Molly sat down to the right of Miriam Fiedler and behind her.
“Is she going to stay here during our meeting?” Miriam said.
“Yes,” Jesse said.
“I don’t want her here,” Miriam said.
Jesse nodded. Miriam waited. Jesse didn’t speak.
“Are you going to send her out?” Miriam said.
“No,” Jesse said.
“Chief Stone,” Miriam said, “may I remind you that I am a resident of this town, and as such am, in fact, your employer?”
“You may remind me of that,” Jesse said.
“Are you being sarcastic?” Miriam said.
“Yes,” Jesse said.
“I find it offensive,” Miriam said.
“Ms. Fiedler,” Jesse said, “it is standard practice in this office that Officer Crane be present when a woman is alone with any male police officers. She will stay as long as you are here.”
“Well, it’s a stupid rule,” Miriam said.
“Did you come to berate me?” Jesse said. “Or have you something substantive?”
“I wish to report several instances of Hispanic gang infiltration of Paradise,” she said. “Ever since that school was established on Paradise Neck…”
Jesse nodded.
“Specifically?” he said.
“Specifically,” Miriam said, “I have recently seen several Hispanic gang members on the street in downtown Paradise.”
“How recently,” Jesse said.
“In the last two days.”
“And how did you know they were Hispanic gang members.”
“Well, my dear man,” Miriam said, “you can tell just looking.”
“What did they look like?” Jesse said.
“Dark, tattoos, one of them was wearing some sort of hairnet.”
“Dead giveaway,” Jesse said. “How many did you see.”
“Two one day,” Miriam said. “And three yesterday, walking side by side, so that they took up the whole sidewalk.”
“Did they do anything illegal?” Jesse said.
“Well, they weren’t here to sightsee,” Miriam said.
“But you are not actually reporting a crime?” Jesse said.
“The press is investigating this, too,” Miriam said.
“I heard,” Jesse said. “Have they uncovered a crime?”
