Fantastic.
What was going on?
Moran and Lazurus, with Aunt Bea, turned a corner and disappeared.
Deputy Hernandez came to me.
“Sheriff Moran would like to talk to you,” he said.“Would you follow me?”
“What’s going on?”I asked as I got up.
“Sheriff Moran will explain.”
Not having remotely good feelings about this, I followed him to a hall that led to an office at the front of the building, and past an office with Aunt Bea standing at the door of it.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”she asked as I passed.
Would I be there that long?
I was jazzed enough, so I replied, “Thank you, but no.”
She nodded, and I felt her eyes on me as Deputy Hernandez led me to the office at the end of the hall.
Lazurus was sitting on a chair opposite Moran, who was behind his desk.
When I entered after Deputy Hernandez, they both took their feet.
“God, sorry, we didn’t get that far.I didn’t get your name,” Deputy Hernandez said to me.
“Mabel.Mabel Adams,” I supplied.
“Harry, Rus, this is Mabel Adams,” Deputy Hernandez said unnecessarily.
I found it interesting that, right in front of me, he didn’t use titles.
It was my experience men liked titles a whole lot.The more authority they had, the more they were sure to tack on doctor, senator, general, sergeant, whatever it was they earned, they wanted it front and center.
Both men came forward, giving their names in the exact same way.
Lazarus first.“Rus Lazarus, Rus.”
No Lieutenant.
I shook his hand then turned to the sheriff.
“Harry Moran, Harry.”
I shook his hand too.
“Have a seat,” he invited.
But I didn’t want to.
I really, really didn’t want to.
Because I glanced at his desk.
On it was the note.
