“So what happens now?” Trese asked, her face turned towards the small window. She had finally surrendered Jason's coat to the attendant. There was a cup of hot tea on the table in front of her.
Beth gave her a long look before answering. “I'm not sure. I don't know what Jason's thoughts are. Until we get that sorted, you are, at the very least, his guest.”
“Have you worked for him very long?”
“A little more than five years.” Jason moving back caught Beth's attention.
Trese turned to look when Beth fell silent. Jason was carrying the guitar from the cabin. That confused her. She didn't recall Jason packing it in the Range Rover. She heard Jason say, “Hey,” and a gasp from Marlene when she saw the guitar. She saw Marlene reach towards the guitar with a shaking hand, not quite touching it from where Trese sat.
Jason turned the guitar around and set it in Marlene's lap. Her arms went around it, not like she was holding a guitar, but rather like she was hugging an old friend. Trese saw two shiny streaks roll down the face of it. Marlene drew her legs up. Kneeling down, Jason laid his hand on Marlene's calf. Two fingers lay above the hem of her skirt, two below. Something about Marlene changed with that touch that Trese couldn't define.
“Open your damned eyes, idiot,” Trese heard Beth say.
“Excuse me?”
Beth gave her a weak smile. “I'm sorry. Just talking to myself.” Trese turned back to Marlene.
He spoke quietly so that only Marlene heard. Whatever he had said she replied only with the nod of her head. Jason moved to stand and Marlene flipped the armrests between her seat and the one next to her up. She patted the seat. “Sit with me? Please?” Jason smiled and nodded. He retrieved the brief Beth had given him and sat.