Eight
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I stop by Helen’s office with lunch and find her door closed. This is unusual, as she usually keeps it open so that she can, as she says, “Keep an eye and ear on what’s going on, and let everyone know that she's doing so.”
Not wanting to interrupt her if she’s in a meeting, I go back to the front desk. I ask the new officer, Brandon Hicks, who I had only met the day before, “Excuse me, is Chief Parr in with someone?”
He looks at his computer screen and says, just as formally, “No, sir, Father Greer, not according to the log.”
“Could you buzz her please and let her know I’m here?”
“Certainly, sir.” He calls back and I hear Helen answer, “I don’t want to be disturbed right now.”
“But ma’am,” he says, “Father Greer is here.” I am a little taken aback to hear her
