“First, let me be clear,” Jesse said. “Your membership in the Paradise Free Swingers violates no law.”
Chase looked at his wife as if he was startled, but he didn’t say anything to her. Instead, he spoke to Jesse.
“What makes you think we belong to anything?” he said.
“Police work is boring to describe,” Jesse said. “Let me simply insist that you do, and that it’ll go much quicker in here if we all agree on that.”
Chase looked again at his wife.
“Did Kim tell you?” he said.
“Police work is boring to describe,” Jesse said.
“Well, say we do, and say you are the standard bluenose that thinks it’s horrid but wishes they could do it. So what?”
“As I said, it’s in violation of no statute that I know of,” Jesse said.
“So what are we doing here?”
“I wish to talk about your daughter and your son,” Jesse said.
“What have they done?”
“Nothing yet,” Jesse said.
“What the hell does that mean?” Chase said. “Kim, have you been blabbing to this guy?”
Kim shook her head. She seemed stiff with tension.
“If they continue to live in the home you are providing,” Jesse said, “they’ll do something.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The swinging lifestyle, coupled with the occasional physical abuse, is ruining the lives of your children,” Jesse said. “That might come under the heading of child endangerment. We might be able to find a way to take custody from you.”
Chase sat back, breathing heavily.
“Who’s . . . been . . . talking to you?” he said.
“Did you know your son still wets the bed?”
Chase glanced again at his wife. She had her head down, looking at the tabletop.
“Wets the bed?” he said.
“Yep.”
“You been talking to someone? Kim tell you this crap? That’s just like something she’d say.”
Kim stared at the tabletop.
Jesse nodded faintly, and took in a long breath of air.
“Your daughter came in and asked me for help,” Jesse said.
Kim looked up at Jesse.
“Missy?”
“Missy,” Jesse said.
“She’s spoiled,” Chase said. “Kim spoils her rotten, the little bitch has no idea how soft she has it.”
“Are you saying that none of this is true?” Jesse said. “Or are you saying that it is true but no one should have told me?”
“I’m saying it’s not your business,” Chase said. “It’s family business.”
“And I’m saying if it fails to provide a proper environment for the children, it becomes my business.”
“What are you, Mr. Fucking Guidance Counselor?”
“I am the chief of police of this town,” Jesse said. “And there is only a certain amount of guff I will put up with from you.”
“We’re being persecuted for being sexually creative,” Chase said.
“Your wife hates it,” Jesse said. “She does it because she’s afraid of you.”
“She tell you that?” Chase said.
“Police work is boring to describe,” Jesse said.
“Don’t keep saying that,” Chase said.
“Next time I’ll have Molly say it,” Jesse said.
“Her? The lady cop? What’s she doing here anyway?”
“It’s her case,” Jesse said.
“Case? What case.”
“You know what I’m doing here?” Molly said. “I’m sitting here trying not to puke listening to you.”
“She can’t talk to me that way.”
