34 Duane and Mabel Meet

Mabel sat outside her Uncle Duane's office. She hadn't had time to get anything to eat and was starving. She held her hands together and on her lap. Damn what luck. He came through. The old tightwad came through, no, no, her dear old Uncle came through. A man came out of his office. His face, his cheeks looked red even from here. He fumbled dropping some files onto the floor. He got down to his knees to pick them up. He glanced her way for a moment. He was so close she could see sweat on his forehead, a little rivulet making its way down his cheek. Like maybe he'd just been water boarded. He got the files into a stack again and hurried off. She looked up to see her Uncle studying her from his open door. He smiled without showing teeth, the kind that doesn't reach the eyes. She tried a smile back and stood up.

"Uncle Duane. So glad to see you again."

"Mabel. Please come in." He sounded pleasant. He moved back behind his desk. There must have been some unspoken signal from him to his secretary because she brought him a cup of coffee along with a Danish pastry, apple filled or maybe peach, and put them down near to his right hand .

"Bring Mabel whatever she'd like to drink."

Mabel declined. That settled, the secretary closed the door behind so the click was just audible.

He turned to her. "You are a teacher."

"Yes. Yes, I am. I just graduated and am looking to find something, but I'm not tied to the idea of teaching."

His smile turned to a frown. "Your father said you were a teacher, primary school, and you can teach small children."

It wasn't a question, but she thought it needed an answer. "Yes." She would let him talk.

"I have an assignment for you. Do you remember my son was killed last year?"

"Yes."

"I want you to teach his son, my grandson, and your cousin."

"Of course. I'd be happy to." This could be great.

"And I want you to gather information on the people currently holding him. You will go into the house as a live-in teacher. You will provide instruction to the boy and gather information that I can use to ensure full custody is given over to me. I will pay a salary and all expenses and when you succeed and my grandson is back with me, you will receive a substantial bonus."

"Sounds great. When do I start?"

"Tomorrow. Here's the address."