Robert B. Parker’s Damned If You Do

60

He found parking in front of Clarice Edgerson’s house on Beacon Hill and rang the bell. It was opened by Augustus Kennerly. He stared at Jesse for several moments, then stepped back and motioned for him to enter. Neither of them spoke as Augustus ushered Jesse into the sitting room.

“Drink,” Augustus said.

“No, thanks,” Jesse said.

“Mind if I have one?”

“Please go ahead.”

Augustus fixed himself something and sat down across from Jesse.

“How you doing,” Jesse said.

“Not great,” Augustus said.

“What happens next?”

“I’m arranging to sell the house. She left everything to me. I’m thinking about moving away. Too many memories here. She and I bought a place in Anguilla. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go there. We were together for so many years. Since she was a girl, really. Nobody ever knew.”

“Your secret.”

“Our secret. Everyone assumed she was with Thomas. We let people think what they wanted to think. We didn’t much care.”

Jesse didn’t say anything.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me now. I don’t know if I can even get past this. Doesn’t seem to matter much whether I live or die.”

“Have you anyone you can talk to?”

Augustus shrugged.

“Do you have family,” Jesse said.

“She was my family.”

Augustus took a long pull on his drink and didn’t say anything.

“Maybe you should think about therapy. Perhaps even a grief counselor.”

“Therapy?”

“I’ve always found it best to have someone to talk with. A trained professional would be particularly good. Someone who could help guide you through this.”

“You’re probably right. But I wouldn’t even begin to know how to find such a person.”

“Maybe I can help.”

“You would do that? Help me find someone?”

“If you want me to.”

Augustus didn’t say anything for a while.

“Would you?”

“Yes.”

“And you’d talk to that someone on my behalf?”

“Yes.”

“How would it work?”

“I’ll have a name for you before the end of the day. All you’ll need to do is phone for an appointment.”

“Would it be expensive?”

“Probably. But everything’s relative. Is cost really an issue for you?”

Augustus smiled.

“Not so much. I’m just an old cheapskate, is all. From a time when I didn’t have a pot to piss in.”

“Let me see what I can do.”

“Much obliged.”

Jesse stood.

“Don’t throw in the towel just yet, Gus,” he said. “Talk it out. Give it some time. You never know.”

Augustus didn’t say anything. He stood and together he and Jesse slowly walked to the door.

“Thank you again, Jesse,” Augustus said.

Jesse nodded.

“She liked you,” Augustus said.

Jesse looked at him. The two men shook hands.

Then Jesse got into his cruiser and drove home.