“He check out the commuter trains?” Jesse said.
Simpson shrugged. He took a small notebook from his shirt pocket and read through it.
“Nope,” Simpson said. “Haven’t seen him do that. I check with the other guys, too, and try to incorporate their notes in mine.”
Jesse smiled.
“Lead investigator,” he said.
“Might as well keep things together,” Simpson said. “Do it right, you know?”
“Suit,” Jesse said. “If it were in the budget, I’d give you a raise.”
“But it’s not,” Simpson said.
“No. He ever go down to the wharf?” Jesse said.
“Nope.”
“Softball?”
“Nope.”
“Maybe he’s looking for a woman,” Jesse said.
“Because of where he looks?”
“Yeah. I know it’s a big generalization, but he seems more interested in places where you’d find women.”
“I don’t think you’re allowed to think things like that in Paradise,” Simpson said.
“Incorrect?” Jesse said.
“This place is officially liberal,” Simpson said.
“Long as they keep the cha-chas out,” Jesse said.
Simpson smiled.
“Yeah. Molly told me about that.”
“Ms. Fiedler was down at the causeway the other day,” Jesse said. “With a clicker, counting the number of cars.”
“How many kids you say there were?” Simpson said.
“Twelve,” Jesse said. “Preschoolers.”
“Means a minibus probably,” Simpson said. “Once in the morning, and once in the afternoon.”
Jesse nodded. They both looked at the blue ocean for a while. Then Simpson grinned.
“They gotta be stopped,” Simpson said.
10.
Jesse’s ex-wife stuck her head into his office and said, “Hi, Toots, got a minute?”
Jesse felt the small trill of excitement in his belly that he always felt when he saw her.
“I got a minute,” he said.
