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"Marcy, he was a cop in Los Angeles when I married him."
"But did you ever see him being a cop, you understand?"
Je
"You mean like you did?" Je
"Yes, and I know it's not my business, and I'm probably driven by gratitude and maybe post traumatic shock syndrome, but God if you had seen him."
"Tell me about it," Je
"He was, I don't know, there we were, like captives being led away, and then there was Jesse. One minute everything is hopeless and we're all terrified, and then..." Marcy couldn't think how to put it.
"Was he calm?" Je
"Yes."
"He would be," Je
"And you saw him shoot this man."
"Yes."
"Was that awful?" Je
"No "Marcy said.
"Jesse can be very tough," Je
"And very brave."
Je
"Yes," she said, "very brave."
They both picked at their salads for a moment. The salads were mostly iceberg lettuce with a single red onion ring on it and two cherry tomatoes.
"This will not make us fat," Marcy said.
Je
"Nor happy," she said. She took a bite of salad. The dressing was on the side in a little cup. It was a bright orange.
"Sorry about the restaurant," Je
"It's right near the station."
"That appears to be its only charm," Marcy said.
"I'll know better next time."
They each had a bite of salad.
"What is the point of you telling me about Jesse?" Je
"I guess I hoped it would help you make up your mind."
"He's told you about me."
"Yes."
"You lovers?"
"No, good friends."
"You fucking him?" Je
"But you don't love him."
"Been a long time," Marcy said, "since I thought those two were inseparable."
Je
"And you like him a lot," she said.
"Yes."
"It's easy, isn't it," Je
"And love him?"
"Yes, absolutely, I love him," Je
"Then?"
"
"Then'... loving him and living with him are different things."
"I don't see why."
"You don't have to."
For the first time, Marcy heard the iron in Je
"No," Marcy said, "I don't. But it would be good if you did."
"I know some" Je
"I know that Jesse loves me, but I know that he has to back off a little and give me some airspace."
"Obsessive?"
"Some."
"He doesn't seem obsessive to me," Marcy said.
"He's not in love with you," Je
"Ah-ha," Marcy said.
Je
"If I could be a friend to both of you," Marcy said, "I'd like to be."
"Hard to figure how that will work," Je
"Might be worth a try," Marcy said.
"What's in it for you?"
"Payback, I suppose," Marcy said.
"What's in it for me?" Je
"A girlfriend isn't a bad thing," Marcy said.
Je
"May I call you?" Marcy said.
Je
When she had chewed and swallowed, Je
"No."
Je
"Sure," she said.
"Call me."
SIXTY-SEVEN.
Jesse had Faye brought from her cell to his office. Molly stayed in the room.
"You can un cuff her, Molly."
Molly unlocked the cuffs.
"Sit," Jesse said.
Faye sat. Her face was without expression. Her eyes seemed empty. Jesse looked at some papers on his desk for a moment.
"Faye," he said.
"We got you for assjjjlL and kidnapping."
Faye didn't say anything.
"You wa
Faye shook her head.
"Okay," Jesse said.
"Then I'll explain it to you, and you tell me if I got anything wrong."
Faye was silent and motionless. Molly was equally still against the wall near the door, her service pistol looking, as it always did, a little too large for her.