“And you chose to keep me sitting here for several hours?”
“Yes,” Jesse said.
“Do you have an explanation?”
Jesse nodded. Molly remained standing by the door.
“I do,” he said.
Kennfield waited. Jesse was silent.
“What is it?” Kennfield said after a while.
“I had police work to do,” Jesse said.
“And you don’t think police work includes talking to the representative of the chief executive of the state?”
“Nope.”
“Are you being deliberately obtuse?” Kennfield said.
“I’m not sure it’s deliberate,” Jesse said. “What can I do for you?”
Kennfield paused for a moment and weighed his options. Then he shook his head slightly, puffed his cheeks a little, and blew some air out.
“Walton Weeks was a longtime supporter of Governor Forbes,” Kennfield said.
Jesse nodded.
“The governor is very concerned about his murder.”
Jesse nodded.
“We would like a full report on the death of Walton Weeks,” Kennfield said. “And the progress of the investigation.”
“Me too,” Jesse said.
6 2
H I G H P R O F I L E
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I don’t know any more than you do.”
“We want progress reports,” Kennfield said. “We want to know every step you’re taking.”
“I’ve got everybody in the department looking for the killer or killers. We haven’t found him . . . or her . . . or them.”
“And we want the state police involved,” Kennfield said. Jesse realized that Kennfield was checking off a mental list.
“I’ve been in touch with the homicide commander,” Jesse said.
“We want the full resources of the state brought to bear on this investigation,” Kennfield said. “We want you working hand in glove with Captain Healy.”
“Sure,” Jesse said.
“Now”—Kennfield checked off another mental point—
“what is your theory of the case?”
