Killing the Blues - Michael Brandman [52]
He found Carter Hansen at his desk.
“May I come in,” Jesse said.
“I have no way of stopping you,” Hansen said.
“Thank you, Carter,” Jesse said.
“No thanks are necessary,” Hansen said.
“I’m grateful nonetheless.”
“People here like you, Jesse,” Hansen said. “The outpouring of generosity is testament to that.”
“I’m speechless,” Jesse said.
“Then I’ll understand when you don’t say good-bye,” Hansen said.
Jesse smiled.
Rather than leave the building, however, he stopped by Alexis Richardson’s office and stuck his head in.
“I heard,” Alexis said, motioning for him to come in.
“An unusual series of events,” Jesse said.
“Try not to overreact,” Alexis said.
“I had a thought, in case you’re interested,” Jesse said.
“And you wish to share it?”
“Only if you’re interested.”
“Okay. I’m interested.”
“Will there be any acoustic acts?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Acoustic acts? Softer music,” Jesse said.
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s not polite to answer a question with another question,” Jesse said.
“I didn’t realize you placed such stock in grammatical formalities.”
“We’re drifting off point,” Jesse said.
“Yes,” she said.
“Yes what?”
“Yes, there will be acoustic acts. Why?”
“If you were to schedule those acts for the end of the concert, and as a result, greatly reduce the levels of the amplification system, you might just have a viable argument for a time extension.”
“You mean if the speaker system was turned way down, we could play past eleven o’clock?”
“It’s possible.”
“How?”
“Because the eleven o’clock curfew rule was put in place so that the neighborhood would be spared the discomfort of loudly amplified music.”
“And if the music was minimally amplified, we could play it beyond the curfew.”
“It would need to be closely monitored, of course. The noise levels in the adjoining neighborhoods would have to be negligible.”
“And who would do the monitoring?”
“The police department.”
“And you thought of this?”
“An epiphany.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the police chief. I take everyone’s interests into consideration.”
“Even mine?”
“Even yours.”
Alexis looked at him.
“Thank you, Jesse,” she said.
“All in a day’s work,” he said.
56
So then what happened,” Jesse said.
“She actually said hello to me,” Lisa Barry said.
They were strolling in Paradise Park, where Jesse had brought her after picking her up at school.
“Did she say anything else?”
“She acted kind of sheepish,” Lisa said. “She walked a ways with me and tried to be friendly.”
“Julie’s a complicated young woman,” Jesse said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that although she’s a person of privilege, she still harbors a great deal of anger. She acts on instinct, without really understanding why.”
“That sounds like shrink talk.”
“It is shrink talk.”
“You place a lot of stock in analysis, don’t you, Jesse?”
“If gone about correctly, it can be an invaluable tool for self-realization.”
“Which means?”
“Analysis can provide the foundation for a healthy life,” Jesse said.
“Is that why you think my speaking with Dr. Canter is so important ?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I am speaking with her.”
“And?”
“I like it.”
“Because?”
“Because we talk about things which I wouldn’t talk about otherwise.”
“Which is a good thing?”
“Yes.”
“And school?”
“Everyone’s still talking about how you arrested Mr. Tauber.”
“He deserved to be arrested.”
After a while Lisa said, “Mrs. Nelson came to see me.”
Jesse didn’t say anything.
“She said she was sorry for what she did. She forgave me for holding her. She said I should come to her if I ever have issues.”
“How did you feel about that?”
“I felt good. She was different. She seemed genuine,” Lisa said.
“Sometimes people lose sight of right and wrong.”
“You think Mrs. Nelson lost sight of right and wrong?”
“I do. But when she realized that she had, she took steps to rectify it. She deserves credit for that,” Jesse said.
“Is that why you’re not mad at her anymore?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know the difference between right and