“No one would send one guy after Crow,” Jesse said. “Besides, there’s no car. How did he get there?”
“You think Crow shot him?”
“Probably,” Jesse said.
“And the other guys split,” Murphy said.
“Yep.”
“If Crow’s as good as everybody thinks he is,” Murphy said, “how come he didn’t get more than one?”
Jesse was quiet for a moment, thinking about Crow.
Then he said, “Maybe he didn’t want to.”
“That’s crazy,” Peter Perkins said.
“Crow’s not like other people,” Jesse said. “Suit, you go down to my house and stay with Molly and the kid. I’ll relieve you later. Everyone else, shotguns in every car, cleaned, loaded, no plastic daisies in the barrel. Extra ammo in every car, shotgun and handgun. Vests with you at all times.”
“Jesus, Jesse,” Suit said. “It sounds like you’re expecting a war.”
“Always possible,” Jesse said.
49.
Jesse sat with Jenn on the balcony outside his living room and looked at the harbor as it got dark. Amber was standing in the doorway drinking coffee. She had on tan shorts and a powder-blue T-shirt and too much makeup, but she was, Jesse thought, beginning to look a little less like a punk cliche.
“Have you done any research on the Crowne estate?” Jesse said.
He was sipping scotch. Jenn had a glass of Riesling.
“You mean the estate itself?” Jenn said.
“Yeah.”
“No, you think I should?”
“Yes.”
“Because?”
“Because you can and I don’t have the resources,” Jesse said.
“Why do you think it needs to be researched?” Jenn said.
“I think Miriam Fiedler’s interest in the issue is too large,” Jesse said.
“Explain,” Jenn said.
“Suit says she’s asking questions about me, and the department, and the murder, and can I be bribed.”
“Suit?” Amber said. “The guy that was here with me and Molly?”
“Yes,” Jesse said.
“Why would Miriam Fiedler be asking Suit questions?” Jenn said.
Jesse smiled. Jenn looked at him.
“Why?” Jenn said.
