Fool Me Twice

27

On a cold and rainy fall morning, Jesse passed through security and entered the bustling lobby of the Cassidy Building. The wintry weather bothered him because he knew that today was the first day of the Major League Baseball playoffs, and he believed that the chill would hamper the performance of the players.

At the front desk, he told the middle-aged receptionist that he wished to see Richard Cassidy. She regarded him as though she had just caught wind of something rotten.

“Is Mr. Cassidy expecting you,” the woman said, her nose raised as if in search of fresh air.

“Metaphorically speaking, yes,” Jesse said.

“Excuse me?”

“Would you please tell Mr. Cassidy that Jesse Stone is here to see him.”

“Mr. Cassidy doesn’t see people without an appointment.”

“He’ll see me.”

“Perhaps I’m not making myself clear. Mr. Cassidy doesn’t see anyone without an appointment.”

“I’m not here to argue with you, madam. I’m the police chief, and if you refuse to announce me, I’ll arrest you and have you hauled off to jail.”

The woman stared at Jesse, then picked up the phone and punched in three numbers. She swiveled her chair around so that her back was to him. She cupped the speaker with her hand and spoke quietly.

“There’s a Jesse Stone here to see Mr. Cassidy,” she said.

Jesse couldn’t hear what the party at the other end of the line was saying. He glanced around at the ornate lobby of the brick-and-glass edifice, all angles and curves, architecturally influenced by Frank Gehry. His attention returned to the receptionist.

“I’ve already told him that, but he’s rather insistent,” she said into the phone.

After a brief pause, she said, “That’s right.”

Another pause.

“He did mention that he was the police chief, yes.”

She listened.

After a few moments she put the phone down.

She looked at Jesse.

“Take the last elevator on your right to the penthouse floor,” she said.

“Sweet,” he said.

“You weren’t really going to arrest me, right?”

Jesse smiled.

“You’ll never know,” he said, and headed for the elevator.

—

The top floor of the Cassidy Building featured floor-to-ceiling windows that offered an exceptional view of Paradise Harbor and the ocean beyond. No sailors had chosen to brave the churning wintry sea, save for a lone commercial schooner bearing a sign that read HARBOR CRUISES.

An attractive woman in her late thirties greeted Jesse as he stepped off the elevator. She was dressed for serious business, in a tailored charcoal-gray suit worn with a slate-blue silk blouse that featured long collar points and pearl buttons. She was all smiles.

“Chief Stone,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Jacqueline Adams, Mr. Cassidy’s executive assistant.”

Jesse took her hand. Her grip was firm.

“You’re very fortunate that Mr. Cassidy could see you now,” she said.

“All morning I had this feeling that today was my lucky day,” Jesse said.

Her smile flickered for a moment.

“You have no idea how jammed up his schedule usually is,” she said.

“And you think my life is easy?”

“No. No. I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, recovering her smile. “Please follow me.”

She led Jesse down a long corridor, past a maze of closed doors and brightly lit conference rooms, to Richard Cassidy’s corner suite.

She knocked lightly on the door, and before opening it, she spoke softly to Jesse.

“Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?”

“Nothing, thank you,” he whispered back.

She ushered him inside. The office was immense.

Richard Cassidy stepped from behind his oversized desk. He was dressed casually in a blue blazer, white shirt, and khaki trousers.

He grabbed hold of Jesse’s hand and placed an arm around his shoulder as if he were greeting an old and cherished friend. He led Jesse to a sitting area that overlooked the harbor.

“Did Jackie offer you something?” he said. “Coffee? Water?”

“I’m good,” Jesse said.

Cassidy nodded to Jacqueline Adams, who closed the door firmly behind her as she left, smiling all the while.

“Please sit down,” Cassidy said.

The sitting area comprised a sofa, a love seat, and an overstuffed armchair, all upholstered in white silk. Spotless, too, Jesse noticed. Side cabinets and a coffee table completed the array.

Jesse sat on the sofa, and Cassidy sat opposite him on the armchair.

“Nice digs,” Jesse said.

“Thank you,” Cassidy said. “Construction was completed last fall and we moved in just after the first of the year. We’re already being mentioned in the architectural journals.”

“How nice for you.”

“I’ve never been prouder of anything in my life.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Does that include your family?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You said you’ve never been prouder of anything in your life. Does that include your family?”

“I’m not certain that I appreciate that remark, Chief Stone.”

“Jesse.”

Cassidy didn’t say anything.

“Are you more proud of the building than, say, your daughter?”

“My daughter?”

“Are you proud of Courtney?”

“Of course I’m proud of Courtney.”

“She seems to be experiencing some kind of distress.”

“She seems to be experiencing some kind of harassment. It appears to us as if you’re dogging her.”

“If that’s what you perceive, Mr. Cassidy, you’re mistaken.”

“Come off it, Chief Stone. Jesse. She’s little more than a child.”

“She’s a young adult who’s acting out some kind of cry for attention.”

“Is that your professional opinion?”

“Look, I didn’t come here to get into another argument with you. Courtney’s in some kind of trouble. And I don’t just mean that she broke a few laws. I’d like to see if there’s any way I can help her.”

“How about you help her by returning to your police station and finding something better to pursue than the harassment of an innocent child.”

“You don’t really get it, do you?”

“Oh, I get it, all right. I get just what you’re about.”

Jesse didn’t say anything.

“You’ve got your hand out just like they all do.”

“You think this is about extortion?”

Cassidy didn’t say anything.

“That’s what you think?”

“How much do you want,” Cassidy said.

Jesse glared at him.

“Your daughter appears to be careening into some serious trouble,” he said. “I’m not altogether convinced that either you or Mrs. Cassidy actually grasps that fact.”

Richard Cassidy stood.

“Thank you for your concern, Chief Stone,” he said. “Duly noted and appreciated. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are matters that require my immediate attention.”

Jesse stood.

He looked at Richard Cassidy for a few moments.

Then he left.