3 o’clock comes up quickly.
Mercury returns from her afternoon coffee run – a giant latte for her and a small cup of black for me. On this day, I’m thankful for a few minutes to myself. Don’t get me wrong – I’m thrilled to have Mercury on the team, but there are days when I miss the solo routine. Coming and going as I please, not worrying about someone else’s time. Seems like a million years ago.
“Hot coffee black, no cream, no sugar,” Mercury says as she steps into the office. “Beautiful day out there … a good one to play hooky, for sure.”
I thank her.
“Silas, you don’t strike me as one who would play hooky. Am I right?”
I nod. “Yes, you are correct.”
“I figured,” she says. “So … Bernie.”
“Yes,” I say. “Complicated fella.”
Mercury sips her beverage, leaving a lipstick stain on the cup. “Really? He’s always struck me as being a little schlubby, a basic guy. Certainly not a fashion plate of Middle Valley.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, khaki pants aside, he’s pretty plugged in.”
“Well, he’s been a reporter here for … going on 40-something years. I’m sure he’s forgotten more people than most here have known.”
I look around the office. “The next question is where the hell are we going to put him? It’s not like we’re in a palace here or something.”
Mercury laughs. “Well, that’s true. I’ve seen some palaces. This is not a palace.”
Bernie knocks on the door.
“I have to say … I’m not sure if I’m interviewing you or your interviewing me.” Bernie chuckles. “I’m guessing it’ll be a little of both.”
Mercury smiles. “Consider it information sharing,” she says. Immediately, Bernie is at ease. She does have some kind of knack with people.
“So … let’s start with Mick. Paul says you know what happened. Is this true?”
Bernie nods. “Yes.”
“Paul told you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe him?”
Bernie nods. “Yes.”
“And you two go back a ways, right?”
He nods, and at that point, the information begins to flow freely. Bernie had been at work at the newspaper, he says, when Paul came by and told him about Mick in the hopes of giving Bernie the exclusive. Paul’s deputy, Steve, had been assigned to the case. It wasn’t until much later, Bernie says, when Paul confessed to him that he realized what Paul had done.
“It’s mind-boggling,” Mercury says.
“It is, and sad,” Bernie says. Then, as if flipping a switch, he reaches into his pocket. “So where do you stand in your investigation of the body parts?”
“It’s on the back burner for now but not for long,” I say. “We don’t have any real progress to report to date but we haven’t forgotten about it certainly. You’ll see some progress from us in short order.”
“What about Carson, by the way?” Bernie asks. “I haven’t seen him for a while.”
“No idea. Did you check with … Elyse?” she asked gingerly. “I know it’s strange and she isn’t responsible for keeping track of him but she may know something. I mean, we’d like ask him a few questions, certainly.“
“Good idea,” Bernie says.
He leaves and I put my feet up on the desk. “Your thoughts?”
“I mean, they’re old friends. There’s a lot of history there. I’m sure that wasn’t the most comfortable thing for him to do, but he’s an upstanding guy. I think he’s interested in the truth, like we are, and reporting it out, just like we are.”
I nod. “Alright, let’s be done today. I think it’ll help us both to step away.”
“Sounds good. And take in this gorgeous day. Better late hooky than no hooky at all, right?”
Jenny Page