“It won’t be forever,” Jesse said.
“What are you going to do about Jenn?” Molly said.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Maybe it will be forever.”
“No. I’ll figure it out.”
“I’m a woman, Jesse. I sympathize maybe more than you can imagine with Jenn. I want her safe, and I want the rapist where he should be.”
“Which might be in the ground,” Jesse said.
“I would have no problem with that,” Molly said. “As long as you came out of it okay.”
“Thank you.”
“I care about you, Jesse, and I can imagine how you feel,”
Molly said. “Yes, we can get by in the short run, probably. But this department won’t function without you.”
“Yes.”
“Especially now.”
“Yes.”
“Plus, you can’t find the rapist for her if you are home watching her all day.”
“Sometimes I’ll be at the studio watching her,” Jesse said.
“You know what I mean,” Molly said.
“I do.”
“And we can’t spare anybody, Jesse. Not now, not with the two murders and the goddamned press. Plus, the governor’s office calls every day. And some congressman.”
4 8
H I G H P R O F I L E
“I know.”
“And what are you going to do about Sunny Randall?”
Molly said.
“I don’t know.”
“Jesse,” Molly said. “This is a fucking mess.”
“Thank you for noticing,” Jesse said.
“I want to ask you a bad question,” Molly said.
“Why should today be different,” Jesse said.
The line was silent for a moment.
“Do you completely believe her?” Molly said.
“That is a bad question,” Jesse said.
