"Ognowski? No."
"In the car?" Jesse said.
"No."
"Any kind of weapon?" Jesse said.
"No," Perkins said. "That mean something?"
"Guys in his profession," Jesse said, "usually like to be carrying something."
"So, what's it mean that he wasn't?"
"Don't know," Jesse said. "It's a little odd, so we mark it, you know?"
"Yessir," Perkins said. "You gonna talk with Reggie Galen?"
"I'll talk to Healy first, see what the staties know."
"And I'll get hold of somebody at Garrison," Perkins said.
"Good," Jesse said.
"We got a theory of the case yet?" Perkins said.
"Somebody shot Petrov and put him in his trunk," Jesse said.
"Wow," Perkins said. "It's great to work with a professional."
"I know," Jesse said. "I know."
7
I NEED A DRINK," Sunny said, as she came through Jesse's front door.
"Martini?"
"Yes."
Jesse made her a martini and himself a scotch and soda and brought the drinks into the living room. Sunny drank nearly half of hers. Jesse raised his eyebrows.
"Hey," he said. "I'm the boozer around here."
"Richie's wife had a son. Richard Felix Burke, seven pounds, four ounces."
Jesse nodded.
"Drink up," he said.
Sunny sat for a time in silence. Jesse was silent with her.
Then she said, "Richie called me. He sounded so excited. So happy."
"Must be an exciting thing," Jesse said.
"It's over," Sunny said.
"You and Richie?"
"Yes," she said. "I know him. He will never leave his son or his son's mother."
Jesse nodded. Sunny drank the rest of her martini. Jesse stood to make her another one.
"No," Sunny said. "I don't want to get drunk. I just needed some kind of little jolt to help me get past this."
"The jolt work?" Jesse said.
"No."
"Generally doesn't," he said.