Chapter 68

Jessica rose as the waiter and Jennifer approached. She hugged Jennifer and they sat down. The waiter departed to bring the menus.

"Good to see you again," Jessica said. "We wanted to see how you were doing."

"As good as can be, I suppose. Work keeps me busy, but when I'm not working... I can't stop thinking about Matt."

"I can't know what you're feeling," Jessica said. "Or... there's never anything anyone can say, but we don't want you to go through this alone. Do you have many friends here? I know you said your parents weren't here."

"Not any really close. Mostly at work, and most people would rather not hear about your problems. So.."

"I understand," Jessica said. "Most people think their own problems are more important than those of others, even their friends. But you have us, and believe, Harry cares. Maybe he's motivated by his dislike for people who hurt other people, but he cares about the people who get hurt. He's not doing it for money."

"He does seem serious. Do you think he can do anything? He seems to think it's an organized criminal operation."

"That's what he spent years doing," replied Jessica. "With the state police. He has a lot of connections, knows a lot of things. And a lot of people."

"What will happen, if he can... get the goods on them?"

"I would guess he'd turn it over to the proper authorities. Whoever that is. Probably the state attorney general, but if Medicare fraud is involved that could bring the feds in. Not that I have any faith in them. We'll have to see what he comes up with."

"I hope he can." said Jennifer. "When I think of the people they may still be doing this to, I hope it's soon."

"He wants to meet with us, if possible this week." Jessica said. "He should be calling you when he has a firm date."

"I'd like that. I'm free any time after five on weekdays."

The waiter appeared with the menus and took their drink orders. Jennifer asked for iced tea.

"I made a fool of myself last time," she said. "I never did drink much, but lately I have to decide between taking something to make me sleep, or having a drink before bed. I'd rather not have to do either."

"Don't let it bother you," said Jessica. "What you were going through, reliving it really. And you didn't have anyone to turn to. You do now."

"Thanks. You know there's no way to tell you how much this means."

"Do you live here..." Jessica began. "Never mind. You live in town. Do you ever get out in the country, just go to a peaceful place and relax?"

"No. There's really nowhere to go, except to a park, and there's usually a lot of people around."

"Would you like to go with us sometime? We have a place in the country, and some friends who live out there. It's reallly peaceful."

"Sure. That would be nice."

The waiter appeared and took their orders.

"One check," Jessica told him.

"It goes on the expense account," she said to Jennifer.

"Where do you work?" she asked Jennifer after the waiter left.

"Clayton and Fletcher," Jennifer replied. "On the insurance brokerage side."

"I know them," said Jessica. "B&H did some business with the accounting division."

"It's a pretty big company." Jennifer said. "I've only been there for about three years. Almost three. They're good people, when Matt died they were really good to me."

Alex listened as they talked.

Girls talking, always happy. Jennifer seems better. And they're gettin' on well.

"Ready to order?"

Waiter. No, we been yakking. Girls have anyway.

"Whatever you're having," he said to Jessica without opening his menu.

Jessica and Jennifer took a look at theirs.

"Same as last time OK?" Jessica asked.

"Sounds good to me," Jennifer said.

"Three ribeyes," Jessica said to the waiter. "And nachos."

Jessica gave their preferences for cooking the steaks and the waiter left.

"If you have a free day some weekend," Jessica said, "we'd like you to spend some time with us at our new place. We have some friends you'd probably like."

"Any time is good." Jennifer replied. "I haven't been doing much outside of work lately."

Jessica smiled.

"I'm gonna be nosy. Do you have a significant other you'd like to bring along?"

"No, no one serious. I'm not sure how soon I'll be up to any socializing."

"I'll give you a call after we meet with Harry, see about next weekend if that's possible."

"Sounds good."

They ate nachos and chatted while waiting for the steaks to arrive. Jessica related some of Alex's experiences in the hospital and how he was working to recover.

"Those are bad people," Jennifer said. "I feel helpless, knowing that even with what we're doing, trying to do, every day that goes by someone else may be going in there, to have the same thing happen."

"Believe me," Alex said, "they are. That's why Harry's working on it full time."

"Do you think... what are the chances? That it can be shut down. Someone can be dying in there now."

"Yeah," Alex said. "Harry's good, experienced, knows people. We'll see how it looks in the next day or two."

The waiter conveniently arrived to break the uncomfortable silence that followed.

Something in her eyes. She looks something past bein' hurt. Angry. In a serious way.

While they were eating Jessica's phone vibrated and the screen lit up. She glanced at it.

"Laura," she said. "Good, she must have a date for us."