The Maid
by Nita Prose
Contents
Chapter 20
Overview
Molly and her allies finalize a plan to bait Rodney into exposing his crimes. After rehearsing scenarios and scripts, Molly texts Rodney claiming she spoke to police. He demands an urgent meeting at the Olive Garden, which she accepts. The chapter positions Molly to execute their sting.
Summary
Molly, guided by Mr. Preston, Charlotte, and Juan Manuel, spends over an hour rehearsing a plan to trap Rodney. Though uneasy about deception, Molly accepts Juan Manuel’s reasoning that small wrongdoing can serve a greater good. They drill contingencies, refine key lines, and build her confidence.
The team crafts a deliberate text: Molly claims she made revelations to police and asks to meet urgently. When she sends it, Rodney replies immediately, demanding a meeting at "OG" in twenty minutes. After brief confusion, Molly identifies OG as the Olive Garden.
Charlotte first drafts a slangy reply, but Juan Manuel notes it does not sound like Molly. They adjust the message to reflect Molly’s polite tone, confirming the meeting while signaling composure. The revised text is sent.
With encouragement from Charlotte, Mr. Preston, and Juan Manuel, Molly steadies herself. She pockets her phone and leaves to meet Rodney, aiming to spring the planned trap and move closer to exposing his role in the crimes surrounding Charles Black’s death.
Who Appears
- MollyProtagonist; practices a plan, texts Rodney, agrees to meet him to set a trap.
- Mr. PrestonAlly; helps rehearse scenarios, suggests wording, and reassures Molly before she departs to meet Rodney.
- CharlotteMolly’s lawyer; leads strategy, edits messages to match Molly’s tone, and sends the final text.
- Juan ManuelAlly coerced by Rodney; rehearses with Molly and advises a polite phrasing, boosting her confidence.
- RodneyBartender antagonist; replies instantly, orders a meeting at the Olive Garden, walking into their planned sting.