[ They should but not before Jess gets the truth out of her, if she's able to give it. She takes a bracing breath, shoulders locking up. ] Trish. He's here.

[ She can tense every muscle in her body but she can't toughen up her imploring stare, or spare either of them Jess's shame, vivid in the gleam to her eyes. ] He's alive. [ She shuts her eyes briefly, her "I'm dealing with it" defense against Trish's concerned prying. Often justified, always annoying. ] I need to know if he knows you're here. If you can't tell me then... Something you would never say. I need to know. [ Jess already cribbed this strategy to decent effect last month, but credit where it's due now. The Trish Test is the current industry standard. the industry is misery. Jess has it monopolized. ]