“But which has something to do with Jenn,” Sunny said.
“Stop showing off,” Jesse said.
“That’s a no-brainer,” Sunny said. “Everything has something to do with Jenn.”
“Some things change,” Jesse said.
“And some things don’t,” Sunny said. “I’ll call you after I see Dr. Silverman.”
62
SUIT AND Molly came in with Betsy Ingersoll after lunch. She had on a sober blue dress and low-heeled black shoes. She wore a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. She looked like the perfect corporate wife.
“Your husband with you?” Jesse said when she sat down.
“No,” she said. “He didn’t come home last night.”
“Is that unusual?”
“No.”
“I need to tape this,” Jesse said.
“That is acceptable,” Betsy Ingersoll said. “But could it be just you and me?”
“Of course,” Jesse said.
Molly and Suit left and closed the door behind them. Jesse turned on the tape recorder.
“This is Chief Jesse Stone, of the Paradise police. This interview is conducted in my office at Paradise police headquarters. The interviewee is Betsy Ingersoll. You ready, Betsy?”
“I’m ready,” she said.
“Do you wish an attorney?” Jesse said.
“No.”
“You have the right to one,” Jesse said.
“I’m very, very tired of attorneys.”
“If you don’t know who to call, or can’t afford one,” Jesse said, “we can provide you with one.”
“You’re reading me my rights,” she said.
“For the record,” Jesse said, “do you waive your right to an attorney.”
“I do,” Betsy said.
“Okay,” Jesse said. “Tell me what you told me last night in your husband’s office.”
She told her story as if she was giving an oral report. As she talked she didn’t look at Jesse. She seemed to have picked out a spot on the wall to Jesse’s right. And she stared at it as she talked. She was well prepared. Jesse didn’t have to prompt her. When she finished, she shifted her gaze from the wall to Jesse and smiled and sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap. Jesse leaned forward and shut off the recorder.
“Thank you,” Jesse said.
“What will you do with me?” she said.
“Depends on you,” Jesse said.
“How?”
“I have the name of a very competent, highly recommended psychotherapist whom I would like you to see,” he said. “She has already agreed to see you, if you’ll call and make an appointment.”
“You think I’m crazy,” Betsy said.
“You’ve done some crazy things,” Jesse said.
“I’m not crazy,” she said.
“Not very,” Jesse said. “But I think you need help working things out with your husband.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I can probably get you jail time,” Jesse said.
“So those are my choices?” she said. “I see your stupid shrink or you arrest me?”
“That’s pretty much it,” Jesse said.
“You are being very cruel,” she said.
“I didn’t have to offer you the shrink,” Jesse said.
She shifted her gaze back at the spot on the wall to Jesse’s right and sat. Jesse sat with her.
After a time she sighed and said, “What’s his name?”
“Her name is Dr. Susan Silverman,” Jesse said.
“She a friend of yours?”
“I’ve never met her,” Jesse said. “A friend of mine sees her, and my own shrink recommends her highly.”
“You have a shrink?”
