“Yet,” he said, and drank some more.
7.
Crow was at a corner table in Daisy’s, having an egg-white omelet with some fruit salsa, when Jesse came in and sat down at the table with him.
“Care to join me?” Crow said.
“Thanks,” Jesse said.
Daisy brought him coffee.
“You want some breakfast?” she said.
Jesse shook his head. Daisy left the pot and swaggered away. Crow watched her.
“Daisy Dyke,” he said.
“That’s what she calls herself,” Jesse said.
“Wonder why?” Crow said.
Jesse smiled.
“She was going to call the restaurant Daisy Dyke’s,” Jesse said, “but the selectmen wouldn’t let her.”
“Nice she’s out of the closet,” Crow said.
Jesse nodded and drank some coffee.
“Can’t seem to put together a case against you,” Jesse said.
“Can’t lick ’em, join ’em?” Crow said.
Jesse shrugged.
“Doesn’t mean I won’t put one together,” Jesse said.
“You do,” Crow said, “I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“First step is to find out what you’re doing here,” Jesse said.
Crow nodded.
“Be how I’d go at it,” Crow said.
“You could tell me,” Jesse said. “Save us a lot of time.”
Crow shook his head.
“We’re going to stay on you,” Jesse said.
“How many people you got?” Crow said.
“Twelve,” Jesse said. “Plus Molly, who runs the desk, and me.”
“Four to a shift,” Crow said, and smiled.
“We can be annoying,” Jesse said.
“I know that,” Crow said. “You were last time I visited.”
“You’re staying awhile,” Jesse said.
“Maybe.”
Jesse poured himself more coffee. The two men looked at each other.
