Preparation

Alexander faced himself in the mirror, checked the dimple in his tie, looked up his nose for stray hairs and boogers. He winked his approval at his reflection and left the bathroom.

The office Lex kept at home was immaculate but he straightened piles of legal pads, fluffed a bouquet of pens, and realigned books lining the walnut shelves. Returning to the bathroom, he again checked his tie and realized fidgeting didn’t suit him. Mercifully, his mobile phone buzzed in his jacket pocket.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Napier, the sheriff just called wondering if you were available to meet him for coffee tomorrow to discuss the Hodges’ case,” Elaine said, her voice was the smooth velvet of a southern upbringing, more of lilt than a drawl.

Lex smoothed the lapels of his jacket and asked, “Should I call him?”

“I think he’d appreciate that, sir.”

Although Elaine was thirty years his senior, she insisted on calling him sir much to his chagrin. “Thank you.”

“And sir—”

“What is it, Elaine?”

“Do you have a date for the art thing tonight?”

“I’m meeting someone there.”

Lex registered the shock in Elaine’s pause. “Well, don’t forget your manners and compliment her shoes,” Elaine said.

Lex pressed end, found Sheriff Gordon’s number, and dialed.

“Just the man I wanted to talk to,” Gordon said in lieu of a traditional hello. “How’s nine o’ clock tomorrow sound? I’ll bring the coffee.”

Photo: Navros