One of the other discussions I wanted to open in reading everyone's great comments relates to probabilities.
I keep asking myself a few questions.
1. If someone abducted or manipulated Mollie into leaving, it doesn't seem to have occurred through a blatant display of force. Lamps weren't knocked over, items weren't strewn across the floor, blood splatter hasn't been found (at least yet). So what is more probable, in your minds, I'm curious? That the person who "took" Mollie is a A. masterful, highly skilled professional kidnapper...or that B. it was a person she engaged willingly? For me, either is possible, but B. seems far more likely.
2. If the person intended to abduct Mollie or convince her to leave with him (lesser possibility: her), what is more likely in your minds? That the person would choose to confront her A. on the roadside as she jogged, where cars could potentially pass by or that the person would B. confront her at her boyfriend's house--at the end of a long driveway, where only one house is close enough to possibly hear? I'm a little bit split on this myself, but because of my previous post about small town atmosphere,
I lean slightly toward A because I feel like it would be less likely to raise Mollie's suspicions if a long-time or distant acquaintance saw her walking and offered her a ride vs. if someone she hadn't seen in a long time unexplainably showed up on her doorstep. A., which is an offer to give someone who might be presumably tired a ride, actually comes off as a nice gesture...and might make someone respond in gratitude. B. might seem creepy from the get go because the person is appearing unannounced, out of nowhere in a place you wouldn't expect to run into them. (It'd be natural to run into them at the grocery store or out at a bar, but not on your boyfriend's doorstep).
I'd also like to add that in this day and age, you'd probably think it's less likely to be captured on video if you took someone by a vast cornfield than if you went to their house, as it's difficult to predict which houses may have camera-based security systems these days.
3. If you're Mollie, in which scenario are you more likely to get into a vehicle with someone without struggling or telling anyone else you're doing so? A. If the person approaches you on the road, when you're possibly tired from a previous run and watching dogs, and would just like to get home to work on your paper and be ready to work the next day? Or B. If someone shows up and wants to hang out on a night you are trying to complete a paper and have to work the next day?
I think it's clearly A. In fact, I myself would be very wary to take rides from most people, but I do think there are circumstances where I would be more likely to weigh the cost/benefit and get into a vehicle with an old acquaintance. For example, if I was tired and had a lot to do and just wanted to get home. If it was dark and I viewed a ride with a known acquaintance as being better than walking out amongst "who knows who". And if it were storming or threatening to storm.
I'd love to hear how any of you would answer A or B for these same questions.
1. A. Professional stranger or B. familiar acquaintance
2. Abductor targets her on A. a walk or B. on her porch (or by entering the home)
3. Mollie agrees to go without struggle bc A. circumstances encourage her to take a ride or B. she impulsively decides to connect with a friend.
I'm sure there's other ways of rationalizing different answers, so I'd be interested to hear what you all think.
