The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Read Free

out of her face. “I can’t fix the problem if you don’t tell me what it is, Molly. I can’t understand you with that guy’s leg in your mouth.”
    â€œStand back, Theo,” Mavis said. “I’m going to brain her.”
    Theo waved Mavis away. The gray-haired man screamed even louder.
    â€œHey!” Theo shouted. “Pipe down. I’m trying to have a conversation here.”
    The gray-haired man lowered his volume.
    â€œMolly, look at me.”
    Theo saw a blue eye look away from the leg and the bloodlust faded from it. He had her back. “That’s right, Molly. It’s me, Theo. Now what’s the problem?”
    She spit out the man’s leg and turned to look at Theo. Mavis helped the man to a bar stool. “Get her out of here,” Mavis said. “She’s eighty-sixed. This time forever.”
    Theo kept his eyes locked on Molly’s. “Are you okay?”
    She nodded. Bloody drool was running down her chin. Theo grabbed a bar napkin and wiped it away, careful to keep his fingers away from her mouth.
    â€œI’m going to help you up now and we’re going to go outside and talk about this, okay?”
    Molly nodded and Theo picked her up by the shoulders, set her on her feet, and steered her toward the door. He looked over his shoulder at the bitten man. “You okay? You need a doctor?”
    â€œI didn’t do anything to her. I’ve never seen that woman before in my life. I just stopped in for a drink.”
    Theo looked at Mavis for confirmation. “He hit on her,” Mavis said. “But that’s no excuse. A girl should appreciate the attention.” She turned and batted her spiderlike false eyelashes at the bitten man. “I could show you some appreciation, sweetie.”
    The bitten man looked around in a panic. “No, I’m fine. No doctor. I’m just fine. My wife’s waiting for me.”
    â€œAs long as you’re okay,” Theo said. “And you don’t want to press charges or anything?”
    â€œNo, just a misunderstanding. Soon as you get her out of here, I’ll be heading out of town.”
    There was a collective sigh of disappointment from the regulars who had been placing side bets on who Mavis would hit with her bat.
    â€œThanks,” Theo said. He shot Mavis a surreptitious wink and led Molly out to the street, excusing himself and his prisoner as they passed an old Black man who was coming through the door carrying a guitar case.
    â€œI ’spose a man run outta sweet talk and liquor, he gots to go to mo’ di-rect measures,” the old Black man said to the bar with a dazzling grin. “Someone here lookin fo’ a Bluesman?”
    Molly Michon
    Theo put Molly into the passenger side of the Volvo. She sat with her head down, her great mane of gray-streaked blonde hair hanging in her face. She wore an oversized green sweater, tights, and high-top sneakers, one red, one blue. She could have been thirty or fifty—and she told Theo a different age every time he picked her up.
    Theo went around the car and climbed in. He said, “You know, Molly, when you bite a guy on the leg, you’re right on the edge of ‘a danger to others or yourself,’ you know that?”
    She nodded and sniffled. A tear dropped out of the mass of hair and spotted her sweater.
    â€œBefore I start driving, I need to know that you’re calmed down. Do I need to put you in the backseat?”
    â€œIt wasn’t a fit,” Molly said. “I was defending myself. He wanted a piece of me.” She lifted her head and turned to Theo, but her hair still covered her face.
    â€œAre you taking your drugs?”
    â€œMeds, they call them meds.”
    â€œSorry,” Theo said. “Are you taking your meds?”
    She nodded.
    â€œWipe your hair out of your face, Molly, I can barely understand you.”
    â€œHandcuffs, whiz kid.”
    Theo almost slapped