“Thanks so much, guys,” Jessie said to the officers once they got settled. “We’ve got it from here. Y’all can head out for the night.”
Nettles, the grizzled, graying senior officer, and Beatty, the fresh-faced youngster with curly blond hair who joined the LAPD the same month that Jessie started consulting for it, exchanged glances.
“That’s okay,” Nettles said. “Jimmy and I talked about it and we’re going to stick around if that’s okay with you. We’ll send the other unit home but one of us will stay in the car and the other in the lobby. We can be up here in two minutes if you call.”
“That’s not neces…” Jessie began before Ryan cut her off.
“Thanks, guys,” he said, giving her a disapproving glare. “We really appreciate it. Make sure to keep the receipts for any snacks you get. They’re on me.”
They nodded and headed out. Once they left, Jessie looked at Ryan quizzically.
“Don’t you think they deserve a break after being here all night?” she asked him.
“Jessie, those guys have been off the clock since seven p.m. Tom Nettles and Jim Beatty volunteered for this duty because they care about you. Remember, they were both here guarding this place when your life was at risk. If they say they want to stick around, just say thank you.”
Jessie nodded, chastened, and moved to lock the front door and checked that the windows were closed and locked too. Then she turned on the security system. When all that was done, she finally sat down next to Hannah.
“How are you?” she asked.
“Oh, you know, I’ve been better.”
“I hear you. Sorry we were out for so long.”
“That’s okay,” Hannah replied. “Did you get the guy?”
“Kind of. We caught the guy who killed the two women. But I don’t think he was responsible for Garland’s death.”
Hannah didn’t look shocked.
“You think that was your ex-husband?”
“I do,” Jessie confirmed. “I also think he tried to kill Ryan this afternoon. That’s why we were in such a rush to get back. You seemed to be the next logical choice.”
“Why?” Hannah asked.
“Because he’s going after the people I love,” Jessie said, as if the reason was as clear as day. There was a long pause during which both of them processed the words that had just been said.
“Oh,” Hannah finally replied, clearly at a loss for a moment. When she regrouped, she changed the subject. “But can’t you just have him arrested?”
“We can’t prove it’s him yet,” Ryan explained. “In fact, we haven’t been able to prove he’s done anything illegal at all since he got out of prison.”
That reminded Jessie.
“Speaking of, I’m going to check back in with Dolan. I texted him on the drive over but haven’t heard back yet.”
She got out her phone and called. Dolan picked up on the first ring.
“I was about to call you,” he said without a greeting. “I just heard back from our overnight surveillance team. They’ve got nothing.”
“What does that mean?” Jessie demanded, putting him on speaker.
“It means they’ve got cameras in multiple rooms in the townhouse, including his master bedroom and bathroom, living room, and kitchen. He’s asleep. He did exactly what he said he would: eat sushi and crash early. He went to bed about ten forty-five. It’s not some mannequin under the covers either. My guys say he got up a half hour ago to go to the bathroom, then went straight back to bed. Nothing notable has happened.”
“That doesn’t strike you as odd?” she pressed.
“What exactly?”
Jessie tried to keep her frustration in check.
“Kyle obviously knows he’s being watched. He waves to your agents all the time, right? But today he makes sure to tell them that he’ll be home eating sushi and stays visible and boring all night long?”
Dolan sighed. Jessie could hear that he was as frustrated as she was.
“What do you expect him to do, Jessie? He’s been as dull as mud since the day he was released. It’s the middle of the night. Did you think he’d be throwing some coke-fueled rager?”
“No,” she countered. “Those days are probably behind him for now. But he suspects there are cameras in the house. He baits your guys by messing with them sometimes. But tonight it’s all by the book. It just seems awfully convenient.”
Dolan didn’t respond for a few seconds. Jessie knew he was thinking how best to craft a diplomatic answer.
“Jessie,” he finally said. “I know your ex is a bad guy. You don’t have to convince me. I’m the reason he’s being surveilled at this moment. And I believe he’s after you. I don’t even doubt that he might have been responsible somehow for Garland’s death and the attack on Ryan. But doesn’t it make more sense that he’s having one of the cartel people do his dirty work? I mean, my guys just sent me a clip of him rolling over in bed. I don’t know how to square that with what you’re alleging.”
“The cartel thing does make sense,” she conceded. “But I know this man. I’ve known him for over a decade. I slept beside him in bed for most of that time. I know how his mind works. He wouldn’t outsource this stuff to someone else. When it comes to hurting me and the people in my life, he wants to do the dirty work. That’s the whole point of it.”
After what felt like an eternity, in which everyone in the room and on the phone was silent, Dolan finally responded.
“I trust you. And if you say he’s doing this, I accept that. I don’t know how but I won’t argue. I can have my guys go over and wake him up, do a search of the place. It’ll likely mean his lawyer will be in court tomorrow, claiming harassment. We’ll probably have to close up shop on the surveillance early. But I’ll do it if you want. Just say the word.”
Jessie looked at Ryan and Hannah, both of whom shrugged. She could tell they were torn between the facts Dolan was laying out and their faith in her. Neither doubted her. But they clearly couldn’t square her certitude with what they were hearing.
“No,” she finally said to Dolan. “I don’t want to mess up the surveillance. Maybe he’s waiting to make his next move. I guess they should just keep watching him.”
“Of course,” Dolan assured her. “I’ll tell them to update me if they see anything even slightly suspicious. And if you want, I’ll call you right after I hear from them. How does that sound?”
“I appreciate it, Jack,” she said, using his first name for the first time in weeks. “That sounds reasonable.”
“Okay then,” he replied, obviously relieved. “I’ll do that. But you have to make me a promise too.”
“What’s that?”
“Get some sleep.”
“I’ll try,” she told him. “Thanks again.”
After she hung up, they all agreed to try to get a few hours of shut-eye. Hannah went to her room and Jessie and Ryan to theirs. At his urging, she consented to take one pain pill, as much to make her drowsy as to relieve the discomfort in her back.