Robert B. Parker’s the Hangman’s Sonnet

Jesse opened his mouth to answer, but it was Molly who said, “Come in.”

Nita Thompson came into the office looking unusually casual in jeans, a loose-fitting floral blouse, and sandals.

“Morning, Chief Crane,” she said. “Can I borrow Jesse for a few minutes?”

“You can keep him for all I care.” Both women laughed. Molly stood. “You two stay. I’ve got work to do.”

When the door closed behind Molly, Nita said, “I wanted to say so long. I won’t be here when you get back.”

“No?”

“I’m movin’ on up. I landed me a United States Senate candidate.” Nita pantomimed hooking a fish and reeling it in.

“Congratulations.”

“I also wanted to apologize for some of the things I said about you, Jesse. I’m sorry.”

“It’s forgotten.”

She laughed. “I think I’m sorriest for me. If I’d been a little kinder, I think we could have been friends.”

He winked. “Maybe.”

She stepped close to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Good luck, Jesse Stone.”

He watched her retreat, then went out front to wait for Tamara. Suit came out and stood next to him.

“You look like you lost some weight, Suit.”

“Elena makes me eat right.”

“Good. Now maybe we won’t need a sundial anymore to time you running the bases.”

Suit ignored the dig and brought up Roger Bascom. “I always thought the guy was a jerk, but I never thought he was a killer.”

“Suit, people will do almost anything if they’re hungry or needy enough.”

“I guess.”

Tamara pulled her Jeep up in front of them. “Hey, Suit.”

“Hey, Doc. Good luck in Texas.”

Suit loaded Jesse’s duffel into the backseat and shook Jesse’s hand good-bye. Jesse climbed into the bucket beside Tamara. He had a good idea of what Paradise would be like when he got back, but given that he was headed to rehab, he was much less certain about himself.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank The Estate of Robert B. Parker, Ivan Held, Chris Pepe, and David Hale Smith.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Richard Neer, Ming Liu Parson, Ace Atkins, Tom Schreck, and Ellen W. Schare for their help in the creation of this novel. Special thanks to Peter Spiegelman, who showed me the way out of the weeds on this one.

But I reserve my most heartfelt thanks for Rosanne, Kaitlin, and Dylan. They are the ones who made the hard sacrifices so I could follow my passion. Without their love and support, none of this would have any meaning.