”
“- Okay, Karl, I’ll keep that in mind. Hi Gus,” she says as she sees him walk into her room, with yet another bouquet of flowers. “I gotta go, got a perp to track down. Talk to ya later?”
“A’course. Love ya. …Karl sends his love, too. He just spotted the squirrel that’s been givin’ him trouble.”
“Karl’s gotta new nemesis, eh?” Molly laughs. “Love you too.” She hangs up the phone.
Gus sets her new flowers down on the table. “Sorry I’m late. I hit some traffic.”
“Oh, no problem. I was just talkin’ to my uncles.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, well, they’re not really related to me. They’re my dad’s best friends from when we lived in Luverne. They helped him a lot after my mom passed. Sometimes it felt like I had three dads.”
“Sorry - I didn’t know. About your mom.”
“No worries. It was a long time ago.” Molly chews at her lip. “…Well one of ‘em, Karl, he’s a lawyer. And he says I should sue the pants offa you.”
Gus’ eyes widen. “Are ya… are ya gonna do that?”
“I dunno,” Molly tilts her head, and purses her lips. “I haven’t decided yet.”