Why is how she usually got to work being kept such a mystery? There must be a reason for that.
Also, I know several people who keep their dogs in the basement during the day while they’re at work. The dogs can roam around, sleep in their beds down there, have food & water available, bones & toys, etc. IMO, it’s nicer than being stuck in a crate all day.
Now, they only put the dogs in the basement when they’re about to leave for the day, so Molly’s dogsitting dogs being in the basement seems to indicate she put them down there to leave. I doubt she would leave them down there to sleep alone, jmho. So, she’s ready for work, puts the dogs downstairs, &...what?