Yep, Jessie said, happy for the reminders. It was helpful to get her in the proper frame of mind.
Kat swiped her badge and nodded at the camera over the door. Someone inside buzzed them in. Jessie was immediately overwhelmed by the surprising flurry of activity. Instead of the usual four security guards, there were six. In addition, there were three men in workmen uniforms walking around with various pieces of technical equipment.
Whats going on? she asked.
Oh, I forgot to mentionwere getting a few new residents at mid-week. Well be full up in all ten cells. So were checking the surveillance equipment in the empty cells to make sure everythings working right. Weve also increased the security staff on each shift from four officers to six during the day, not including me, and from three to four at night.
Thats soundsrisky, Jessie said diplomatically.
I fought it, Kat admitted. But the county had a need and we had available cells. It was a losing battle.
Jessie nodded as she looked around. The fundamentals of the place seemed the same. The unit was designed like a wheel with a command center in the middle and spokes extending out in every direction, leading to inmate cells. There were currently six officers in the now-cramped space of the command center, which looked like an extremely busy hospital nurses station.
A few of the faces were new to her but most were familiar, including Ernie Cortez. Ernie was a massive specimen of a man, about six foot six and 250 well-muscled pounds. He was in his thirties and just starting to show bits of gray in his close-cropped black hair. He gave a big grin when he saw Jessie.
Vogue chick, he called out, using the affectionate nickname hed given her on their first meeting when shed shown up and he tried to hit on her, suggesting she should be a model. Shed shut him down pretty fast but he didnt seem to hold a grudge.
Hows it going, Ernie? she asked, smiling back.
You know; same old. Making sure pedophiles, rapists, and murderers mind their Ps and Qs. You?
Mostly the same, she said, deciding not to get into the particulars of her activities the last few months with so many unfamiliar faces around.
So now that youve had a few months to get over your divorce, you want to spend a little quality time with the Ernster? Im planning to go to Tijuana this weekend.
The Ernster? Jessie repeated, unable to stop herself from giggling.
What? he said, faux-defensively. Its a nickname.
Im sorry, Ernster, but Im pretty sure Im going to have plans this weekend. But you have fun at the jai alai track. Buy some Chiclets for me, okay?
Ouch, he replied, grabbing at his chest as if shed shot an arrow in his heart. You know, big boys have feelings too. Were also, you knowbig boys.
All right, Cortez, Kat interjected, enough of that. You just made me throw up a little in my mouth. And Jessie has business to attend to.
Hurtful, Ernie muttered under his breath as he returned his attention to the monitor in front of him, Despite his words, his tone suggested he wasnt all that broken up. Kat motioned for Jessie to follow her to the spoke with Crutchfields cell.
Youll want this, she said, holding up the small key fob with the red button in the middle. It was the in case of emergency, break glass device. Jessie considered it a kind of digital security blanket.
If Crutchfield was messing with her head and she wanted to leave the room without letting him know the impact he was having, she was to push the button hidden in her hand. That would alert Kat, who could remove her from the room for some official, made-up reason. Jessie was pretty sure Crutchfield was aware of the device but she was glad to have it nonetheless.
She grabbed the key fob, nodded to Kat that she was ready to enter, and took a deep breath. Kat opened the door and Jessie stepped inside.
Apparently Crutchfield had anticipated her arrival. He was standing up, only inches from the glass wall dividing the room in half, smiling broadly at her.
CHAPTER SIX
It took Jessie a second to rip her eyes away from his crooked teeth and evaluate the situation.
On the surface, he didnt look that different than she remembered. He still had the blond hair, shorn close to his head. He still wore the same mandatory aqua-blue scrubs. He still had the slightly pudgier face than one would expect of a man who was about five foot eight and 150 pounds. It made him look closer to twenty-five than the thirty-five years old he was.
And he still had the probing, almost stalking brown eyes. They were the only hint that the man across from her had killed at nineteen least people and perhaps twice that many.
The cell hadnt changed either. It was small, with a narrow sheetless bed bolted to the far wall. A small desk with an attached chair sat in the back right corner beside a small metal wash basin. Behind that was a toilet, set off in the back, with a sliding plastic door for a modicum of privacy.
Miss Jessie, he purred softly. What an unexpected surprise running into you here.
And yet, youre standing there as if you expected my imminent arrival, Jessie countered, not wanting to give Crutchfield even a moments advantage. She walked over and sat down in the chair behind a small desk on the other side of the glass. Kat took up her usual position, standing alertly in the corner of the room.
I sensed a change in the energy of this facility, he replied, his Louisiana accent as pronounced as ever. The air seemed sweeter and I thought I could hear a bird chirping outside.
Youre not usually this full of flattery, Jessie noted. Care to share what has you in such a complimentary mood?
Nothing in particular, Miss Jessie. Cant a man just appreciate the small joy that comes from having an unexpected visitor?
Something in the way he said that last line made Jessies scalp tingle, as if there was more to the comment. She sat quietly for a moment, allowing her mind to work, unconcerned about any time constraints. She knew Kat would let her handle the interview however she chose.
Turning over Crutchfields words in her head, she realized they might have more than one meaning.
When you talk about unexpected visitors, are you referring to me, Mr. Crutchfield?
He stared at her for several seconds without speaking. Finally, slowly, the wide, forced smile on his face twisted into a more malevolentand more believablesmirk.
We havent established the ground rules for this visit, he said, suddenly turning his back on her.
I think the days of ground rules have long since passed, dont you, Mr. Crutchfield? she asked. Weve known each other long enough that we can just talk, cant we?
He walked back to the bed attached to the back wall of the cell and sat down, his expression slightly hidden in shadow now.
But how can I be certain that youll be as forthcoming as youd like me to be with you? he asked.
After ordering one of your flunkies to break into my friends apartment and scaring her to the point that she still cant sleep, Im not sure youve fully earned my trust or my willingness to be accommodating.
You bring up that incident, he said, but you neglect to mention the multiple times Ive assisted you in cases both professional and personal. For every so-called indiscretion on my part, Ive compensated with information that has proved invaluable to you. All Im asking for are assurances that this wont be a one-way street.