Page 23 of His Reckoning

“That’s because I wrote approximately three sentences.”

She takes another sip of coffee before she gestures toward the machine. “You should show me how that works before you leave.”

“So you don’t accidentally declare war on it again?”

“So I can operate it without international translation.”

“That seems reasonable.”

I walk her through the buttons. When I’m finished, she sighs heavily holding her second cup of coffee like she’s memorizing something complicated.

“There,” I say.

“You make it look easy.”

“It is easy.”

“For you.”

She glances toward the laptop again then back to me.

“Well,” she says, lifting the cup slightly, “thank you for the coffee tutorial.”

“You’re welcome.”

I grab my jacket from the chair.

“You heading to work?” she asks.

“Yes.”

She nods slowly then continues to drink her coffee.

* * *

By the time I get to work, Jordan is already waiting outside my office, which feels exactly like him.

“Good morning,” he says without looking up.

“Morning.”

He falls into step beside me as we walk into my office.

“The article about Ms. Laurent has been corrected,” he says.

“That was quick.”

“The photographer confirmed the tip had come from her publicist.”

“That was also quick.”

Jordan glances up. “I’m efficient.”

“That you are.”

We step into my office, and he places the tablet on my desk.

“The more interesting problem,” he says, “is the second article.”