High Profile

36

Sunny had supper with Jenn at the Union Street Bar and Grill, in the South End, across from the cathedral. Several people recognized Jenn and pointed her out to companions. When they came out, Sunny saw the stalker lingering across the street, near the sheltered bus stop. Sunny paid him no attention. She patted her left thigh as if in time to music, and gave the valet her ticket. As she got into the car she glanced in her side-view mirror and saw Spike get out of his car, two blocks back on Washington Street. She smiled and when the valet closed the door for Jenn, she put the car in gear and drove away without looking back.

“I need to swing by my place,” Sunny said, “before I drop you off.”

Jenn nodded. She sat with her head back against the car seat and her eyes closed.

“What’s your ex-husband like?” Jenn said.

Sunny thought about it.

“Richie’s father and uncle run a mob,” she said.

“They’re gangsters?”

“Yes.”

“How about him?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You were married to him?” Jenn said. “You maybe still love him? And you’re not sure?”

“I don’t think Richie is even sure.”

“Is he a criminal?” Jenn said.

“No,” Sunny said. “I don’t believe that he is. But he is very loyal to his father and his uncle.”

“Even if it means being, ah, you know, illegal?”

“Yes.”

“How do you feel about that?” Jenn said.

“It scares me,” Sunny said.

She turned right off the northbound surface road and onto the Summer Street Bridge. Fort Point Channel was thick and dark beneath them.

“But,” Sunny said, “I guess I understand. I’m quite close to my father.”

“I envy you that,” Jenn said.

“You don’t have family, or you’re not close?”

“Not close,” Jenn said. “What is he like, Richie? I mean, to be with.”

“He’s nearly impervious,” Sunny said. “Very contained. Quiet. But there’s something going on in there. Something that you think might explode someday.”

“At you?”

“No,” Sunny said. “Not at me.”

“Sounds a little like Jesse,” Jenn said.

“Yes,” Sunny said. “He is rather like Jesse.”

“Jesse is so controlled, but you know that he has something very dangerous in there.”

“Dangerous to you?” Sunny said.

Jenn opened her eyes and looked at Sunny and smiled.

“No,” she said. “Not to me.”

They parked on the street in front of Sunny’s building.

“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” Sunny said.

“Exciting?” Jenn said.

“Yes, having that kind of power.”

Jenn stared at her. The interior of the car was dimly lit by the street lamps. Sunny couldn’t see Jenn’s face very well.

“I never quite thought of it that way,” Jenn said after a time. “But yes. To be with someone who is dangerous but would never be dangerous to you...”

“So why are we both divorced?” Sunny said.

“I don’t know. I wish to God I did know. He’s like the one necessity in my life. He’s all I have for family. I know he loves me. I would trust him with my life.”

“But?” Sunny said.

“But I can’t stay with him. I can’t be faithful to him. When I try I get claustrophobic.”

“And you don’t know why,” Sunny said.

“No. Do you?”

“No,” Sunny said. “We’re working on it.”

“We?”

“My shrink and I,” Sunny said.

“Oh God,” Jenn said. “I spend half my salary on shrinks.”

“If at first you don’t succeed,” Sunny said.

They got out of the car and went into Sunny’s building.