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Anderson put his arm around Klein’s stiff shoulders. “Can your old college pal get a hug, huh?”
“Hey, man.” Klein hugged Anderson, slapping his back. “I missed you, buddy.”
Anderson struggled not to gag from the funky smell radiating from Klein’s shirt. “Damn, you’re rank.”
“Please.” Klein stuck his head in the air, tugging on his collar. “That’s my cologne. Fierce by Abercrombie and Fitch.”
“Ugh. Smells like foot fungus.”
“Sonjay loves it.” Klein sniffed under his arms. “Says it makes me smell like a real man.”
“She must be in love if she says that.”
Klein rolled his big, round eyes upward and grinned. “It sure is nice to see you again, Andy.”
“Please don’t call me that.” He fidgeted. “I left ‘Andy’ in college.”
“Sorry, Anderson,” Klein mocked, making a face. “How long has it been since we’ve seen each other?”
“The last time I visited you was when I came here for your momma’s funeral.”
“Damn, that was two thousand and twelve. It doesn’t seem that long.”
“Wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t ignore my emails.”
“It’s not like that. I’m a big man in this town so I stay busy.”
“I’m proud of you.” Anderson swatted Klein’s ebony-brown cheek. “Look at you. The mayor’s chief of staff. In college, you hated politics.”
“Well, things change.” Klein wiped sweat off his forehead. “Why the hell we standing out here frying? Come in. I want to introduce you to Mayor Bordeaux.”
Anderson followed him up the steep stairs and into a huge hall with an endless ceiling. The cool air from the air conditioning whipped across Anderson’s face.
“God, that feels good.” He rubbed his short, dirty-blond hair, which lay neat in a tight cut that people said complimented his tapered features. “How do you make it in this heat?”
Klein stomped through the halls with his head in the air and an echo in every step. “What do you think?” He pointed to plagues and pictures of Thompsonville politicians that hung on each wall they passed.
“Impressive.” Anderson stayed on Klein’s heels as they ran up the stairs, and through a shiny hallway. “You sure you’re not mad about why I’m here?”
“I’m always glad to see my boy.”
“But, you don’t want me to write the story on Presley. Surprised you’re not more involved.”
“It’s best for me to keep my distance with the whole thing.” Klein stopped at an elevator between two vending machines. “I love Presley but politics is a different world. Sometimes you gotta keep your mouth shut to get by.”
“Even when it involves family?”
“I want to change things, and the only way I can do that is by becoming powerful and politics can help me achieve that.” Klein grabbed Anderson’s shoulders. “Working for Mayor Bordeaux can open so many doors for me. He’s making a run for governor.”
“For real?”
“Yeah and he wants to run for Senate or Congress one day. If I play my cards right, he’ll take me with him and the entire world is my oyster.”
A blonde woman greeted them as she passed.
“I’m doing this for Sonjay as much as myself,” Klein said. “She’s always dreamed of being on the arm of someone important.” He sighed. “I wanna show her she didn’t make a mistake when she picked me. I want her to be proud she’s going to be my wife.”
“I’m sure she is, man. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Sometimes I look at her and I can’t believe she’s mine.” A glazed look came over Klein’s face. “She’s so beautiful. She could have any man in the world and she chose me. I ain’t the best-looking thing in the world.”
“Watch it.” Anderson pointed at him. “Don’t start that beating yourself up stuff. Sonjay should be glad she has you.”
“Check this out.” Klein took out his wallet and showed Anderson a picture of himself and a gorgeous black woman with light-brown skin. Her cinnamon hair stopped at her jawline, styled in a wavy bob that brought out her chiseled nose and valentine-shaped lips.
“Wow.” Anderson stared at the picture. “She is something.”
“Hands down Sonjay’s the finest woman in Thompsonville. Now you see how blessed I’ve been.” Klein pulled the photo back and put away his wallet. “On my way to a great career and I got a beautiful woman. I feel like I can do anything.”
“Sonjay’s gorgeous. Is Channing as pretty as her sister?”
“They’re both fine as hell even their momma.” Klein cackled, nudging Anderson. “But Channing won’t be happy when she finds out why you’re here. She’s opposed to any media getting anywhere near Presley. She doesn’t want this to turn into another Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown.”
“But her daughter is lying in a coma and the man who hit her is walking around free. If it were me I’d want her story everywhere so it would put pressure on the police to do something. I want to give her a chance to share her daughter’s story. She can’t object help.”
“Klein!” A short, pudgy Hispanic woman with a straggly, cheap wig on, waddled toward them. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Did you hear the news?”
“Don’t tell me you guys screwed something up and I have to keep Bordeaux off your asses.”
“No it’s about Dex Reinhardt.” The woman examined Anderson. “Hello, Mr. Abraham.” She held out her hand. “I’m Londa Herrera.”
“Nice to meet you, Londa.”
“Klein told us you were coming. How are you enjoying Thompsonville so far?”
Klein butted in, “What’s this about Dex?”
“Brace yourself.” Londa touched Klein’s arm. “Dex is taking over Lancaster’s defense.”
“What?”
“The other attorney couldn’t take the heat. He was getting hate mail and threats. He also felt like Lancaster wouldn’t get a fair trial and pulled out. So Dex took it.”
“You can’t be serious.” Klein rubbed the rolls on the back of his neck. “Dex wouldn’t do that.”
“Everyone’s talking about it,” Londa said. “How could he take this case when he’s so close to the Mills family?”
“I don’t know.” Klein walked away.
Anderson smiled at Londa and caught up with him. “Who’s Dex Reinhardt?”
“He’s supposed to be my friend.” Klein huffed. “Not anymore.”