He raised the cup toward Jesse and said, “Cheers.”
Jesse raised his empty fork in response, and Ingersoll sipped some coffee.
“Whoa,” he said. “Hot.”
“Often is,” Jesse said.
Jesse noticed that Ingersoll’s cheeks dimpled when he smiled.
“I’m Betsy Ingersoll’s husband,” he said.
“I know,” Jesse said.
“I just wanted to tell you that I thought you handled that incident at the school like a pro,”
Ingersoll said. “No press. Nothing blown out of proportion.”
Jesse patted his mouth with his napkin.
“I am a pro,” he said.
“I assumed you’ve closed the file on it,” Ingersoll said.
“Um-hm,” Jesse said.
“Um-hm what?” Ingersoll said.
“Um-hm, I hear what you’re saying.”
“And my assumption is correct?”
“No.”
“You haven’t closed the case,” Ingersoll said.
“Not yet,” Jesse said.
“For God’s sake, why not?” Ingersoll said. “There’s no crime here.”
“Haven’t found one yet,” Jesse said. “I figure there’ll be some civil action.”
“And if there is?” Ingersoll said.
“I thought I’d watch,” Jesse said. “See what I could see.”
The lines around Ingersoll’s mouth deepened.
“What the hell are you after, Stone?”
“You representing her?”
“I’m her husband, for crissakes.”
“And her lawyer?” Jesse said.
“Whether or not I personally represent her,” Ingersoll said, “you can be sure my firm will be involved.”
“Rita Fiore?” Jesse said.
“She’s a criminal litigator,” Ingersoll said. “How do you know Rita?”
“I’m the chief of police,” Jesse said. “I get around.”
“You see this as your big chance?” Ingersoll said. “Make a name? Make some money?
What’s this about?”
“I think your wife violated those girls’ rights,” Jesse said.
“Oh, for crissakes, Stone.”
“You asked,” Jesse said.
“Would I have done it?” Ingersoll said. “No, I suppose not. Betsy is probably a little more, ah, authoritarian than I am, I guess. It’s no easy job being a school administrator.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But no harm was done. No one was injured. No crime was committed,” Ingersoll said.
“So you say.”
“I have, of course, talked with Howard Hannigan about this,” Ingersoll said, “and he as-sures me that his office has no interest in pursuing the incident.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Jesse said.
“But you do,” Ingersoll said.
“I’m not ready to clear it,” Jesse said.
Ingersoll was silent for a moment. Then, with his hands folded tightly on the counter, he leaned toward Jesse a little.
“You are a small-town policeman,” Ingersoll said. “You were fired from your last job. I am the managing partner of the biggest law firm in the state. If you continue to be an annoyance, I will bury you.”
“No doubt,” Jesse said.
He laid a five-dollar bill on the counter, and stood and walked out of the restaurant.
