His smile came slowly, revealing small, even teeth.An old wolf’s smile, Connor thought.
“Sit, Sheriff,” Morimer said.“I’d say this visit is well overdue, wouldn’t you?”
Connor remained standing for a moment.The two men behind him did not move away.
“It wasn’t planned like that.”
Morimer set the newspaper on his lap.“Well, I can’t say I didn’t take it as a slight that you ignored my overtures.You’ve been sheriff of Harlan County for years now, and yet not one visit?”
“I don’t visit men like you unless I have to.That’s not my thing.”
The old man’s smile widened.“Your predecessor did.”
“That’s why we got rid of him.”
A soft laugh left Morimer.“You are showing yourself to me...I wondered if you’d bring me the badge or the man.Sit down before you melt into my porch.Take a load off.”
Connor sat in the chair opposite him.
Morimer lifted one hand.A man in a white shirt came from inside with a tray, a jug, and a clean glass.Lemonade poured pale and cold over ice.The sound of it made Connor aware of how dry his mouth had become.
“Have some,” Morimer said.
“I’m not here to be social.”
“No.You’re here with cash in your pocket and no gun on your hip.That makes you many things, Sheriff, but social isn’t one of them.”Morimer nodded toward the glass.“Drink.”
Connor took it.Condensation slicked his fingers.He brought the glass to his mouth and drank.
The lemonade was sharp, sweet, and cold enough to hurt his teeth.For a second, heat and nerves gave way to memory before he could stop it.
“That reminds me of my Aunt Emily’s back in the day,” he said.
The change in Morimer happened so quickly that Connor almost doubted it.
The smile disappeared.The warmth drained from the old man’s eyes and left something flat behind.Deadpan.Dangerous.
“You think you can come here and have influence because you’re Emily’s nephew?She’d be ashamed of you wearing that uniform.”
Connor lowered the glass.
Morimer leaned back a fraction.The men behind Connor seemed to grow still.Even the ceiling fan sounded louder.
“Business before family, I’m afraid,” Morimer said.
Connor put the lemonade on the table between them.“No.That’s not why I’m here.”
“Good.Emily was a fine woman.She also had poor taste in men and worse luck with kin.I’d hate to think you were using her name like a key.”
“I wasn’t.”
Morimer watched him for a long moment.
Connor reached into his pocket and took out the wad of cash.The rubber bands snapped faintly against the bills as he placed it on the table.
“There’s six thousand dollars here.”
Morimer looked at the money, then back at Connor.The old grin returned, slowly this time.“Is there?”
