“I had to guess, I’d guess it
might be Jo Jo Genest.”
Jesse said.
“Jo Jo?”
“I came down pretty hard on him for
harassing his ex-wife a while ago.”
“But you yourself say you deal regularly with domestic disputes.”
“Yes.”
“So it could be any of those
people’s man or wife.”
“Feels like Jo Jo to me.”
“That’s pretty weak,”
Hathaway said.
“Yes it is,” Jesse said.
“If it were strong I’d arrest him.”
“But you’re still
suspicious.”
“Jo Jo’s the right kind of guy.
He’d need to get even for being embarrassed in front of his ex-wife, and he wouldn’t have the cojones to do it straight on.”
“Cohonees?”
“Balls,” Jesse said.
“You think Jo Jo Genest is
afraid?”
Hathaway seemed genuinely amazed.
“Can’t always judge a
book…” Jesse said.
“No,” Hathaway said.
“No. I can’t buy that at all. Jo Jo grew up in this town. If you did something to Jo Jo he might be angry. But if he were angry, God help you. He wouldn’t sneak around killing cats.”
Jesse turned his coffee cup a little more.
“Sure,” he said.
“Probably right.”
“And you have no other theories?”
“No.”
“Well, you better get some,”
Hathaway said. “There was a story about it in the Standard Times last night.”
Jesse nodded without comment.
“It made the papers, in my view, because you sent the cat remains to the state laboratory, and they talked about it to someone.”
“Could be,” Jesse said.
“Isn’t it a bit preposterous to
send the remains of a dead cat to the state whatever-it-is lab?”
“Forensic,” Jesse said.
“I’d pi’efer that next
time you are tempted to seek outside assistance, you consult me first.
Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Jesse said without
meaning it.
“This town does not wish outsiders sharing our problems,‘’
Hathaway said.
“Of course,‘” Jesse
